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R.I.P Donna Christanello, The Greatest Female Wrestler In Western PA History

R.I.P Donna Christanello, The Greatest Female Wrestler In Western PA History

Posted: Aug 27th 2011 By: CMBurnham

The greatest female professional wrestler Western Pennsylvania ever produced, and one of its most sincere souls, has died.

Donna Christanello, who could still command respect and admiration from a room full of pro wrestling fans (and wrestlers alike) in 2011, was 69.

In the heyday of when women could brawl with the best of men?and still look fetching in a swim suit?there were few who could emote or grapple like Donna. Christanello worked alongside the biggest names ever in women?s professional wrestling?Leilani Kai, Peggy Lee, The Fabulous Moolah, Wendi Richter?and helped pave roads for today?s Divas and Knockouts.

But through it all, Donna Christanello was a woman who loved the world?s greatest sport. In 2010, Donna was deservedly selected to be the first female inducted into the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) Hall of Fame. The designation was kept secret to her, as the legendary Dominic DeNucci was advertised and promoted as that year?s inductee. During the induction ceremony, Donna?s family held tight as a video featuring Christiantello started to play on a big projector screen. Christanello, hands folded on her lap, smiled from ear-to-ear and started to talk with her family.

DeNucci came out and hugged his friend and two of Pittsburgh?s classiest legends were inducted into Pittsburgh?s pro wrestling Hall of Fame.

After that moment, people slowly walked over to Donna and she kept court as wrestling fans, young and old, stopped to say hello. Little girls, with show flyers in hand, walked up for an autograph. Donna smiled and had a quiet, warm word for each.

Christiantello would later attend several KSWA events as a fan, customarily in the front row. Every time she would be introduced from the ring and she?d stand and wave. Pittsburgh pro wrestling royalty. Slowly more fans would walk over to greet her and ask for autographs.

Clearly, Donna enjoyed the recognition. As well she should.

Donna Christanello was a villain after such talent as Wendi Richter. There?s a Youtube video in which Richter and Lee take on Susan Starr and Christanello in tag team competition. Christiantello paces as the ring announcer makes his introduction. She?s a caged tigress, ready to pounce. And tellingly, Christanello is introduced last, a custom long-used to showcase the biggest name in the match. She wasn?t. Richter, a former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, was the most popular wrestler that day, but that didn?t matter. Christanello was as good as anyone in that or any other day. She could lay a forearm smash perfectly and with vicious veracity. Later, she helped train Sensational Sherri Martel, one of the biggest personalities ever in the women?s division.

In recent years Christanello would routinely travel to pro wrestling Hall of Fame events and often be the hit of the festivities. Along with Martel, Donna even welcomed her real-life niece Marie Minor (ring name Angie Minelli) into the rough-and-tumble world of professional wrestling. The often attended wrestling shows together. They were inseparable.

Select KSWA Megastars get teary-eyed when they talk about Donna and how her spirit touched them as a friend and mentor, although they didn?t know her for a long time. Some remained close friends with her to her final days. KSWA Megastar Shawn Blanchard, who would talk with Donna often, said her last words to him were, ?I love you.?

Donna Christanello (Alfonsi) wrestled from 1963 to 1991. She and Toni Rose comprised the then-WWWF?s first women?s tag team champions. Christanello also held a host of other titles, mostly as a tag team wrestler.

Funeral arraignments had not been completed as of this writing. Donna Christanello, you will be missed.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1983 Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan def. Ted DiBiase & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Brandon Groom & American Anarchy became the NWA-U Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 2010 The Hardcore Connection (Maniac Mike & Shane Sanchez) def. X-Rated (Bobby Star & Kevin James Sanchez) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 2010 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 2010 Brandon Walker def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Brandon Walker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2019 Antonio Vega def. Shawn Sanders for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2020 Derek James def. Alex Royal for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 2020 Size Matters (Sam Stackhouse & Mike Starr) def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 2020 Ethan Cole def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 2022 Sam Stackhouse became the WCR Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 07-19 to Sat: 07-25

