Opinion

Chad’s Throwback Spotlight: Gentleman Chris Adams

A look back at the career of Gentleman Chris Adams, and examine his impact on professional wrestling. (And of course, The Superkick!)

Published

5 years ago

May 3, 2020

Chad D. Aaron

Today, we are going to discuss yet another wrestler from the past that does not get the recognition he deserves. He was a top draw in the 1980’s, had legitimate fighting skills to back it all up, and gave wrestling one of its most well-known moves. Let’s talk today about “Gentleman” Chris Adams.

Adams grew up in England. He was, naturally, a gifted athlete and played a number of sports. He earned a blackbelt in judo and was a member of Great Britain’s 1980 Olympic team, although he did not compete. He soon turned to professional wrestling. Early on in his career in England, he crossed paths with a number of future stars in Fit Finlay, Dave Taylor, and both Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid.

As his star began to rise, he was given an opportunity to come to Los Angeles to wrestle for judo legend Gene LeBell. Now, Gene LeBell gained some acclaim in recent years due to Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s LeBell Lock finisher was named in honor of the former wrestler, promoter, judo coach, and Hollywood stunt coordinator. Adams proved to be a popular draw in the US, drawing interest for tours of Japan and Mexico, and from promoters up and down the west coast.

Adams, after a stint in the famous Portland territory, would make his most famous move, this time east to Texas. Adams was presented as a pen pal of Kevin Von Erich and slotted right along side the brothers in their legendary battles with the Fabulous Freebirds. He was good looking, popular, and wrestled an exciting style. He fit right into the World Class roster, and the crowds loved him.

As documented last week in my Throwback Slant, Adams famously turned on the Von Erichs and sided with Gino Hernandez in a brutal feud during 1985. Their battles ultimately cost Adams and Hernandez their hair, and later they split up with a dramatic blinding angle. Adams used the time off from the blinding angle to go home to England for a time. After Gino’s death, Adams was suddenly portrayed as a returning hero who had seen the error of his ways. Adams went on to win the WCWA title from Rick Rude, probably the top championship honor of his career.

As WCCW started to decline, Adams would bounce back and forth between World Class, Bill Watts’ Mid-South/UWF territory with moderate success. He would work for the USWA and GWF, both based in Dallas as well. He spent a couple years in the late 1990’s in WCW as enhancement talent, having a low-level feud with Glacier and wrestling Randy Savage on the first match of the debut episode of Thunder.

As his career started to wind down, Adams opened a wrestling school. Among his first pupils was one Steve Austin. Austin and Adams would end up working a program together for the USWA. Later on, Austin married a woman Adams had formerly been in a long-term relationship with, Jeanie Clarke. Legend has it, she was the one who gave Austin his “Stone Cold” moniker. So, that would mean Chris Adams was directly responsible for not only breaking in arguable the biggest star in the history of the business, but by introducing him to Clarke, he had an indirect hand in the gimmick tweak that propelled Austin to that superstardom. And while those two instances by themselves would probably guarantee his name would live on in some capacity, Adams’ most important legacy is something much different.

As a legit black belt, Adams incorporated much of his martial-arts training into his wrestling style. Now, martial-arts gimmicks had been around for decades, normally used by stereo-typical evil foreigners who did not speak any English. Adams was a novelty, a well-spoken Brit who looked nothing like those men. Included in that arsenal was a strong and sudden thrust kick, something that Adams later coined as the Superkick.

Now, he was not the first to use the move. We just said martial arts kicks had been a part of wrestling for decades. A fellow World Class competitor, The Great Kabuki, used a similar type of thrust kick during their WCCW tenure. But it was Adams extra side-step along with his quickness that gave his kick that something special that captured the audiences imagination.

Of course, Shawn Michaels took the move to new heights, using his Sweet Chin Music to win numerous WWF Championships. Originally just a move in his arsenal, Michaels was encouraged by Scott Hall to make the Superkick his finishing move. And it worked perfectly for him, just as it had for Chris Adams.

In the current era, it seems there are countless wrestlers who feature the Superkick as a regular part of their move set. Dolph Ziggler, The Young Bucks, The Usos, Seth Rollins, James Storm, Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Kevin Owens, among others, all have adapted The Gentleman’s signature move into their arsenals. We take for granted that the Superkick has always been part of wrestling, like a headlock or a suplex, but in all honesty, its place as a regular move is a fairly recent one and can all be traced back to Chris Adams.

Sadly, Adams, like so many from his generation, had issues throughout his life and career with alcohol and drugs. He was arrested on a number of occasions, including manslaughter charges in 2000 stemming from an incident where he, his then-girlfriend, and another acquaintance overdosed on GHB and the acquaintance did not survive. Adams and was shot and killed in 2001 during a drunken brawl with a friend at his home in Texas. He was 46 years old.

So, the next time you watch a Superkick Party on AEW, or see Dolph or Seth try and take someone’s head off in a WWE ring, stop for a moment and remember the man who brought that move to the forefront in the 80’s, and gave it its iconic name, Gentleman Chris Adams.

Until next time, watch some wrestling this week, stay safe, and never forget to #UseYourHead

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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

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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)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

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

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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

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