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| image =
| image =
| names = '''Pedro Morales'''
| names = '''Pedro Morales'''
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref name = "oww">{{citeweb | title = Wrestler Profiles: Pedro Morales | work = Online World of Wrestling | url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/p/pedro-morales.html | accessdate = 2007-10-02}}</ref><ref name=ring>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/bios/halloffame/moralesbio.html|title=Hall of Fame: Pedro Morales|author=Steven Slagle|publisher=The Ring Chronicle|accessdate=2007-10-02|date=2002}}</ref>
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}
| weight = {{weight|pounds=235}}
| weight = {{weight|pounds=235}}<ref name = "oww"/> - {{weight|pounds=240}}<ref name=ring/>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|10|22}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|10|22}}<ref name = "oww"/>
| birth_place = [[Culebra, Puerto Rico]]<ref name="WWEHOF">{{cite web| url = http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/pedromorales/bio/ | title = WWE Hall of Fame: Pedro Morales | accessdate = 2007-09-21 | author = WWE }}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Culebra, Puerto Rico]]<ref name="WWEHOF">{{cite web| url = http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/pedromorales/bio/ | title = WWE Hall of Fame: Pedro Morales | accessdate = 2007-09-21 | author = WWE }}</ref>
| death_date =
| death_date =
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| resides = [[Central New Jersey]]
| resides = [[Central New Jersey]]
| billed =
| billed =
| trainer = Barba Rojo
| trainer = Barba Rojo<ref name = "oww"/>
| debut = 1959<ref name="WWEHOF"/>
| debut = 1959<ref name="WWEHOF"/>
| retired = 1987}}
| retired = 1987}}


'''Pedro Morales''' (born [[October 22]], [[1942]]) is a retired, [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] [[professional wrestler]]. He began his wrestling career as a teenager in 1959 and continued through the late 1980s. Morales was the first man in wrestling history to win all three major men's titles in the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]: the [[WWE Championship|WWWF Heavyweight Championship]], the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] and the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF World Tag Team Championship]].<ref name=Triple>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/30445418|title=Pedro Morales|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|quote=Pedro Morales [defeated] Ivan Koloff for the [WWF] Championship...Morales would also go on to become the first Triple Crown winner [upon winning] the Intercontinental Championship and World Tag Team Championship. |accessmonthday=June 3|accessyear=2007}}</ref>
'''Pedro Morales''' (born [[October 22]], [[1942]] in Culebra, Puerto Rico)<ref name = "oww"/> is a retired, [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] [[professional wrestler]]. He began his wrestling career as a teenager in 1959 and continued through the late 1980s. Morales was the first man in wrestling history to win all three major men's titles in the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]: the [[WWE Championship|WWWF Heavyweight Championship]], the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] and the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF World Tag Team Championship]].<ref name=Triple>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/30445416|title=Ivan Koloff's WWE Championship reign|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-10-01|quote=Pedro Morales [defeated] Ivan Koloff for the [WWF] Championship...Morales would also go on to become the first Triple Crown winner [upon winning] the Intercontinental Championship and World Tag Team Championship.}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Pedro debuted in 1959 at the Sunnyside Gardens, beating Buddy Gilbert. Morales wrestled on the West Coast during the 1960s, taking on regional stars of the day such as [[Fred Blassie]] and [[Dick Beyer|The Destroyer]], the latter from whom he took the World Wrestling Association's [[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on [[March 12]], [[1965]]. Morales lost the title on [[July 23]] to [[Grady Johnson|"Crazy" Luke Graham]], but took it back from him on [[October 17]]. He held it for nine months before being defeated by Buddy Austin on [[August 5]], [[1966]]. Morales then concentrated on tag team wrestling, co-holding the WWA tag belts four times during 1966-68, with four different partners. During a stint in the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA), Morales held the [[NWA Hawaii United States Championship|Hawaiian U.S. title]] for two months in 1969.<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year= 2000 | id=ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
Morales debuted in 1959 at the [[Sunnyside Gardens, Queens|Sunnyside Gardens]], beating Buddy Gilbert.<ref name = "oww"/> He wrestled on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] during the 1960s,<ref name=ring/> taking on regional stars of the day such as [[Fred Blassie]] and [[Dick Beyer|The Destroyer]], the latter from whom he took the World Wrestling Association's [[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on [[March 12]] [[1965]].<ref name=ring/> Morales lost the title on [[July 23]] to [[Grady Johnson|"Crazy" Luke Graham]],<ref name=ring/><ref>{{cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: Luke Graham|work=Online World of Wrestling|url =http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/l/luke-graham.html|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> but took it back from him on [[October 17]].<ref name = "oww"/> He held the title for nine months before being defeated by Buddy Austin on [[August 5]] [[1966]].<ref>{{citeweb|title=Wrestler Profiles: Buddy Austin|work=Online World of Wrestling|url =http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/buddy-austin.html|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> Morales then concentrated on [[tag team]] wrestling, co-holding the WWA tag belts four times during 1966-68, with four different partners: [[Luis Hernandez]], [[Mark Lewin]], [[Victor Rivera]], and [[Ricky Romero]].<ref name=ring/><ref name = "oww"/> During a stint in the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA), Morales held the [[NWA Hawaii United States Championship|Hawaiian U.S. title]] for two months in 1969.<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year= 2000 | id=ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>


