Jose Patricio Ficca aka Tony Russo was a Chilean Professional wrestler.
Career[]
Tony Russo (and associated aliases) was a fixture in the wrestling scene for over four decades. A solid journeyman who made regular appearances for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling (Australia), World Wrestling Federation, Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling, Nick Gulas Nashville territory, Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida and assorted territories.
Australia[]
His most successful run was in Australia for promoter Jim Barnett as Greek strongman, George Goulivas, he often teamed with Mario Milano and Skandor Akbar. The highlight of his stay was winning the Austra-Asian Heavyweight title twice, defeating both Cyclon Negro and The Great Mephisto.
Gulf Coast and Nashville[]
Russo also had successful stays in the Welch/Fuller Gulf Coast (aka the Pensacola territory) and NWA Mid-America in Nashville for Nick Gulas as The Masked Golden Hawk. As Tony Russo he teamed with Frank Morrell to hold the Tennessee Tag titles in December 1969.
MACW and WWWF[]
Russo had long stays for Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation as a reliable preliminary/lower middle card performer. In the Mid-Atlantic he was in several short lived tag teams notably with Rene Goulet and Billy Starr and the WWWF he challenged Tatsumi Fujinami for the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship in Madison Square Garden and live events. Russo's last appearance for the WWF was during the brief Georgia Championship Wrestling era of 1984/85.
Tony Russo passed away August 8, 2020 in Cander, North Carolina aged 85.
In wrestling[]
- Signature moves
- Elbow drop
- Double Underhook Suplex
- Piledriver
- Teams and stables
- with Mighty Yankee #1
- with Frank Morrell
- with Skandor Akbar
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Canadian Wrestling League
- CWL Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Frank Morrell
- NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Skandor Akbar