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Lanny Poffo

Nickname: Leaping

Height: 6' 0"

Weight: 228 lbs

From: Downers Grove, IL

Birthday: Dec 28th

Pro Debut: 1973

Aliases: The Genius, Lanny Holiday, Leaping Lanny, Knight Armor

Feds Worked For: MSW, WCCW, AWA, NWA, Ring of Honor, WCW, WWF, All-South Wrestling Alliance (GA), Ballpark Brawl (NY), Big Bear Promotions (Canada), Big Time Wrestling (MI), Catch Wrestling Norddeutschland (Germany), Championship Wrestling International (Canada), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Coastal Championship Wrestling (FL), Combat Revolution Wrestling (Canada), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Deutsche Wrestling Allianz (Germany), Do or Die Wrestling (Poland), Eurowrestling Company (Germany), Fighting Spirit Wrestling (NY), Flemish Wrestling Force (Germany), Florida Underground Wrestling (FL), Free-Style Championship Wrestling (Germany), Grand Prix Wrestling (Canada), Great North Wrestling (Canada), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Hannibal Pro Wrestling (Canada), Impact Championship Wrestling (NY), In Your Face Wrestling (NY), International Championship Wrestling (KY/TN), International Championship Wrestling Alliance (FL), International Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Cartel (PA), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Maryland Championship Wrestling (MD), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), NWA Mid-America (AL), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Prairie Wrestling Alliance (Canada), Pro Wrestling King (IN), Pro Wrestling Lachine (Canada), Pro Wrestling Superstars (CA/FL), Pro Wrestling Syndicate (NJ), Pro Wrestling Xtreme (Canada), Professional Wrestling Alliance (Canada), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Stampede Wrestling (Canada), Ultimate Championship Wrestling (Canada), Uproar Pro Wrestling (FL), USA Championship Wrestling (IL), Vintage Wrestling (FL), Westside Xtreme Wrestling (Germany), Windy City Wrestling (IL), WrestlePro (NJ), Wrestling Supershow (Canada)

Finisher: The Honor Roll (Flying Senton)

Signature Moves: Moonsault, Crucifix Pin

Career Highlights: -AGPW International Champion (2x)
-GNW Canadian Champion
-ICW Champion (4x)
-ICW Southeastern Champion
-ICW Southeastern Tag Team Champion (w/ Angelo Poffo)
-ICW Tag Team Champion (4x; 3 w/ George Weingeroff, 1 w/ Mike Doggendorf)
-ICW Television Champion
-NWA (Detroit) World Tag Team Champion (2x; 1 each w/ Angelo Poffo and Chris Colt)
-NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Champion (w/ Randy Poffo)
-NWA Mid-America Champion
-NWA Mid-America Tag Team Champion (2x; 1 each w/ Pez Whatley and Bobby Eaton)
-PWL International Champion
-WPWF Tag Team Champion (w/ Bulldozer Benton)

Affiliates: George Weingeroff, Randy Poffo/Randy Savage, Angelo Poffo, Ronnie Garvin, Pez Whatley, Chris Colt, Bobby Eaton, Mike Doggendorf, Bulldozer Benton, Jimmy Hart, The Beverly Brothers, Mr. Perfect

Notable Feuds: Rip Rogers, Randy Poffo/Randy Savage, Bob Orton, Jr., Pez Whatley, Doug Vines, Koko B. Ware, Jim Neidhart, George the Giant/Crusher Broomfield, Angelo Poffo, Mike Sharpe, Jr., Jeff Sword, Sika, Ron Bass, Brutus Beefcake, Gary Royal, The Great Tio, Bret Hart, Jim Powers, Leroy Rochester, Hercules Hernández, Nikolai Volkoff, Harley Race, Adrian Adonis, Dan Spivey, Barry Horowitz, Barry O, The Iron Sheik, Eddie Gilbert, Jimmy Jack Funk, Bolo Mongol/Ax, Greg Valentine, Gypsy Joe, Joey Rossi, Danny Davis, Hillbilly Jim, Tojo Yamamoto, Dino Bravo, Hulk Hogan

Other Facts: -Full name was Lanny Mark Poffo
-Son of pro wrestler Angelo Poffo, who trained him for pro wrestling. In some areas in the 1970s, he was billed as Angelo's brother.
-Brother of pro wrestler Randy Savage
-Former brother-in-law of pro wrestling valet Miss Elizabeth
-Sometimes billed from Amarillo, TX or Lexington, KY. He was actually born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
-His trademark while in the WWF was bringing frisbees to the ring with his poetry on them and throwing them to the crowd
-The angle with Lanny getting his hair cut at WrestleMania VI was not part of the match and he was legit angry after the match, as was his brother, Randy Savage.
-Poffo's character of The Genius was heavily influenced by Poffo's personality. He was a very bright student who had little patience for school and could easily pass tests without studying.
-Published 2 books, the first was a 172 page book of his poetry entitled "Wrestling with Rhyme" in 1988. The second was "Limericks From the Heart and Lungs" in 2007.
-Squared Circle Comics released a comic book autobiography in 2018 titled "The Genius Lanny Poffo"
-It was rumored that Poffo portrayed Wild Cat Willie, the WCW mascot during the 1990's. That rumor was dispelled in 2009 by Poffo himself, but he did reveal that he was supposed to be "Gorgeous George" in WCW, a gimmick that eventually went to Savage's then-girlfriend. Poffo was under contract to WCW for 5 years but, aside from possibly 2 dark matches at TV tapings, never actually competed for the company.
-Host of "The Genius Cast" podcast
-Former member of The First Family
-After wrestling, he worked as a Certified Credit Counselor. He also made appearances at schools promoting an anti-tobacco lifestyle for students.
-Ranked #229 in the 1991 PWI 500 (as The Genius)
-Ranked #238 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked #350 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked #365 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Heroes in 2014 (w/ Angelo Poffo & Randy Savage as The Poffo Family)
-Passed away February 2, 2023 at the age of 68.