Davey Richards is excited for Team Ambition’s future.
During a recent interview with WrestleZone, Davey Richards spoke about his return to wrestling coinciding with opening his own wrestling school. Richards stepped away from pro wrestling in 2017 and worked as a paramedic and ER physician, but returned to the ring in 2021. Richards still worked as a first responder in that time, but he also opened his Team Ambition school in St. Louis.
Speaking to WrestleZone about how he embraced a coach’s mentality, Richards said he feels like he’s had great mentors and has a lot to give back to the sport.
“As far as being a coach, I’ve always been a student of the game because I’ve been wrestling since I was 10 between amateur, catch, and pro. I had the greatest mentors. I came up at a stellar time. I was in the ring within a year with guys like Samoa Joe and Danielson. Then I went to NOAH and New Japan. So I really feel like I have a lot to give. I feel like the main responsibility as this point in my career is to give back, to help out the next generation. So it’s been really, really cool, and it actually makes you better. I can see now with the way I’m heavily involved in jiu-jitsu and things like that. The way you train up to a black belt is the ability to teach. I really see that now. You really can master a concept when you teach it, and it’s really made me better,” Richards explained. “It’s a really cool experience, so it’s been a rewarding and fulfilling journey thus far.”
Asked if being a dad helped him embrace a new mentality, Richards agreed and said it’s helped him become a better person overall.
“I was a pretty riled-up guy before leaving wrestling. I was not thankful enough for all the gifts I had and for all the blessings I had in wrestling. I was naturally selfish. But to be in the sports and entertainment business, you have to be selfish, there’s no doubt about that, but I had no idea that the world did not revolve around me,” he said. “Becoming a father has [helped me realize] it’s not really about me. It’s more about what can give than what can I take. Yeah, it’s been a huge blessing.”
Asked if there were any students he was seeing great progress from, Richards said there are plenty of people that will be getting more attention on a larger scale soon.
“Someone like Warhorse is right there. This other guy like Camaro Jackson and Mike Outlaw. One of our female wrestlers Tootie Lynn has actually done some stuff with NWA. They’ve all done some stuff with AEW. Those are the ones that are right now ready to go. We have some other people that are right on the cusp. Everyone is really coming into their own,” Richards said.
“So it’s kind of happenstance we’re having this conversation today because it was just last night that I sat back. We have this girl Katie from Minnesota who packed up her stuff and moved to St. Louis to train with us. I think she went through that phase for a little bit where she was like, ‘Maybe this isn’t for me. I think I made a mistake.’ And last night it just started clicking. It’s so cool to see that. There’s something in the water here, man, and I’m really excited to see these athletes grow and lead,” Richards added. “You’re going to be hearing a lot more about us in the future.”
Check out the full interview with Davey Richards below:
Read More: Colby Corino Definitely Feels Pressure Coming From A Wrestling Family, But It Motivates Him
