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Many of the WWE superstars we see on TV today are global icons with enormous followings. Some more than others, but they all put their bodies on the line every single time they get in the ring for our entertainment.
Every superstar started somewhere and learned their craft before applying it in the ring and on the biggest stages. Most begin at wrestling schools and on the independent scene, but some go directly through WWE's developmental system. Some start young, some start late, but all in all, they are all on the same path.
That being said, let's take a look at WWE superstars who started wrestling at an early age.
#5. Paige started wrestling at 13 before joining WWE
Paige's career in professional wrestling started long before she signed for WWE. There's even a movie about her rise in the business titled 'Fighting with my Family'.
She made her pro-wrestling debut at the age of 13 in 2005 under the name Britani Knight. She wrestled with her family's promotion, the World Association of Wrestling, based in Norwich, England.
Her father was the promoter, and her mother also wrestled. Paige wrestled her mother on numerous occasions in some hard-hitting match-ups. Paige's brothers were also wrestlers, including Zak Zodiac, who was not offered a deal by WWE at the same time as Paige. Paige spoke about the moment with Fansided:
"I felt terrible that my brother didn’t get in because me and Zak did everything together growing up. Practically like twins. Just knowing I was coming to America on my own, it freaked me out. I felt guilty because my brother had been doing it so much longer than me and he wanted it so bad obviously. You always feel bad too when it’s your family, I mean it’s my big brother! It’s all good now though." (h/t Fansided)
Paige wrestled on the UK and European independent scenes before being signed by WWE in 2011. She made her WWE main roster debut at 21, winning the Divas Championship against AJ Lee the night after WrestleMania 30.
Sadly, Paige's career came to a halt in 2017 after a career-ending neck injury ruled her out of action indefinitely. Paige was forced to retire, but she still has hopes that she may return one day, similar to how Edge and Daniel Bryan have managed to come back.
#4. William Regal started wrestling at the age of 15 before joining WWE
Before William Regal's tenure in WWE, he started his wrestling career in his billed hometown of Blackpool, England. Regal was trained by UK trainer Marty Jones and competed in a wrestling carnival booth at Blackpool Pleasure Beach at the age of 15. Following his start, he began teaming up with current NXT trainer Robbie Brookside around the UK and Europe.
William Regal recently returned to Blackpool with the NXT UK brand in January 2017 for the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament.
William Regal spoke about his move to Blackpool to wrestle as a teenager with How2Wrestling:
"Moving to Blackpool was fantastic as there were shows galore. I would see the best entertainers up close over and over because of the long summer season. I was also told at the same time that every night you should come through the curtains never assuming anyone knows you and you will always have to feel and look that you belong. You will show why people should care or hate you because you always do that when trying to make a first impression." (h/t How2Wrestling)
#3. Rey Mysterio started wrestling at the age of 14 before joining WWE
Rey Mysterio is one of the most beloved WWE characters ever. His career started in 1989 at the age of 14. Rey's three-decade-old career has taken him all over the world, but his first major start was with AAA in Mexico in 1992. Mysterio would go on to make his mark in the United States after being signed by Paul Heyman for Extreme Championship Wrestling.
In 1994, Rey Mysterio got a taste of the American flavor of wrestling during a AAA/WCW show, and he spoke about the event with Sporting News:
"That was the first time I believe that the fans saw lucha libre. That was a one-time thing and nothing big ever happened after it but the introduction of the life of Eddie Guerrero into ECW and then WCW and then WWE. Then along came the rest of the luchadores — Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis, Konnan, Villanos, La Parka — including myself. That was an eye-opener for the American audience and now throughout the years everything has evolved incredibly." (h/t ewrestlingnews)
Rey Mysterio's career evolved further when he landed in WWE in 2002. He became one of the greatest performers of his generation.
#2. Jeff Hardy started wrestling at the age of 14 before joining WWE
Jeff Hardy's WWE career has been glittering, with a plethora of high-flying matches, and he will be forever remembered for his daredevil antics. When you think of Jeff Hardy, you always think of him jumping from the top of a ladder.
At the age of 14 in 1992, Jeff and his brother Matt created the Trampoline Wrestling Federation, which was essentially the brothers putting on shows in their backyard. Eventually, Hardy got a big break after appearing in some independent shows, and appeared on WWE TV at the age of 16.
In 1994, Jeff Hardy was signed by WWE as a jobber to some of their top stars. His first assignment was to take a defeat from Razor Ramon. Later, he would go on to take a defeat from the 1-2-3 Kid. This was just the beginning for Hardy, who eventually signed for WWE full-time and became part of one of the most decorated tag teams of all-time, The Hardy Boyz.
#1. Becky Lynch was 14 when she started wrestling before joining WWE
Before becoming 'The Man' in WWE, Becky Lynch was living in Ireland when she was looking to become a professional wrestler. Lynch found an opportunity in June 2002, when Finn Balor was teaching in a wrestling school in Ireland. Lynch and her brother attended.
It only took a few months before Lynch made her official debut at the age of 14. Finn Balor discussed training Becky:
"As soon as she walked in I could see she was going to be a superstar. I’ve seen her that way since she was 14 and I think it took her a while to believe in herself. We all go through ups and downs with self-confidence and all sorts of different issues - society forces a lot of issues on us… But seeing her step-up and knock it out of the park lately – I’ve seen it for years – I think she’s just started to finally believe that and the results are obvious." (h/t SunSport)
Finn, of course, did a fantastic job in training Becky, as she has now flourished and become one of the best women's wrestlers of this era in WWE.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
