Angelo Savoldi
Encyclopedia
Angelo Savoldi is an Italian-American
former professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently the world's oldest wrestler at the age of 97.
descent, he learned wrestling at a YMCA
near his home in Hoboken, New Jersey
. It was the Great Depression
and Fornini decided to attempt to make a living by turning professional in 1937. He began his career in New York
and was given the name Angelo Savoldi by promoter Jack Pfefer
. Savoldi moved on to Boston
and then Puerto Rico
, becoming the first American to main event in that region.
It was in the 1950s that Savoldi became a star in the Oklahoma
region, as a junior heavyweight (a term for lightweight). Wrestling as a heel
nicknamed The Vampire, he held the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
three times between 1958 and 1960. Another nickname he held during his career was Little Jumping Joe, after the Notre Dame
fullback
-turned wrestler, "Jumping Joe" Savoldi
. Wrestling publications have claimed a blood relation between the two, but Joe Savoldi was wrestling under his real last name and the two are in fact unrelated.
Some of the more famous wrestlers Angelo faced during his career include Verne Gagne
, Arnold Skaaland
, Stu Hart
, Antonino Rocca
and Dory Funk, Sr.
His most memorable feud
was with Danny Hodge
, and in one much-publicized incident in 1960, Savoldi was stabbed by an angry fan that turned out to be Danny's own father.
Savoldi finished his in-ring career with the World Wide Wrestling Federation
(now World Wrestling Entertainment) putting over the promotion's faces
. He was also a trainer of younger wrestlers, with Jack Brisco
and Hercules Ayala Cortez
among them. In the 1970s Savoldi was a minority business partner in the WWWF.
In 1984 Angelo, with his sons Mario, Tom and Joseph Savoldi
, established International Championship Wrestling
(ICW), later International World Class Championship Wrestling (IWCCW), in the Northeastern region. Joseph
was a featured wrestler for the promotion.
Angelo Savoldi received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2003, and was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
in 2004.
Savoldi has been a longtime resident of Parsippany
, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently the world's oldest wrestler at the age of 97.
Professional wrestling career
Born Mario Fornini of ItalianItalian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
descent, he learned wrestling at a YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
near his home in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
. It was the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and Fornini decided to attempt to make a living by turning professional in 1937. He began his career in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and was given the name Angelo Savoldi by promoter Jack Pfefer
Jack Pfefer
Jack Pfefer was an professional wrestling promoter during the early-to-mid 1900's. He pioneered an earlier form of sports entertainment, as he was one of the first promoters to visualize the pro wrestling business in the mold of theater...
. Savoldi moved on to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and then Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, becoming the first American to main event in that region.
It was in the 1950s that Savoldi became a star in the Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
region, as a junior heavyweight (a term for lightweight). Wrestling as a heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
nicknamed The Vampire, he held the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship and secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers. It started in 1945 and still exists today. The title was unified with the National Boxing/Wrestling Association's...
three times between 1958 and 1960. Another nickname he held during his career was Little Jumping Joe, after the Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
-turned wrestler, "Jumping Joe" Savoldi
Joe Savoldi
Joseph Anthony Savoldi Jr., more commonly known as Jumping Joe Savoldi was an Italian-born, American football player and professional wrestler....
. Wrestling publications have claimed a blood relation between the two, but Joe Savoldi was wrestling under his real last name and the two are in fact unrelated.
Some of the more famous wrestlers Angelo faced during his career include Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
, Arnold Skaaland
Arnold Skaaland
Arnold Skaaland was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager.-Career:Skaaland served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. After a short-lived attempt to make a living through boxing, he became a professional wrestler and debuted in 1946 as "Arnold Skaaland"...
, Stu Hart
Stu Hart
Stewart Edward "Stu" Hart, CM was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. Hart founded Stampede Wrestling, a promotion based in Calgary, Alberta, and was the father of famous wrestlers Bret and Owen Hart...
, Antonino Rocca
Antonino Rocca
Antonino Rocca was an Italian-born Argentine professional wrestler. Rocca was a popular face and in some cities with both Italian-American and especially Hispanic audiences, his following was exceptionally large and loyal.He had a love for opera and was apparently described as having an excellent...
and Dory Funk, Sr.
Dory Funk
Dorrance Wilhelm "Dory" Funk was a professional wrestler. He is the father of wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk.-Career:...
His most memorable feud
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
was with Danny Hodge
Danny Hodge
Daniel "Danny" Allen Hodge is a retired American wrestler and boxer. He is renowned for his wrestling career, both amateur and professional, and has also been a boxer. Hodge was born, grew up, and still lives in Perry, Oklahoma...
, and in one much-publicized incident in 1960, Savoldi was stabbed by an angry fan that turned out to be Danny's own father.
Savoldi finished his in-ring career with the World Wide Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(now World Wrestling Entertainment) putting over the promotion's faces
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
. He was also a trainer of younger wrestlers, with Jack Brisco
Jack Brisco
Freddie Joe Brisco was an American professional wrestler, better known as Jack Brisco or Uvalde Slim. He performed for various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance , becoming a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA Tag Team Champion with his brother Gerald Brisco...
and Hercules Ayala Cortez
Ruben Cruz
Ruben Cruz , known by his ringname Hercules Ayala, is a retired Puerto Rican professional wrestler who has competed in Canadian and international wrestling promotions including the eastern Canadian Grand Prix Wrestling, the Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling and the World Wrestling...
among them. In the 1970s Savoldi was a minority business partner in the WWWF.
In 1984 Angelo, with his sons Mario, Tom and Joseph Savoldi
Joseph Savoldi
Joseph Fornini, known by his ring name "Jumping" Joe Savoldi is an American professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Angelo Savoldi...
, established International Championship Wrestling
International World Class Championship Wrestling
International World Class Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was promoted by Angelo Savoldi and his sons Mario, Tom, and Joseph Savoldi....
(ICW), later International World Class Championship Wrestling (IWCCW), in the Northeastern region. Joseph
Joseph Savoldi
Joseph Fornini, known by his ring name "Jumping" Joe Savoldi is an American professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Angelo Savoldi...
was a featured wrestler for the promotion.
Angelo Savoldi received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2003, and was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in Amsterdam, New York. It was previously located in Schenectady, New York...
in 2004.
Savoldi has been a longtime resident of Parsippany
Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, commonly called Parsippany, is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 50,649. The name Parsippany comes from the Lenape Native American word parsipanong, which means "the place where...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award (2003)
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Hall of FameNWA Hall of FameThe National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame is an American professional wrestling hall of fame maintained by the NWA. It was established in 2005 to honor select wrestling personalities, mostly alumni of the NWA. Inductees receive commemorative medals that have their names inscribed on it with the...
(Class of 2011)
- NWA Tri-StateNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship and secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers. It started in 1945 and still exists today. The title was unified with the National Boxing/Wrestling Association's...
(3 times)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of FameProfessional Wrestling Hall of FameThe Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in Amsterdam, New York. It was previously located in Schenectady, New York...
- Pioneer Era inductee in 2004