-1600x900.webp)
Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world. And with more than a dozen professional sports teams and major college athletic programs sprinkled throughout the greater Southern California landscape, it is no stretch calling this area the ultimate leader in sports.
Sports-entertainment fits right in.
From Los Angeles/Anaheim hosting six WWE WrestleMania events – the 2023 edition of the annual spectacle drew 161,000 fans to SoFi Stadium over two days – to other promotions often traveling west, this is indeed a traditional hotbed for wrasslin.
It makes total sense some of the all-time greats are from the Golden State.
“You can start with simple mathematics of demographics -- the population of Southern California is probably more than Canada, for example. More people, more talented athletes, which is somewhat obvious,” said Don Callis.
“Also factor in the lifestyle here. Much like the Hawaii wrestling territory,” the wrestling industry veteran continued, “some guys just don't want to leave, so you end up getting wrestlers who stay here longer and become associated with the state.”
Callis has traveled the world, drawing a check as a wrestler, manager, broadcaster, and executive. The proud Canadian loves it when he sees Los Angeles on his work calendar. Especially in the winter (Callis lives in frigid Winnipeg).
“I love the weather in LA. It’s 75 degrees no matter what time of year I come. I’m a big sunshine, beach guy. It is an opportunity to get a little business done while enjoying the weather, the LA restaurants, all the tremendous accommodations.
“I love my hotel in Beverly Hills. I love Runyon Canyon Park. I can be in Santa Monica in short time. It has everything.”
Mike Tenay lives in Las Vegas. He is a retired wrestling announcer and member of the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame. He constructed a list of the greatest wrestlers from California, and Callis offered his insight during a recent interview at LA Live.
How Tenay constructed his list is subjective. No matter his criteria, there was no lack of talent to choose from.
The Rock. Rey Mysterio. Samoa Joe. Big Van Vader. Yokozuna. Jim Neidhart. Gene LeBell. Pepper Gomez. Wilbur Snyder. The Usos. Those grapplers are Tenay’s Top Performers.
“I think Mike did pretty well with his list. I don’t agree with everything of course. But it’s hard.
“I'm surprised Mike didn't mention the Guerreros. Nick Bockwinkel with his history in California. I would argue Konnan and his great success, and Ray Stevens should be included. I didn’t even know The Rock was from California, so there you go.”
Callis focused on Vader (Lynwood native), Joe (Huntington Beach), and Mysterio (Chula Vista) the most.
“He was a power guy, but he also could work,” Callis said of Vader aka Leon White, a former player with the Los Angeles Rams no less.
“He could also do some high-flying stuff guys over 400 pounds generally do not do. And should not do.”
White grew up in Compton and went to Bell High School. He eventually competed in all the major wrestling companies as a monster heel and master of the powerbomb.
Known for his size (6-5, 450 pounds) and athletic ability (watch out for his moonsault), he passed away in 2018. His reputation of being incredibly stiff in the ring with his opponents was well-deserved. In a legendary match with Mick Foley, Foley’s ear caught in the ring ropes, tearing most of it off.
Samoa Joe and Callis are both currently part of the AEW wrestling promotion. Enjoying the nickname The Samoan Submission Machine, the 44-year-old Nuufolau Joel Seanoa is a top star after first entering the industry as a pro in 2001.
Joe was recently the AEW World Champion.
“Joe’s fantastic, and what a 15, 20-year career of hurting people. Joe's an impressive guy. He walks on the balls of his feet like an athlete. He is very vicious yet intellectually very gifted as well.”
Like Vader, Joe has the reputation of being legit tough. He was a California State Junior Judo Champion, and while he has never explored mixed martial arts, it’s clear his ring work is influenced by MMA along with individual training in kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai.
The smallest guy in the locker room is also a World Champion.
Opposite of White and Seanoa is Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio. Arguably the greatest cruiserweight and luchador of any generation, Rey Mysterio started wrestling in Mexico at age 14. In December he turns 50, yet he can be found on TV each week wrestling for WWE under a colorful mask.
“Rey Mysterio I thought was from Mexico. I don't know what Tenay is talking about there,” said Callis while laughing. “Rey’s style is super cool, and he remains very relevant, but talk about defying the odds at this size, especially early on.”
At 5-6 and 175 pounds, he works in a land of giants. His signature move – The 619 – pays homage to his San Diego roots. His 27-year-old son, Dominik, is a WWE anti-hero.
On the girl’s side, Riverside-born Ronda Rousey plays a big role helping put women’s wrestling on the map with her successful transition from UFC to WWE.
Ironically, two of the most accomplished pro wrestlers claim to be from Los Angeles. Or, specifically, a small beach community known for its quirky bohemian spirit.
It is hard to quantify what Hulk Hogan and Sting did for Venice Beach, but Hogan (Terry Bollea) is from Florida, and the icon Sting (Steve Borden) from North Carolina. Each week on national and international television, though, the two mega-stars were billed as being “from Venice Beach, California” to the roar of giant, adoring crowds.
You can’t buy that publicity.
Bollea starred in Hollywood films but nothing like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is from Hayward. His time in a WWE ring launched him to superstardom away from the squared circle.
Borden, like Callis and Joe, is part of the AEW Family. His final match was last March.
For Callis, being associated with the 65-year-old Borden, a multi time Hall of Famer, has been pure pleasure.
“You’d be hard pressed to find a guy who had a better career than Sting. Two very different gimmicks that both got equally over, and there's not many people who did that.
“You are talking about making money for three and a half decades and he’s been smart with his money. And then having just a career run with AEW has been special.
“He is also a real nice genuine person. He is a 10 out of 10 across the board.”
