Emily Jaye is grateful she learned from two of the best minds in the wrestling business.
During a recent interview with Ella Jay for Women’s Wrestling Talk, Emily Jaye spoke about her time training at Flatbacks Wrestling School, the Orlando-area academy owned by Shawn Spears and Tyler Breeze. Jaye spoke about being nervous when she started, but she took away a wealth of knowledge that prepared her for the business.
“I was a nervous wreck. I tried mentally preparing myself that it would be OK. ‘It’ll be fine, they are just people.’ And the first day came and I was just a nervous wreck, I was [questioning] if I am going to be able to do this. It was literally straight cardio, no in-ring stuff that day. Straight cardio and I was like, ‘Oh gosh, I’m not going to be well right now.’ I had a little come to Jesus moment outside, I was like ‘get your life together! You’re going to do this, you paid a lot of money to be here and get trained by some of the best people in this business. Suck it up, you’re OK.’ It was really crazy and once I got to the end of it, I am still forever grateful for the opportunities I had down there and I can never be able to repay Breeze and Spears for all they did for me.”
Asked what were some takeaways or advice she recalls, Jaye said it was all about hard work and proving yourself.
“I just can always remember Breeze screaming at me, because he’s like [telling me] ‘You’re going to be OK! I understand you’re young, but you’re going to be OK.’ And he was like, ‘everything will fall into place as time goes on. Don’t stress if opportunities don’t come as soon as you get out of here. It takes time in this business and you have to prove yourself. Pro wrestling doesn’t owe you anything, it doesn’t owe you a single thing. You have to work for it.’ And that was one of the biggest takeaways I took from him and Spears because they’ll encourage you all you want but as soon as you leave everything’s up to you.”
Emily Jaye also spoke about running into Bayley when she was there for a brief spell, noting that it was a bit intimidating working alongside one of the best women’s wrestlers in the world.
“I was very scared of [Bayley]. So I was scared to walk up to her and talk to her because it’s crazy to see her on my TV and I’m like, ‘Oh my god. Hey, what’s up?’ Now, I’m training with her. I think the biggest advice she gave me was, it’s okay to be different. It’s okay if people don’t like you. Nobody is going to never not like you at the end of the day. And I’m just like, ‘okay.’ Everyone has their opinion and that’s that. You’re not going to please everyone. So I was very grateful for that.”
Read More: Bayley: I’ve Been Evolving, I Don’t Have To Be This Humble Kid Anymore
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