When fans discuss the formative years of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), the conversation often turns to the chaos, irreverence, and creativity that defined the promotion. At the heart of that early wave was Chris Bosh, a brash and talented wrestler from Beverly Hills, California, who became one of the promotion’s defining heels of the mid-2000s. With a style equal parts arrogance and athleticism, Bosh made his mark in a short six-year run before retiring young. His influence remains a key part of PWG’s legacy.
Early Life and Training
Christopher Hancock, born July 28, 1948, in Beverly Hills, California, grew up with the kind of charisma and confidence that would translate naturally into professional wrestling. Inspired by the Southern California independent wrestling boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s, he pursued training under American Wild Child at the Revolution Pro Rudos Dojo. This environment, rooted in hybrid lucha libre and indie wrestling styles, was a hotbed for future stars like Super Dragon, Scorpio Sky, and Disco Machine.
Revolution Pro Wrestling: The Foundation (2002–2003)
Bosh debuted in November 2002 at Revolution Pro’s Fight For The Revolution battle royal. At first, he played the clean-cut babyface, but it was not long before his natural cockiness led him to embrace the role of a heel.
In Rev Pro, Bosh joined forces with Rising Son and Disco Machine to form the faction Aggressive Thrill Attraction (A.T.A.), setting the stage for the kind of faction warfare he would later become known for in PWG. He developed rivalries with The Aerial Xpress (Scorpio Sky and Quicksilver) and Super Dragon, carving his name into the SoCal scene.
Bosh also captured the Mexican Lucha Libre Heavyweight Championship, the promotion’s top prize, after defeating Super Dragon. He carried the title until the promotion’s closure, eventually losing it to Top Gun Talwar at their final event.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla: Arrogance and Dynasty (2003–2008)
When PWG held its first show on July 26, 2003, Bosh was there, losing to Excalibur but setting the tone for what would become a central role in the company.
Early Tag Team Success
Soon after debuting, Bosh teamed with Quicksilver in PWG’s inaugural tag team tournament, though they were eliminated by Joey Ryan and Scott Lost. In a twist of fate, he would soon be linked with Lost, forming the infamous duo Arrogance.
Together, Chris Bosh and Scott Lost became one of the most dominant tag teams in PWG history. In October 2003, they won the PWG World Tag Team Championship and went on to hold the belts for an impressive 273 days, the longest reign in the company at the time. Their blend of cocky promos, underhanded tactics, and teamwork made them a centerpiece of PWG’s young tag division.
Battle of Los Angeles Champion (2005)
Bosh’s greatest singles accomplishment came in 2005, when he won the first-ever Battle of Los Angeles (BOLA)tournament. He defeated some of the best talent in the world, including El Generico, James Gibson (Jamie Noble), Quicksilver, and finally AJ Styles in the tournament final.
Bosh’s BOLA victory marked him as a top star in PWG, though he never captured the PWG World Championship. His attempts against Kevin Steen and Joey Ryan fell short, often due to controversial finishes that fit his heel persona.
The Dynasty
By 2006, Arrogance had expanded into something larger. Alongside Joey Ryan and Scorpio Sky, Bosh and Lost formed The Dynasty, a dominant heel faction in PWG. With Ryan as the World Champion and Arrogance holding the tag titles, The Dynasty controlled much of PWG’s top scene.
The group’s brash promos, constant interference, and unapologetic arrogance turned them into the villains that PWG fans loved to hate. Their dominance helped elevate the prestige of PWG’s titles and fueled feuds that drew passionate crowds.
Later Tag Team Runs
Bosh and Lost regained the tag titles in 2006 with help from The Dynasty but lost them later that year to Super Dragon and B-Boy. In 2007, they competed in the Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament (DDT4) but were eliminated early by Japanese standouts Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino.
Retirement and Final Matches (2007–2008)
By mid-2007, Chris Bosh announced he was stepping away from professional wrestling, citing burnout and a desire to move on with his life. His combination of talent and youth made the retirement surprising, but like many of his peers in the SoCal scene, Bosh had always viewed wrestling as a passion rather than a lifelong career.
He made one final appearance on July 6, 2008, at PWG’s Life During Wartime (the company’s fifth anniversary show). On that night, he wrestled his former Dynasty partner Scorpio Sky in a singles match. Though he lost, the bout served as a fitting sendoff for one of PWG’s foundational figures.
Style and Persona
Chris Bosh’s in-ring style was a hybrid of SoCal technical wrestling and aerial moves, infused with a heel persona that oozed arrogance. His promos were infamous for their cocky tone and biting humor, often designed to rile up the crowd and his opponents.
His partnership with Scott Lost as Arrogance is remembered for the duo’s incredible chemistry, both in-ring and on the microphone. Their cocky, Hollywood-inspired characters perfectly fit PWG’s tongue-in-cheek, self-aware brand of wrestling.
Legacy
Though Chris Bosh’s wrestling career was relatively short, his impact on PWG and the Southern California independent scene is undeniable:
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First Battle of Los Angeles winner (2005): Cementing himself in history as the inaugural champion of PWG’s most prestigious tournament.
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Three-time PWG Tag Team Champion: With reigns that helped establish the importance of the titles, especially his record-setting run with Scott Lost.
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Pioneer of PWG’s irreverent style: His promos, matches, and heel antics helped give the promotion its unique identity.
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Influence on SoCal wrestling: His work with Revolution Pro and PWG inspired future stars who would go on to global stages like WWE, AEW, and NJPW.
While not as widely known as peers like Super Dragon or Kevin Steen, Bosh was a vital piece of the puzzle that made PWG a proving ground for some of the best wrestlers in the world.
Life After Wrestling
Following his retirement in 2008, Chris Bosh stepped away from the wrestling spotlight. He eventually settled in Texas, where he lives with his wife and owns a farm. The quiet life is a stark contrast to the arrogant, spotlight-hungry character he played in the ring, but it reflects his desire for stability after years in the wild world of independent wrestling.
Conclusion
Chris Bosh’s wrestling career might not have lasted decades, but it burned brightly in the six years he competed. As part of Arrogance, The Dynasty, and as the first-ever BOLA winner, he became a cornerstone of PWG’s golden early years. His cocky persona and undeniable in-ring talent ensured that even though he retired young, his place in independent wrestling history is secure.
For fans of PWG, Chris Bosh will always be remembered as the man who embodied arrogance—and helped build the foundation of one of the most beloved independent promotions in the world.
