With years of experience, multiple championships and accolades under his belt, VINNIE VAIN is one of Australian Wrestling’s hottest prospects. Here, he shares his training and diet regimes and a few tips for success…
How and why did you decide to get into professional wrestling?
I grew up watching WWE and was in awe of the larger-than-life characters like The Rock, Eddie Guerrero, Randy Orton, John Cena, etc… and into my teens and early adulthood my interest in professional wrestling never faded. When I turned 25, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in business and commerce (marketing), had just purchased my own place and gotten married. Although these are all things I wanted, I felt I’d never actually pursued “a passion”. So, I set my sights on my next goal and investigated where I could learn to become a professional wrestler. I went to a try-out held by a local academy, started training and seven years later here I am – “The Bad Guy” Vinnie Vain – sitting pretty, winning championships and making headlines on the Australian independent wrestling scene.
Tells us why you went with your stage name Vinnie Vain?
The academy I trained at were looking to move me into performing on live shows – they believed I had enough skill to start working in front of an audience to develop my craft. However, in professional wrestling, you need a character or “gimmick”, and the promoter of the show needed a “pretty, young, flashy guy” so to quote him, “You’re pretty vain, always worried about your hair and look – I want to call you something vain.” I didn’t know whether to be insulted or take it as a compliment, but the first name that popped into my head was Vinnie – at the time I was binge watching Entourage – and so from there Vinnie Vain was born.
Describe your normal training day.
I’m in the gym at 6:15a.m. for a solid and intense 45-minute weight session, then get home, have breakfast (pre-made 50g plain oats, 50g mixed berries, 30g protein supplement powder and skim milk), get showered and be ready for my nine to five job as a leading digital marketing manager. During the day I tend to eat various healthy snacks like an apple, peanut butter or a high-protein yogurt, protein muesli bars, beef jerky… and lunch is usually a high protein based meal. After work I go home to spend time with my daughter and wife – the two biggest priorities in my life – and then have a healthy dinner which is high protein, good carbs, etc… Afterwards I do a really quick abs workout and just run through various exercises, crunches, leg raises, plank, flutter kicks, bicycle crunch, etc. Then I try to sink another protein shake and spend some time to unwind which can entail “watching tape” of various wrestlers and matches as a way to study, learn and perfect my craft. I’m usually asleep by 11p.m..
How often do you train?
I train three to four days per week focusing on weights; one day for wrestling-specific cardio, drills and techniques to improve and stay “ring ready”. I train abs most days of the week and try to also get a few runs in each week. My advice to anyone looking to improve their fitness is to find your own path. You are an individual, your body is unique and your goals are your own. I don’t care about what anyone thinks about my body – except me. I love my body and as long as I did the best I could with the 24 hours I had to wake-up a better person physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, I am happy.
Is there any specific training you need to do in your profession?
With wrestling you need to learn the art, the basics, fundamentals and even then you need to keep learning and developing – it’s never ending. You need to keep training to stay in shape and develop as a performer and the character you portray. This is very much a cosmetic business and you need to look the part. My character is “The Bad Guy” – I’m a flashy, pretty boy and my body needs to look the part. I wear leather pants when I wrestle, and my upper body is exposed, so I focus a lot on my abs but also pay a lot of attention to my chest, shoulders, back and arms. Cardio is also super important. Wrestling has its peaks and valleys in a match – one second you’re on your back looking up at the lights, the next you’re on your feet leap frogging your opponent ready to give them a massive drop kick. Your cardiovascular strength and endurance is just as important as general muscle strength.
How do you prepare for your shows?
I make sure I at least get that quick run in or do some type of ab workout, or even 50 burpees in my hotel room at 1a.m. if I’m away on business. The hard part of preparation is staying disciplined with eating habits. I love a Big Mac just as much as the next guy, but I try to eat clean as much I can. I’m by no means great at it, and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so sometimes you just need to eat the damn donut. But with preparation comes the grooming – haircuts, laser, waxing, tanning… As I said, it’s a cosmetic business and I play a “pretty boy”, so I need to always make sure I look my best on any given week.
Do you have any rituals before you go out and hit the ring?
