• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

Rocco Valentino: "My First Priority Is To Myself"

Posted: Aug 28th 2008 By: CMBurnham

He's known as the Oklahoma Legend and his record speaks for itself. ComPro Tag Team Champion Rocco Valentino has done more on the independent wrestling scene than anyone else in the state. And he's very proud of that FACT. Most fans probably believed that Rocco was retired after losing the NWA-U Universal Title to current NWA World Champion Brent Albright. And, for the most part, they would have been correct. He's made only one in-ring appearance since then, at a benefit show to help the victims of the Picher disaster.

But Rocco was seemingly forced back into action when his protege, Dutch Hagen, was backed into a corner prior to Night of Champions IX. Dutch was given an ultimatum: he and Rocco must defeat the Mexican Combo Platter or Dutch would never receive another title shot in ComPro. And as much as it pained him to do so, Rocco pulled out every trick in the book to ensure that he & Dutch walked away as champions. Dutch's career would continue. Romero Contreras & Anthony Jackson's were over. And Rocco....well, Rocco was renewed.

If you listened to what Rocco said, he was upset about having to force two of his closest friends out of the business. But there was something in his eye when he looked at the tag team title belt he now posessed. Something that brought back memories of being a 5-time OPW Oklahoma Champion or being the first-ever Oklahoma Triple Crown champion. That old competitive spirit was there. But the match to win the titles had apparently taken its toll. Rocco came to the ring the next week with an injured wrist and said that he was unable to defend the titles, forcing Dutch to compete in solo action against one of the Saints of Twilight.

This past week, ComPro owner Ray Martinez announced that the Hawaiian Shirt Mafia was on its way to the ring. Rocco & Dutch came out and Rocco was still sporting the tape on his wrist. But he was determined to speak. He said doctors still hadn't cleared him to wrestle, but there was more he needed to say. He'd been involved in professional wrestling for 12 years and in that time, no one had ever outsmarted him. But Ray had accomplished that. Ray had forced Rocco back into competition. He'd given him a tag team title which he now had to defend, injured or not. And thanks to Ray, now if he wanted to talk to Romero or Jackson, he had to call them long distance rather then invite them over to his house. All of this upset Rocco. He'd never had anyone beat him at his own game, but Ray had done it.

Rocco went on to say that over the past two weeks, he'd been assessing his situation and what was required of him. He'd come to the conclusion that he had 3 priorities. He had a priority to Dutch Hagen, who he trained and brought a championship to. He had a prioroty to the tag team titles which needed to be defended. But (and this was the biggest surprise of all), his number one priority was to himself. Ray had beaten him at his own game and, if you can't beat them, you might as well join them. And with that said, Rocco took off his Hawaiian shirt to reveal the t-shirt of La M. Dutch followed soon after and the crowd sat in shock as the Oklahoma Legend had now allied himself with the most corrupt wrestling owner in the history of this state.

Rocco went on to get Ray's permission (which was freely given) to substitute ComPro Champion Jesus Rodriguez into the tag team title match against the No Mercy Dojo. The new team showed drive and on a couple of occassions appeared to be on their way to capturing gold. But when the referee was distracted, Rocco climbed the apron and executed a Tope Con Jilo (which required the use of his "injured" wrist) onto Kobra Kai allowing the champions to retain their title.

Long-term fans will know that Rocco has always enjoyed the company of others, which he then uses to protect himself and the gold he carries. Such was the purpose of groups like the VIP Crew and Hate, Inc. La M is now possibly the most powerful faction in Oklahoma wrestling as Martinez & Valentino will cower to no one in order to do whatever they want in the wrestling world.

Tags: ComPro, Rocco Valentino, NWA-U, Brent Albright, NWA, Dutch Hagen, Mexican Combo Platter, Romero Contreras, Anthony Jackson, OPW, Saints of Twilight, Ray Martinez, Hawaiian Shirt Mafia, La M, Jesus Rodriguez, VIP Crew, Hate, Inc.