Nicole Faso, Athletic Training ’15, joined WWE in 2019 as one of four athletic trainers for the company’s main talent roster, which includes the Raw and Smackdown brands. As WWE’s only female athletic trainer, Faso provides medical care primarily for the Smackdown performers on their live Friday night show, non-televised events and pay-per-views.
The Fredonia, New York, native credits her athletic training education, housed within the WVU School of Medicine, for preparing her for the fast-paced, smashmouth world of pro wrestling.
Q. How did you land on athletic training and WVU?
A. I tore my hip labrum from dance and instead of having surgery, I opted for rehab. Maggy Krauza Rule, who is a WVU athletic training alumna, was working at the PT clinic I was at and she talked to me about athletic training at WVU. Everything else just fell into place.
Q. Tell us about your duties at WWE.
A. At our shows I help set up the training room for the day, get our talent (athletes/superstars) ready (stretch, tape, etc.), complete intake physicals for our "extras" for the day, help set up a massage therapist for our talent for the day, and manage any injuries that may occur. If there are any emergencies that require an ER visit, one of the ATs would accompany the talent to the hospital as well, this includes while at the hotel or on tour as well. Outside of our scheduled events, we also help cover any guest appearances that include physicality for our talent. This could include music videos, game shows, TV shows and movies. Some of my duties outside of our shows include injury management, helping with licensing bloodwork and physicals, keeping up to date with concussion baselines, just to name a few.
Q. What's it like being the only female athletic trainer at WWE?
A. Humbling and exciting. It's becoming more common for female ATs to be present in professional sports, but for me being on the younger side with only about six years of experience when I was first hired, I'm so honored and thankful to be able to do what I love at this level. On the road, it makes it easier for us as a medical staff to evaluate any female talent with another female there, so they feel comfortable and able to come to us when needed.
Q. Being so close to the action, do you ever feel like stepping into the ring yourself?
A. I am always amazed by what our talent do in the ring, but I know I could never do what they do. They put in so much work and effort for their sport and I'm just as passionate about athletic training. I'm happy on the sidelines.
Q. Is there anything you learned at WVU that you apply to your job today at WWE?
A. My entire athletic training education is because of WVU. I definitely use that in my day-to-day at WWE, but outside of the curriculum, I would say professionalism. Working in a professional sport, that has so many fans, requires you to be conscious of your actions not just at work but while traveling to and from work. I am thankful for WVU in that aspect.
Q. Do you have any funny stories/interactions with the superstars that you'd like to share?
A. Some of my favorite memories so far have been on our overseas tours. I was able to go on a tour of Rottnest Island in Perth, Western Australia, with some of our talent and that was an amazing experience.
Q. What are some of the worst injuries you've tended to at WWE? And how did you handle those?
A. The injuries our talent suffer from are the same as any other sport, just with some added risks from ladders, tables and chairs (lol). I'm thankful to work with such an amazing medical staff that when injuries do occur. I know we have it covered and our talent are in great hands.
Q. What's been the most rewarding part of your job?
A. Being able to travel to all of these amazing places for my job. I get to go all over the world and see places I would never get to go on my own, all while doing the thing I love with amazing talent and coworkers. I couldn't be more blessed.
