Tracing its roots to the legendary Buddy Rogers, the Monster Factory remained, for many years, a wellspring of fundamentally sound pro wrestling talent. Today, its legacy lives on by way of a new school and a new promotion founded by its alumni.
TEXT BY LIZZY FLANAGAN
TUCKED AWAY IN THE quiet neighborhood of Paulsboro, New Jersey, there lies a gem of wrestling history. The Paulsboro Wrestling Club is an unsuspecting building—a little worn around the edges, sure, but there is a much deeper story under the surface. From 2011 on, it was home to the Monster Factory, one of the first publicly available wrestling schools established in the United States.
The Factory’s history dates back to 1984, when it was known as the Buddy Rogers Pro Wrestling School. Classes were originally held in a converted hangar at the Burlington County Airport before the school later found its way to Paulsboro. After helping the school get off the ground, the aging veteran Rogers stepped away, leaving it in the hands of coach “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. The school was promptly rechristened as the Champion’s Choice Pro Wrestling School before eventually becoming the Monster Factory. Under this title, Sharpe’s school would achieve international acclaim.
The Factory saw countless aspiring wrestlers walk through its front doors. Some of these wrestlers went on to become major stars: Damian Priest, Preston Vance, QT Marshall, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Steve Maclin, among others. The success of its alumni cemented the Monster Factory as one of the strongest wrestling academies in the country. In 2023, a Vox Media series about the school premiered on Apple TV, bringing further attention to its coaches and students.
The Factory saw countless aspiring wrestlers walk through its front doors. Some of these wrestlers went on to become major stars: Damian Priest, Preston Vance, QT Marshall, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Steve Maclin, among others. The success of its alumni cemented the Monster Factory as one of the strongest wrestling academies in the country. In 2011, the school was taken over by Danny Cage, who relocated it to Paulsboro. And, in 2023, a notable Vox Media series about the Factory premiered on Apple TV, bringing further attention to its coaches and students.
Alas, nothing lasts forever. After 40 years, the Monster Factory closed its proverbial doors on November 22, 2025, with the Paulsboro Wrestling Club remaining in operation as a facility for junior and high school amateur wrestlers. But to say the Factory, with its decades of history, went out on a high note would feel like an understatement; its final show was serendipitously its biggest annual event, Turkey Slam. The show was held at the famous 2300 (ECW) Arena. It was the perfect venue to lay to rest a local beacon of wrestling history.
In the opening match, fans saw the crowning of new Monster Factory tag team champions, Christian Darling & Stevie Brooks. Chris Desmond finally claimed revenge on Notorious Mimi, regaining the Monster Factory heavyweight championship in a Philly streetfight. It was a bloody fairytale ending, suitable for a wrestling school with so much love—so much blood, sweat, and tears—poured into it.
To conclude the affair, trainer Missy Sampson led a touching farewell to the Monster Factory, as well as a send-off for the affiliated promotion’s final set of champions. One thing was clear as the champions laid their belts in the ring: The fans in attendance were eager to follow these wrestlers into their next chapter.
Today, the Monster Factory is no more. But Travis Jacobs and David Goldy will be carrying on its legacy through their new venture, Lineage Pro Wrestling.
THE LINEAGE CONTINUES
Wrestler David Goldy is the owner of Lineage Pro Wrestling. Fans may recognize him from his appearances on GCW, AEW, and NJPW STRONG. He trained at the Monster Factory for eight years, in addition to honing his skills under Katsuyori Shibata at NJPW’s L.A. Dojo.
Goldy isn’t seeking to train Lineage’s students in any one style. Instead, he is looking to produce “complete, well-rounded wrestlers” by focusing on solid fundamentals, storytelling, and adaptability. “That way,” Goldy says, “our students can succeed anywhere, with any opponent. We create wrestlers that everyone will want to work with.”
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But as he looks to the future, Goldy will remember where he started. He hopes to carry the Monster Factory’s standard of excellence into Lineage Pro Wrestling:
If you came from the Monster Factory, people knew it without ever needing to ask. It showed in your work ethic, your fundamentals, your respect, your professionalism, your discipline. The way you carried yourself in and out of the ring. That’s the part I want to keep alive in Lineage. The name is changing, but that standard set over the past 40+ years isn’t.
Travis Jacobs will be stepping up as a coach and promoter for Lineage. He made his wrestling debut in 2017 and has since traveled across the East Coast. Most recently, Jacobs has made appearances for Major League Wrestling. He is a three-time Monster Factory heavyweight champion, so it’s safe to say he understands what made the school successful for so long.
Jacobs spoke to PWI about the significance of the word “lineage” in this new venture. “I feel the name is a fitting way to honor the past and what the Monster Factory represented, not only to the ones that walked its halls, but for the ones carrying the mantle today,” he said. “I truly feel that Goldy, Missy, and I will live up to that incredible standard.”
Missy Sampson, a member of the 2300 Arena’s Hardcore Hall of Fame, will also be lending her wisdom to Lineage Pro Wrestling. Missy made her professional wrestling debut in 1995 and has since garnered a reputation as one of the toughest women in the industry. She is eager to guide her former students into these uncharted waters.
While Lineage will be its own promotion, there are some aspects of the Monster Factory that Missy hopes to carry on. She points to their proven training program, as well as the school’s sense of community and inclusion.
Lineage Pro Wrestling is setting sail during an interesting, if not tumultuous time for the independent wrestling scene. While indie companies are certainly more in favor of collaboration over competition these days, keeping a wrestling school and promotion in operation is no easy task. It’s a good thing that Goldy, Jacobs, and Sampson have more than enough knowledge, experience, and passion to pursue such an arduous task.
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