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Joe Pedicino

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Joe Pedicino
Born(1949-10-04)October 4, 1949
New York City,United States
DiedApril 12, 2020(2020-04-12)(aged 70)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)"The Round Mound of Sound" Joe Pedicino
Billed fromAtlanta, Georgia
Debut1986
Retired1994

Joe Pedicino(October 4, 1949 – April 12, 2020)[1]was an Americanprofessional wrestlingannouncer,commentator,promoter,televisionandradio producer.He was a well-known on-air personality in regional territories of theSouthern United Statesduring the 1980s, being an announcer and commentator forJim Crockett PromotionsandWorld Championship Wrestling,and as host of the nationally syndicatedSuperstars of Wrestlingwith his wifeBoni Blackstone[2][3][4]andGordon Solie[5][6][7]from 1986 to 1992.[8]

The series, created and produced by Pedicino, aired eight hours of wrestling from around the country and was the first to provide national coverage of theNational Wrestling Allianceas well as fromPuerto RicoandJapan.He and Solie also hosted a popular segment on the show, "Pro Wrestling This Week", which discussed the then current news from the "Big Three" (AWA,NWAand theWWF) and regional promotions. Scott Hudson andSteve Prazak,both former WCW announcers, were fans of the show and given their first big break by Pedicino when he began promoting events in the late 1980s.Bill Apter,editor ofPro Wrestling Illustrated,has also credited Pedicino for considerably raising his profile among wrestling fans due to his weekly segment.[9][10]

He was also thebookerand part owner of theGlobal Wrestling Federationwith formerUSWAcommentator Max Andrews,[11]as well as part of the announcing team forGWF Wrestling SuperstarsonESPN,[2][12][13]and had a similar role in the short-livedLadies Professional Wrestling Association.[14]Popularly known as the "round mound of sound", Pedicino has been compared to some of the top commentators of the mid-to late 1980s and is regarded as one of the most recognizable personalities during thefinal years of the "territory era".Brian Westcott, wrestling historian and writer, has called Pedicino one of his all-time favorite play-by-play/color commentators.[15]

Following his retirement from wrestling, Pedicino owned and operated localradio stationsbased incentral Georgia,as well as general sales manager for WCNN radio Atlanta. Pedicino was also amanagement consultantfor several major media companies includingTurner Broadcasting,Susquehanna BroadcastingandClear Channel Broadcasting.[16]He and his wife also began a successful publishing company, Food Fax, which puts out six annual specialty advertising guides. Their company, the first to offer such service, started out sendingfax listingsto office workers of lunch menus and daily specials from more than 1,000 local restaurants inCobb County, Georgia.[17]

Biography[edit]

Early career[edit]

Joe Pedicino was born inNew York Cityon October 4, 1949,[1]and moved toAtlanta, Georgiawith his family three years later. He began working in radio at age 14,[18]attendedGeorgia State University,and later graduated from the RAB School atUniversity of Pennsylvania'sWharton Business School.[16]In August 1985, Pedicino joined the sales staff at the Atlanta-basedWATL TV 36.[19]In early-1986, Pedicino developed a "new concept" wrestling program for the station. The show,Superstars of Wrestling,would feature over eight hours of professional wrestling fromNational Wrestling Alliance territoriesthroughout the United States[20]as well as fromPuerto RicoandJapan.[5][7]It was also the earliest U.S. television show to regularly broadcast Japanesepuroresuandjoshi wrestlingas part of theFuji Television Network's efforts to develop a market in the American television industry.[21]

Superstars of Wrestling[edit]

Main article:Superstars of Wrestling

The show debuted in May 1985, airing on Saturday nights from 8:00 pm to 3:00 am, was a ratings success. Eight different wrestling organizations from as far away asDallas, TexasandBirmingham, Alabamawere broadcast during its first year. These would later include theContinental Wrestling Association,Deep South Championship Wrestling,Mid-South WrestlingandWorld Class Championship Wrestlingas well as events from around the world.[10]Because the show never disclosed that the wrestling being shown was pre-taped, with Pedicino adding commentary later on, fans watching the show at home would often travel to the studio hoping to attend the show. In November, twenty fans drove in a van all the way fromSnellville, Georgiato thelocked studioindowntown Atlantaonly to be turned away by security.[20]

Pedicino served as bothexecutive producerand host throughout its near 7-year run. He was joined by fellow ring announcerRhubarb Jonesand 21-year-old Boni Blackstone, who later became his wife. Blackstone had been one of 20 girls, chosen out of a total of 70, to become Pedicino's co-host.[8][20]Gordon Solie,a popular wrestling announcer, also joined the show as a regularcolor commentator.Solie would also host a featured segment with Pedicino, "Pro Wrestling This Week", which discussed wrestling news from around the country. They were sometimes joined byBill Apter,who had his own segment,[10]and co-produced interview segments withPro Wrestling Illustratedfeaturing many wrestling stars of the 1980s.[22]Apter's appearances, as well as those onTBS,considerably raised his profile among wrestling fans of the era.[9]

