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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 Jimmy Garvin def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
  • 1998 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 2004 Se7en def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2009 Xavior became the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 2009 Dawn of Extreme (Ty Thunder & Crucifer) def. Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 2009 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 2009 The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 2009 Rated N (Crisstopher Crow & Shane Sanchez) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 2020 Sam Stackhouse def. Alex Royal for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 2021 Ryan the Ripper def. Drake Gallows for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 2025 Merc def. Riker for the BUW This Is Wrestling Title

Week of Sun 10-18 to Sat: 10-24

  • 10-18 2009 Carnage def. Spoiler 2000 for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 10-18 2019 Tego def. Prince Mahalli for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 10-18 2019 Will Allday def. J. D. Griffey for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 10-18 2024 Luther Zay Diamond def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW Flawless Title
  • 10-18 2024 Nashoba became the MajCW Wetumka Indian Community Centre Champion
  • 10-18 2024 Auzzy def. Kari Wright for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 10-18 2024 The Strays (Barrett Brown & Izzy James) def. K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 10-19 1976 Karl Kox & Ken Patera became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 10-19 2013 Tyson Jaymes def. Brock Landers for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 10-19 2013 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. Nasty Swag (Ace Archuleta & Robert Lee) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 10-19 2013 Jon Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 10-19 2014 Jon Cross def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 10-19 2019 Luke Langley became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 10-19 2024 Anarchy [2nd] def. Damien Morte for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 10-19 2024 E-Bone def. Trench Blythe for the EPW International Title
  • 10-20 1969 Danny Hodge def. Chuck Karbo for the TSW North American Title
  • 10-20 1971 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 10-20 1986 Crusher Yurkov def. Steve Simpson for the WCCW Television Title
  • 10-20 2001 The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) def. The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 10-20 2001 Amanda St. George became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 10-20 2001 Big Daddy Moore became the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 10-20 2007 Chris Fury became the SECW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-20 2007 Impact, Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) def. Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-20 2007 Tyson Armstrong became the SECW Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-20 2007 The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) became the SECW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-20 2012 Kevin James Sanchez def. Austin Tacious for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 10-20 2012 The Static Knights (X-Statik & Keith Knight) def. Dynamic Storm (Justin Dynamic & Daemon Storm) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 10-20 2018 Fuel def. Alex Royal for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 10-20 2018 Galaxy Cruzers (Paul Puertorico & Steven Cruze) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 10-20 2018 Dusty Gold became the UWE Apex Champion
  • 10-20 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Dusty Gold for the UWE Apex Title
  • 10-21 1969 Fritz Von Erich became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-21 1985 King Parsons def. John Tatum for the WCCW Television Title
  • 10-21 2005 Mitch Carter def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Title
  • 10-21 2006 J. T. LaMotta def. John O'Malley for the IZW Cruiserweight Title
  • 10-21 2017 MVP def. Damon Windsor for the IWR Heavyweight Title
  • 10-21 2017 Spirit Squad (Kenny [1st] & Mikey [1st]) def. Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 10-21 2022 Tego def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 10-21 2023 Wolf of War def. Martin Justice for the EPW International Title
  • 10-21 2023 Johnny Dynamite def. Johnny Lightning for the WFC Prime Title
  • 10-21 2023 Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) def. K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles
  • 10-21 2023 Malik Mayfield def. Clayton Bloodstone for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 10-21 2023 Dominik Whiteheart def. Luke Richmond for the NCWO United States Title
  • 10-22 1984 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Long Riders (Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 10-22 2005 Big Van Vader def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-22 2005 Carnage def. John O'Malley for the IZW Hardcore Title
  • 10-22 2005 Ryan Davidson became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 10-22 2005 The Lone Shining Star def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Tri-State Title
  • 10-22 2005 Michael Faith def. Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 10-22 2005 The Real Impact Players (Aaron Neil & Se7en) def. The Red Dirt Outlaws (Devon Monroe & Kevin James) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 10-22 2011 Fuel def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 10-22 2022 Justin Lee def. Koko for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 10-22 2022 Dutch Hagen def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 10-22 2023 Tunnel Vision (Derek James & Logan Knight) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 10-22 2023 Luke Richmond def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 10-22 2023 Trench Blythe def. El Gallardo for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 10-22 2023 The Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) def. Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles
  • 10-22 2026 Heavy Metal Mario def. Abismo Negro, Jr. for the EDW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-23 1965 Lee Fields & Bobby Fields became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
  • 10-23 1967 Spoiler #1 & Gary Hart def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 10-23 1968 Manuel Perez & Pepe Perez def. The Blue Demons (Blue Demon #1 & Blue Demon #2) for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 10-23 1988 Jerry Lawler def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Title
  • 10-23 2003 Payton Scott def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-23 2005 Matt Garza & Mr. Brown def. Brandon Bishop & John Zorthos for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-23 2005 Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) def. Matt Garza & Mr. Brown for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-23 2011 Javi Hernandez became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-23 2015 Vinny Pacheco def. Buster Cherry for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 10-23 2015 The Creepsters (Buster Cherry & Mr. Barnes) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 10-23 2021 Richie Adams def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Prime Title
  • 10-23 2021 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. The Space Age Cowboys (Paul Puertorico & Jason Jones) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 10-23 2021 Luke Langley def. Alex Royal for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 10-23 2026 Logan Knight def. Nate Bourne for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 10-23 2026 Sean Ryan def. Bang Bang Bennett for the RDW Openweight Title
  • 10-24 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
  • 10-24 1998 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 10-24 2004 Se7en def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-24 2009 Xavior became the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 10-24 2009 Dawn of Extreme (Ty Thunder & Crucifer) def. Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 10-24 2009 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-24 2009 The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-24 2009 Rated N (Crisstopher Crow & Shane Sanchez) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-24 2020 Sam Stackhouse def. Alex Royal for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 10-24 2021 Ryan the Ripper def. Drake Gallows for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 10-24 2025 Merc def. Riker for the BUW This Is Wrestling Title
10-24
  • Bobby Lambert Oct 24th Today!
  • Ray Durán Oct 24th Today!
  • Daniel Powers Oct 24th Today!
  • Bill Dundee Oct 24th Today!
  • Phil Shark Oct 25th
  • Sheriff Schultz Oct 25th
  • Paige Turner Oct 25th
  • Double D Oct 25th
  • Halo Oct 26th
  • Eddie Williams Oct 26th
  • Anthony Wayne Oct 26th
  • Troy Graham Oct 26th
  • Miss Linda Oct 27th
  • AWOL Oct 27th
  • Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th
  • MVP Oct 28th
  • Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
  • Jake Boulder Oct 28th
  • Chris Smith Oct 28th
  • Mischief Oct 29th
  • D. J. Hall Oct 29th
  • Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
  • Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
  • Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
  • Debbie Combs Oct 30th
  • George Wells Oct 30th
  • Danny McShain Oct 30th
  • Jayson Boss Oct 31st
  • Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
  • Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
  • Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
  • Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
  • Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
  • Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
  • Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
  • Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
  • Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
  • Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
  • Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
  • Assassin 1 Nov 4th
  • Max Leon Nov 4th
  • Bill Decker Nov 5th
  • Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
  • Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
  • Chris Chaos Nov 5th
  • David Jason Rose Nov 5th
  • Darin Matthews Nov 6th
  • Brian Faith Nov 6th
  • Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
  • Lu Kim Nov 6th
  • Ken Patera Nov 6th

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