===World Wrestling Federation===
===World Wide Wrestling Federation (1970-1973)===
In 1970, Morales joined the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wide Wrestling Federation]] (WWWF, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) on the East Coast and soon became a fan favorite. But as a [[face (professional wrestling)|babyface]], he could not be expected to feud with fellow face [[Bruno Sammartino]] for his WWWF World Heavyweight Championship belt. Opportunity knocked on [[January 18]], [[1971]] when [[Ivan Koloff]] ended Sammartino's seven-year reign in a shocking upset. Three weeks later, on [[February 8]], Morales wrestled Koloff for the belt at [[Madison Square Garden]] and won the match to become the fourth Heavyweight Champion in WWWF history.<ref name="Titles"/>
In 1970, Morales joined the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wide Wrestling Federation]] (WWWF, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]].<ref name=ring/> He won his first championship in the WWWF in January 1971, when he defeated [[Freddie Blassie]] in a tournament final for the [[WWWF United States Championship]].<ref name=wwfus>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/wwf-us-h.html|title=History of the WWWF United States Heavyweight title|publisher=wrestling-titles.com|accessdate=2007-10-01|date=May 20, 2007}}</ref>


As a [[face (professional wrestling)|babyface]], Morales could not be expected to [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with fellow face [[Bruno Sammartino]] for his WWWF World Heavyweight Championship belt. Opportunity knocked on [[January 18]] [[1971]] when [[Ivan Koloff]] ended Sammartino's seven-year reign.<ref name=Triple/> Three weeks later, on [[February 8]], Morales wrestled Koloff for the belt at [[Madison Square Garden]] and won the match to become the fourth Heavyweight Champion in WWWF history.<ref name=ring/><ref name="Titles"/><ref name=Triple/><ref name=history>{{cite book|title=Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America (p.105)|author=Scott M. Beekman|publisher=Greenwood Press|date=2006|isbn=027598401X}}</ref> When he won the WWWF World Championship, the United States Championship became vacant.<ref name=wwfus/>
Morales proved to be a popular champion, especially among [[New York City|New York's]] Puerto Rican community. Pedro became known for his scientific wrestling ability and tremendous endurance, as well as a "fiery Latin temper" that would emerge during matches. On [[September 1]], [[1972]], he wrestled Bruno Sammartino to a 76-minute draw in the main event of [[Showdown at Shea#1972|Showdown at Shea]] - it was the first WWWF title match to ever pit two fan favourites against each other.<ref name="WWEHOF"/>


