Former WWE Tag Team Champion Dominic DeNucci Passes Away At 89

Spells in Australia, Japan, Canada, and the USA made DeNucci an international star. RIP.

Dominic DeNucci
WWE

Former WWWF Tag Team Champion Dominic DeNucci has passed away. He was 89 years old.

The Cauliflower Alley Club confirmed the news on Thursday evening, posting the following update:-

We've received the sad news that wrestling Legend Dominic DeNucci has passed away at the age of 89. Known not only for his wrestling, but for training Mick Foley, Shane Douglas and others. We send our sincerest condolences to his family,friends and many fans the world over. R.I.P

A wrestler since 1958, when he came through the Montreal territory, DeNucci was a major, money-drawing star for Jim Barnett's World Championship Wrestling in Australia, which regularly attracted thousands-strong crowds in the '60s and '70s.

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He became an international star through his Australian, Japanese, Canadian, and American runs, and worked for the then-WWWF/WWF between 1967 and 1982, holding the World Tag Team Championships twice and the International Tag Team Champions once, with Bruno Sammartino as his partner.

Returning to Canada and the US territories after leaving the WWF, DeNucci was wrestling up until 2012, when he and Shane Douglas teamed to face Lord Zoltan and Shawn Blanchard in Dominic's retirement match. That year also saw him inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

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We at WhatCulture wish to express our deepest condolences to DeNucci's family and friends and family at this difficult time.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.