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Dominic DeNucci

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Dominic DeNucci
DeNucci,c. 1976
Birth nameDomenico A. Nucciarone
Born(1932-01-23)January 23, 1932
Frosolone, Molise,Italy
DiedAugust 12, 2021(2021-08-12)(aged 89)
McCandless Township, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Dominic DeNucci
Dominic Bravo[1]
The Masked Marvel
Billed height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Billed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Billed fromPittsburgh, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Debut1958
RetiredApril 14, 2012

Domenico A. Nucciarone[2](January 23, 1932 – August 12, 2021) was an Italian-Americanprofessional wrestlerand trainer better known by thering nameDominic DeNucci.[3]He held over a dozen championships around the world in the 1960s and 1970s. His wrestling students includedMick Foley,Shane Douglas,Brian Hildebrand,andCody Michaels.[4]

Professional wrestling career[edit]

Early career (1958–1964)[edit]

He made his pro wrestling debut in 1958 in Montreal, Quebec under a hood as the Masked Marvel and also wrestled in Ottawa, Ontario.[2]In 1959, DeNucci started teaming with the original Dino Bravo as Dominic Bravo, a storyline/kayfabebrother as the two worked as atag teamin Canada throughoutThe Maritimes,Toronto, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba.[2]They also worked in Cleveland and Buffalo. The team headed west for Calgary wrestling forStampede Wrestlingstarting in 1962. DeNucci would keep the Bravo name until he left Stampede in 1963. He wrestled as Don DeNucci in the San Francisco territory in the latter half of 1963.

World Championship Wrestling (Australia) (1964–1966, 1968, 1970)[edit]

In 1964, DeNucci made his debut in Australia forWorld Championship Wrestling.[2]He feuded withKiller Kowalski.On November 7, 1964, he defeated Kowalski for theIWA World Heavyweight Championshipin Melbourne. He dropped the title toRay Stevenson January 9, 1965. A month later he regained the title by defeating Stevens. On March 10 he dropped the title again to Stevens. He continued feuding with Kowalski. On February 12, 1966, he won the title for the third time defeating Kowalski. He held the title for 111 days until losing it toToru Tanakaon June 3 in Sydney. Afterwards, he teamed with Kowalski and his Italian friendBruno Sammartinofeuding with Japanese heelsToru TanakaandMitsu Arakawa.

On July 1, 1966, he teamed withMark Lewinas they defeatedLarry HennigandHarley Racefor theIWA World Tag Team Championship.They dropped the title toSkull MurphyandBrute Bernardon July 15. After that DeNucci returned to North America. In May 1968 he returned this time teaming withAntonio Puglieseas they defeated Skull Murphy andKiller Karl Koxfor the IWA World Tag Team title. They dropped it toKiller KowalskiandBill Miller.He found a new partnerMario Milanoand they defeated Kowalski and Miller for the title. Then they dropped the title toMikel SciclunaandCiclón Negro.In 1970 he made another return this time feuding withKing Curtis Iaukea.On January 16 he won his fourth and finalIWA World Heavyweight Championshipdefeating Iaukea. On March 25 he dropped the title to Iaukea.

Various promotions (1966–1978)[edit]

After he left Australia in 1966 he returned to North America wrestling in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for a year. He wrestled in many territories in Cleveland, Buffalo, St. Louis, Chicago, andBig Time Wrestlingin Detroit. Also, he was very popular in the Michigan/Ohio territory in the early 1970s as well as Toronto forMaple Leaf Wrestlingfrom 1969 to 1978. In 1974 he wrestled forChampionship Wrestling from Floridawhere he won theNWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipwithTony ParisidefeatingDick SlaterandToru Tanaka.They dropped the titles in 1975 to Slater andJ. J. Dillon.

Japan (1971, 1972, 1979–1981)[edit]

In 1971, he went to Japan for the first time to work forJapan Pro Wrestling Alliance.In 1972 he worked forGiant Baba's brand newAll Japan Pro Wrestlingas Don Denucci. He lost a few matches to Baba. In 1979, he returned and feuded withDick Beyer,Jumbo Tsuruta,Kim DukandGreat Kojika.He left the promotion in 1981.

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1967–1982)[edit]

DeNucci (right) wrestlingHulk Hogan,c. 1980

DeNucci debuted in New York City in 1967. On June 18, 1971, DeNucci won his firstWorld Wide Wrestling Federation(WWWF) title, theWWWF International Tag Team Championship,withBruno Sammartinoby defeating The Mongols (BepoandGeto Mongol).[5]They lost the title to The Mongols three days later.[5]On May 13, 1975, DeNucci andVictor Riverawon theWWWF World Tag Team ChampionshipfromJimmyandJohnny Valiant.[6][7]In June, however, Rivera left the WWF, andPat Barrettbecame DeNucci's replacement partner.[6][7]They lost the title approximately three months later toThe Blackjackson August 26.[6]DeNucci became a two-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion when he and his partner,the second Dino Bravo,defeatedProfessor TanakaandMr. Fujion March 14, 1978.[6][8]They held the title until June 26 when theydroppedit toThe Yukon Lumberjacks.[6]DeNucci also unsuccessfully challenged inauguralWWF Intercontinental ChampionPat Pattersonon a number of occasions for the IC belt in 1979 and 1980. He also worked with a youngHulk Hoganin 1981.[2]He eventually transitioned into becoming ajobber,and left the company in 1982 after 15 years.[2]

