Antonino “Argentina” Rocca stands as a paramount figure within the annals of professional wrestling, heralding an era of innovation and spearheading the domain of “high-flying” grapplers. Beyond his groundbreaking wrestling technique, Rocca emerges as an unrivaled box office draw, securing his position as the preeminent attraction of his time. At the pinnacle of his celebrity, “Argentina” Rocca transcends the confines of wrestling to become a universally recognizable sporting icon. Antonino, also acknowledged as Antonio, plays a pivotal role in the surge of wrestling’s popularity spurred by the advent of television, standing as a quintessential figure of the “Golden Age,” inspiring generations of wrestlers.
Real Name: Antonino Biasetton
Stats: 6′ 0″, 224 lbs.
Born: April 13, 1921
Early Life
Born Antonino Biasetton on April 13, 1921, in Treviso, Veneto, Italy, Rocca found himself living in the midst of a post-World War I village in recovery. Years later, his family moved to Rosario, a city in the province of Santa zFe in Argentina. As a young man, he was considered very talented in both soccer and rugby and starred in rugby for Rosario University before graduating in 1949 with a degree in electrical engineering.
Career
He was purportedly trained by the great Polish legend Stanislaus Zbyszko, and because of his athletic prowess, he eventually came to the attention of Karl Nowina, a promoter in Buenos Aires, debuting in 1942. in 1945, nimble, agile, and acrobatic, he came under the eye of wrestler Kola Kwariani who once wrestled against Jim Londos in front of more than 80,000 fans in Greece. While Kwariani would become his booking agent years later, it was Nick Ellitch, a Yugoslavian-born wrestler popular in the 1930s and 1940s, who coaxed Rocca to journey to the United States. He arrived in 1948 under the moniker “Argentina” Rocca and began working in Galveston, Texas, and on August 6, 1948, in Houston, Texas he defeated Dizzy Davis for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship. He held the belt for six months and then recaptured it later that year. His regional title put him on the map, and the young wrestler was soon taking on some of the top men in the business, including Kwariani, Angelo Savoldi, and the great Lou Thesz, whom he wrestled several times for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
By now, Kwariani was booking him throughout the Texas area, but the word of his showmanship put him in the focus of Joseph “Toots” Month, the powerful Northeastern promoter who was looking to pack the fabled Madison Square Garden. Mondt became his exclusive promoter but did loan him out to other promoters on occasion. The exposure to performing in New York City caused him to become a national sensation.
Rocca was unlike any performer before him, at least nationally. He demonstrated incredible high-flying maneuvers, from flying dropkicks to victory rolls to a version of the modern-day hurricanrana. Crowds were dazzled and packed auditoriums to see him.
While contemporaries often cast Rocca as a marquee attraction but an average wrestler, he defied the mold. Not just an exhilarating entertainer for his era, Rocca illuminated the prospect that a wrestler can infuse humor while commanding respect. The wrestling world was dominated at the time by brawling tough men or technical wrestlers specializing in submission holds. Rocca, instead, was an aerial specialist, wrestling only in his bare feet. “I was poor,” he once said. “I didn’t have enough money to buy shoes. I wrestled barefoot. By being barefoot, I get a better grip on an opponent and have better balance.” A signature spectacle involved him slapping an opponent’s visage, using bare feet to administer a humiliating flurry instead of hands. Beyond entertainment, this maneuver and his exceptional dropkick epitomized his extraordinary balance and coordination. He also originated the Argentine Backbreaker (similar to a modern-day torture rack). Additionally, Rocca expertly entangled adversaries in “pretzel holds,” eliciting delight from his legions of fans.
Mondt introduced him to Vince McMahon, Sr., who ran the Northeaster territory his Capitol Wrestling Corporation. While arenas in major cities like Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia were major stages for Capitol’s performers, Madison Square Garden was indeed the Mecca of venues. Rocca, with roots in both Italy and Argentina, appealed greatly to the ethnic population in the New York/New Jersey area. “I am their hero,” he once said of the city’s Spanish-speaking population. “Poor people identify with me,” Rocca said. “I wrestle, and I beat a bad, bad man, and they are glad.” He was presented as a blue-collar hero, pitted against heelish opponents such as Buddy Rogers, Gene Stanlee, Dr. Jerry Graham, and Dick the Bruiser. The latter two opponents were so villainous that in a tag-team matchup on November 19th, 1957, Rocca caused the Bruiser to submit while in the Argentina Backbreaker hold. As Rocca and his tag team partner began celebrating in front of the largely Puerto Rican crowd, Graham punched him in the face, causing him to bleed. An infuriated Rocca grabbed the larger man and began bashing his head against the ring post, opening up a cut on Graham’s forehead that turned him into a bloody mess.
