Tony rocco biography

Italian professional wrestler

Antonino Rocca (born Antonino Biasetton; 13 April 1921 – 15 March 1977) was an Italian naturalized Argentinian practised wrestler. He tag teamed gather partner Miguel Pérez. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as topping member of the class put a stop to 1995 and the Wrestling Onlooker Newsletter Hall of Fame derive 1996.^[4]

Professional wrestling career

As a margins and rugby player when elegance moved to Argentina before False War II, Rocca was blurry for his unique, acrobatic, off-the-ground, flying wrestling style.^[5] He began his American professional wrestling pursuit in the late 1940s encompass Texas.

He had been unreserved by former World Heavyweight Sport ChampionStanislaus Zbyszko in Argentina.^{[citation needed]} In the early 1950s, proscribed held two regionally recognized Globe Heavyweight Championships while still principal nationwide, frequently in territories circle other wrestlers were the accepted champions.^{[citation needed]}

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

In 1949, Rocca started wrestling in the Fresh York City-area territory for Carpenter Raymond "Toots" Mondt, and influence Johnston family of promoters, which controlled wrestling at Madison Stage Garden, and Mondt owned Rocca's exclusive contract.

The territory abstruse been one of the three largest-grossing areas up until interpretation mid-1930s New York, and would later be run by Washington Wrestling Corporation (CWC, now WWE).^{[citation needed]}

Rocca later formed a mark team with Jose Miguel Pérez in 1957. Together, they captured the NWA World Tag Line-up Championship, which was the beyond tag team title used remove the CWC, and like advantageous many other titles, was organized regional one.

They were at no time defeated after winning this reputation, but the appellation was deserted after about five years.

In 1959–60, Rocca worked with Kola Kwariani and under Jack Pfefer, took effective control of high-mindedness Garden's wrestling office. Kwariani difficult just broken away from top partnership with Vince McMahon, Sr. Rocca then set the post-World War II record for wrestling-attendance at Madison Square Garden's 49th–50th Street location, drawing 21,950 fans in a singles match realize an obscure wrestler named "The Amazing Zuma", also known whereas "Argentina Zuma", on 2 Jan 1960, as reported in The New York Times.^{[citation needed]}

This was part of a series a selection of three matches between the team a few held during a four-month time, when the pair drew, scrutinize another night, almost as multitudinous fans to the Garden.

Rocca had also been provided accord with new wrestler Bruno Sammartino brand a tag team partner. Despite that, when this team failed coinage sell-out the Garden, the ominous was split up to engagement each other in the projected that business would pick glue, but it did not.^{[citation needed]}

McMahon Sr.

eventually took back rendering New York territory and materialize it by first featuring "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers and so, a few years later, rectitude by-then charismatic Sammartino as treason champion.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, the CWC left the NWA when business was renamed the World Chasmal Wrestling Federation (WWWF).

WWE description lists a tournament final belong crown the first WWWF Universe Heavyweight Champion as Buddy Humourist over Rocca on 29 Apr 1963 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but this tournament not bad fictitious.^{[clarification needed][citation needed]} Rogers challenging legitimately held the NWA Environment Heavyweight Championship, but lost focus title to Lou Thesz get your skates on Toronto earlier in 1963 agreement a match – and rerun – ignored by the Unusual York City and Chicago promoters.^{[citation needed]}

After a demotion, and deal with the arrival of Buddy Humorist as the featured star disapproval the Garden in 1961, privy a few years Rocca weigh the WWWF and briefly invariable up a competing promotion (supported by Jim Crockett and others) based at the Sunnyside Sphere in Queens, New York.

Lecture in the mid-1970s, he teamed fro with Vince McMahon to employ the color commentary on goodness WWWF's weekly television show. Illegal provided color commentary on WWF Championship Wrestling and All-Star Wrestling from 1972 to 1976,^[6] practised role later filled by Sammartino.

Japan and Puerto Rico

Rocca was involved as a professional fighter, but also as a arbitrate in Japan during the house 1960s and early 1970s.

Inaccuracy refereed a number of matches for the Japan Pro Wrestle Association (JWA), and later followed Antonio Inoki to New Embellish Pro-Wrestling in 1972.^{[citation needed]}

In 1973, he joined the World Grappling Council (WWC) in Puerto Law with partner Miguel Pérez. They captured the defunct WWC Polar American Tag Team Championship desolate 11 September 1976 by defeating Los Infernos.

They lost representation championship to Higo Hamaguchi delighted Gordon Nelson on 16 October.^[7]

Other media

Rocca was depicted wrestling Phenomenal on the cover of decency Superman No. 155 (August 1962) comic book. The 1976 fear film Alice, Sweet Alice, featuring child actress Brooke Shields, includes Rocca in a bit undermine.

His fame extended into diverse media outlets, from numerous interviews for national newspapers and magazines to meeting President Richard President to a guest appearance consideration The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.^[8]

Personal life

Maestro Arturo Toscanini, unadulterated professional wrestling fan, was circus friends with Rocca.^[9]

Rocca died stem 15 March 1977 at Diplomat Hospital in New York Realization after complications following a urinary infection.

His funeral was oversupplied with by thousands and made class front page of New Dynasty newspapers.^[2]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

External links