Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruby Raze.
Hi Ruby , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I came into my line of work in a very traditional way – I was apprenticed in. Being a professional wrestler, this is one of the oldest and least practiced means of entering the business. What this meant for me was five years spent learning hands-on with a mentor while on the road making very little (to zero) pay. I spent weekdays working out and training in makeshift areas, and weekends driving to performances anywhere between Southern California and Oregon, even Iowa. During this time I also was attending community colleges, then an undergraduate college. Finally, the day came in which I was offered my first match for individual competition. That match went surprisingly well. On that day I became determined to complete my training at a professional wrestling academy and pursue professional wrestling full time.
During the summer of 2013, I moved to Downtown Los Angeles to begin graduate school at USC while at the same time starting at Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy in Bell Gardens. The same week that classes began at USC I was given permission to begin taking wrestling bookings on my own and begin my individual career (and business) as a professional wrestler. Thirteen years later I have traveled all around the United States and Mexico wrestling in front of live crowds and on TV, I have produced my own wrestling show under the Santino Bros. banner, and most importantly I have made strides to help propel the position of female wrestlers in Southern California.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to where I am has not been even remotely smooth. To be successful in this field you have to think of yourself as a product, a brand, and most importantly a business. I am my own CEO and have to figure out how to make and run my business using my brain while performing my services with my body, and sometimes when my bookings are heavy the body and brain don’t like to co-operate with one another. My body might be hurting, but I still need to get up and write blogs, respond to interviews, follow up on booking inquiries, and so on.
Other struggles of being a successful professional wrestler include having to become your own graphic designer, merchandise maker, brand rep, negotiator, social media manager, etc. You are one person who will run every aspect of your business.
Further, being a female in a male-dominated business is one of the biggest struggles to date. Most days this struggle seems less daunting, however, there are days where it is very apparent. It has become one of my personal missions in this business to strive to break gender barriers and glass ceilings for females, especially here in Southern California.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional wrestler.
Most people hear this and think about big companies such as WWE where the wrestlers go out and wrestle and the company does almost everything else.
Being an independent contractor in wrestling is very different. What I do is run myself as a business from top to bottom while performing as a professional wrestler. This means sending or receiving messages regarding professional bookings, negotiating contracts, traveling, performing, meeting the crowd, creating and selling merchandise, branding, maintaining social media channels and websites, creating content, and networking (to tip the iceberg).
In-ring, and around the business, what I’ve come to be known for is being tough as nails under any situation, against any opponent, and making strides for gender equality. I am extremely proud of are the various “firsts” I have made for female wrestling as well as intergender (female vs male) wrestling. The year I made Pro-Wrestling Illustrated Magazine’s Top 500 wrestlers in the first year they included intergender wrestlers was one of my proudest moments.
What are your plans for the future?
I am very fortunate to be returning to Women of Wrestling (WOW) which will resume filming for ViacomCBS this year. Currently, you can watch WOW on CW Seed and Pluto TV platforms. New episodes will launch in weekend syndication beginning in the fall of 2022. This means less of me running myself as a business and letting me focus on the performing aspects which is a great change of pace.
I am also hoping to revive the “Up All Night” production at Santino Bros. this year so I can return to behind the camera creativity and see my vision come to life.
But what I am looking forward to most this year is performing in front of various live crowds again, seeing the smiles on the faces of the audience, and hearing the roars of the crowd.
Contact Info:
- Email: Razerpops@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/razerpopz
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/razerpops
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/razerpops
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/razerpops/channels
Image Credits
Electric Sleep Images
Jeramie McPeek
Robert Colin
Jessica Torres
Pedro Carrera
