Currently chasing the dream myself! I'm doing pretty well for myself...hopefully it all pays off! Recently worked a few shots for Ring of Honor, the 3rd biggest company in the US. Been on the circuit now for 4 years. Lots and lots of miles! Taking the road trip from Boston to Louisville, KY for a 4 match shot with Ohio Valley Wrestling and a Ring of Honor TV taping in December.
Unfortunately, I'm only 5'11" so not a big guy with little actual chance of making it big. It's a fun and challenging hobby though!
I know 2 guys that were or still are in prob wrestling. Both of the guys were always injured it seems. One of the guys actually made it into the WWF, it might have been like a minor league for them or something but I forget. Anyways, this guy ended up getting run through with a spear acting out a stunt! He was hurt pretty bad and was out of wresting for quite awhile. While he was out, the WWF dropped him like a hot potato. After working it for another year or so in other organizations he finally gave it up because like others have said the pay sucks and you travel all the time. He is now a nurse practitioner or some equivalent of that and much happier I think.
The other guy always was limping around with something hurt. Usually it was lower limb related, like knee or broken bones.
yeah, 10yrs of it has left me beat up all to hell... scars, snapped tendons/ligaments, concussions... a jaw that likes to dislocate randomly...
Another thing that nobody mentions about pro wrestling is the lifestyle you have to lead. I know both of them mentioned taking pain killers a lot to get by, and I cant imagine that travel all over makes it that easy to eat healthy etc. What was the lifestyle like for you?