Sharpe Brothers

Both men were tall in stature with athletic backgrounds[3] (Ben was an Olympian with the Canadian rowing team in 1936)[4] and served in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

In pursuit, they travelled to San Francisco after the war and rose to prominence in promoter Joe Malcewicz's territory as both singles and tag team wrestlers.

[5] In the mid-1950s, the Sharpe Brothers also began competing for Rikidozan's newly formed Japan Wrestling Association, becoming one of the most revered tag teams in Japanese history.

Both Sharpe brothers attended Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario and were accomplished athletes, particularly Ben who had competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics as part of the Canadian rowing team,.

Mike entered the Royal Canadian Airforce when he met the age requirement and, again due to his size, he was tasked with being an armourer, often loading bombs onto planes.

[11] The California territories offered access to Japan for those who could draw crowds and the Sharpe Brothers took up this opportunity when Japanese promoters came asking.

In February 1954 Rikidozan and Masahiko Kimura faced the Sharpe Brothers, which was seen by millions via Japanese TV, with many people viewing in front of shop windows.

[13] After retiring from in-ring competition, Ben entered into various business ventures, including opening a bar in San Francisco and a restaurant in Colma.

After contracting a leg infection and developing a fever, Ben went to bed at his son Michael's home in Kingsburg on 21 November 2001 and died in his sleep at the age of 85.