If you’re a fan of professional wrestling, you probably already know that this is Wrestlemania weekend. Since its creation in 1985, the annual event has become that multi-billion-dollar industry’s equivalent of the Super Bowl, packing thousands into stadiums and arenas and with millions of fans watching at home.

But for pro wrestlers the journey to get to Wrestlemania is long, if it ever happens at all.

The vast majority of pro wrestlers begin their careers in front of dozens of fans, not thousands, and before that, they need to learn how to wrestle at all. That’s where wrestling schools and academies, like the Oregon Pro Wrestling School in Hillsboro, come in.

Since opening in 2021, the school has aimed to serve as both a launching pad for those starting out and a space for those looking to further their careers.

Ricky Gibson, the founder, owner and operator of the school, grew up in Oregon and says he knew as early as age 5 that he wanted to be a pro wrestler. He started his still-active career in the state over 20 years ago, and his resume includes appearances with large companies like World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor, as well as regular appearances in rings throughout Oregon and Washington.

Gibson says the inspiration to start the school was born after the pandemic. When live wrestling events started up again in 2021, he needed a place to train.

“I decided I was going to buy a ring and rent a storage unit just for me. And as I started doing that, I realized I should just open a school,” he explained. “And since then, it has grown exponentially.”

With an enrollment that now includes around 70 students and alumni of all genders, the school serves both beginners and experienced wrestlers seeking to learn the basics or broaden their skills. Early lessons include how to fall on the mat correctly, various grapples and holds, and learning to run the ropes, which Gibson says is harder and more painful than it looks.

“Almost everyone that attempts it for the first time is completely surprised at how difficult it can be to maintain a rhythm, to do it smoothly, to be able to bounce off the ropes, and then it’s surprising how much the ropes hurt your underarms.”

One of the things every professional wrestler will tell you is that even though matches are scripted and choreographed and outcomes are predetermined, it still hurts.

“I knew the ring was hard. I knew it wasn’t like a trampoline like some people think it is. I didn’t know it was going to hurt that bad,” explained wrestler “Hotshot” Spencer Scott.

The physical side of pro wrestling is vital, of course, but so is the ability to tell a story, to create drama and to engage the audience. From its pre-TV vaudeville days to the present, a wrestling match flounders or thrives on how much the audience cares or doesn’t. Creating a persona or character — known in wrestling as a babyface (hero) or heel (villain) — is a big part of the equation.

“Everyone has their own autonomy to come up with their character,” Gibson said. “But I, as a coach, spend a lot of time helping them develop that. And even their peers will help give them ideas or suggestions to further it as well.”

Gibson says one of his goals with the school is to create a supportive environment where wrestlers learn from each other.

“The first day everyone gets the speech of we’re here to build each other up,” he said. “We’re here to encourage each other. There’s no hazing or bullying.”

He says that approach contrasts with some of the schools and training environments he encountered at the start of his career. And those who’ve attended the school appreciate the difference.

“I’ve been to a couple schools, and a lot of students that are there come for the wrong reasons. But everyone here? We’re all tough. We’re all ready to go. I love this school for that,” said wrestler Caleb Teninty.

Fellow wrestler Gunnar Thorson agrees, adding, “This place is a haven for those who want to learn wrestling in a judgement-free environment, who don’t want to feel the pressure of, ‘You have to learn this in three months, you have to learn this now!’”

Teninty, Thorson and several other current and former students recently performed at one of the school’s Student Exhibition Nights: an evening of matches held at the school and free to attend for anyone who signs up. Gibson says the audience for the exhibitions are comprised largely of friends and family of the wrestlers in the ring.

“I wanted to provide a platform for these students to wrestle in front of a forgiving crowd at first but then learn the lessons that are necessary, so they don’t look too bad before they’re in front of what we’d call a real crowd, a real audience,” he explained.

Some of the school’s graduates have competed in matches with various independent circuits throughout the U.S. In the Pacific Northwest, that includes organizations like Oregon-based DOA and POW! Pro Wrestling and Defy Wrestling in neighboring Washington. Some have also had matches in Mexico, Japan and other countries. Making it to a bigger stage or signing with a company like WWE or AEW is always a dream, of course, but many wrestlers say they are happy to keep doing something they love wherever and whenever they can.

“I’m just doing this to make people happy and to make people feel good about coming to shows,” said wrestler “Badman” Bryan Scott. “It’s one of the only places I feel like I can be me and I’m trying to bring that to other people.”

As for the future of the Oregon Pro Wrestling School, Ricky Gibson says he is excited about bringing in more students, expanding to offer classes for teenagers (with parental permission and supervision), and seeing his graduates develop.

“I’m happy to provide all the talent that comes through Oregon right now,” he said. “And it’s just cool to see all the growth that I have and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/18/oregon-pro-wrestling-school-hillsboro-wrestlemania/