Pro wrestler Vinnie Massaro might not be a household name for those whose wrestling experience is limited to major television and streaming services. However, Massaro has been a fixture in the wrestling world for almost three decades, starting in Hayward, California and eventually reaching top promotions in Japan. He has also been integral in training and wrestling with emerging talent through West Coast Pro, Pandemonium Pro Wrestling, and other venues.
Despite acknowledging that dreams of reaching WWE or All Elite Wrestling (AEW) may not materialize, Massaro finds fulfillment in nurturing new talent. He expressed this sentiment in an interview with Fox News Digital, stating, “Honestly, the dream is not WWE, the dream is not AEW. Those dreams have kind of gone. I realize that I’m not young. Nobody is going to hire me as a professional wrestler.”
Massaro has transitioned his focus to training others and working behind the scenes. He believes helping young athletes grow in wrestling is his true calling now. He said, “I love teaching young people how to wrestle. I love helping out in the back. I love doing agenting and that kind of stuff. To me, that’s a better outcome for me.”
Reflecting on a decade from now, Massaro hopes that people remember him not only as a wrestler but also as an excellent trainer and agent. He commented, “Ten years from now, people may be like, ‘Oh you know Vinnie Massaro, he used to be a wrestler.’ You’d be like, ‘Oh I kinda saw him but he’s a good trainer.’”
Massaro never initially aspired to reach WWE or World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His passion lay with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), which gained popularity in the Northeast. His goal was thwarted when WWE acquired ECW. As he began training, Massaro gravitated towards Japanese wrestling, especially wanting to perform at Korakuen Hall.
“But after I started training, the main thing I wanted to do was wrestle in Japan. My favorite wrestler was (Mitsuharu) Misawa,” Massaro said.
Massaro eventually wrestled in Japan and achieved his dream by performing for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah at Korakuen Hall. He was also able to tag with Misawa’s former partner, Yoshinari Ogawa, which marked a significant milestone for him.
Addressing his career highlights, Massaro shared, “So to me, yeah, ‘What about your WrestleMania moment?’ I don’t even care about the WrestleMania moment. Being at Korakuen Hall, wrestling for Pro Wrestling Noah, being on my first Japanese tour, my first Japanese wrestling match… those are my highlights.”
His journey into wrestling was rekindled by ECW, which inspired him to return to the sport. Massaro is proud of his role in developing students from their first moves to performing at major venues like Korakuen Hall. He mentioned Miko Alana, who began at his school with no experience and recently wrestled at a major pay-per-view in Japan.
Massaro said, “People are like, ‘Oh, Vinnie, you never made it,’ I’m like, that’s bulls—. To me, that’s making it.”
Vinnie Massaro acknowledges his wrestling style is rooted in strength. He realistically discusses his limitations, noting that flashy moves like the Spanish Fly aren’t his focus. He appreciates being adaptable, distancing himself from wrestlers stuck in traditional styles.
“To me, I’d rather be a Terry Funk,” Massaro explained. He embraces various wrestling styles and training with champions in Japan and beyond.
Adding to his wrestling journey, Massaro soon will join forces with Japanese star Shigeo Okumura to face a legendary team led by Lucha Libre icon Blue Panther at Pandemonium Pro’s End of Summer Event in Phoenix, Arizona.
Massaro expressed excitement for this matchup, stating, “I’m very excited because I grew up watching a lot of the AAA and Lucha Libre and CMLL and Blue Panther… Getting a chance to wrestle against Blue Panther, I don’t have too many bucket lists anymore of wrestlers.”
Massaro feels honored to continue being a noteworthy part of Pandemonium Pro Wrestling. His contributions to wrestling emphasize the importance of training new talent for future successes.
Leave a Reply