Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. has revealed that the recent fires forced him to shelve his professional wrestling aspirations, redirecting funds earmarked for his WWE ambitions toward securing his family’s safety and housing needs.
During a recent interview promoting his return to the horror franchise “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” Prinze Jr. candidly discussed how the natural disaster impacted his long-held dream of breaking into professional wrestling. “After the fires, I had to kind of put that dream on hold for a little bit, and we moved, and so my wrestling money went into a new house money,” he explained.
The 49-year-old actor, who previously worked for WWE in a behind-the-scenes capacity, emphasized that family safety took precedence over personal ambitions. “It was important to have to have a good place for the family where we all felt safe. And so that’s what we did,” he said, demonstrating the difficult but necessary prioritization many California residents faced during the crisis.
Despite the setback, Prinze Jr. remains committed to eventually pursuing his wrestling dreams. “It’s on hold, but I’m certainly not letting it die. That’s something that I really like,” he stated with determination. His passion for the sport remains undiminished, describing his enduring love for professional wrestling: “I’ll be, you know, older and grayer and still love professional wrestling the same way I fast forward to the fight scenes in a Jackie Chan movie.”
The actor’s wrestling aspirations aren’t merely casual interest. He explained his deep appreciation for the storytelling aspect of professional wrestling, saying, “I just love people fight. I love watching dudes punch each other in the face. I just think that’s awesome. And when there’s a story that goes with it, it’s pretty cool.”
Prinze Jr.’s revelation comes as he returns to the spotlight with the new “I Know What You Did Last Summer” sequel, hitting theaters nationwide. The film reunites him with Jennifer Love Hewitt, reprising their roles from the 1997 original horror hit. However, their characters face new challenges, with the former couple now divorced and dealing with the lasting trauma of their teenage ordeal.
The actor took a significant break from Hollywood after becoming a father, working briefly for WWE before returning to acting when his daughter showed interest in the profession. While the fires have temporarily derailed his wrestling timeline, Prinze Jr.’s aspirations to return to the wrestling world remain.