Hundreds of fans rushed the ring, and Graham and the Bruiser had to legitimately fight for their lives. Eventually, seeing the dangerous nature of the situation, Rocca and Carpentier had to fend off many of the fans to protect their opponents. With the crowd having tasted blood, more than 60 members of the New York City police department had to wade into the melee. Finally, Rocca had to get on the public address system and plead for calm before Graham and the Bruiser could be led to safety. The fans lifted Rocca onto their shoulders and carried him through his adoring fans.
Rocca Being Carried by Fans at Madison Square Garden.
So frightening was the riot that had taken place that the four participating wrestlers had to appear at a hearing in front of the New York Athletic Commission, where they were fined $2,600. It was estimated that more than 500 fans had been involved, and the four were suspended until the fine had been paid. In the aftermath, there were calls to ban professional wrestling in the state of New York, but instead, it was decided that children under the age of 14 would be banned from attending matches, a ban which lasted for 20 years.
Antonino Rocca, Eduoard Carpentier, Dick the Bruiser and Jerry Graham Attend the 1957 the New York State Athletic Commission Hearing.
Notwithstanding his prominence and tenure at its zenith, Rocca gained only a few championships during his career. More than this being an indictment of his capability to carry the title belt, it was more of an indication that his popularity and drawing power were not dependent on a belt. Nonetheless, he carried the belt for several promotions, including the old American Wrestling Association (Ohio) World Heavyweight Championship in 1953 and the Montreal World Heavyweight Champion in 1954. Furthermore, he held belts with his frequent tag team partner, Miguel Perez, including the Capital Sports’ version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship in 1957 and the World Wrestling Council North American Tag Team Championship on September 11, 1976.
His partnership with Perez made for a lucrative run within in the New York market. Perez was Puerto Rican and helped to draw from the strong ethnic fan base that Rocca had already tapped into. From 1957 to 1960, the tandem headlined Madison Square Garden 28 times, battling the likes of The Grahams, the Fabulous Kangaroos, the Tolos Brothers, and Johnny Valentine and The Sheik.
Rivalries
As a show stopper everywhere he went, Rocca was in high demand from promoters, fans, and other wrestlers. From his earliest days, where he worked in main events with Lou Thesz and Verne Gagne, he would match up against the biggest names in the sport over the years, including Johnny Valentin, “Classy” Freddie Blassie, Jerry Graham, Dick the Bruiser, Buddy Rogers, Karl Gotch, Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski.
Retirement
In late 1959 or early 1 960, promoter Jack Pfefer brought in Kwariani and Rocca to help him run the Madison Square Garden wrestling booking office as McMahon was pushed aside. They met with great early success as Rooca drew a Garden-record 21,950 fans for a singles match against a wrestler named “The Amazing Zuma.” Subsequent matches also drew well, but eventually, business soured as Rocca began to show his age.
McMahon fought his way back in and took control of the MSG wrestling office. He decided to go in a different direction as he featured showman Buddy Rogers as his champion and brought in Pittsburgh strongman Bruno Sammartino as his new ethnic drawing card. Relegated to third in the pecking order, Rocca left Capitol Wrestling and branched out, booking himself in territories through his company, “the World Booking Agency,” and ran a competing promotion based at the Sunnyside Arena in Queens, New York, and supported by Jim Crockett.
While he succeeded in this endeavor (including booking some acts at the 1964 World’s Fair), Rocca suffered financial losses due to bad investments. Lou Thesz recalled in his autobiography “Hooker” that “The picture crystallized when I unearthed Rocca’s deal with the New York cabal (Vincent J. McMahon, Toots Mondt, and Kola Kwariani), which secured Rocca a 25% stake. Given that the enterprise’s finances pivot primarily on Rocca’s bookings, his partners claim 75% of his earnings.” He was forced to take on some side jobs (often working as a security guard). He still tried to wrestle in the Ohio and upstate New York territories but saw his career wind down until he decided to retire in 1969. But like most wrestlers, he couldn’t stay away from the ring, wrestling in California in June 1972 and a reunion tag team match alongside Miguel Perez in Puerto Rico in October 1976. His final foray in the sport came when he rejoined Capitol Wrestling (now known as the World-Wide Wrestling Federation), working as an announcer for McMahon’s television shows.