  • 07-19 1968 Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith def. The Spoiler & Gary Hart for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 07-19 1968 Jack Dalton [1st] & Jim Dalton became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
  • 07-19 1971 Thunderbolt Patterson & Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine & Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 07-19 1982 Bill Irwin def. Brian Adias for the WCCW Television Title
  • 07-19 2008 Dane Griffin def. Les Mayne for the 3DW Texoma Title
  • 07-19 2013 Big Daddy Moore became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-19 2019 Shawn Sanders became the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 07-19 2019 Xavior def. Paul Puertorico for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 07-19 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 07-19 2024 Father Padge became the MajCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-19 2024 Brandon Warhawk became the MajCW Flawless Champion
  • 07-19 2024 Hell's Kitchen (The Canadian Red Devil & The Lunchador) became the MajCW Tag Team Champions
  • 07-19 2024 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 07-19 2024 Nightwolf became the MajCW Native American Champion
  • 07-19 2024 Cardinal Sin def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 07-19 2024 Jason Simon/Bishop Simon def. Nightwolf for the MajCW Native American Title
  • 07-19 2024 Deacon Hendrix def. Cardinal Sin for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 07-19 2024 Tyler Shade def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 07-20 1961 Waldo Von Erich def. Tony Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-20 1979 Gino Hernandez & El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario & El Halcon for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 07-20 1986 Eddie Gilbert & Sting def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
  • 07-20 2008 The Forsaken (Michael Faith & Halo) def. Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 07-20 2013 Drake Gallows became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 07-20 2013 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 07-20 2014 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) became the WFC Tag Team Champions
  • 07-20 2018 Double D def. Colby Black for the MSWA eXpress Title
  • 07-20 2026 Vincent Cross def. Bang Bang Bennett for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 07-21 1947 Buddy Rogers def. Dale Levin for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 07-21 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. The Assassin & The Angel [1st] for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 07-21 2012 The Mercenary became the UWE United States Champion
  • 07-21 2012 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Womens Champion
  • 07-21 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Jake O'Brien for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 07-21 2012 Angel Blue def. Venus for the IZW Queens Title
  • 07-21 2018 Drake Gallows def. Alex Royal for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 07-21 2018 Alex Royal def. Drake Gallows for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 07-22 1959 Danny McShain def. The Zebra Kid for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-22 1960 Danny Hodge def. Angelo Savoldi for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 07-22 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-22 1981 Bob Roop def. Super Destroyer for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 07-22 1985 Butch Reed def. Dutch Mantell for the MSW Television Title
  • 07-22 2012 Cody Jones def. Les Mayne for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 07-22 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Adrian Dell for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 07-22 2016 Steven Cruze def. Seth Angel for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 07-22 2017 Future Hall of Famers/Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Damien Morte & Jermaine Johnson) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 07-22 2017 Ryan Davidson def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 07-22 2017 Aaron Anders def. Brian Breaker for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 07-22 2017 Wesley Crane def. Skyler Fayden for the UWE United States Title
  • 07-22 2023 Tyler Midas def. The Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 07-23 1967 Karl Kox def. Waldo Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-23 1979 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
  • 07-23 2004 Rocco Valentino def. Justin Lee for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 07-23 2005 Tyler Bateman def. John O'Malley for the MSWA Tri-State Title
