Antonino Rocca

Photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Real name: Antonino Biasetton
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 226 lbs.
Date of birth: April 23, 1927
Date of death: March 15, 1977
From: Treviso, Italy
Pro debut: 1942
Trained by: Stanislaus Zybyszko
Finishing move: Argentine Backbreaker

Biography

– Biasetton emigrated to Argentina before the outbreak of World War II and would soon travel to Texas after a chance meeting with Stanislaus Zbyszko in Argentina
– Biasetton began wrestling in the early 1940s as ‘Antonino Rocca’. He was an early pioneer of the high-flying, acrobatic style of wrestling
– On August 6, 1948, Rocca defeated Dizzy Davis to win the Texas Heavyweight Title. Through the remainder of the month, he would defend against Angelo Cistoldi, Tony Morelli, Miguel Guzman, Sonny Myers, Danny McShain and Jack Kennedy.
– On September 1, Rocca defeated Karol Krauser to retain the Texas Heavyweight Title. Over the next fortnight, he retained against Eric Holmback and Miguel Guzman
– In October 1948, Rocca repeatedly challenged NWA World Champion Lou Thesz, but came up short
– On November 30, 1948, Rocca defeated Danny McShain to regain the Texas Heavyweight Title, having lost it two weeks earlier
– In 1949, Rocca left the Texas territory and signed with Toots Mondt in New York City. He would spend the next few years travelling around various territories before settling in the northeast in 1953
– On March 5, 1953, Rocca defeated Buddy Rogers to win the AWA (Ohio) World Heavyweight Title. He would retain the title against Gene Stanlee, The Great Scott and Bill Miller later that month, before losing it to Buddy Rogers in early April
– On May 12, 1954, Rocca defeated Killer Kowalski to win the AWA (Montreal) World Heavyweight Title, but would lose it back a week later
– On March 30, 1957, Rocca & Miguel Perez defeated Don Stevens & Jackie Fargo to win the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On April 30, Rocca & Perez defeated Skull Murphy & Karl von Hess to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On May 13, Rocca & Perez defeated Karl von Hess & Dick The Bruiser to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On June 15, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Dr Jerry Graham to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On August 7, Rocca & Perez defeated Danny McShain & Larry Hamilton to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On October 15, Rocca & Perez defeated Dick The Bruiser & Killer Kowalski to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On November 2, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Dr Jerry Graham to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On November 16, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Danny McShain to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On December 7, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Killer Kowalski to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles and would retain twice more against a combination of Shire, Dr Jerry Graham and Danny McShain over the next three days
– On December 21, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Dr Jerry Graham to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On January 8, 1958, Rocca & Perez defeated Paul Berger & Ludwig van Krupp to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On January 11, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Killer Kowalski to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On January 17, Rocca & Perez defeated The Lewin Brothers (Donn & Mark) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On February 1, Rocca & Perez defeated Killer Kowalski & Skull Murphy to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On February 15, Rocca & Perez defeated Killer Kowalski & Karl von Hess to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On February 24, Rocca & Perez defeated The Tolos Brothers (Chris & John) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On March 15, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Karl von Hess to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– Two days later, Rocca & Perez defeated Dr Jerry Graham & Hans Schmidt to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On March 24, Rocca & Perez defeated Skull Murphy & Roy Shire to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On April 7, Rocca & Perez defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– A week later, Rocca & Perez defeated Karl von Hess & Skull Murphy to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On May 24, Rocca & Perez defeated Joe & Larry Hamilton to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On June 9, Rocca & Perez defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) by DQ to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On June 14, Rocca & Perez defeated Don Stevens & Jackie Fargo to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On July 3, Rocca & Perez defeated Don Stevens & Wildman Fargo to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On July 12, Rocca & Perez defeated The Golden Grahams (Jerry & Eddie) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On August 5, Rocca & Perez defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On August 16, Rocca & Perez defeated Larry Hamilton & Johnny Valentine to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On