Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Stanley.
Hi Jamie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always been a huge wrestling fan ever since first watching it with my older brother when I was 9 years old. From the minute I saw the larger-than-life characters I knew it was what I wanted to do. For the next few years, I watched every single Monday and Thursday night like clockwork, not missing a show. Whether it was wearing my favorite wrestler’s t-shirt or having ‘matches’ with my friends on the trampoline in my backyard, I was hooked.
As the years went by and I got into high school, sports, and planning for college, my passion for wrestling decreased a little, but I was always at least a casual fan and respected what the performers could do in the ring.
I played football in college for 4 years, and when that was done, I was left with a huge hole in my life where football had once been. After about a year of being a ‘civilian’ and working in sales, I knew that there was something missing. One night as a was flipping through TV channels, I happened to come across an episode of Monday Night RAW. That instantly flooded me with the nostalgia of how much fun I used to have and how much I loved wrestling. I thought to myself, ‘I wonder how hard it would be to even train to be a wrestler? They make it look so easy on TV; it can’t be that hard, can it?’ I had no idea.
After a quick Google search, I found there was a wrestling school run by a former WWE wrestler just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, where I was living at the time- only 5 minutes from my house! I took that as a sign from God that I had to go and give it a try. The very next day I showed up at the school, and after stepping into the ring, I knew I had found my calling.
I wrestled in Tennessee and around the southeast for a few years after that until 2020, when I felt another calling for me to make a change. I knew that the best wrestling was in Orlando, Florida, and if I wanted to be the best I could possibly be I had to train and wrestle with the best. I then decided to take a giant leap of faith and uproot my family (wife and 2 kids) from Nashville and move to Orlando- a place where we knew no one, no friends, no family, only a dream to chase (luckily, my wife is so awesome and said yes!).
We have been in Orlando for just over 2 years and could not be happier with our decision. We love this city, this area, and the people here and can’t wait to continue to flourish here and look to make a difference in the community around us!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Pro wrestling is the opposite of a smooth road. Our bodies are not meant to take the daily beatings that pro wrestling provides. Whether it’s wrestling multiple times a week, long nights on the road, or lack of sleep, it definitely take a toll on the body and is not for everyone. You really have to love this business if you’re going to survive.
I finally had a WWE tryout scheduled for March 2020 until the pandemic happened. We showed up that morning at the facility only to be told that since the world was shutting down, we had to turn around and fly home, not knowing when (or if) our tryout would be reschedule. Luckily after a year of waiting my tryout was reschedule to February 2021.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a professional wrestler (5 years) currently signed to the NWA and CYN Brands.
My ring name is ‘THAT DUDE’ Jamie Stanley, and I am the proud owner of America’s Jawline (patent pending).
I am the most handsome, talented, charismatic, and humble man in pro wrestling and am the (2-time) sexiest dad alive 😉
I have been a part of Nashville Improv, Nashville Acting Class, and the Mark Block Modeling Agency.
Any big plans?
I intend on using my platform to make a difference in as many lives as possible- letting everyone know that you can achieve your dreams if you work hard, believe in yourself, and follow your dreams.
I plan on helping make the NWA and CYN brands as big as possible.
This fall is going to be very busy for me as I will be out on the road virtually every weekend, wrestling across the country.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thejamiestanley@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejamiestanley
- Twitter: @thejamiestanley
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/thejamiestanley
- Other: linktr.ee/thejamiestanley
Image Credits
Sadiel Ruiz
Edward-Daniel
