3 current and 3 former wrestlers who run wrestling schools

After an in-ring career, there are very few options left for wrestlers to earn a living. Some go into backstage roles like producing or becoming road agents, although, that lifestyle isn't for everyone because it means maintaining the hectic schedule.

Others settle into jobs at the office, but these tend to be tough for other reasons and are very hard to get. The most common job for wrestlers after their in-ring career generally leans towards teaching.

WWE legends like Shawn Michaels, NWA Legend Harley Race, Johnny Rodz, and Killer Kowalski all established wrestling schools after they wrapped up their in-ring careers. Some of them have created the next generation of talents.

Michaels famously trained Daniel Bryan, and is now one of the teachers at the WWE Performance Centre and is working hands-on at trying to craft the next generation of talents.

Not every wrestler waits until their career is wrapped up to establish their school. Some wrestlers, both still active in WWE and others that are still active on the independent scene, have already established schools.

These schools are usually a way for the wrestler to pass on what they have learned from their experience in the industry, as well as hopefully making money on the side.

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#3 Current - Face 2 Face Wrestling Academy (Heath Slater)

Current WWE star Heath Slater opened up Face 2 Face Wrestling Academy in 2017

The Face 2 Face wrestling academy was established in 2017 by Heath Slater. Despite Slater still being on the road with WWE, he has found time to establish the school that is based out of Morrow, Georgia. Slater opened the school with former WWE referee and SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long and Ron Simmons.

Apollo Crews, another WWE talent, has also worked at the school as a trainer. Kiera Hogan, who wrestles for both Impact and the Women of Wrestling Promotion is one of their female trainers. Slater, Crews, and Hogan all trained under Mr. Hughes who wrestled for WCW, WWF, and ECW.

#3 Former - Team 3D Wrestling Academy (Dudley Boyz)

A photo of a class at the Team 3D Academy

The 3D Wrestling Academy was opened by former WWE wrestlers, and WWE Hall of Famers D-Von and Bubba Ray Duddley. The tag team opened the school in 2007 when the pair were wrestling for Impact. Former WWE wrestler Billy Gunn is also a trainer at this school.

Bubba Ray and D-Von have been the top team in ECW, WWE, and TNA at various points in their career. They were 10-time Tag Team Champions in WWE, 8-time Tag Champions in ECW and 3-time Tag Champions in TNA.

Bubba Ray also held the TNA World Heavyweight Championship twice under the name of Bully Ray. The duo was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2014 and the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.

Several graduates of the Dudley Boyz academy have gone on to make appearances at TNA as extras when the pair worked for the promotion. Some of the other graduates from the school include NJPW's Tama Tonga, AEW's Leva Bates, as well as NXT's Kayden Carter.

#2 Current - Flatbacks Wrestling Academy

Shawn Spears taking a class through warm-up stretches at his wrestling school.

Flatbacks Wrestling Academy is a wrestling school in Apopka, Florida. In 2019, the school was opened by WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze and current AEW superstar Shawn Spears. Tyler Breeze trained under Lance Storm at the now-closed Storm Wrestling Academy. Spears trained under current WWE Superstar and former Impact Champion Eric Young. Spears' wife and WWE Superstar Peyton Royce also teach classes at the school.

Spears held tag titles in former WWE developmental promotions, FCW and OVW, and Breeze held both the FCW Tag Team Title and is a former FCW Heavyweight Champion. Tyler Breeze moved from Raw to NXT in 2019, which allows him to be closer to the wrestling school and the WWE Performance Center.

The school offers courses for aspiring wrestlers, referees, and managers in 9-week long intensive courses. Their first set of classes took place on July 1st, 2019, and has only been run for less than a year. The academy hasn't produced any wrestlers of note, the latest group was featured in a video giving Chris Van Vliet chops after their training session

#2 Former - Reality of Wrestling

Former WCW and WWE World Champion Booker T runs the Reality of Wrestling promotion and academy with his wife

The Reality of Wrestling school is run out of Houston, Texas and was opened in 2005. It was originally called Pro Wrestling Alliance but changed its name in 2012. The school is owned and run by 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T and his wife Sharmell. While Sharmell worked for WCW, WWE, and TNA, she barely wrestled for the promotions. And Booker T won world titles in WCW and WWE.

Booker T originally made his name alongside his brother Stevie Ray as WCW Tag Team Harlem Heat. The pair won the WCW World Tag Team Titles 10 times before the two split up. Booker T was then pushed to the main event. After WWE purchased WCW, Booker T was signed by the promotion and attacked Stone Cold Steve Austin. While in WWE, he would have another run with the WCW Title as well as winning the World Heavyweight Title, the Intercontinental, United States, Hardcore and won the Tag team titles 3 times.

The Reality of Wrestling school has produced wrestlers that are currently signed to contracts with WWE, including Dio Maddin and Ember Moon. Former AEW star Kylie Ray is also an alumn of the Reality Of Wrestling School.

#1 Current - Black and Brave Wrestling Academy

Black X Brave is an Iowa-based wrestling academy run by current WWE star Seth Rollins

Run out of Davenport, Iowa and owned by the Monday Night Messiah, Seth Rollins. Before signing for WWE, Rollins made a name for himself in Ring of Honor where he was a World Champion and Tag Team Champion. He then signed a contract to wrestle with WWE in 2010, where he wrestled at both FCW and NXT where he won their Heavyweight titles as well.

In 2012, Rollins would debut alongside Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose at Survivor Series and has been a regular staple at the top of the card ever since. In WWE, Rollins is a 2-time World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time Universal Champion, 2-time Intercontinental Champion, 1-time United States Champion, and 6-time Tag Team Champion. He has also won the Money in the Bank Briefcase and the 2019 Men's Royal Rumble.

Rollins founded the school in 2014 with his former tag team partner Marek Brave. While none of the school's graduates have signed for WWE, students have appeared on WWE programming either as extras or featured in Rollins' 365 Documentary. One of the school's former students, Zicky Dice, is currently signed with NWA and has made appearances on NWA Power.

#1 Former - Jacobs Prichard Wrestling Academy

JPWA was founded by legendary wrestler Kane and legendary wrestling teacher Tom Prichard

Glenn Jacobs, better known as Kane, and Tom Prichard, who wrested as Zip and Dr. X, formed the Jacobs Prichard Wrestling Academy out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Jacobs, who wrestled under several different gimmicks in WWF is best known as Kane, the demonic half-brother of The Undertaker. Including his time before becoming the Big Red Machine, Jacobs started in WWE back in 1995 and still makes appearances for the company. Prichard wrestled sporadically for WWE through the mid-90s until 2005 when he was released.

While he had an extensive run as a wrestler for a variety of promotions, Prichard is best known for being one of the best wrestling trainers in the world. Prichard former pupils include Vince and Shane McMahon, The Bella Twins, Mark Henry, Kurt Angle, Val Venis, and Droz. The Rock also credits Prichard with helping him develop into a better pro-wrestler.

The JPWA only started running classes in January 2019 but considering the resumes of the owners, we can expect it to produce several future stars.