J-Rod’s journey into professional wrestling didn’t start in childhood like many others in the business. Instead, it came after a period of uncertainty, when she was trying to figure out what direction her life should take after college.
Speaking about her path during an appearance on Jasmin St. Claire’s Krazy Train podcast, J-Rod admitted that she didn’t grow up as a wrestling fan and initially had no clear vision for her future. She changed majors multiple times and considered more traditional career paths before realizing none of them truly fit.
“So, I started actually after college because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and I switched my major several times throughout college and I thought maybe a nurse or a teacher and nothing was really like clicking as like what is it that I can use my gifts and abilities for and do.”
That uncertainty ultimately led her to discover professional wrestling while searching for something that would give her purpose. Even though she didn’t have a lifelong connection to the business, she quickly became fully invested once she found it.
“And I actually found wrestling when I was in search of that of what I want to do for a living. And I came across wrestling and I wish that I had grown up watching it. So I had to do a bunch of research and back, do a lot of different like, I don’t know, figure out exactly what I wanted to do with my life and what it was that would give me purpose and passion.”
Once she committed, there was no hesitation. J-Rod made it clear that the moment she discovered wrestling, everything clicked into place in a way nothing else had before.
“And I found wrestling and I was like, ‘This is it. This is exactly what I want to do.’”
From there, she immediately began training with Rikishi and Reno Anoa’i at Knox Pro in California in 2021, where she focused on learning the fundamentals of the business. That foundation led to her in-ring debut in 2022, setting the stage for her rapid rise across multiple promotions.
J-Rod’s story stands out in an industry where many talents grow up watching wrestling from a young age. Instead, she found it later in life and approached it with a level of focus and intention that continues to shape her career today.
Do you think starting later gives wrestlers like J-Rod an advantage in terms of focus and perspective, or does growing up in the business still matter more? Drop your thoughts below and join the conversation.
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