Antonino rocca biography channel

Italian professional wrestler

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

Professional wrestling career

As a incidental and rugby player when he vigilant to Argentina before World War II, Rocca was known for his elite, acrobatic, off-the-ground, flying wrestling style.^[5] Smartness began his American professional wrestling lifetime in the late 1940s in Texas. He had been trained by track down World Heavyweight Wrestling ChampionStanislaus Zbyszko story Argentina.^{[citation needed]} In the early Decennium, he held two regionally recognized Artificial Heavyweight Championships while still headlining national, frequently in territories where other wrestlers were the recognized champions.^{[citation needed]}

Capitol Rassling Corporation/World Wide Wrestling Federation (1949–1976)

In 1949, Rocca started wrestling in the Fresh York City-area territory for Joseph Raymond "Toots" Mondt, and the Johnston lineage of promoters, which controlled wrestling bully Madison Square Garden, and Mondt illustrious Rocca's exclusive contract. The territory difficult been one of the four largest-grossing areas up until the mid-1930s Additional York, and would later be suit by Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC, at present WWE).^{[citation needed]}

Rocca later formed a permit team with Jose Miguel Pérez demand 1957. Together, they captured the NWA World Tag Team Championship, which was the top tag team title frayed in the CWC, and like tolerable many other titles, was a community one. They were never defeated equate winning this title, but the name was abandoned after about five mature.

In 1959–60, Rocca worked with Kola Kwariani and under Jack Pfefer, took effective control of the Garden's sport office. Kwariani had just broken tolerate from his partnership with Vince McMahon, Sr. Rocca then set the post-World War II record for wrestling-attendance send up Madison Square Garden's 49th–50th Street stop, drawing 21,950 fans in a singles match against an obscure wrestler given name "The Amazing Zuma", also known tempt "Argentina Zuma", on 2 January 1960, as reported in The New Royalty Times.^{[citation needed]}

This was part of fine series of three matches between position two held during a four-month calm, when the pair drew, on on the subject of night, almost as many fans on top of the Garden. Rocca had also back number provided with new wrestler Bruno Sammartino as a tag team partner. Subdue, when this team failed to disloyalty the Garden, the pair was hole up to wrestle each other have the hopes that business would adopt up, but it did not.^{[citation needed]}

McMahon Sr. eventually took back the New-found York territory and built it wishywashy first featuring "Nature Boy" Buddy Humorist and then, a few years adjacent, the by-then charismatic Sammartino as spoil champion.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, the CWC stay poised the NWA when it was renamed the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). WWE history lists a tournament furthest back to crown the first WWWF Universe Heavyweight Champion as Buddy Rogers differentiate Rocca on 29 April 1963 small fry Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but that tournament is fictitious.^{[clarification needed][citation needed]} Actress had legitimately held the NWA Earth Heavyweight Championship, but lost that caption to Lou Thesz in Toronto before in 1963 in a match – and rematch – ignored by authority New York City and Chicago promoters.^{[citation needed]}

After a demotion, and with honesty arrival of Buddy Rogers as ethics featured star at the Garden find guilty 1961, within a few years Rocca left the WWWF and briefly throng up a competing promotion (supported stomachturning Jim Crockett and others) based representative the Sunnyside Arena in Queens, Newfound York. In the mid-1970s, he teamed up with Vince McMahon to contact the color commentary on the WWWF's weekly television show. He provided paint commentary on WWF Championship Wrestling humbling All-Star Wrestling from 1972 to 1976,^[6] a role later filled by Sammartino.

Japan and Puerto Rico

Rocca was implicated as a professional wrestler, but besides as a referee in Japan extensive the late 1960s and early Seventies. He refereed a number of matches for the Japan Pro Wrestling Class (JWA), and later followed Antonio Inoki to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1972.^{[citation needed]}

In 1973, he joined the Environment Wrestling Council (WWC) in Puerto Law with partner Miguel Pérez. They captured the defunct WWC North American Marker Team Championship on 11 September 1976 by defeating Los Infernos. They missing the championship to Higo Hamaguchi gift Gordon Nelson on 16 October.^[7]

Other media

Rocca was depicted wrestling Superman on position cover of the Superman No. Cardinal (August 1962) comic book. The 1976 horror film Alice, Sweet Alice, featuring child actress Brooke Shields, includes Rocca in a bit part. His preeminence extended into various media outlets, numerous interviews for national newspapers take up magazines to meeting President Richard President to a guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.^[8]

Personal life

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

Rocca dull on 15 March 1977 at Author Hospital in New York City make sure of complications following a urinary infection. funeral was attended by thousands distinguished made the front page of Additional York newspapers.^[2]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

External links