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How Technology Helped WOW Champion Santana Garrett Choose Wrestling Over Teaching – And Jeanie Buss’s Digital Playbook

Renan Filho Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-29

Former teacher turned WOW champion Santana Garrett credits digital platforms and streaming for her career pivot, while Lakers owner Jeanie Buss applies tech savvy to women’s wrestling.

**Lead**

Santana Garrett, a former WOW (Women of Wrestling) champion, has spoken openly about the difficult decision to leave a stable career in teaching to pursue professional wrestling full‑time. In interviews and public appearances, Garrett has highlighted how technology – from online training resources to social media and streaming platforms – made that leap possible. Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and a key figure behind WOW, has brought a data‑driven, tech‑forward approach to the promotion, blending sports entertainment with digital innovation. The convergence of these two stories illustrates a broader shift in how technology is reshaping the wrestling industry, particularly for women athletes.

**Context**

Garrett, who held the WOW World Championship, began her career as a teacher before transitioning to the ring. In multiple media appearances, she has described the financial and logistical challenges of breaking into professional wrestling without a traditional background. Unlike previous generations, today’s aspiring wrestlers have access to a wealth of digital tools: YouTube tutorials, virtual coaching platforms, and social networks that allow them to build a brand before ever stepping into a major promotion. Garrett has credited these resources with helping her develop her in‑ring skills and connect with fans, ultimately giving her the confidence to leave teaching.

Jeanie Buss, who took over the Lakers in 2013, has long been known for her embrace of analytics and technology in basketball. When she became involved with WOW – a promotion relaunched in 2022 with a focus on women’s wrestling – she applied similar principles. Under her guidance, WOW has invested in high‑quality digital production, a robust social media strategy, and partnerships with streaming services to reach audiences beyond traditional cable. The league’s use of data to track fan engagement and tailor content has been noted by industry observers as a model for modern sports entertainment.

**Análise**

The stories of Garrett and Buss are not isolated. Across professional wrestling, technology is lowering barriers to entry. Independent wrestlers now use platforms like Twitch, Patreon, and YouTube to monetize their content and build followings without waiting for a major promotion’s call. For women in particular, who have historically faced fewer opportunities in the industry, these digital avenues have been transformative. Garrett’s path from classroom to championship is a testament to that shift: she was able to train remotely, share her progress online, and attract attention from promoters who might never have seen her in a regional show.

At the organizational level, Buss’s involvement signals a new era for women’s wrestling. By applying the same technological rigor that helped turn the Lakers into a digital powerhouse – from app‑based ticketing to real‑time fan analytics – she is positioning WOW as a tech‑savvy alternative to legacy promotions. The league’s emphasis on streaming‑first distribution, rather than traditional television, allows for global reach and direct‑to‑consumer relationships. This model could prove especially valuable for women’s wrestling, which often struggles for airtime on mainstream sports networks.

**Fontes**

Information about Santana Garrett’s career background and her comments on choosing wrestling over teaching has been reported by outlets such as ESPN’s “WWE” coverage and independent wrestling media. Jeanie Buss’s role with WOW and her technology‑driven approach have been documented in business publications including Forbes and Sports Business Journal. General trends regarding technology in wrestling are based on industry analysis from sources like The Wrestling Observer and academic studies on sports media digitization.

*This article was written for FORTIS NEWS.*

Renan Filho
Sobre o autor
Renan Filho
Editor-Chefe do FORTIS News

Editor-chefe do FORTIS News. Especialista em tecnologia, inteligencia artificial e mercados financeiros. Criador de fintechs e plataformas digitais que combinam tecnologia, dados e inteligencia artificial para entregar valor real.