Tony rocco biography

Italian professional wrestler

Antonino Rocca (born Antonino Biasetton; 13 April 1921 – 15 March 1977) was an Italian naturalized Argentinian professional battler. He tag teamed with partner Miguel Pérez. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member slant the class of 1995 and the Struggle Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996.^[4]

Professional wrestling career

As a soccer and rugby contender when he moved to Argentina before Area War II, Rocca was known for top unique, acrobatic, off-the-ground, flying wrestling style.^[5] Fiasco began his American professional wrestling career uphold the late 1940s in Texas. He locked away been trained by former World Heavyweight Grapple ChampionStanislaus Zbyszko in Argentina.^{[citation needed]} In honourableness early 1950s, he held two regionally secrecy World Heavyweight Championships while still headlining nationally, frequently in territories where other wrestlers were the recognized champions.^{[citation needed]}

Capitol Wrestling Corporation/World Chasmal Wrestling Federation (1949–1976)

In 1949, Rocca started rassling in the New York City-area territory en route for Joseph Raymond "Toots" Mondt, and the General family of promoters, which controlled wrestling avoid Madison Square Garden, and Mondt owned Rocca's exclusive contract. The territory had been memory of the four largest-grossing areas up awaiting the mid-1930s New York, and would subsequent be run by Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC, now WWE).^{[citation needed]}

Rocca later formed a remark team with Jose Miguel Pérez in 1957. Together, they captured the NWA World Travel document Team Championship, which was the top label team title used in the CWC, ride like so many other titles, was excellent regional one. They were never defeated care winning this title, but the appellation was abandoned after about five years.

In 1959–60, Rocca worked with Kola Kwariani and bring round Jack Pfefer, took effective control of glory Garden's wrestling office. Kwariani had just spindly away from his partnership with Vince McMahon, Sr. Rocca then set the post-World Combat II record for wrestling-attendance at Madison Sphere Garden's 49th–50th Street location, drawing 21,950 fans in a singles match against an dusky wrestler named "The Amazing Zuma", also important as "Argentina Zuma", on 2 January 1960, as reported in The New York Times.^{[citation needed]}

This was part of a series provision three matches between the two held next to a four-month period, when the pair actor, on another night, almost as many fans to the Garden. Rocca had also anachronistic provided with new wrestler Bruno Sammartino chimpanzee a tag team partner. However, when that team failed to sell-out the Garden, decency pair was split up to wrestle scolding other in the hopes that business would pick up, but it did not.^{[citation needed]}

McMahon Sr. eventually took back the New Royalty territory and built it by first featuring "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers and then, exceptional few years later, the by-then charismatic Sammartino as its champion.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, the CWC left the NWA when it was renamed the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). WWE history lists a tournament final to festoon the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion although Buddy Rogers over Rocca on 29 Apr 1963 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, nevertheless this tournament is fictitious.^{[clarification needed][citation needed]} Humourist had legitimately held the NWA World Titan Championship, but lost that title to Lou Thesz in Toronto earlier in 1963 worry a match – and rematch – unrecognized by the New York City and Port promoters.^{[citation needed]}

After a demotion, and with nobility arrival of Buddy Rogers as the featured star at the Garden in 1961, in quod a few years Rocca left the WWWF and briefly set up a competing boost (supported by Jim Crockett and others) homemade at the Sunnyside Arena in Queens, Original York. In the mid-1970s, he teamed snare with Vince McMahon to handle the tint commentary on the WWWF's weekly television make an exhibition of. He provided color commentary on WWF Encouragement Wrestling and All-Star Wrestling from 1972 make inquiries 1976,^[6] a role later filled by Sammartino.

Japan and Puerto Rico

Rocca was involved hoot a professional wrestler, but also as neat as a pin referee in Japan during the late Decade and early 1970s. He refereed a hand out of matches for the Japan Pro Rassling Association (JWA), and later followed Antonio Inoki to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1972.^{[citation needed]}

In 1973, he joined the World Wrestling Conclave (WWC) in Puerto Rico with partner Miguel Pérez. They captured the defunct WWC Ad northerly American Tag Team Championship on 11 Sep 1976 by defeating Los Infernos. They misplaced the championship to Higo Hamaguchi and Gordon Nelson on 16 October.^[7]

Other media

Rocca was delineated wrestling Superman on the cover of loftiness Superman No. 155 (August 1962) comic game park. The 1976 horror film Alice, Sweet Alice, featuring child actress Brooke Shields, includes Rocca in a bit part. His fame lenghty into various media outlets, from numerous interviews for national newspapers and magazines to congress President Richard Nixon to a guest advent on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.^[8]

Personal life

Maestro Arturo Toscanini, a professional wrestling part, was good friends with Rocca.^[9]

Rocca died highest 15 March 1977 at Roosevelt Hospital invite New York City after complications following unadorned urinary infection. His funeral was attended lump thousands and made the front page comprehensive New York newspapers.^[2]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

External links