Gilberto Melendez (December 2, 1933 - June 14, 2016) was a Puerto Rican professional wrestler better known under the ring name Gypsy Joe.
Gypsy Joe was known for his longevity in the wrestling business. He was the first wrestler ever to jump successfully off a steel cage onto an opponent. He made his debut in the United States in 1963 after a lengthy career in Puerto Rico. In April 2003 Joe was involved in a memorable hardcore match with New Jack in which, due to Joe no-selling throughout the match, New Jack legitimately attacked the sexagenarian with a chain, a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, and several other weapons.
In 2007, WWE Magazine named Gypsy Joe the world's oldest wrestler at the age of 73. He continued to actively wrestle until 2011, when he decided to finally retire.
Championships and accomplishments[]
- NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (3 time) - with Mr. Pogo
- NWA Central States Television Championship (1 time)
- NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- ICW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Tojo Yamamoto
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Louis Tillet
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Skull Murphy
- NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (7 times) - with Leroy Rochester (1), Dutch Mantel (1), Buzz Tyler (1), Tojo Yamamoto (3), and Tom Renesto, Jr. (1)
- NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Tojo Yamamoto and The Beast
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Frank Martinez
- NWA World Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Frank Martinez
- Southern Wrestling Federation
- SWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jim Wright
- USWA Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Tennessee Wrestling Alliance
- TWA Hardcore Championship (2 times)
- Other Titles
- West Virginia Heavyweight Championship (3 times)