10 Wrestlers Who Saved Promotions From Ruin
3. Argentina Rocca
To take a brief historical detour beyond the scope of our coverage that you may not be interested in, this really is interesting.
New York City is a pro wrestling hotbed. New York City was the battleground of Bruno Sammartino, who was second only to Jim Londos as the industry's biggest live gate draw ever. New York was the epicentre of North American pro wrestling in the booming 1980s. It didn't so much matter that Jim Crockett, Jr. was making inroads in several markets that Vince McMahon hadn't yet conquered: New York was where the money was, New York was where Hulk Hogan was, and New York was the city that looked beautiful beamed nationwide under Dick Ebersol's gleaming production prowess.
Pre-pandemic, New York City hosted the biggest non-WWE show since 1999 when NJPW and ROH partnered for the G1 Supercard in April 2019. Partnered is a stretch. "NJPW dragged ROH by scruff of dumb neck into promoting a good show" is more accurate. Post-pandemic, WWE and AEW are expecting the market to make big money all over again by promoting shows at Madison Square Garden and Arthur Ashe Stadium, respectively.
New York was dead in the '40s. Various media exposés had killed the city, and even Gorgeous George, TV star, couldn't save it. Argentina Rocca did; under Gold Dust Trio pioneer Toots Mondt, he was over big with various ethnic communities.
Rocca was known and revered for his unprecedented, flashy athleticism. He could leap into the air and deliver several elevated dropkicks in succession. He was the original spot monkey.
But that doesn't draw!