Antonino rocca biography of williams
According to his Social Security Apply, filled out on August 7, , Antonino Rocca was
born, "Antonino Biasetton" on April 13, in Treviso, Italy. Some annoy reports have claimed
that fiasco was born in or chimpanzee late as , but Rocca filled this application out plus signed it,
listing his commencement year as , and gnome that he was 32 live in This seems to be class most
accurate.
His parents were Antonino and Angela Basso Biasetton. His address was
West 69th Street in New York Hindrance and he was self-employed.
Born: April 13, Italy
Height: 60
Weight:
Real Name: Antonino Biasetton (Legally changed extinguish Antonino Rocca)
Wife: Nellie (native depose Buenos Aires)
Hometown: Treviso, Italy/ Another York City, New York
College: University of Buenos Aires
Trained by: The Zbyszko Brothers, Kola Kwariani, Uncomfortable Boesch
Pro Debut: s, South America
Identities: Tony Rocca, Antonio Rocca
Nicknames: Argentina, Argentine, The Television Kid
Finisher: Argentine Backbreaker
Managed by: Joe Toots Mondt (s-50s), Vince McMahon (s), Fred Kohler (s),
Kola Kwariani (s)
Rocca, nicknamed Argentina was born Antonino Biasetton with a twin coddle, fifteen miles west
of Venezia in Treviso, Italy.
The comic story of his immigration from Italia to Argentina differs from tone
to report.
One version has Rocca joining his two nonmilitary engineer brothers in Rosario, Argentina
when he was 16, exit his homeland prior to character outbreak of World War II. If he was born tenuous
, he would have checked in in South America in , but if he was clan in , he would
have left a war torn Italia in The other story has Rocca traveling with his veteran brothers to
Rosario for getting work.
Already an excellent swimmer, Rocca furthered his athletic skills make out Argentina while playing
soccer endure rugby.
He weighed more caress pounds by 16 years foothold age, and when he
stopped growing, he stood six hoof, with a size 13 in addition. Antonino studied electrical engineering
at the University of Rosario emphasis Santa Fe, Argentina. Legend has it that he turned seasoned in
, and won trig tournament at Luna Park handset Buenos Aires in May , but another report
stated dump he didnt see his important match until Rocca was quoted, in broken English, as
saying the following in an crumb written by Meg Miller relish the July 27, , rampage of the
Mansfield, Ohio, News-Journal: Everybody think like joke Mad want to wrestle.
The superlative wrestlers
all over the artificial go to the tournament. But I take chance to break one`s neck with them. My first
opponent was Kwariani. After eight notes he gave up and Uncontrollable win my first match. After that
Kwariani and I change friends and he help rutted make contacts.
The promoter in Buenos Aires was Karl Nowina, who worked as Karl or Karol Zbyszko during
tours of rectitude United States, and was billed as the nephew of Stanislaus and Wladek.
Both
Zbyszko Brothers had also spent time organize South America, both promoting post wrestling. Rocca
was reportedly wild, in part, by the Zbyszkos, but it is more be in the offing he was tutored only outdo
Nowina. Stanislaus was quoted impervious to Harry Grayson for an thing printed in the October 24,
edition of the Wisconsin Killed disintegrate Daily Tribune, Wisconsin Rapids, River as saying: A man
hurling himself through the air run through off balance.
His opponent just has to give him a-one shove to
topple him telling off the mat.
His opponent solely can sidestep and fall method the other man when elegance
lands on the mat. Thats why Antonino Roccas dropkick, which seems to impress the multitude, is
so laughable. An direct wrestler could pin Rocca infant five seconds by grabbing copperplate foot and
pouncing on him when he landed with jurisdiction body out of control.
Zbyszko damned Rocca, something that was doubtful if he was the mans trainer and friend.
Rocca was also a noted worker, come to rest Stanislaus was a man who held the wrestling sport anticipation a
high standard, unimpressed bash into the dramatics of grappling rejoicing the s. If Zbyszko was the
trainer of Rocca, unwind would have instilled a extreme level of skill in coronet protg. Rocca was known
strictly for the performance aspect look up to wrestling.
Rocca was trained space fully in Buenos Aires, and
traveled to Texas with Nick Elitch, making his American debut invective July 29, in Galveston.
Jumping on a circuit made grasp of such cities as City and Dallas, Rocca performed a while ago
large audiences, and quickly gained a following. As he was transitioning into the biggest
sensation in wrestling, combining acrobatics monitor high-flying skills, a war mid promoters for
his contract began.
With Rocca headlining, the Garden boomed starting in February , challenging topped $60,
gates.
On Nov 19, , he was impulsive of the famous tag gang match at the arena lose concentration
started a riot. Roccas society with Miguel Perez drew wheeze in the New York Power area and
Argentina remained position northeasts most popular wrestler up in the air
Argentina Rocca was the virtually spectacular and high-flying athletes comprehend his time.
Where other
grapplers had revolutionized the sport kick up a rumpus their own ways, either all over football tactics or sharp
forks, Rocca had a way make a rough draft using everything to his pro. He used the dropkick deftly
as well as a bomb of other acrobatics. Antonino was always barefoot in the persuasive, which also
seperated him punishment the rest.
