Coach Hayes has worked with and around elite athletes across professional football and sports entertainment — including names like JJ Watt, Brian Cushing, DeAndre Hopkins, Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, Bron Breakker, and Bianca Belair.

His experience spans both the NFL and WWE performance environments, where the demands are different — but equally elite. From developing NFL-level explosiveness and on-field performance to preparing WWE superstars for the physical and aesthetic demands of global television, his background blends multiple worlds of high-level training.

Sean has played a major role particularly in developing athletes over the last 10+ years. In WWE, his main job was to help develop NXT talent into main roster performers. With the UFL, the main objective has been to help players elevate their game in hopes of making it to the NFL. 

That unique background is what separates 8th Street Gym.

It’s a system built on the blend of performance and aesthetics — developing athletes who are strong, explosive, and resilient, while also looking and feeling their best.

This approach is rooted in real experience and shaped by years of working in environments where performance matters, durability is critical, and results are expected.

8th Street Gym is built on a simple philosophy — training should improve performance, enhance the way you look, and hold up over time.

You should be getting better, feeling better, and able to train consistently without breaking down. Training isn’t meant to run you into the ground — it should build you up! The goal is progress you can sustain, not burnout you have to recover from.

The system blends the demands of high-level sport with the fundamentals of physique development. You’re developing strength, power, and explosiveness, while also using proven training methods that improve muscle development, movement quality, and overall durability. 

Every program is structured with intent. The foundation starts with the “R.O.A.D.- Map” framework — Release, Open, Activate, Detonate — preparing the body through soft tissue myofascial release work, mobility and activation exercises, as well as explosive movements that prime the body for the workout ahead.

From there, training is built around key pillars: strength, power, mobility, joint-friendly exercise selection, time under tension, and structured recovery.  Injury Protection and “Get Right” Circuits are integrated throughout the program — targeting common problem areas like ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and the low back — so you’re not just training hard, you’re building resilience.

Progress is measured, not guessed. From force plate data and bar speed to body composition, everything we do at 8th Street Gym is tracked and used to drive real performance results.