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Legendary pro wrestler Len Rossi dies at 91

Posted: Oct 10th 2020 By: Mike Organ - Tennessean.com

Legendary professional wrestler Len Rossi, a longtime Nashvillian, died Friday after battling cancer. He was 91.

Rossi, who was originally from Utica, New York, was a headliner in the National Wrestling Alliance from the 1950s through the 1970s.

After his wrestling career Rossi embarked on a second career as a health foods store owner.

Rossi, who was born Len Rositano, began his pro wrestling career in 1950. He moved his family to Nashville in 1958 and his career quickly took off.

Rossi emerged as one of wrestling's most famous figures not only in Nashville and Memphis, but across the country and abroad.

He was part of 14 World Tag Team championships and also held the NWA Jr. Heavyweight title and the North American Jr. Heavyweight title.

Rossi also was known for being one of the first wrestlers to integrate the sport when he took on Bearcat Brown, an African-American, as a partner in the 1960s in Birmingham, Alabama. Rossi and Brown remained partners for many years

In 1971 Rossi teamed with his son Joe, who had been a standout wrestler at Maplewood High School.

Rossi was forced to retire from wrestling in 1972 after being injured in an automobile accident.

In 2004 Rossi was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

"It's really quite an honor," Rossi told The Tennessean on May 4, 2004. "I don't know how much it means to people who aren't in the profession, but it means a lot to me.

Rossi was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2016.

Rossi opened his first health foods store in 1972 in Brentwood. He also had a store in Hermitage.

Rossi also invented his own line of vitamins.

Final arrangements have not yet been made.