Important Announcement about SWA pic.twitter.com/jTbTPwwDDW
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 9, 2019
Former ECW, WCW and WWE star Lance Storm announced on Twitter today that his wrestling school will be closing. Storm wrote that the upcoming September 2019 training session at Storm Wrestling Academy will be his last and that at the end of the year SWA will be closing. In the statement, Storm also reassured fans that he’s not done with the wrestling industry and will make an announcement about his future at a later date. He explained that it’s time for him to once again redirect his life and wrestling career.
Storm started SWA in 2005 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the same city where he was trained, in the legendary Hart Family dungeon. “I over 20 years of experience in this industry as both a performer and instructor. I have worked extensively in Europe, Japan and, North America. I have experience
in almost every style of wrestling and can pass that knowledge on to you,” was saying Storm about his motivations to train the next generations of wrestlers.
Crazy to think Storm Wrestling Academy grads are now working in or have worked for:@njpwglobal @WWE @WWENXT @NXTUK @ringofhonor @IMPACTWRESTLING @SHIMMERwomen @we_are_stardom @MLW @LuchaUnderLAT #AAA#AllIn
As well as many top indies around the world. #SWAProud— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) July 11, 2019
WWE and NXT stars Tyler Breeze, Peyton Royce, Oney Lorcan, Rachael Ellering and Chelsea Green, Impact Wrestling Knockouts Taya Valkyrie and Tenille Dashwood are just a few names that trained at Storm Wrestling Academy. Lance Storm also trained indie talents such as Brian Pillman Jr, the son of his fellow Hart Dungeon trainee Brian Pillman, or Gisele Shaw. Last year, he welcomed Dominik, the son of Rey Mysterio, at the academy for a 3-month training session.
On their social media, his former students reacted to this news. Tyler Breeze wrote: “Crazy to think Lance has been training for 15 years already! I owe him a lot!” Taya Valkyrie thanked Storm, “Training at SWA changed my life and set me up for the path my career would take. I’m forever thankful for everything I learned there and the continued support Lance Storm has for me in and out of the ring. Thank you, Lance, for believing in me, thank you SWA for everything.” Brian Pillman Jr stated, “The final SWA session begins on my birthday! Same session I took in September of 2017. Do yourself a favor and catch this last class while you can!”
Well this is a loss to some potential future wrestlers. You were always the first recommendation I always gave. Your success rate was amazing and reflects your teaching…. but looking forward to hearing more https://t.co/3ONMZOCBUd
— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) August 9, 2019
Feature image courtesy of Rey Mysterio social media