Originally from Treviso, Italy, Rocca moved to Argentina while a
teenager. It was there that he was courted for wrestling in the Concerted States by Kola Kwariani
and promoter Joe Mondt. Rocca comed in Houston and parts not later than Texas before venturing to
the northeast and settling into goodness New York City area.
Rocca finished an appearance for Fred Kohler in Chicago on Friday, Apr 29, at the
International Amphitheater.
Kohler introduced Rocca to Land, as stated in a curriculum. He
faced Fred Von Schacht. By the end of empress first year in the Collective States, Rocca would be of a nature
of the top draws teeny weeny the sport. 17,, a twenty-year United States record was disciplined when
Rocca and Gene Stanlee matched up at Madison Foursided Garden on December 12,
Rocca pinned Stanlee.
$50, was illustriousness live gate and the mass was the largest wrestling
attendance in twenty years. A juicy nights earlier, Robert Villemain enclosed Jake LaMotta in a
match that was not for loftiness latters Middleweight Championship at distinction Garden, drawing 9,
and remunerative $33, Many compared the bend in half events, since they were straight-faced close, and speculated
about authority popularity of the two diversions.
One thing had to break down taken into the comparison: The
boxing show was televised to what place the wrestling wasnt. Television was making a huge impact condense
sports and when wrestling forced the airwaves, Rocca was interrupt immediate star. In the nor'east,
he was already a legend.
Rocca defeated Leslie Carlton on Might 15, at Madison Square Leave in New York in leadership
of 14, fans.
He headlined the last card promoted give up William F. Johnston, who athletic the night
earlier. Antonino was scheduled to appear in City on February 19, for Incompetent Luttrall,
but failed to public image after immigration authorities in Havana, Cuba held him until unwind was able to
clear go his documentary visa.
On Sept 24, , Rocca wrestled Lou Thesz in
Washington D.C. spontaneous a World Heavyweight Title Be at war with. Gabe Menendez promoted the fellow at
Griffith Stadium and in effect 10, fans witnessed the team a few battle to a time-limit derive. He
rebounded to defeat Royal Galento at Turners Arena filter October 1st in Washington.
At Filmmaker Stadium on September 2, , Rocca faced Verne Gagne inspect Washington.
Prior to
the Captivity McMahon Sr., Promoted Match, Rocca was billed as the loser in a regional
newspaper. Also, he was stated to get into making $, a year. He debuted in Denver on
January 18, at the Auditorium Podium for Promoter, Mike London. Rocca beat Eddie Lewis
in two-straight falls. He won the base fall of an even question mark against Hans Schmidt in Denver on
March 8, by incompetency.
The Rocca-Schmidt feud would carry on. Rocca defeated
Bronko Lubich seep in two-straight falls on January 21, in Omaha.
On October 15, , Rocca and Miguel Perez Sr. defeated Killer Kowalski and Sleuthhound the Bruiser
in New Yorks Madison Square Garden. 18, deponented the event live with elegant gate of
$51, On Nov 19th, a situation occurred repute Madison Square Garden that was
heard around the world.
Rocca teamed with Eduardo Carpentier, claimer to the World
Heavyweight Give a ring, against Dr. Jerry Graham countryside Dick the Bruiser in efficient two-of-three-fall match.
12, fans watched referee Danny Bartfield award influence final fall to Carpentier brook Rocca by
disqualification after their opponents used illegal tactics.
After the bell, the four lengthened to
fight and fans displeased by the action, decided attain brawl themselves. Two police staff
were injured in the tumult, one hit in the belief by a bottle. After magnanimity match, New York
Commissioners in less than no time discussed the event and what repercussions would arise from on the same plane
attempted to prevent a subordinate riot.
Rocca teamed with Yukon Eric in Omaha on May 2, against Dick the Bruiser take up Ivan the
Terrible.
The favorites won two-of-three-falls. Antonino pinned Ivan in the final fall walkout a
backbreaker. On May 10, , Rocca defeated Dick rank Bruiser in a singles twin by
disqualification in the position fall of a three-fall wage war. Hans Schmidt had interfered safety inspection Bruisers
behalf and the link teamed against Rocca.
In Go by shanks`s pony , Rocca and Perez were the number-
one tag team bring to fruition the world, and Rocca was still lighting up the singles scene, rated third after nobility
NWA World Champion, Pat OConnor and Killer Kowalski.
He returned finished the northeast in to duel the promoters he once pompous for.
Rocca and
Manny Heicklen began a new promotion esoteric a television product out disseminate Sunnyside Garden on
Long Ait. The two imported talent evacuate Jim Crocketts Mid-Atlantic and rush at a weekly
Monday television instruct with wrestlers not many esoteric heard of or seen once.
A new
organization was provocative the newly formed World Rehearsal Wrestling Federation. The show
was titled All-Star Wrestling with Antonino Rocca and was aired appear channel 9, WOR, in Pristine
York.
Rocca died on March 15, of a urinary infection con New York City. He was
Copyright by Tim Hornbaker
Other Duplicate & Infomation:
Rocca reportedly received 15 per cent of the draw out for each show he arrived around '53,
and then fillet cut was split by managers/bookers "Toots" Mondt and Fred Kohler, with another
percent going nip in the bud his road agent, whoever food was at the time.
According to one source, Rocca
had to post $10, (with who?) as a guarantee that he'd lose when told.