  • 07-23 2011 John E. Stone def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 07-23 2011 Double D def. Michael Barry for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 07-23 2011 Teila & El Hoto Loco def. Chris Von Luhr & Jason Noal for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 07-23 2011 Chris Von Luhr & Jason Noal def. Teila & El Hoto Loco for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 07-23 2021 Ky-Ote def. Dane Griffin for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 07-23 2026 MLP def. Vincent Cross for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 07-23 2026 Bang Bang Bennett def. MLP for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 07-23 2026 Vincent Cross def. Bang Bang Bennett for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 07-24 1983 Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan def. Ted DiBiase & Mr. Olympia for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 07-24 2005 Brandon Groom & American Anarchy became the NWA-U Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 07-24 2010 The Hardcore Connection (Maniac Mike & Shane Sanchez) def. X-Rated (Bobby Star & Kevin James Sanchez) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 07-24 2010 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 07-24 2010 Brandon Walker def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 07-24 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Brandon Walker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 07-24 2019 Antonio Vega def. Shawn Sanders for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 07-24 2020 Derek James def. Alex Royal for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 07-24 2020 Size Matters (Sam Stackhouse & Mike Starr) def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 07-24 2020 Ethan Cole def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 07-24 2022 Sam Stackhouse became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-25 1957 Duke Keomuka def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-25 1962 Hiro Matsuda & Don Kent def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 07-25 1966 Tony Borne def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-25 1977 Captain USA def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 07-25 1980 Ken Mantell became the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 07-25 1981 Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton def. Ed Wiskowski & Mike George for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 07-25 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 07-25 1988 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. John Tatum & Jack Victory for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 07-25 2009 Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) def. Crazy Beautiful (Brett Taylor & Michael York) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 07-25 2015 La Famiglia (Luke Grayson & Thomas Knight) def. Seth Angel & Adrian Dell for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 07-25 2020 Real Dirty Brawlers (Brawler Morrison & Thrash) def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 07-25 2020 Jon Cross def. Luke Langley for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 07-25 2020 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 07-25 2021 Thrash def. Luke Savage for the ASP Mid-American Title
07-24
  • Original Oklahoma Outlaw Jul 24th Today!
  • Anthony Wild Jul 24th Today!
  • Skip Young Jul 24th Today!
  • Joe Savoldi Jul 24th Today!
  • Jack Gamble Jul 25th
  • Pastor Brent Jul 25th
  • Kevin Morgan Jul 25th
  • Norman Charles Jul 25th
  • Red River Jack [2nd] Jul 25th
  • Yali Sapphire Jul 25th
  • Athan Sorrow Jul 25th
  • Lee Cook Jul 26th
  • Mike Bytheway Jul 26th
  • Jack Van Bebber Jul 27th
  • T. J. Muniz Jul 27th
  • Nova Phoenix Jul 27th
  • Matt Borne Jul 27th
  • Eric Rose Jul 27th
  • Johnny Idol Jul 27th
  • Tom Simon Jul 27th
  • Brixton Barricade Jul 28th
  • Sammy Guevara Jul 28th
  • Tim Woods Jul 28th
  • Butch Malone Jul 28th
  • Herb Calvert Jul 28th
  • Luke Brown Jul 28th
  • Brian Lakewood Jul 28th
  • Dan Webber Jul 29th
  • Oliver John Jul 29th
  • Betty Boucher Jul 29th
  • Boss Campbell Jul 29th
  • Antonio Vega Jul 29th
  • Billy Starr Jul 29th
  • Scott Steiner Jul 29th
  • Bobby Whitlock Jul 29th
  • Ace Archuleta Jul 29th
  • Derek James Jul 30th
  • Trey Bearhill Jul 31st
  • Kid Kash Jul 31st
  • Floyd Maystorm Jul 31st
  • Wayne Black Jul 31st
  • Dale Robinson Aug 1st
  • Eric the Red Aug 1st
  • Everett Rattan Aug 1st
  • Jimmy Golden Aug 1st
  • Joel Deaton Aug 1st
  • Amanda Barricade Aug 2nd
  • Tim Rockwell Aug 2nd
  • Jack Vaughn Aug 2nd
  • Gorgeous George, Jr. Aug 2nd
  • Capt. Rowdy Aug 2nd
  • Bull Ramos Aug 3rd
  • Haystacks Calhoun Aug 3rd
  • Altar Boy Sanchez Aug 3rd
  • Karl Gotch Aug 3rd
  • Ronnie Morton Aug 3rd
  • Ellis Bashara Aug 4th
  • Tyson Jaymes Aug 4th
  • Alaskan Aug 4th
  • Stormi Renee Aug 4th
  • Roy Dunn Aug 4th
  • Stan Lane Aug 5th
  • Glen Steel Aug 5th
  • Jimmy Valiant Aug 6th
  • Grizzly Smith Aug 6th
  • Samedi Aug 6th
  • Timothy Johnston Aug 6th

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