Vinnie Massaro’s Wrestling Journey

Professional wrestler Vinnie Massaro may not be widely recognized on mainstream TV screens, but his nearly three-decade-long career speaks volumes. Beginning his wrestling journey in Hayward, California, Massaro climbed the ranks to compete in Japan’s premier promotions. Throughout his career, he has remained a mainstay on the independent scene, dedicating efforts to training new talent in West Coast Pro and Pandemonium Pro Wrestling.

Massaro acknowledges the challenging prospect of joining major promotions like WWE or All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He expressed to Fox News Digital that his passion lies in nurturing the younger generation of wrestlers. “The dream is not WWE or AEW. Those dreams have faded. I’m at an age where hiring as a pro wrestler is unlikely,” he stated. Instead, Massaro finds fulfillment in training young wrestlers and assisting behind the scenes.

Massaro’s initial dream wasn’t tied to WWE or World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His ambition was rooted in joining the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) movement, which flourished in the Northeast. However, WWE’s acquisition of ECW redirected his focus to Japan, aiming to perform in the iconic Korakuen Hall.

“After starting training, my main goal was to wrestle in Japan,” Massaro shared. “My favorite wrestler was Mitsuharu Misawa, and I wanted to meet and wrestle him.”

He achieved his dream by wrestling for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah at Korakuen Hall. The highlights of his career include wrestling in venues like Korakuen Hall and the ECW Arena. His passion for teaching is evidenced by his pride in students like Miko Alana, whom he trained from scratch, eventually wrestling at Korakuen Hall.

Massaro candidly acknowledged his limitations in the ring, focusing on his strength-based wrestling style. He identified two potential paths for his career: following Ole Anderson’s unchanging approach or embracing Terry Funk’s adaptability. Massaro chose the latter, training in various wrestling styles worldwide, from Japan to Lucha Libre.

Looking ahead, Massaro eagerly anticipates a six-man tag team match alongside Japanese wrestling star Shigeo Okumura at Pandemonium Pro’s End of Summer Event in Phoenix, Arizona. They will face a team led by Lucha Libre legend Blue Panther.

“I’m excited because I’ve watched a lot of AAA, Lucha Libre, and CMLL, and Blue Panther is always recognizable,” Massaro expressed. “Having the opportunity to wrestle against him is a bucket list moment.”

Ryan Gaydos served as the senior editor for Fox News Digital, bringing this captivating story of Vinnie Massaro’s career to light.