On this episode of Get Your Bell Rung, KG welcomes veteran pro wrestler Pat Tanaka for a deep, honest, and surprisingly self-reflective conversation about a life spent in and around the wrestling business. Best known for his time in Bad Company, The Orient Express, the AWA, WWF/WWE, WCW, and ECW, Tanaka looks back on his career with a level of honesty you do not always hear from someone with his résumé.
Pat talks about growing up as the son of Duke Keomuka, being around the business from a very young age, setting up rings as a kid, traveling seven days a week, and eventually becoming a referee before stepping into the ring himself. He explains why refereeing was one of the best learning experiences he could have had, how it taught him timing, psychology, crowd control, and how to be in the right place at the right time.
From there, the conversation gets into Pat’s training under Hiro Matsuda, the brutal discipline of the dojo system, his early time in Japan, and the pressure of trying to follow in the footsteps of his father. Tanaka is very open about his own insecurities as a performer, saying he never felt like he had the charisma of the biggest stars, even though he could work, bump, and hold his own in the ring.
What makes this interview stand out is how candid Pat Tanaka is about himself. He does not romanticize everything. He talks openly about mistakes, substance use, self-doubt, the physical toll of wrestling, and the difference between being a great worker and being a top-drawing star. At the same time, he clearly still loves the business, the people he worked with, and the opportunities wrestling gave him.
This is a must-listen for fans of territory wrestling, the AWA, late-80s/early-90s WWF, The Orient Express, Bad Company, and anyone interested in the real road stories behind the wrestling business.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhfzPXRnSGE
