Long Beach, New York, may not be the first town that comes to mind when thinking of professional wrestling, but its cultural and historical ties to the industry are far more significant than many fans realize. Nestled along the south shore of Long Island, this seaside city -- one of two cities on Long Island -- has produced influential figures, served as the backdrop for iconic wrestling events, and hosted a wide array of talent who shaped and continue to shape the world of sports entertainment.
One of Long Beach’s most distinguished wrestling exports is Paul Boesch, a former wrestler and legendary promoter known for his long-running "Houston Wrestling" territory; Boesch was also a decorated war hero. Boesch was born in Brooklyn but spent formative years in Long Beach, and his contributions to wrestling were immense. Through his Houston promotion, Boesch helped develop and showcase stars such as Junkyard Dog, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Sting, Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels, The Rock & Roll Express, Terry Funk, and Harley Race. He also worked closely with Andre The Giant and gave Bruce Prichard -- now one of WWE’s top executives -- his first break in the business.
As contributed by reader Mailman Nick and verified from several wrestling news sites, Boesch also worked directly with WWF in the 1980s. He served as a broadcaster and interviewer for WWF's Houston-based televised programming. A Paul Boesch retirement show was produced by WWF in 1987, as featuring commentary by Bruce Prichard and matches with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, Ted DiBiase, Terry Funk, Jim Duggan, Junkyard Dog, and Sherri Martel.
Another surprising historical note ties the Hart family to Long Beach. Stu and Helen Hart met while living in the area, and their eldest son, Smith Hart -- older brother to Bret and Owen Hart -- was born and raised there before the family moved to Canada. This little-known fact links one of wrestling’s most storied families directly to the town and adds another layer of legacy to Long Beach’s wrestling resume. A 2024 Paltrocast interview with Bret Hart about the Hart Family's ties to Long Beach -- including Bret Hart's mention of traveling through Long Beach last year -- can be heard here.
Per lifelong wrestling fan Joe Hasan in an interview done for Cauliflower Alley Club's The Ear newsletter: "Most people associate the Harts with Calgary and Canada. That Long Island can stake any claim to a piece of the Hart Dynasty’s legacy, is something which should make any local fan feel as proud as they are of connections influence as a whole." Bret Hart’s first WrestleMania partially took place at Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum; as pointed out by Hasan, ironically, Hart's match occurred in Chicago.
Venues throughout Long Beach have served as battlegrounds for wrestling talent over the years. Long Beach Stadium was known to host wrestling events in 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and Long Beach Junior High School is documented to have held 2 WWF live events in 1983, as featuring stars like Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Pedro Morales, Eddie Gilbert, Tony Atlas, and Mr. Fuji.
The city's MLK Center has also been a local wrestling hub, having hosted multiple independent shows. These events have included the likes of Robert Stone (then known as Robbie E), DJ Phat Pat (Patrick Fitzpatrick), Tony Nese, Mikey Whipwreck, Pat Buck, and Alex Reynolds.
Long Beach was also once home to a branch of The Wrestling Universe store, a well-known hub for wrestling memorabilia and superstar meet-and-greets. The location played host to signings featuring legends and rising stars alike—Mick Foley, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Ricky Starks, and AEW’s Max Caster among them. Caster, a Long Island native, even filmed one of his music videos at Shines in Long Beach -- which you can watch here -- blending hip-hop with his wrestling persona.
The area's wrestling roots also run through some of its residents. Matt Striker, former WWE commentator and ECW talent, once lived in Long Beach. Matt Cardona, known to WWE fans as Zack Ryder, also called the town home for a time and filmed episodes of his pioneering web series Z! True Long Island Story from there. Independent wrestling names like Bryce Donovan (a recent signee to WWE's ID program) and Patrick Fitzpatrick have also lived in Long Beach, adding to its indie wrestling credibility.
Cultural influence plays a major role in Long Beach’s connection to wrestling. MF DOOM, the acclaimed underground rapper known for his mask and enigmatic persona, grew up in the area. His early masks were based on a Kane mask from WWF, and WWE's Bronson Reed (formerly JONAH in IMPACT Wrestling) recently paid tribute to DOOM during a premium live event. Similarly, the late rapper Lil Peep, who also spent time in Long Beach, counted Finn Bálor among his fans, with the WWE star naming Peep as one of his favorite artists.
Music and wrestling also collide with Long Beach resident Joan Jett, who famously performed “Bad Reputation” live for Ronda Rousey’s WrestleMania 35 entrance. Rick Rubin, who grew up in nearby Lido Beach, co-founded the Def Jam record label before playing pivotal role in funding Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling in the 1990s. He has appeared at multiple WWE events and is frequently credited with helping bridge the gap between rock, rap, and wrestling. Among Rubin's credits as a producer are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, LL Cool J, Weezer, and Johnny Cash.
Pop culture crossovers add even more dimension. Billy Crystal, a Long Beach native, worked closely with Andre The Giant in The Princess Bride, helping solidify Andre’s legacy in mainstream entertainment. Actor Ed Lauter, another local, starred in The Longest Yard remake alongside wrestlers Bill Goldberg, Kevin Nash, The Great Khali, Steve Austin, and Bob Sapp. Meanwhile, legendary sports radio personality Mike Francesa, also from Long Beach, once found himself in a hilarious feud with WWE fans after dismissing WrestleMania on-air -- an incident that spread across sports media.
Long Beach has even made a mark on the creative side of WWE. Naomi Rosenblum, a prominent artist known for her contributions to WWE’s marketing and graphic design, has lived in the area. The town also has ties to Wide World of Sports, the iconic ABC show that occasionally aired wrestling matches in the 1970s, thanks to its creator Edgar Scherick residing locally.
Finally, Long Beach remains a relevant backdrop for modern wrestling activity. DMC of Run-DMC -- who performed live at WrestleMania V -- has made recent appearances at the Long Beach Public Library and Bright Eye Brewing. AEW World Champion MJF, another Long Island standout, taped a notable episode of the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz in a Long Beach apartment, continuing the town’s tradition of involvement in wrestling across generations.
From historic births to present-day podcasts, Long Beach, New York, has left an indelible imprint on professional wrestling. Its local names, venues, and pop culture influence collectively represent a fascinating chapter in wrestling’s broader story, blending tradition with innovation and neighborhood charm with global spectacle.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on June 11, 2025. Updated on June 14, 2025, June 18, 2025, June 20, 2025 and June 21, 2025.