Usually a sugar-free Red Bull, a Lenny and Larry’s protein cookie and a hug from my daughter. Those are the main rituals, but I also go through a morning routine where I have a very solid breakfast – sometimes on show day things can get busy real quick, so I make sure I’m fuelled up. By this time, depending where and what show I’m working, I generally have a road buddy “Christian the ref”, where we travel together, kick back and talk some smack.
Do you have any superstitions?
Yes – always pack extra underwear and socks. Now, this may sound gross but I have a specific style of underwear that matches my costume. It may look like I’m always wearing the same, but I have about 15 different pairs of this one style so I assure you they are clean!
What things do you need to look out for during a show?
You really need to make sure everything is aligned. Looking good is not just physical – when you are mentally and emotionally good, this comes out in your physical appearance and there is so much emphasis on the physical that many don’t realise that our mental state has so much of an impact on this.
ACHIEVEMENTS
● Future Wrestling Australia Mercury Champion (2021)
● Kingdom Wrestling Entertainment 600 Champion (2021)
● Hunter Valley Wrestling Elite Champion (2019)
● Two-time Australian Wrestling Entertainment Champion (2017, 2018)
● Australian Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Champion (2016)
● Mario Milano Contenders Cup Winner (2017)
Describe the mental strength needed to do what you do?
You need to be mentally strong because the wrestling business is full of fans and critics who sit there and judge everything you do – from the moment you walk out the curtain to the moment you go backstage after your match. Unfortunately, the IWC (Internet wrestling community) is full of trolls who will diminish you online, yet never have the guts to say anything to your face. Sometimes their words can get to you. When I started out, I used to read a lot of negativities on these forums and Facebook groups and let it bring me down. But as I matured, I learned that their opinions don’t dictate who I am as a person, behind the character, or even the performer I present to them. Some love what I do and others don’t and that is OK. I’ve learnt to be mentally resilient and to focus on why I am doing this and the joy it brings me.
What goes through your mind during a show?
When I’m out there I’m trying to make sure that the crowd are reacting as they should be based on the story that me and my opponent are trying to tell in that ring. Its entertainment so I want to make sure that the fans are exactly that – entertained. It really comes down to me focusing on the outcome and staying positive.
How do you stay focussed?
I really just try to block out everything. For me, wrestling is an escape from the stresses of life, it’s my place where I can go and leave all my troubles at the door. I’m fortunate I have this – others in life drink or turn to drugs to get that same feeling, so I tell myself that I’m a) lucky to be in this position; and b) as my mum says, “Remember who the f—k you are”. That is enough inspiration for me to go out and do my best.
What’s the worst injury you’ve had and how did it happen?
I’ve had a few but the worst in the sense of the most painful is going to sound utterly ridiculous. I was working a tables, ladders and chairs match where I needed to climb the ladder and reach the championship belt to win. I put my opponent in the corner and wedged him there with the bottom of the ladder leaning on the middle rope to create a ramp. I intended to run up the ladder and drop kick him straight in the face, but as I ran up I misplaced my foot and scraped my shin going through the ladder rungs. At the time I was more embarrassed that I did this in front of a packed house of fans but when I got backstage afterwards I realised I pulled the skin all the way back up to my knee. There was blood and skin all over my pants. The profanities that came next!
Finally, what advice do you have for those wanting to do what you do?
As cliché as it sounds, my advice is simply to believe in yourself and be disciplined. If it means getting out of bed at 6a.m. to get that workout in – get up. If it means saying no to the junk food – say no. All my successes in and out of wrestling have come from showing up and doing your best. You don’t have to be the best – you simply need to do your best. If you approach anything in life with this philosophy, I assure you, success will come. ■
THE STATS
NAME: Vinnie Vain
BORN: July 1, 1988
LIVES: Sydney NSW
NICKNAME: “The Bad Guy”
HEIGHT: 180cm
WEIGHT: 70kg
STYLE: High Flyer
FINISHER: Vanity Fair (Spinning Neckbreaker)
FACEBOOK: VinnieVainWrestler
INSTAGRAM/TWITTER/TIKTOK: @vinnie_vain
Photographed by New Photography
Interview By Santi Pintado
For the full article grab the May 2022 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
