Antonino Rocca

File:Antonino rocca.jpg

Antonino Rocca

Antonino Rocca (born Antonino Biasetton) was a professional wrestler from Argentina of Italian descent. He was an enormously popular "good guy" with both Italian-American and Hispanic audiences. As a former acrobat, he was known for his unique wrestling style, wowing audiences with his dazzling aerial maneuvers. He was responsible for the revival of the New York territory in the late 1940's, which would eventually become the modern day World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He became one of the most well-known wrestlers during the golden age of television. He also had a successful tag team career, forming a popular tandem with Miguel Perez. The two would draw large crowds to Madison Square Garden on a regular basis. Famous Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki took the first part of his stage name in honor of Rocca.

Profile

• Height: 6'
• Weight: 226 lbs
• Born: April 23 1928
• Hometown: Treviso, Italy
• Date of death: March 15, 1977, in New York, New York
• Trained by: Stanislaus Zbyszko
• Professional debut: 1942
• Previous identities: Argentine Rocca
• Finishing/signature move(s): Argentine Backbreaker, Airplane Spin, Backbreaker

Championships/Accomplishments

• 1-time WWF International Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NWA International Champion
• 2-time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time United States Tag Team Champion (with Miguel Perez)
• 1-time (Montreal) World International Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time (New York) World Tag Team Champion (with Miguel Perez)
• 1-time WWC North American Tag Team Champion (with Miguel Perez)
• 1-time AWA (Ohio) World Heavyweight Champion
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• He is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996)

Trivia

• He had a love for Opera, he was described as having an excellent - if untrained - singing voice.