WRESTLER PROFILES

[Argintina Rocca Gallery] Article: The First High Flier	Wrestler: Argentina Rocca Real Name: Antonino Rocca Birthday: April 13, 1927 Hometown: Treviso, Italy Marital Status: Married Twice w/3 Kids Height & Weight: 5'10" - 220 lbs Trained by: Stanislaus Zbysko Debut: 1942 in South America Previous Names: Finishing Move: Argentine Backbreaker Favorite Moves: Airplane Spin Backbreaker Notable Feuds: Jack Dillon Eduardo Perez Mighty Atlas Jack Vansky Gino Garabalid Marco Polo Karl Von Hess Hans Schmidt Don Stevens Eddie Graham Jerry Graham Dick the Bruiser
NWA (Capitol) International Heavyweight title defeating ?????????? (????, 1948); NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Dizzy Davis (August 6, 1948); AWA (Ohio) World Heavyweight title defeating Buddy Rogers (March 5, 1953); MAC (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Killer Kowalski (May 12, 1954); NWA (New York) World Tag Team titles w/Jose Miguel Perez defeating Don & Jackie Fargo (March 30, 1957); WWC (World Wrestling Council) North American Tag Team titles w/Jose Miguel Perez beat The Infernos (September 11, 1976);
Argintina Rocca: Antonino Rocca was one of the greatest fan favorites of all-time with his high flying acrobatics during his matches.. Argintina Rocca - Other Stuff: 1960s: Argintina Rocca endorsed (but did not sing in) a popular LP called "In This Corner, The Musical World Of Argentina Rocca".. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~There was a photo of him doing a dropkick on the cover of the album.. Antonino Rocca was "killed", playing a murder victim knifed to death by a psycho in the 70s film, "Alice, Sweet, Alice".. ~~~While this scene was used in the theatres it was edited out of some video and tv versions of the movie.. The Death of Argintina Rocca: March 15, 1977: Antonino Rocca passed away.. Antonino Rocca was an accomplished singer and music lover -- he was also an avid cigar smoker.. Antonino Rocca was inducted into the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame -- His wife gave an emotional acceptance speech.. Antonino Rocca was famous for stating "I will still be wrestling when I'm 75 years old and will be living to 150." He did neither.. Antonino Rocca's body was viewed at the Campbell's Funeral Home at 81st & Madison in New York City.. ~~~However, the body was cremated and the ashes kept by the family instead of buried.. Michelle Steiner sent in these comments: He and Miguel Perez were the first recognized tag team champions in the ancestry of the WWE/WWF/WWWF, back in the days of Capitol Wrestling. Their most notable feud was with Jerry and Eddie Graham. Rocca was also involved in the Madison Square Garden riot of (I think; I may be a year or so off) 1957; this riot made the cover of LIFE magazine. Eric Rocca wrote (2011): I just wanted to say thank you for such a great article on a great man....my father. I'm so proud to see that he is STILL held in such regard all these years later. Not a day goes by that we, his family, don't miss him. An athlete in the true sense of the word. Thank you.