Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: San Francisco Wrestlers

Steve Cook continues his Chairshot Super Bowl Preview (what?) with a look at his Top 5 San Francisco Wrestlers!

Published

5 years ago

January 28, 2020

Steve Cook

Steve Cook continues his Chairshot Super Bowl Preview (what?) with a look at his Top 5 San Francisco Wrestlers!

Last week right around this time, we took a look at Kansas City’s Top 5 Wrestlers since the Chiefs made the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years. It hasn’t been that long of a drought for the San Francisco 49ers, though I’m sure their fans feel like it’s been that long. The 49ers have had their fair share of success over the years to say the least, as has their pro wrestling scene.

San Francisco was blessed with one of the best territorial promotions of its era. It was also the site of some very memorable events, including Eddie Guerrero’s WWE Championship victory over Brock Lesnar at No Way Out 2004 in quite possibly my favorite match of all time. I have different answers for that question depending on the day, but that was one of my absolute favorites for many reasons.

Today, we look at the top 5 folks to either hail from or bill themselves from San Francisco, or spend most of their career there.

5. Brutus Beefcake

Ol’ Bruti has become something of a punchline over the years. Its understandable if most of what you’ve seen from Brutus Beefcake took place after his parasailing accident in 1990. Mind you, Brutus was never one of the best workers in the business, but he could do some things and he was an over motorscooter in the late 1980s with the Barber gimmick. His team with Greg Valentine was pretty solid too. Unfortunately, Beefcake was never the same after getting his face destroyed, and he mainly got jobs for the rest of his career because he was Hulk Hogan’s best friend. There was a time where that wasn’t the only thing going for him.

He was also billed from San Francisco during the 1980s, which is why we mention him here.

4. Roy Shire

Shire was the founder & promoter of Big Time Wrestling, which became the NWA affiliate in San Francisco during the 1960s & 70s. The promotion was one of America’s hottest during its time period, known for an annual 18-man battle royal at the famous Cow Palace. Shire’s booking & concept of in-ring wrestling involving high spots & lots of action kept Northern California fans entertained until the AWA came in at the beginning of the 1980s.

Shire used the gimmick of “The Professor” during his in-ring career, and his promoting career proved he was one of the most intelligent people in the wrestling business during his time.

3. Ben & Mike Sharpe

The Sharpe Brothers dominated tag team wrestling in San Francisco throughout the 1950, holding the promotion’s tag team championships on eighteen separate occasions. The Canadians served in the military during World War II and were stationed in England when they discovered the art of pro wrestling. After the war ended, they moved to California and the rest was history. They dominated in San Francisco, and they were the first tremendously popular gaijin wrestlers in Japan.

I can’t say I’m familiar with Ben & Mike’s work, but I have seen quite a bit of Mike’s son. If you watched the WWF in the 1980s you probably saw “Iron” Mike Sharpe quite a bit in the role of losing to wrestlers that were on their way up the card. He was one of the louder people to ever work a match.

2. Rikishi & The Usos

My favorite story about San Francisco wrestling back in the day involves Rikishi’s uncles. As we know, Afa & Sika were billed as the Wild Samoans and became a legendary tag team. Before that, they were fans. They regularly attended shows in their hometown of San Francisco to support their uncle, the High Chief Peter Maivia. Maivia was a popular upper-card babyface that was typically used in the gatekeeper role. Wrestlers that could beat him were often the next challenger to the territory’s champion. These matches usually went on last, or they would end up being the last match on the show. Why? Because security at the venue wasn’t able to contain the riots that Afa & Sika would start on shows where their uncle lost.

Eventually, the folks in charge of things with the SF promotion figured out the best way to handle this issue. They got Afa & Sika smartened up & trained to be professional wrestlers. Then they got Afa & Sika the hell out of San Francisco! Rikishi’s mother & father stayed, and young Junior Fatu watched his uncles on television all the time. Wrestling was the only option for Rikishi, and became the only option for his sons when they grew up watching him as one of the most popular WWF superstars during the Attitude Era. Jimmy & Jey have gone on to be one of the most decorated tag teams in WWE history, following in the footsteps of their father, his uncles and everybody else in the Anoa’i family tree.

1. The Blonde Bombers (Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens)

We’re talking about two of the greatest workers of their era here, and they came together in San Francisco. No, not like that, you freaks. Well, probably not. Stevens had a number of wives. He’s also somebody that everybody that worked with him said was one of the greatest they’d ever been in the ring with. The Ric Flair/Shawn Michaels of his time. Nick Bockwinkel, another regular tag team partner of Stevens, and also one of the greatest workers of his time, said that Stevens sleep walking was better than he could ever hope to be.

Ray had teamed with Roy Shire prior to Roy taking over the San Francisco territory, and it was an easy decision for Roy to make to make Ray the top heel of his new promotion. His feud with Pepper Gomez culminated in the largest paying crowd to attend an event at the Cow Palace at the time. A poll conducted by the KTVU television station found that he was the most hated & the most popular wrestler on their show. Kind of like what John Cena would become later on. Stevens’ importance to the San Francisco wrestling scene was second to none, and he would be billed from San Francisco when he made his way to the WWF in the early 1980s.

Patterson was also a fantastic pro wrestler. He didn’t need to ride Stevens’ coattails to glory by any means, and later on they would have a memorable feud before reuniting in the AWA. Of course, we remember Pat more for his role behind the scenes as Vince McMahon’s right hand man and the mastermind behind the Royal Rumble & many other of WWE’s successful concepts. It bears mentioning that he learned a lot of what he knew under the learning tree of Roy Shire. The Rumble was Patterson taking a Shire idea of building a major show around a battle royal and adding onto it with a countdown clock between entrants instead of everybody just standing in the ring to start. It sounds simple to us here in 2020, but when Pat came up with it in 1988 it was mind-bending.

It seems like if you spend any time in San Francisco, you stick around for awhile. Patterson & Stevens weren’t native to the area, but they became so.

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

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THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

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SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1