Steve DiSalvo

Stephen DiSalvo (born April 7, 1949) is a retired American professional wrestler. He worked for World Championship Wrestling as The Minotaur and in Puerto Rico as Sadistic Steve Strong. He also worked in Calgary, Montreal and Puerto Rico.

For the wrestler Steve Strong who competed in Hawaii and California during the 1970s and 1980s, see Stephen Cepello.
Steve DiSalvo
Birth nameStephen DiSalvo
Born (1949-04-07) April 7, 1949
Boston, Massachusetts
ResidenceEdina, Minnesota
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Billy Jack Strong
Dinosaur DiSalvo
Indian Warrior
Sadistic Steve
Steve DiSalvo
Steve Strong
Strangler DiSalvo
The Minotaur
Billed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight310 lb (140 kg)
Billed fromLos Angeles California
Trained byBilly Anderson
Ross Hart[1]
Bruce Hart
Debut1985

Professional wrestling career

DiSalvo was trained by Billy Anderson. Wrestling as Steve Strong in the 1980s, he was a performer in Montreal-based International Wrestling. He was managed by Eddy Creatchman.

Stampede Wrestling

Moving on to Stampede Wrestling, he was known as "Strangler" Steve DiSalvo. Here, he feuded with Phil LaFleur over who had the better physique. DiSalvo smashed a trophy over LaFleur's head on TV, leading to several matches between the two. DiSalvo also helped Don Muraco win the Stampede North American Title from Mahkan Singh.

World Wrestling Council

DiSalvo moved on to the World Wrestling Council (WWC) promotion in Puerto Rico in 1989, where he again was known as "Sadistic" Steve Strong but this time with a satanic gimmick. He had brawls with Abdullah the Butcher, TNT, and Invader #1. He also won the WWC World Tag Team Championship teaming with Jason the Terrible. He also feuded with "El Acrobata de Puerto Rico" Carlos Colon. He won the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship in a Texas Death match by defeating Colon on May 27, 1989. He had a successful reign of 133 days until Colon defeated him at The Aniversario 1989 in a Barbed Wire match in October 7. The feud ended when DiSalvo lost against Colon in a Retirement match for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship on November 23, 1989.

World Wrestling Federation

DiSalvo previously had made a one-off appearance for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1987, wrestling twice on a house show event in Quebec (losing to Tito Santana via countout and defeating Outback Jack later in the night).[2] On February 13, 1990 he received a tryout match with the WWF at a WWF Superstars taping losing to The Red Rooster. He next made an appearance on a March 18 house show in Calgary, Alberta, defeating Buddy Rose. The following month, he competed on a joint house show tour with the WWF and Arena Wrestling Alliance, tagging with Mano Yanez on three events against The Pitbulls.[3]

World Championship Wrestling

Two weeks later, DiSalvo received a tryout match for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) on April 23, 1990.[4] He was signed to the company later that year and given the gimmick of "The Minotaur". DiSalvo made his first televised appearance on the January 5, 1991 episode of WCW Saturday Night, defeating Man Mountain Bailey. He began a house show series against The Juicer and was undefeated, and later faced The Junkyard Dog.[5]

Independents and retirement

DiSalvo also appeared in the American Wrestling Association, where he wrestled as Billy Jack Strong. He became Steve DiSalvo again and drifted around the independent circuit before retiring.

Tales from the Darkside

DiSalvo was featured as Basher Malone[6] on the last episode of Season 4 which aired July 24, 1988. This episode was also the last episode ever for Tales from the Darkside. DiSalvo was also the Wrestling Choreography for the episode. Basher faced a demon wrestler named Trog who was managed by Tippy Ryan played by Vic Tayback[7].

Championships and accomplishments
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References
  1. "Ross Hart: Entourage". cagematch.net.
  2. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm
  3. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/90.htm
  4. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm
  5. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw91.htm
  6. "Basher Malone".
  7. "Vic Tayback Wikipedia".
  8. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. "North American Heavyweight Title (Calgary Stampede)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  10. "W.W.C. Universal Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  11. "W.W.C. World Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
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