Today we’d like to introduce you to Julio Rodriguez.
Hi Julio, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I, Julio “El Chapin” , first started training to become a professional wrestler back in 2015. I have since worked with international companies like WWE, Japanese companies like New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) , and television companies like Women of Wrestling (WOW). I have accumulated all these experiences to working as an independent contractor from producing to performing as a referee or wrestler. I have know funded and help produce wrestling in the East LA area with a local promotion under the name, Grapple Labz, to bring family friendly lucha libre/pro wrestling to a city that has very little representation in the world of wrestling.
Since post-pandemic I have dedicated my time in working as a pro wrestling referee which has taken me to working with all women Japanese wrestlers, Joshi in Japan, to touring companies like RGR Lucha Libre that brings in major names from Mexico, and crossing the border to perform in front of thousands with The Crash!
I aim to produce the best pro wrestling in the West Coast and continue to try to not only represent my people of Guatemala but those who always strive to achieve the impossible goal. From trying to work with a major company, to being on tv, and even assisting people to traveling internationally I want to be the bridge that I didn’t have before.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As your least likely candidate to be a professional wrestler, I can with full confidence say that I not only had to find a road and pave it myself. I would search others to point me to a direction and try to create something for myself. I have worked in environments that I didn’t know the language or protocols yet navigated in a way others would’ve lost themselves in.
I have worked with Japanese companies in a pro wrestling environment that very few people get to work in. I had to learn the language of lucha libre which has it’s own cultural significance and way of learning. I had to work with major multi-million companies and trusted with ensuring a large scale show goes with as minimal issues as possible. I have toured from coast to coast and still work 16 hour days because of the love of this sport.
I pave my own path now which is why I help create Grapple Labz, a family friendly pro wrestling promotion that combines the best in people’s qualities to create a unique experience.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a pro wrestler we are all independent contractors which means we can go from camera operators, video editors, production assistants, performers, actors, managers, social media managers, and titles we make up just to get the job done. With so much to be done for a show our reward is a show that entertains not only us but hundreds of people. That is what we try to achieve through the hardships that is the business of professional wrestling, we take the roles so we can perform and create a joyous space that is pro wrestling.
Due to the live nature of pro wrestling we only have one take and gotta go with the flow. As pro wrestlers you only get one take and hope it is the best version of that take you can perform.
One of my earliest accomplishments I am proud of is working at Madison Square Garden in New York and supporting as a production assistant to ensure two major promotions produced a high quality show. My more recent accomplishment that I am proud of is being in the main event of a large scale show in Tijuana, Mexico for their 13 year anniversary show. Not many people get to be in the main event in Mexico but when you do that is a sign of respect in their culture that tells everyone that they can be trusted in that position.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned that after Covid-19 more people want to enjoy life by going out and more people have chosen to spend their time celebrating life by attending a wrestling show. After working with WWE post-pandemic I learned that there is money to be made in pro wrestling and it’s attainable with enough hard work. People can succeed in this business and I have seen more people achieve their dreams due to their burning desire to walk the path of professional wrestling.
Pricing:
- $20 General admission tickets
- $30 merchandise shirts
- $50 Meet & Greet combo (photo and signature)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grapplelabz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564727019364
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RGBrosEntertainment
Image Credits
https://www.facebook.com/justin.reznor
Justin Cotterell