August 30, Rocca & Perez defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On September 17, Rocca & Perez defeated Mr Hito & Mr Moto to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On September 22, Rocca & Perez defeated The Golden Grahams (Jerry & Eddie) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On October 11, Rocca & Perez defeated Andre Bollet & Skull Murphy to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On October 20, Rocca & Perez defeated Bull Curry & The Sheik of Araby to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On November 18, Rocca & Perez defeated The Miller Brothers (Dan & Bill) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– Two days later, Rocca & Perez defeated The Zebra Kid & The Zebra Kid II to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On December 1, Rocca & Perez defeated The Golden Grahams (Jerry & Eddie) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On January 26, 1959, Rocca & Perez defeated The Golden Grahams to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On February 14, Rocca & Perez defeated Johnny Valentine & Tokyo Joe to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On February 21, Rocca & Perez defeated Johnny Valentine & Bull Curry to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– Two days later, Rocca & Perez defeated Don Curtis & Mark Lewin to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On March 7, Rocca & Perez defeated Roy Shire & Ray Stevens to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On March 20, Rocca & Perez defeated Haystacks Calhoun & Gypsy Joe to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On April 30, Rocca & Perez defeated Karl von Hess & Hombre Montana to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On June 26, Rocca & Perez defeated The Golden Grahams (Jerry & Eddie) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On July 6, Rocca & Perez defeated Johnny Valentine & The Sheik of Araby to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– In July 1959, Rocca defeated Buddy Rogers to win the WWWF (NWA Northeast) International Heavyweight Title
– On August 27, Rocca defeated The Tolos Brothers (Chris & John) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On January 15, 1960, Rocca & Perez defeated The Iron Russians to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On March 21, Rocca & Perez again defeated The Iron Russians to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On April 2, Rocca & Perez defeated Skull Murphy & Pat Kelly to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On April 16, Rocca & Perez defeated The Golden Grahams (Jerry & Eddie) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On April 25, Rocca & Perez defeated Skull Murphy & Pat Kelly to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On May 14, Rocca & Perez again defeated Skull Murphy & Pat Kelly to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On June 18, Rocca & Perez defeated The Great Antonio & Pampero Firpo to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– Two days later, Rocca & Perez defeated The Gabor Brothers (John & Francis) to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On July 8, Rocca & Perez defeated Dr Jerry Graham & Pampero Firpo to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On September 6, Rocca & Perez defeated Pat Kelly & Chet Wallick to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– A week later, Rocca & Perez defeated Pat Kelly & Larry Simon to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On September 17, Rocca & Perez defeated Pat Kelly & Al Smith to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On September 22, Rocca & Perez defeated Dr Jerry Graham & Pampero Firpo to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On September 28, Rocca & Perez defeated Dr Jerry Graham & The Dixie Rebel to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On October 10, Rocca & Perez defeated Dr Jerry Graham & Pampero Firpo to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On October 29, Rocca & Perez defeated The Dixie Rebels to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– On November 19, Rocca & Perez defeated Dr Jerry Graham & Red Grupe to retain the NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles
– The NWA Capitol Tag Team Titles were quietly deactivated in June 1961, ending Rocca & Perez’s 4+ year reign
– Rocca ended his long association with Capitol Wrestling in early 1963
– In May 1963, Rocca joined Jim Crockett Promotions, where he would remain until seemingly retiring at the end of the year
– Rocca returned to action in 1967, working for NWA Upstate out of Buffalo
– Rocca retired from active competition once again in early 1969
– In the early 1970s, Rocca regularly worked as a referee for Japan’s JWA, before following Antonio Inoki to New Japan in 1972
– Shortly thereafter, Rocca began working as a colour commentator for various WWF television shows
– On September 11, 1976 Rocca came out of retirement, reforming his team with Miguel Perez and defeated Los Infernos to win the WWC North American Tag Team Titles. The pair lost the titles to Higo Hamaguchi and Gordon Nelson a month later, after which Rocca resumed his retirement
– Rocca passed on March 15, 1977 after suffering complications from an infection. His passing made front page news in New York City