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Len Rossi

Nickname: The Drop Kick Specialist

Weight: 206

From: Utica, NY

Birthday: Sep 24th

Pro Debut: 1958

Aliases: Len Rositano, The Crusader, Crusader #1

Feds Worked For: TSW, NWA, Capitol Wrestling Corporation, Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Fred Kohler Enterprises (IL), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling (AL/TN), International Championship Wrestling (KY), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), Manhattan Wrestling Enterprises (NJ/NY/DC), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), National Wrestling Federation (NJ/NY/OH/PA), NWA Chicago (IL), NWA Mid-America (AL/TN), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Tri-State Sports (MT/OR/WA), Upstate Athletic Club (NY), Wrestling Promotions, Inc. (AZ)

Finisher: Boston Crab, Sleeper

Signature Moves: Drop Kick, Chairshot

Career Highlights: -NWA Mid-America Champion
-NWA (Mid-America) Southern Tag Team Champion (20x; 6x w/ Mario Milano, 4 w/ Tex Riley, 3 w/ Bearcat Brown, 2 w/ Jackie Fargo and Kevin Sullivan, 1 each w/ Dick Beyer, Bad Boy Hines, and Tomayo Soto)
-NWA Mid-America Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ Tony Charles, 1 w/ Bearcat Brown)
-NWA (Mid-America) United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Bearcat Brown)
-NWA (Mid-America) World Tag Team Champion (16x; 6 w/ Bearcat Brown, 2 each w/ Tex Riley, Tomayo Soto, Johnny Walker, and Don Carson, 1 each w/ Jackie Fargo and Dennis Hall)
-NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Champion (9x)

Affiliates: Mario Milano, Tex Riley, Bearcat Brown, Jackie Fargo, Kevin Sullivan, Dick Beyer, Bad Boy Hines, Tomayo Soto, Tony Charles, Johnny Walker [1st], Don Carson, Dennis Hall, Joey Rossi

Notable Feuds: Don Kent, Steve Kyle, Bill Monroe, Taru Sakuro, The Masked Marvels, Lanny Poffo, Angelo Poffo, The Infernos, The Mighty Yankees, Eddie Sullivan, Ron Garfield, Chuck Grant, George Grant, Jim Starr, Tojo Yamamoto, Red Donovan, Don Greene, Karl Von Brauner, Kurt Von Brauner, Jackie Fargo, Al Greene, Don Greene, Tony González, Donald Lortie, Francois Miquet, Gino Nicolini, Saul Weingeroff, Alex Pérez, Gypsy Joe, Frank Martínez, Corsica Jean, Mitsu Hirai, Don Fargo, Sputnik Monroe

Other Facts: -Real name was Len Rositano
-Father of pro wrestler Joey Rossi
-Challenged Muhammed Ali to a Boxer-vs-Wrestler match, which Ali refused. This was prior to Ali's bout against Antonio Inoki.
-Competed under a mask as The Crusader until he was unmasked by Hiro Matsuda and Tojo Yamamoto on October 9, 1963
-Operated a health food facility in Brentwood, TN
-Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2004.
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2016
-Passed away from cancer on October 9, 2020 at the age of 91.