Personal Life
Antonino was married twice, the second time to Joyce. He had three children: Natella, Eric, and Antonino Jr.
His popularity extended beyond his work in the ring. He was very active with local charities and was noted for visiting sick children in local New York hospitals. He participated in community events, supported local businesses, and gave speeches to youth groups. His popularity extended beyond New York, however, as he appeared on national tv shows and even appeared on the cover of the August 1962 edition of the Superman comic book, where he through the Man of Steel out of the ring in a charity exhibition match.
At one point, Rocca had his legs insured for $250,000 and earned $100,000 a year for a while. He carried himself as a star and was an impeccable dresser. He often slept more than 12 hours a day and, occasionally, for as much as 30 straight hours before a match. He bragged that he would live to be 100. “And why not,” he once said: “Next to good blood circulation, the secret of life is rest. I expect to live to be at least 100.”
Death
After experiencing severe abdominal pain, Rocca checked himself into Roosevelt Hospital in New York. He passed away two weeks later due to a urinary infection on March 15, 1977, at the age of 55.
Awards & Titles
Antonini Rocca remains a distinguished member of the WWE Hall of Fame (1995), the Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1995), the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (1996), and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (2003). In recognition of his impact on Latin fans, Rocca was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame in 2000, cementing his legacy as a true icon of Latin culture.
Legacy
Antonino Rocca’s legacy in the world of professional wrestling is a profound one. He was not only one of the most talented wrestlers of his era but also helped redefine the sport itself, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in the ring and inspiring countless wrestlers who came after him. Vincent J. McMahon said of him, “Next to Milton Berle, Rocca sold more TVs in the country than anyone else. He was wrestling on five different TV stations at that time. There was never a more likableand more personable fellow in sports. There was nothing phony about Tony.”
Resources
- History of Wrestling. “Antonino Rocca.” Available at: https://historyofwrestling.com/antonino-rocca/
- Wikipedia contributors. “Antonino Rocca.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonino_Rocca
- Classic Wrestling Articles. “Antonino Rocca Dies At 49.” Available at: https://classicwrestlingarticles.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/antonino-rocca-dies-at-49/
- WWE. “Antonino Rocca.” Available at: https://www.wwe.com/superstars/antoninorocca
- CageMatch. “Antonino Rocca.” Available at: https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1178
- Pro Wrestling Stories. “The Night Wrestling Erupted into a Riot at Madison Square Garden.” Available at: https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/1957-msg-riot/
- Project WWF. “Profile: Antonino ‘Argentina’ Rocca.” Posted on April 5, 2021. Available at: https://projectwwf.com/2021/04/05/profile-antonino-argentina-rocca/
Frequently Asked Questions
Antonino Rocca, also known as “Argentina,” was a transformative figure in the world of professional wrestling. He was acclaimed for his innovative, high-flying wrestling style and was a significant box office draw. Outside of wrestling, he became a universally recognized sports icon.
Born on April 13, 1921, in Treviso, Italy, as Antonino Biasetton, Rocca grew up during the post-WWI era. His family moved to Rosario, Argentina, where he excelled in soccer and rugby. He graduated from Rosario University in 1949 with a degree in electrical engineering.
Rocca was renowned for his high-flying maneuvers and was an aerial specialist. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he wrestled barefoot. He was known for moves like the Argentine Backbreaker and was applauded for his extraordinary balance and coordination.
Yes, he had major matchups against stars like Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Jerry Graham, Dick the Bruiser, and many others.
Rocca retired initially in 1969 but made occasional appearances later on. He finally left the ring and joined Capitol Wrestling (later the World-Wide Wrestling Federation) as an announcer.
Rocca is remembered for redefining wrestling with his unique style. He is inducted into several Halls of Fame, including WWE and the Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame. Vincent J. McMahon once said that Rocca, along with Milton Berle, sold more TVs than anyone else during his time.
