Monster Factory on AppleTV+ isn’t just a present about what it takes to turn out to be a professional wrestler. It’s extra about going through 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 reality show; it’s not fake,” asserts Monster Factory 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 Factory earlier than taking the reins. He educated there within the 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 business.
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, the whole lot is laid naked. For Cage, this didn’t necessitate any alterations to his routine.
“We are an open book at the school,” he says. “We discuss everything and anything; these kids all know my financial woes. They know what’s happening with my wife, my kids, and my mental health issues. I’m a coach. I’m a teacher. I don’t want to lose a student… but if I have to lose a student for them to become a better person, and I’m the bad guy at the end, that’s fine.”
Cage’s Transparency Extends His In-Ring Performance Philosophy
“If I’d known everything that went into pro wrestling [when I started], I would’ve taken theater and creative writing,” he explains. “Because we’re all just theater kids, man. But, we’re also super crazy athletic.”
In addition to instructing the talents wanted to carry out and entertain safely with a associate, Cage emphasizes different features of the enterprise for his college students, akin to branding, advertising and marketing, social media, manufacturing, and communication.
“You’ll hear me say two things over and over again if you ever train with me: Communication is key. And repetition breeds habit. And repetition breeds habit can go both ways. The more you do something, the more you’ll pick it up, and it’ll become second nature. The same goes for bad habits.”
Cage Hopes to See His Graduates Find Success at WWE, AEW, or Ring of Honor
“I tell our kids, like, ‘If you can get to WWE or AEW, go. But I’m also not holding back my feelings about certain things,’” he explains. “I think WWE and AEW are like Home Depot and Lowe’s. I want to go to the mom-and-pop shop down the corner — that’s who I want to deal with.”
Cage is uncertain why his relationship with WWE, the world’s largest professional wrestling platform, turned bitter.
“[WWE] had me down in 2018, right after I got fired from Ring of Honor. Within a minute, you returned my email and invited me down,” he says. “And then I haven’t been back down since. I don’t have an issue. They do.”
Regarding the collection, Cage wasn’t concerned in enhancing however discovered the ultimate product to be correct.
“Absolutely. There were only maybe two slight little changes I would’ve made, but they were minuscule. It’s almost like a microphone in a scene or a Starbucks cup in a Game of Thrones scene. Other than that, they captured everything.”
Check out the collection on AppleTV+ and Listen to Cage’s M&F Reps podcast interview right here!