Gigi Rey reflects on life in Texas, which included training at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school.
In the summer of 2021, Gigi Rey uprooted from Canada to Texas. Upon her arrival to “The Lone Star State,” Rey settled into Houston, home to Reality of Wrestling (ROW), where she began her supplemental wrestling training. Two years later, Rey is now embarking on a long-time dream of hers — wrestling is Japan. Before Rey heads to Japan for Marvelous, though, she looks back on her life in Texas (so far), which she believes has massively elevated her career.
Speaking with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay, Rey explained how moving to Texas has impacted her wrestling career and her personal life. “It was honestly the best decision I’ve made in my life. I want to say I’ve grown so much as a person, just maturity-wise. To be able to come out here on my own not knowing anyone, and having a lot of like success pretty early on, has been like really, really encouraging and really motivating,” Rey said. “So now being able to go to Japan, it kind of shows me that I know I can handle putting myself in an uncomfortable situation, not really knowing anyone.”
“Obviously, it’s going to be a huge, different culture shock, but I’ve done that. I’ve left Canada by myself. I had to reestablish kind of my whole life down here, and now I get to do it again. I get to go across the seas and do it in Japan. So, I’ve grown so much, I’ve matured so much. I’ve got to see so much, I’ve networked with so many people, made so many friends and connections. Coming to Texas and living in the [United] States in the last couple of years has just been really like enriching to my life and especially my wrestling career as well too.”
No More Stupid Sh*t
Before Rey sets out for Japan, she noted that she will be temporarily moving back home to Canada to get reacquainted with her family and friends. She emphasized that her time in Texas is not done yet though. With that in mind, Rey was asked to share some of the words of wisdom she’s received during her training at Reality of Wrestling, which is led by WWE Hall of Famers Booker T and Sharmell.
“The thing that comes to mind right away is ‘Gigi, don’t do stupid sh*t.’ That’s what Booker told me after that ladder match [with Promise Braxton] when I ended up injuring my wrist. He was like, ‘Gigi, no more stupid sh*t.’ I was like, ‘Yes, sir, I got you.’ So, I’m just trying to keep that in mind,” Rey said. “Wrestling, it is pretty hard on your body. You really do have to protect yourself. It doesn’t take a lot for you to injure yourself and kind of be out for a while. Injuries can take a long time to heal. So, I’m just trying to work smart, work safely, but still be entertaining and still do stuff that’s within my capabilities and not do anything too crazy.”
“It’s not about the moves, it’s about telling a story. So, always kind of focusing on that. And that’s something I’ve really, really tried to hone in on these last couple months, is storytelling and not just about crazy moves and flips and doing all this wild stuff. That’s really entertaining to see and watch, but it’s about storytelling. That’s what wrestling is. So, it’s like kind of cutting it back down to the basics. So, no stupid sh*t.”
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