Monster Factory on AppleTV+ isn’t just a present about what it takes to change into a professional wrestler. It’s extra about dealing with fears, coping with setbacks, and discovering methods to beat obstacles … and it simply so occurs to be set within the famend Monster Factory wrestling faculty in Paulsboro, New Jersey, a small borough close to Philadelphia.
“It’s not a actuality present; it’s not pretend,” asserts Monster Manufacturing unit proprietor and operator Danny Cage. Larry Sharpe established the model in 1983, and Cage, a former professional wrestler turned coach, acquired it in late 2010 or early 2011.
Cage had prior expertise with the Monster Manufacturing unit earlier than taking the reins. He skilled there within the Nineteen Nineties and had his first tryout in 1994. From 1998 to 2004, he carried out within the ring earlier than taking a break from the trade.
The collection follows a gaggle of aspiring professionals, showcasing the highs and lows of life as an indie wrestling performer. From social anxiousness and stage fright to profession and monetary struggles, all the pieces is laid naked. For Cage, this didn’t necessitate any alterations to his routine.
“We’re an open ebook on the faculty,” he says. “We focus on all the pieces and something; these children all know my monetary woes. They know what’s taking place with my spouse, my children, and my mental health issues. I’m a coach. I’m a instructor. I don’t need to lose a pupil… but when I’ve to lose a pupil for them to change into a greater individual, and I’m the dangerous man on the finish, that’s high-quality.”
Cage’s Transparency Extends His In-Ring Efficiency Philosophy
“If I’d identified all the pieces that went into professional wrestling [when I started], I’d’ve taken theater and artistic writing,” he explains. “As a result of we’re all simply theater children, man. However, we’re additionally tremendous loopy athletic.”
Along with instructing the talents wanted to carry out and entertain safely with a companion, Cage emphasizes different facets of the enterprise for his college students, resembling branding, advertising and marketing, social media, manufacturing, and communication.
“You’ll hear me say two issues over and over for those who ever prepare with me: Communication is vital. And repetition breeds behavior. And repetition breeds behavior can go each methods. The extra you do one thing, the extra you’ll decide it up, and it’ll change into second nature. The identical goes for dangerous habits.”
Cage Hopes to See His Graduates Discover Success at WWE, AEW, or Ring of Honor
“I inform our youngsters, like, ‘If you will get to WWE or AEW, go. However I’m additionally not holding again my emotions about sure issues,’” he explains. “I believe WWE and AEW are like House Depot and Lowe’s. I need to go to the mom-and-pop store down the nook — that’s who I need to take care of.”
Cage is not sure why his relationship with WWE, the world’s largest professional wrestling platform, turned bitter.
“[WWE] had me down in 2018, proper after I received fired from Ring of Honor. Inside a minute, you returned my electronic mail and invited me down,” he says. “After which I haven’t been again down since. I don’t have a difficulty. They do.”
Relating to the collection, Cage wasn’t concerned in enhancing however discovered the ultimate product to be correct.
“Completely. There have been solely perhaps two slight little modifications I’d’ve made, however they have been minuscule. It’s nearly like a microphone in a scene or a Starbucks cup in a Sport of Thrones scene. Aside from that, they captured all the pieces.”
Try the collection on AppleTV+ and Take heed to Cage’s M&F Reps podcast interview here!