The show was watched in over 20 major television markets in its first year. By the summer of 1987, the show broadcast in 40 cities, includingNew York City,Los AngelesandChicago,[19]and eventuallysyndicatedthroughout the country.[20]Pedicino and Blackstone became seen as local celebrities in Atlanta but Pedicino brushed off the attention regarding themselves as "wrestling fans who got lucky".[18][19]Earlier that year, he and Blackstone hosted the three-day 20th annualMiller High Life World of Wheelscar show held at Atlanta'sWorld Congress Center.Sponsored by theNational Automotive Parts Association,the event displayed over 500 of the most expensive custom designed antique vehicles in the world including the18-wheelVolvo"Elvis' Eldorado". French entertainer "Miss World of Wheels" Danielle Chevalier andwrestling valetMiss SunshineofThe Fabulous Freebirdswere also at the event.[23]In 1988, he became involved with the Southern Championship Training Center, a rival training facility ofJody Hamilton'sAmerican Academy of Professional Wrestling,inCumming, Georgiaby helping promote the school.[24]

On July 17, 1988, Pedicino and Blackstone hosted a two-hour wrestling show, "Wrestlethon '88", which was broadcast nationwide viasatellitebyFox Broadcastingas part ofThe Late Show.This was the third annual Wrestlethon and had been a successful fundraiser in past years. The first show raised an estimated $10,000 and helped save the life of teenager Deloris Wadsworth who needed aliver transplant.The second show raised between $12,000-$13,000 for wounded police officers J.J. Biello and Richard Williams; the third show raised enough money to purchase 200-300bulletproof vestsof the 1,100 needed for theAtlanta Police Department.[25]Four months later, Pedicino appeared with a number of media figures and television celebrities at a benefit show, "Celebrity Cookoff for a Cure", held by theJuvenile Diabetes FoundationatBenihana.Other participants includedAtlanta Magazineeditor Lee Walburn,Atlanta Business Chronicleeditor Anita Sharpe,Creative Loafingpublisher Deborah Eason and localWSB-TVpersonalities John Pruitt and Bebe Emerman.[26]

Georgia All-Star Wrestling and marriage to Boni Blackstone[edit]

Pedicino started his own wrestling promotion, Georgia All-Star Wrestling, in 1989. Having been an announcer forJim Crockett Promotions,Pedicino was able to bring in a number of former stars from around the region. Among these included Jimmy Holiday, Tony Zane, Billy Starr, John Michaels[27]andMr. Wrestling II,then working forJody Hamilton's Deep South Championship Wrestling.[28]Future WCW starMarcus Bagwellalso made his debut in the promotion under the name Fabian.[4]

In early-1990, he hired Scott Hudson andSteve Prazakas announcers for the promotion. According to Hudson in a later interview, both men had been fans of his show and they persuaded Pedicino to hire them for free after a poor performance given by the regular announcer at a show inCarrollton, Georgia.As Hudson and Prazak had prior experience in radio and television, they soon became valuable members of the promotion. Pedicino later brought the two with him when he became involved with theGlobal Wrestling Federation.[29]He and Hudson were also given their own segment on Superstars of Wrestling, styled in a comedic "Laurel and Hardy"fashion, called" Point-Counterpoint "which was sometimes aired on ESPN for the GWF.[30]Craig Johnson, then a play-by-play commentator for theUnited States Wrestling Association,was also hired by Pedicino as head announcer over other applicants including Chris Cruise andEric Bischoff.[31]

That same year, he and Blackstone became married.[8]This came as a surprise, both to wrestling fans and the staff, as the two had a well-knownkayfabeadversarial relationship on the show much likeGorilla MonsoonandBobby "The Brain" HeenanonWWF Wrestling Challenge.Pedicino played the "straight man"of the team who teased and played pranks on Blackstone. The two would continue their routines off-camera, keeping even the studio in the dark, by driving home in separate cars and Blackstone addressing her then boyfriend as" Mr. Pedicino "in front of studio employees during the first two years of their relationship.

