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Best Upcoming Pro Wrestling Shows Near San Francisco

(credit: Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)

As evidenced by last year's WrestleMania at Levi's Stadium, professional wrestling remains very popular in the Bay Area. Although the WWE's recent California appearances didn't stop in the Bay Area, you might be surprised just how many independent pro wrestling events are held locally on a regular basis. What's more, tickets are far more affordable and you even might just get the chance to see a legendary professional wrestler up close and personal. Here are five of the best upcoming pro wrestling shows near San Francisco.

All Pro Wrestling Bay Area Bash
Pacelli Event Center
145 Lake Merced Blvd.
Daly City, CA 94105
(650) 991-8021
www.allprowrestling.com
Date: August 19, 2016

All Pro Wrestling will host a triple main event and a meet and greet when it returns to the Pacelli Event Center in Daly City. Going by the hashtag #BAYAREABASH, one of the trio of main events will feature a Six Man Tag Team match with current APW Universal Heavyweight Champion War Pig Jody Kristofferson, MVP and former champion JR Kratos versus "Golden Boy" Dylan Drake, another former heavyweight champion, Classic Conn. and "Dirty" Dan Ryckert. The second of the three headliners is a first time ever Attraction Match with the "King of Sleaze" Joey Ryan, a former PWG world and tag team champion and WWE legend X-Pac, a former WCW Cruiserweight Champion and WWF Light Heavyweight Champion. The third of the main events will present a Tag Team Super Bout with the current APW Tag Team Champion duo Luster the Legend and Adam Thornstowe, who compete under the name Reno Scum versus former PWG World Tag Team Champion Brian Cage and Sami Callihan, a former CZW world champion. Founded in 1991, All Pro Wrestling is known as the longest active independent professional wrestling promoter in California. Tickets for this event may be purchased in advance through Eventbrite or if still available, at the door.

Gold Rush Pro Wrestling's Golden Thrones Tournament
930 Oddstad Blvd.
Pacifica, CA  94044
(650) 219-1424
www.facebook.com/GoldRushProWrestling
Date: August 27

Gold Rush Pro Wrestling's next event at its Gold Mine training center will host eight mixed tag teams who will compete in a one-night tournament. Known as the Golden Thrones Tournament, each of the mixed tag teams will attempt to become King and Queen of the Gold Mine, which earns the winning duo the rights to have total control of the next event known as the 4th Golden Rule in October. Tickets for the event may be purchased in advance through Eventbrite. Founded in 2012, Gold Rush Pro Wrestling is a promoter based out of Pacifica, and in the past has hosted a number of fundraising events to local schools and organizations.

Hoodslam: Fanarchy Rules
Oakland Metro Operahouse
522 Second St.
Oakland, CA  94607
(510) 763-1146
www.birdswillfall.com
Date: September 2, 2016

Drawing upwards to a thousand wrestling fans, Hoodslam is an underground wrestling event held not far from Oakland's Jack London Square on the first Friday of every month. Founded by East Bay resident and pro wrestler Sam Khandaghabadi, who goes by the moniker The Sheik, Hoodslam first began as a free event but as the crowds grew larger, and with interest from local and national media, starting charging a very reasonable admission fee. Once named the "Best Theatrical Production" in the East Bay and one of the "Best Things to Do in the Bay Area," Hoodslam is far from being just an ordinary wrestling event. Instead, the monthly event is a mixture of burlesque, comedy and athleticism with a cast of bizarre competitors and other colorfully dressed characters. Although there is no seating inside the Oakland Metro Operahouse, fans will be able to stand right up at ringside.The monthly event is held not far from Jack London Square, has a full bar and is open only to those 21 and over. More information on the September Fanarchy Rules event can be found on Hoodslam's Facebook page.

Pro Wrestling Revolution
Plaza de Cesar Chavez
194 S. Market St.
San Jose, CA  95113
(408) 728-8318
www.prowrestling-revolution.com
Dates: September 3-4, 2016

One of the highlights of the Bacon Festival of America in downtown San Jose will be the appearance of several luchadores of the Pro Wrestling Revolution. Founded in 2008, Pro Wrestling Revolution is said to be a mixture of traditional American pro wrestling and lucha libre, the Mexican form of professional wrestling. Known for their colorful costumes and iconic masks, the luchadores will make two appearances at the San Jose Bacon Festival of America over the busy Labor Day holiday weekend. Entering its fourth year, the festival will be held in Plaza de Cesar Chavez and is expected to draw 15,000 visitors. Pro Wrestling Revolution has another Bay Area event scheduled the following week at the Napa Valley Expo.

Milo's Collectibles Wrestle Mayhem
57 N. White Road
San Jose, CA  95127
(408) 464-7260
wfcwrestling.wordpress.com
Date: September 17, 2016

Several pro wrestlers and a member of the WWF Hall of Fame will be on hand for a charity event at James Lick High School in San Jose. Hosted by Milo's Collectibles and Wrestling for Charity, the event will feature a meet and greet and autograph session with the wrestlers followed by the live pro wrestling show. Among the headliners scheduled to appear are former WWF Tag Team Champions The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher), former ECW Champion Shabu, former WWE and TNA star Shelly Martinez, who competed under the name Ariel. Also present will be WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "The Mouth of the South" Hart, the legendary manager of several pro wrestling legends including Hulk Hogan, The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), Greg "The Hammer " Valentine, The Million Dollar Man (Ted DiBiase) and the Honky Tonk Man. Tickets for the pro wrestling show and the meet and greet, which requires a separate fee, may be purchased at Milo's Collectibles in the Eastridge Mall.

Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer covering national/international travel for CBS Local and all things San Francisco for CBS San Francisco. In 2012, he received a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. He may be contacted via Twitter or Linkedin .

 

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