We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lee Perfetto a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I was a big fan of watching pro wrestling throughout my childhood. So, in 2012 I found a wrestling school in Oroville, CA called Pro Championship Wrestling. A couple of friends and I decided to take the opportunity and risk of learning the trade.
I met Zack Reeb, the owner and primary trainer for the company. I helped to pay my training dues with video editing for the company as well, which is another skill in the wrestling world (and any world of media) that is very useful.
I definitely wish I had learned wrestling in high school. I could have easily gotten a leg-up on many of the basic grappling skills at a younger age, which would have sped up my learning process. And if I had ALSO been doing more theater in high school? I’d have the perfect killer combo to prepare me for pro wrestling.
While some mechanical tasks like lifting and keeping up on cardio depend on discipline, learning skills like how to read another wrestler’s movements, how to give energy to an audience, and also execute well-timed movements take a lot of time, a lot of practice, and a lot of trial and error. The best way I’ve found to improve is to seek out wrestlers who are better than me!
After a year of training, I got to make my debut.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Lee Perfetto. I’m from Northern California, and I started pro wrestling training in 2012 and graduated in 2013 from Pro Championship Wrestling under the tutelage of Zack Reeb. From then until 2017 I wrestled consistently, doing shows on weekends and traveling all over California. I had some injuries that I worked through and took a break for a few years working on physical therapy and doing lots of yoga. I moved to Oregon in 2020, and now I’m back in action wrestling in California, Oregon and Washington.
I believe there are 3 main factors to being a good wrestler that I take pride in investing in: talking well, good physique, and wrestling skill. I enjoy acting and making promo videos- I’m definitely a ham on camera and in the ring, and I like to seek out opponents who will challenge me and make me a better wrestler. I do my best to work out daily with lifting, yoga and jogging. I’m lucky to have a graphic designer for a wife who helps me by making me merchandise and event flyers. Wrestling takes a lot of networking and requires respect for everyone working in the industry, from top to bottom, from experienced wrestlers to the new . It requires a lot of improv in the ring and before matches, as people can get hurt, lineups can change, and moment by moment something can change with physical dynamics in the ring. It takes enthusiasm, passion, and quick wit while listening to your body. Wrestling is very real!
The main thing I want fans to know about me is that I love this business. I put everything into it that I can outside of making a living. I’ve had a lot of help along the way with trainers, mentors, family support, and my wife. It takes a lot of time, work, traveling, and bravery to take this on, and it’s not necessarily lucrative unless you hit the big time. Wrestling has to be a passion project above all else- not just a hobby.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Wrestling is a risky business because you can get hurt. Every time I go into the ring, I’m risking injury. I mentioned before that I had to work through an injury for a few years. That injury was because I worked with someone with less ring awareness and care for their opponents than was needed. They hit me in the temple with a kendo stick. I had multiple doctors tell me that I shouldn’t wrestle again due to the repercussions of this concussion. So, I stopped for a few years. It felt like I had taken something out of myself when I had to stop.
But, I didn’t want to give wrestling up for good, because it means so much to me. I’ve spent time healing, being kinder to my body, and didn’t decide to wrestle again until I felt sure I was physically capable. I spent time as a manager for other wrestlers to continue being involved in the industry until I was ready to wrestle again. I started back slowly with fewer matches farther between, and I’ve been careful to select wrestlers to fight who I know are experienced.
My wife always jokes that a true wrestler never stops being a wrestler.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to gain more wrestling opportunities across the United States and beyond! Wrestling is a cherished sport all over, and I’d love to connect with more people in the industry and show more fans what I can do. I’d love to be featured in a televised match someday. This is a very “what have you done for me lately?” business, so keeping relevant and active is a key factor to keeping up my momentum. Every time I step into the ring, I’m giving out my resume to anyone who doesn’t know who I am. I never know when this crazy ride will end or how, so while my body allows it I want to seize every opportunity and experience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leeperfetto19
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leeperfetto6453

Image Credits

Photo by Brandon Johnson