Global Wrestling Federation[edit]

With the close ofFritz von Erich'sWorld Class Championship Wrestlingthe previous year, he and former USWA commissioner Max Andrews decided to start a new promotion and moved into the Dallas-area in June 1991. It was claimed that this new promotion, theGlobal Wrestling Federation,was an established wrestling organization that promoted events worldwide and intended to become a competitor ofWorld Championship Wrestlingand theWorld Wrestling Federation.[31][32][33]

Pedicino and Andrews were originally backed by a supposedNigerianbusinessman, Olu Oliami, who had offered to invest $10 million in the promotion. When the deal fell through, Pedicino instead went to the Overton family for assistance. The Overtons later backed out as well and Pedicino took on the bulk of the financial backing himself. By late 1991, he had signed a deal withESPNto air GWF events from theGlobal Domeas well as purchasing theUnited States Wrestling Association's syndicated time slot fromJerry Jarrettproviding additional television coverage for the GWF.[32]Joined by Craig Johnson, Scott Hudson and Steve Prazak, Pedicino and his wife became part of the regular GWF broadcast team on ESPN.[31]As well as being a major on-air personality for the promotion, Pedicino was also involved in a major storyline which saw him reveal GWF Commissioner Max Andrews as the unknown leader of the heel stableThe Cartel(Rip Rogers,Cactus Jack,Scotty the BodyandMakhan Singh).[34]

In October 1991, Pedicino turned over his booking position toEddie Gilbert.[35]While television ratings improved under Gilbert, house show attendance dwindled due to declining business brought on bya series of scandals in the wrestling industryinvolving theWorld Wrestling Federation.The cost of maintaining the roster as well as television production costs slowly drained the promotion's finances.[33]The financial situation became so serious that the promotion was forced to release Pedicino and Blackstone, Eddie Gilbert, Craig Johnson and other key GWF members on April 9, 1992.[36]Pedicino sold his share of the promotion and the GWF eventually folded after going through a series of failed owners including Grey Pierson[4]andJim Crockett.[32]

Retirement and later years[edit]

Back in Atlanta, creative differences eventually caused Pedicino and Solie to part ways[5]and Pedicino decided to end Superstars of Wrestling in August 1992.[18]He and Blackstone started their own business, Max Foods, that same year. The business initially began by publishing a two-pagefax listingof 24 restaurants and their daily specials to office workers.[37]The first company of its kind, the listing was sent out five nights a week to over 1,000 businesses in theCobb County area.[17]In 1993, Blackstone was brought to the WWF as an interviewer for several months[8]while Pedicino joinedSgt. Slaughter,Jim CornetteandKen Resnickas commentators inLadies Professional Wrestling Association.[14]

Although he considered bringing back Superstars of Wrestling, Pedicino instead distanced himself from professional wrestling and returned to the radio industry.[2]He was hired asmanagement consultantfor several major media companies includingTurner Broadcasting,Blair Broadcasting, Outlet Broadcasting,Susquehanna Broadcasting,andClear Channel Broadcasting.He was also the owner andgeneral managerof several Georgia-basedradio stations,most notablyWMKJ,[38]andWMGP,[39]and producedWTLK TV-14infomercial"Shoppers' Showcase" with his wife[18]prior to joining Legacy Media Holdings asvice presidentandchief marketing officerin 1996.[16]

In August 2000, Pedicino and his wife Boni began hostingPro Wrestling this WeekonFOX Sports Radio,[2]which ran on Sunday nights from 11:00 pm to 1:00 am, and later appeared together at theNWA 52nd Anniversary Show.[40]

In July 2007, Pedicino boughtWEKS,which was given approval by theFederal Communications Commissionto increase its broadcasting range two months later. Thecountry musicstation, originally only available inGriffin, Georgia,could then be heard on92.5 FMinTroup,Meriwether,Coweta,PikeandSpalding counties.[39]

References[edit]

