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Michele Leone

Nickname: Baron; Mighty Mouthpiece

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 215 lbs

From: Pettorano, Abruzzi, Italy

Birthday: Jun 8th

Pro Debut: 1924

Feds Worked For: TSW, NWA, Al Haft Sports (IL/OH), Al Mayer Booking Agency (MD/NJ/NY/DC), All Star Wrestling (NE/SD), Atlantic Athletic Commission (MA), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Clark Sports, Inc. (IL), Eastern Sports Enterprises (MD/NJ/NY/PA/DC), Fédération Française de Catch Professionnel (France), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Jack Pfefer Promotion (CA), M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Manhattan Wrestling Enterprises (DE/NJ/NY/PA/DC), Mid-Atlantic Championhip Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), Mike London Sports (AZ/CO/NM), Minnesota Boxing & Wrestling Club (MN), Mississippi Valley Sports Club (MO), NWA Hollywood (CA), NWA Los Angeles (CA), Ray Fabiani Sports, Inc. (MI/OH/NJ/PA/DC), San Francisco (CA), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Tri-States Sports (ID/OR/WA), Upstate Athletic Club (NY), Wrestling Promotions, Inc. (AZ)

Finisher: Hanging Neckbreaker

Signature Moves: Kneedrop, Italian Back Kick

Career Highlights: -NWA (Los Angeles) Pacific Coast Champion
-NWA (Los Angeles) World Champion
-NWA (Los Angeles) World Junior Heavyweight Champion
-NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion

Notable Feuds: Gino Garibaldi, Leo Garibaldi, Dave Levin, Black Guzman, Maurice LaChappelle, Danny McShain, George Becker, Herman Rohde/Dutch Rohde

Other Facts: -Leone wrestled Lou Thesz as the main event on a card that is reputed as wrestling's first $100,000 gate
-Was such an effective heel, he was actually booed by the fans while wrestling a German during World War II
-Thanks to the invention of television, Baron Michele Leone became one of pro wrestling's most famous personalities, becoming better known than Gorgeous George. While appearing at a television store in Southern California, Leone attracted over 1000 fans and autographed photos for each.
-Married his wife Billie in 1954, and according to Leone she was not a fan of wrestling.
-After retirement in 1955, he moved into an apartment building he owned in Santa Monica, CA named "The Baron's Castle".
-Passed away on November 26, 1988 due to injuries suffered after being hit by a car 12 days earlier. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica, CA
-Posthumously inducted into the Southern California Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019
-Posthumously inducted into the Legacy Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021