Former WWE wrestler partnering with Rusev for new training school
Rusev is partnering with one of his own trainers to launch a new pro wrestling school.
The school, named KECH Pro Wrestling Academy, is slated to open in Nashville next month. On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Rusev gave an update on plans for the project and revealed that former WWE wrestler Gangrel (David Heath) will be working there as a trainer. Gangrel already has experience in this type of role and is currently the head trainer at Coastal Championship Wrestling in Florida.
“We have Gangrel who’s going to be the other trainer as well,” Rusev said. “He is [moving to Nashville], yes. He’s a Florida guy, but he’s been screwed so many times by all these people who promise him things. And he’s helped me so much. He helped this other Bulgarian kid who came from Bulgaria to wrestle, Metal. He trained him as well. So it was time for me and him to do something that he’ll be able to finally be like, ‘Hey, this is it.’ He’s great, man. His training is great. It’s very old-school training. And maybe some people don’t want to hear that, but he’s real. He’s going to keep it real. He’s going to teach you real. He’s not going to be like, ‘Hey, let’s do a little bit of this, a little bit of that.’ No. He’s really big on basics, and that’s what people lack a lot of the times.”
Rusev said the school is slated for a mid-March opening. They’re catering to a wide net of students, ranging from already experienced wrestlers to kids as young as eight who can learn wrestling as an activity.
“The ring is ordered. The building is being, I already got the building,” Rusev said. “So officially should be probably mid-March, should be the grand opening. I’m really, really stoked, really excited for it.”
Rusev, who returned to WWE in 2025, is set to join Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes among the list of current WWE stars who own their own wrestling schools. Natalya and her husband TJ Wilson also operate their own invite-only training facility for established wrestlers.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.