  1. ^abHudspeth, Ron. "Shortcut to nowhere leaves even more commuters in a jam."The Atlanta Constitution.6 Oct. 1986: B3.
  2. ^abcdLetawsky, Craig (2002-11-14)."Ask 411 11.14.02: No Limit Soldiers, Barry O, Super Liger, Savinovich".Columns.411mania.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2009-11-06.
  3. ^Byers, Ryan (2008-11-19)."Ask 411 11.19.08: The Macho/Taker Edition".Columns.411mania.com.
  4. ^abcSymkus, Ed and Vinnie Carolan.Wrestle Radio U.S.A.: Grapplers Speak.Toronto: ECW Press, 2004. (pg. 35, 81, 134, 148, 201, 204)ISBN1-55022-646-0
  5. ^abcAllyn, Robert.Gordon Solie... Something Left Behind.Altamonte Springs, Florida: Florida Media, Inc., 2005. (pg. 220)ISBN0-9763062-1-2
  6. ^Hartley, Jeremy;Earl Oliver(1998)."Gordon Solie Interview".Interviews.Solie.org.
  7. ^abProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum(2004)."Gordon Solie".Hall of Famers.PWHF.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2005-10-27.
  8. ^abcdSneed, Mitch. "Fayette resident talks tough on the air - Blackstone reaches top as WWF personality."The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.16 Sept. 1993: M10
  9. ^abTotal Wrestling (2003-07-14)."Interview - Bill Apter".Interviews.MediaMan.com.au.
  10. ^abcApter, Bill; Andy Sternman (2007-06-27)."Ask Apter --" About Pro Wrestling This Week... "".Newsline.1wrestling.com.[dead link]
  11. ^Cauliflower Alley Club."2007 Finishes".Finishes.CauliflowerAlleyClub.org.
  12. ^Speed, Steve L. (2004)."Regional Territories: GWF".Regional Territories.KayfabeMemories.com.
  13. ^Speed, Steve L. (2004)."Regional Territories: GWF #4, Page #2".Regional Territories.KayfabeMemories.com.
  14. ^abLadies Professional Wrestling Association(Producer) (2003-05-15).LPWA the Super Ladies: Best Vol. 1(VHS).Los Angeles:Quantum Leap Group Ltd.
  15. ^Westcott, Brian."Brian Westcott's Professional Wrestling Web Page!! (Home of Westcott's Wrestling Archives)".Westcott's Wrestling Archives.BrianRich.net.
  16. ^abc"Joe Pedicino, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer,, Legacy Media Holdings, LLC".Legacy Media Holdings, LLC Bios.LegacyMediaHoldings.com. 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-04-29.
  17. ^abNash, Rebecca. "Cobb At Work - Couple links up with `all the news that's fit to eat'."The Atlanta Journal Constitution.19 Nov. 1992: G13
  18. ^abcdHart, Anne. "Ex-wrestling show hosts team up in new career."The Atlanta Journal Constitution.10 Jan. 1997: J7
  19. ^abcRosen, Chris. "Ch. 36 pins down new wrestling times."The Atlanta Journal Constitution.27 Jun. 1987: C6
  20. ^abcdDancy, Lee. "Ms. Boni Blackstone adds a soft touch to pro wrestling as a co-hostess to the" Superstars of Wrestling. "The Atlanta Journal Constitution.20 Nov. 1986: I3
  21. ^King, Bill. "Live from Japan on Channel 36..."The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.5 Jul. 1986: A2
  22. ^Apter, Bill(2009-10-14)."Classic Video Interview -- Captain Lou VS. Paul E!".Newsline.1wrestling.com.[dead link]
  23. ^Around Intown. "Elvis' Eldorado, 18-wheel Volvo featured at World of Wheels Show."The Atlanta Journal Constitution.19 Feb. 1987: E11
  24. ^Graham, Keith. "School of Hard Knocks - Wrestlers learn man-size moves in roped ring."The Atlanta Constitution.26 Feb. 1988: C1
  25. ^Greppi, Michele.Unlikely tag team finds perfect match in TV wrestling fans.The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution.17 Jun. 1988: C1
  26. ^Graham, Keith. "Reach Out: Good Meal Ambassadors."The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution.16 Nov. 1988: D2
  27. ^Da Costa, Norman. "Pssst! Keep it quiet but Mr. Perfect won."The Toronto Star.3 May 1990: C5
  28. ^Kociaba, Bill (2007)."The Assassin - Interview".Kayfabe-Wrestling.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-10.
  29. ^Wojcik, Alan (2008)."Extensive Scott Hudson Interview".AlanWojcik.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-09-26.
  30. ^Mooneyham, Mike (1992)."De Truth, And Nothing But De Truth".The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham.MikeMooneyham.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-03-12.
  31. ^abcWilliams, Harold (2003-10-19)."Craig Johnson (Jon Horton) Interview".Archived Interviews.World Wrestling Optimum.[dead link]
  32. ^abcDills, Tim S. (2000)."Eddie Gilbert Pt. II".Eddie Gilbert Profile.EddieGilbert.com.
  33. ^abChimel, Eric (2001-02-15)."Editor Q&A Is Back (Thursday 2/15/01 9pm)".Editor Q&A.WrestlingTribune.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2005-03-07.
  34. ^Carapola, Stuart (2006-04-22)."That Was Then 4.22.06: The Global Wrestling Federation In 1991".Columns.411mania.com.
  35. ^Johnson, Craig (2002-07-06)."Fan Contributions".Letter.EddieGilbert.com.
  36. ^Marvez, Alex. "Rib Injury Sidelines Sting."The Miami Herald.19 Apr. 1992: 10D
  37. ^Vesey, Susannah. "Peach Buzz: Tag Team Fax."The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution.21 Sept. 1992: C2
  38. ^Longino, Miriam. "On Radio - After 10-year wait, there's Magic in the air."The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution.17 Dec. 1997: B2
  39. ^ab"Digest: Radio station changes hands."LaGrange Daily News.19 Aug. 2007: A007
  40. ^Behrens, Bill (2000-10-16)."NWA Wildside & Worldwide News 10/6/00".NWA Wildside/Worldwide News.NWA-Wildside.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-14.

External links[edit]

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