Ric Flair's WWE debut opponent "Pistol" Pete Sanchez passes away
The WWE Universe is paying tribute to another wrestler this week after it was revealed that "Pistol" Pete Sanchez passed away. Sanchez was a familiar enhancement talent throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He was also Ric Flair's opponent for The Nature Boy's first-ever match inside a ring owned by the McMahon Family.
Pistol Pete made his debut in 1958 and wrestled for numerous promotions, including WWE, Stampede Wrestling, WWC, AWA, WCW, and various NWA territories. After debuting for Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1958, Sanchez continued working for the promotion when it changed its name to WWWF, then WWF in 1979. Ric Flair made his WWE debut on March 1, 1976, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He defeated Sanchez in just over 10 minutes in the 3rd match of the night.
Sanchez passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday, July 27. Sportskeeda Wrestling's Bill Apter made the unfortunate announcement in the video below, noting that the veteran grappler battled an illness for some time. Apter described Sanchez as one of the most pleasant people he'd ever met in the business.
Pistol Pete is often confused with WWE enhancement talent Pete Sanchez, who worked for the company from 1986 - 1989. His real name was Pete Cotto, and he passed away in 2021. The official WWE Encyclopedia mistakenly combined the two grapplers.
Pistol also worked as Gino Caruso and had matches with many notable names, including The Wild Samoans, Terry Funk, Bobby Eaton, Harley Race, Carlos Colon, Ivan Koloff, and then-WWE Champion Buddy Rogers, among others.
Sanchez held the WWC North American Tag Team Championship with Colon in 1974. He also had five other tag team championship reigns in the NWA territories: the NWA United States Tag Team Championship of Ohio with Carlos Milano, the NWA International Tag Team Championship of Calgary with Bill Cody twice, and the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship with Gary Young twice.
Sanchez was interviewed by a Portland, Maine newspaper in September 1976, where he claimed he made around $48,000 per year as a pro wrestler, according to Slam Wrestling. He recalled wrestling four nights per week for the prior four years straight, estimating that matches were lasting about 15 minutes, so he spent around one hour per week in the ring. The kayfabe-protected interview noted that Sanchez owned part of a seafood restaurant in New York City, which could not be confirmed.
A visitation for Sanchez is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, from 4-8pm at the Demoro Funeral Home on Route 33 in Millstone Township, New Jersey. A funeral service will take place during visitation, and the cremation will be private.