We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ray Bruce. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ray below.

Ray, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

I think with any type of creative, free-spirited passion, people tend not to understand. This comes especially when their goals don’t align with yours. As any form of creator, you’re aware of the risks involved. Just the same as there’s risks at your daily 9-5.
I feel that people will doubt you and tell you to “hang it up” or “get a real job” because that’s what they did. It’s a comfort zone we settle into as a society. But what I cannot for the life of me understand, is why we tell children that they can be anything they want to be. Then the instant they turn 18, it’s time to hang the dreams up and goto work for their whole lives in hopes of retiring to “enjoy” the last few years of their lives.
Why do we do that? I believe it’s fear. Fear of the unknown, fear to take risks, fear to pay the cost of what it takes to make it in whatever venture you aspire to be in.
This isn’t to shame people for working a 9-5, it’s just from my experience, the ones who don’t understand your craft, your vision, or your goal, are the same ones who never chased theirs and “hung it up” before they could even discover who they are.
But just remember, they don’t have to understand. They are not you. If it brings you joy, do it. Do it, and do it unapologetically.
The more I receive the doubt and misunderstanding, it only fuels me to want it more.
So I tip my hat to those who doubt and cast judgement.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

As every good story does, this story starts at a Circle K. So allow me to take you back to Elyria, OH circa 2016.

I was a senior in HS. I was either on my way to or from basketball practice. Stopped in a circle k, saw a flyer for a local show called Mega Championship Wrestling.

“From Ashes We Rise”, April 9th, 2016.
I’ve always loved wrestling from as early as I can remember, so I really wanted to go. I took the flyer, asked my mom if she wanted to go with me, she’s taken me to wrestling shows before and she’s always been supportive, so naturally she said yes. She’s a ride or die.

I go back to Circle K in the following few days and bought 2 tickets (they were a ticket outlet for the show).

We showed up, and right then I knew it’s what I wanted to do. They had trainees working security. I asked one of them how to sign up or get involved. He pointed me in the direction of Brandon Xavier and Darren Davenport.
As it turned out, they ran a wrestling school attached to the promotion (still do). I got an email address and signed up to try out and train
.
Through the remainder of my senior year and through the summer going into freshman year of college, I trained and would get to work in a battle royal.
I took a hiatus for college, but trained when I could. I then came back to do another battle royal in the fall of 2017, but college consumed my life.

After a rash decision, I dropped out after my first semester of sophomore year and moved down to Nashville. Alot of life happened in the following years.
But during that time I was on a semi-pro football team called the Nashville Raiders. We never had a season. But Magic Jake Dumas played on that team with me. 5yrs later, 2023, I saw a Facebook post he made about a wrestling school called FXE, where he was a trainer.
I really missed it and wanted to get back into it. So I emailed them and got set up with a meeting and tour of the place.

Jake and other trainers had parted ways with the school, however, I was blessed enough that Jeremiah Plunkett and Leroy Jones (fka Ali Shabazz) were still training people when I came in. They helped knock the rust off of me and taught me so much, as they still do.

2025 would become my break-out rookie year of booking shows and making towns. It was on the road at an OVW show in Louisville, where I would meet film maker and former wrestler, Justin Sulham. Justin was working on a feature film, titled “Big Bad Betty”, to which I would be blessed to play a major supporting role in. Through Justin, not only would I begin my journey into the acting world, but would also make a lifelong friend.

As long winded as this back story is, if you’re still reading this, I thank you. The wrestling business is something that I am very passionate about and take serious pride in.

It takes a lot of time and devotion to do it if you want to get to the big show, but I love every minute of it. I would consider the business to be my wife. If this kid from Northeast Ohio knew the series of twists and turns his life would take, only to discover that it would come back to wrestling, and that it was the only constant thing that was always there for him. He’d marry it.

I’ve met some great people along the way and plan to keep them close and keep going. I’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’ll make it. I have no other option.

So when you ask “Who is Ray Bruce?”, the answer is that Ray Bruce is me. Whether you cheer me or boo me, there’s no denying that Ray Bruce is someone who is passionate and dedicated to his craft. He owes it to the wrestling business for being there for him and offering therapy when no one else was.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Share the posts, goto the shows, and buy the merch. We spend our time and hard earned money to invest in ourselves to entertain you through a channel we love.
We’re not making millions off of the indie scene. Everything we make goes right back into this. Your contributions mean more to us than you’ll ever know.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As selfish as it may sound, one of the most rewarding things to me is when I’m in the ring or on screen, I am totally invested in that time and space. I don’t worry about life’s problems, bills, or how I’m feeling that day. It’s very therapeutic.

It’s also very rewarding to see how I can inspire people. I truly adore the messages I get when someone tells me that I’ve inspired them to get in shape or chase their dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.redbubble.com/people/RayBruceMerch/shop
• Instagram: @raybruceofficial
• Facebook: @raybruceofficial
• Other: TikTok: @raybruceofficial

Image Credits

Brandon Gnetz
Screamify
KwuShot