Later career (1982–1987)[edit]

After leaving the WWF, DeNucci returned to Toronto and wrestled there for a year. From 1984 to 1985 he wrestled forLutte Internationalein Montreal andAmerican Wrestling Associationin Minnesota. He also worked in Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.[2]On November 16, 1987, he returned to theWorld Wrestling Federationfor a one night appearance at a house show in East Rutherford, New Jersey participating in a Legends Battle Royal won byLou Thesz.After that he retired from wrestling at 55 years old.[2]

Sporadic appearances (1990s)[edit]

During the 1990s, DeNucci wrestled five times. The first was a loss toJohnny Valiantby disqualification on November 9, 1990, at an event in Chesterland, Ohio. Then he defeatedJohnny Hotbodyon April 4, 1993, at Maccabiah Mania in Livingston, New Jersey. On May 13, 1994, he defeatedLord Zoltanat an IWA event in Warren, Ohio. On June 7, 1996, DeNucci reunited withTony Parisias they defeatedBruiser Bedlamand Danny Johnson at theIlio DiPaolo Memorial Showin Buffalo, New York. Then on July 30, 1999, he defeatedLord ZoltanatCurtis Comes Homeevent in Rostraver, Pennsylvania. The show paid tribute to DeNucci's studentMark Curtiswho died from cancer.

Return to wrestling on independent circuit (2005–2012)[edit]

In 2005, DeNucci came out of retirement at age 73. On August 27, 2005, he lost toIvan Koloffin a Russian Chain match atWrestleReunion 2in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He wrestled in theindependent circuitin Pennsylvania for the rest of his career. Also he made appearances as a referee and manager. On March 24, 2007, he defeatedLarry Zbyszkoat International Wrestling Cartel's Night of Legends 3 in Franklin, Pennsylvania. He hadBruno Sammartinoin his corner as a manager. On May 3, 2009, he teamed up with studentsShane DouglasandCody Michaelsas they defeatedJ. J. Dillon,Lou MarconiandFrank Stallettoat Deaf Wrestlefest in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He wrestled his last singles match on May 29, 2009, defeating Samuel Elias by count out at Far North Wrestling in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He wrestled his final match on April 14, 2012, in Toronto, teaming with his protegeShane Douglasto defeatLord Zoltanand Shawn Blanchard at Pro Wrestling Superstars.[9]

Professional wrestling trainer[edit]

After ending his career as an active professional wrestler, he trainedMoondog Spot,Mick Foley,Shane Douglas,Preston SteeleandBrian Hildebrandamong others.[4][10][11]DeNucci is featured inMick 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.DeNucci was profiled on the fourth episode of the podcast,Titans of Wrestling.In 2012 he was inducted into theProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame.[2]

Personal life and death[edit]

DeNucci was Catholic[11]and spoke at least four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Italian.[12]In June 2020, Dominic experienced heart issues and was hospitalized.[13]

DeNucci died on August 12, 2021, at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Township, Pennsylvania,[11]at the age of 89.[2]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

DeNucci speaks at theProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fameceremony in 2012

Notes[edit]

  1. ^"Dino Bravo".OWW.RetrievedOctober 27,2011.
  2. ^abcdefghijOliver, Greg(August 12, 2021)."Dominic DeNucci dies".Slam! Wrestling.Archivedfrom the original on January 22, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
  3. ^Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.74)
  4. ^abFoley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.66-68, 80)
  5. ^abc"WWWF International Tag Team Championship History".Wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedSeptember 26,2007.
  6. ^abcdef"History of the World Tag Team Championship".WWE.com.RetrievedSeptember 26,2007.
  7. ^abc"WWE World Tag Team Title".Wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedMay 11,2007.
  8. ^Dixon, James; Furious, Arnold; Maughan, Lee (2013).Tagged Classics: Just The Reviews.Lulu.com.ISBN978-1-291-42878-0.
  9. ^"Dominic DeNucci > Matches".
  10. ^Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009).WWE Encyclopedia.DK.p.82.ISBN978-0-7566-4190-0.
  11. ^abc"Domenico A." DeNucci "Nucciarone Obituary".The Beaver County Times.August 13, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on August 15, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
  12. ^Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.75)
  13. ^Toro, Carlos (June 8, 2020)."Dominic DeNucci Hospitalized, Dealing With Health Issues".Fightful.Archivedfrom the original on May 15, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
  14. ^"East Coast Heavyweight Title (Massachusetts)".Wrestling-Titles.com.Puroresu Dojo. 2003.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2020.
  15. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000).Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  16. ^Hoops, Brian (January 18, 2019)."Pro wrestling history (01/18): Ivan Koloff defeats Bruno Sammartino for WWWF title".Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online.RetrievedJanuary 18,2019.
  17. ^"W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)".Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  18. ^"West Virginia Tag Team Title".Puroresu Dojo. 2003.

References[edit]

  • Mick Foley (2000).Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks.HarperCollins. p. 511.ISBN0-06-103101-1.

External links[edit]