By Kari Williams

“Spitfire” Davey Vega spent nearly three months of his three and a half year wrestling career in Philadelphia, PA. He trained at CHIKARA Wrestle Factory under the tutelage of Mike Quackenbush, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli. After two weeks, Quackenbush moved Vega to the advanced class.

“Mike Quackenbush had us do 10-minute matches with each other, and I will never forget the compliment that he paid me. He said for me only being there the six weeks that I was there….With the five or six weeks I was in the advanced class, he never saw somebody catch on as quickly as I did. And I took that to heart,” said Vega.

Vega attended his first two-month training session in 2008 and returned to the City of Brotherly Love earlier this year. Spitfire initially contacted Quackenbush through e-mail in early 2008.

“Chikara was the first place I ever wanted to train at, and I found out that I had the means to do some training up there so I jumped at it,” said Vega.

"Spitfire" Davey Vega takes on Adam Rich in Dupo, IL for Independent Hardcore Wrestling (IHW) in the St. Louis Invitational Tournament. Photo by Brian Kelley

In time his there, Quackenbush pushed Vega beyond even his own expectations for himself.

“He had us line up outside of the ring, and he would show us lucha moves, and we literally did this, each guy would get in the ring and do it with the guy before [him] and that guy that just did it would do it with the guy after that.

“And we got up to the point where we were doing—I think the highest we got was 16 moves—like 16 step lucha spots…which…on average it was about two to three minutes per person to get through. That’s six minutes of being in the ring going full tilt at one point, and once you get out of the ring you’re at the back of the line just huffing and puffing like, ‘Man, when’s this going to end,’ but it was definitely great, definitely great to learn that,” said Vega.

Chikara Wrestle Factory teaches a wide variety of techniques. According to the Chikara Wreste Factory Website the program, “teaches fundamentals as well as advanced techniques in all types of wrestling. Lucha Libre, Puroresu, European (Catch/Lancashire style), Mixed Martial Arts and Pro-Wrestling are all part of the regular curriculum.”

His first match back in Lethal Wrestling Alliance (LWA) reaped the benefits of his training, as he earned a hardfought victory over Adam Rich to win the LWA Medallion of Torment.

Vega and Gary the Barnowl teamed up for the CHIKARA King of Trios Tournament earlier this year. Photo Courtesy of Gary the Barnowl

Prior to his sessions in Pennsylvania, Vega contacted Dingo and began training at Dynamo Pro Training Gym. Since that time, Spitfire’s career has taken him across the Midwest, to Texas, Kansas and even Canada.

“The company I worked for in Vancouver is called ECCW who are pretty reputable in their part of town. I was in a four-way scramble with MANTHER, Jamie Diaz and Tony Baroni, who are all up and comers but definitely have bright futures ahead of them,” said Vega.

His time in the Great White North gave him more exposure and allowed him to work with a new group of wrestlers.

“It was definitely a good experience and a lot different than most the feds I have worked for, outside of LWA and Dynamo. I had a good showing, and they are bringing me back July 24 for one of their shows. I got to work in Canada and not many people in this area can put that on their resume,” said Vega.

In April 2008, Vega had the opportunity to wrestle on a Juggalo Championship Wrestling show against Former WWE Tag Team Champions The Basham Brothers with 2 Tuff Tony.

“It was a blast [working with the Bashams]. It’s not everyday you get to work talent like them, and the funny thing is that I wasn’t even supposed to be in the match, but someone no-showed. Right place, right time I suppose,” said Vega.

Although working with former WWE talent was the highlight of Spitfire’s career, his favorite match occurred in his home promotion, LWA.

Vega takes on Brandon Aarons at the Aug. 1, 2008 NWA-CSW show in Fenton, MO. Photo by Brian Kelley

“I’m going to have to say my TLC match at Yuletide Terror of 2008. I tagged with Dingo against the Ego Express. It is my favorite match because I actually got to be on the same team as my trainer and work along side him, and I got to wrestle the Ego Express, who is a great tag team in themselves,” said Vega.

With training at Chikara added to his resume, and his current position as a Dynamo Trainee, Vega continues to improve every time he steps in the ring.

“Chikara is right behind ROH in terms of exposure and popularity so you have to bring your A game even during training. If you aren’t in a decent amount of shape you will be stuck in the beginners class until you are conditioned to get through the workouts. Luckily I was prepared and was able to hang with their workouts. I would definitely say cardio is a plus when training with them,” said Vega.

From the bright-eyed eight-year-old boy who witnessed Savio Vega take on “Stone Cold” Steven Austin at an In Your House Pay-per-view to the well-rounded, determined athlete who hopes to journey to Japan one day, Vega has transformed himself, and his career, into one worth remembering.