Dominic DeNucci

Dominic DeNucci
Birth name Dominic Nucciarone
Born (1932-01-23) January 23, 1932
Venice, Veneto, Italy
Residence Freedom, Pennsylvania, U.S
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Dominic DeNucci
Dominic Bravo[1]
Billed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Billed weight 245 lb (111 kg)
Billed from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Debut 1963
Retired April 14, 2012

Dominic Nucciarone (born January 23, 1932), is an Italian-American retired professional wrestler and trainer better known under his ring name of Dominic DeNucci.[2] Former wrestling students include Mick Foley, Shane Douglas, Cody Michaels, and Brian Hildebrand.[3]

Professional wrestling career

DeNucci started out teaming with the original Dino Bravo as Dominic Bravo, a storyline/kayfabe brother as the two worked as a tag team.

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1971–1978)

On June 18, 1971, DeNucci won his first World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) title, the WWWF International Tag Team Championship, with Bruno Sammartino by defeating The Mongols (Bepo and Geto Mongol).[4] They lost the title to The Mongols three days later.[4] On May 13, 1975, DeNucci and Victor Rivera won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship from Jimmy and Johnny Valiant.[5][6] In June, however, Rivera left the WWF, and Pat Barrett became DeNucci's replacement partner.[5][6] They lost the title approximately three months later to The Blackjacks on August 26.[5] DeNucci became a two-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion when he and his partner Dino Bravo defeated Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji on March 14, 1978.[5] They held the title until June 26 when they dropped it to The Yukon Lumberjacks.[5] DeNucci also unsuccessfully challenged inaugural WWF Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson on a number of occasions for the IC belt. DeNucci also wrestled for Big Time Wrestling out of Detroit; he was very popular in the Michigan/Ohio territory in the early 1970s.

Professional wrestling trainer

After ending his career as an active professional wrestler, he trained Moondog Spot, Mick Foley, Shane Douglas and Brian Hildebrand among others.[3][7] DeNucci is featured in Mick Foley: "Madman Unmasked", where he is seen training Mick Foley and reminiscing about Foley in the days of his training. He is also featured prominently in the opening chapters of Mick Foley's autobiography, 'Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks'. A seven-decade man, DeNucci last wrestled April 14, 2012 in Toronto, teaming with his protege Shane Douglas to defeat Lord Zoltan and Shawn Blanchard.[8] DeNucci was profiled on the 4th episode of the popular podcast, Titans of Wrestling.

Personal life

DeNucci can speak in at least four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Italian.[9] He has a son named Tony DeNucci who is also a professional wrestler.

Championships and accomplishments

Notes

  1. ↑ "Dino Bravo". OWW. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  2. ↑ Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.74)
  3. 1 2 Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.66-68, 80)
  4. 1 2 3 "WWWF International Tag Team Championship History". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History of the World Tag Team Championship". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  6. 1 2 3 "WWE World Tag Team Title". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
  7. ↑ Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  8. ↑ "Dominic DeNucci > Matches".
  9. ↑ Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.75)
  10. ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  11. ↑ "W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  12. ↑ "West Virginia Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.

References

  • Mick Foley (2000). Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. HarperCollins. p. 511. ISBN 0-06-103101-1.
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