Morales proved to be a popular champion,<ref name=Triple/><ref>{{cite book|title=Bruno Sammartino (p.72)|author=Ross Davies|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|date=2001|isbn=0823934322}}</ref> especially among [[New York City|New York's]] Puerto Rican community.<ref name=prs>{{cite book|title="Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (p.175)|author=Fred Blassie and Keith Elliot Greenberg|publisher=Simon and Schuster|date=2004|isbn=0743463161}}</ref> Like Sammartino before him, Morales was an ethnic champion.<ref name=history/><ref>{{cite book|author=Ric Flair|title=Ric Flair: To Be The Man (p.90)|publisher=Simon and Schuster|date=2005|isbn=0743491815}}</ref><ref name=prs/> He became known for his scientific wrestling ability and endurance, as well as a "fiery Latin temper" that emerged during matches. During his reign as champion, Morales feuded with the now-heel Freddie Blassie, who was the number one contender for his title.<ref>{{cite book|title="Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (p.174)|author=Fred Blassie and Keith Elliot Greenberg|publisher=Simon and Schuster|date=2004|isbn=0743463161}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_3_5/ai_108049498|title=Freddie Blassie: classy to the very end - Phantom of the Ring - Obituary|publisher=Wrestling Digest|accessdate=2007-10-03|date=October 2003}}</ref>
⚫
After a title reign of almost three years, Morales [[List of professional wrestling slang#D|dropped]] the title to [[Stan Stasiak]] on [[December 1]], [[1973]].<ref name="Titles"/> Morales soon faded from the WWWF and wrestled for other promotions around the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including returns to NWA regions where he won more tag team gold with [[Pat Patterson]] and then [[Rocky Johnson]].<ref name="Titles"/>


On [[September 1]] [[1972]], however, he wrestled Bruno Sammartino in the main event of [[Showdown at Shea#1972|Showdown at Shea]] - it was the first WWWF title match to ever pit two fan favorites against each other.<ref name="WWEHOF"/> After several near pins, the two men wrestled to a seventy-five minute draw.<ref name=bs77>{{cite book|title=Bruno Sammartino (p.77)|author=Ross Davies|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|date=2001|isbn=0823934322}}</ref><ref name=ring/> After the match, the fans were noticeably angry, and some jumped into the dugouts to shake their fists at the wrestlers.<ref name=bs77/>
⚫
In May 1980, Pedro staged a WWF comeback. He added yet another title to his career on [[August 9]] when he teamed with reigning Heavyweight champ [[Bob Backlund]] to defeat the tag team titleholders, the [[Wild Samoans]], at the [[Showdown at Shea#1980|Showdown at Shea 1980]] card. However, Backlund and Morales quickly had to forfeit the belts due to a rule that no Heavyweight champion could hold a second title at the same time.<ref name="Titles"/>


During his reign, Morales worked an [[List of professional wrestling slang#A|angle]] with the then-[[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] [[Larry Hennig]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Dave Meltzer|title=Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers (p.52)|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|date=2004|isbn=1582618178}}</ref> After a title reign of almost three years, Morales [[List of professional wrestling slang#D|dropped]] the title to [[Stan Stasiak]] on [[December 1]] [[1973]].<ref name=ring/><ref name="Titles"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454110|title=Stan Stasiak's WWE Championship reign|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> He soon faded from the WWWF.
The [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] was now the only major men's WWF title that Morales had never won. On [[December 8]], [[1980]], however, he became the first man to complete the federation's [[Triple Crown]] with a victory over [[Ken Patera]] at Madison Square Garden.<ref name=Triple/> Morales feuded with [[Don Muraco|"Magnificent" Don Muraco]] during 1981, losing the belt to him on [[June 20]] but reclaiming it on [[November 20]]. It was Muraco who ultimately ended Morales' second Intercontinental title reign on [[January 22]], [[1983]].<ref name="Titles"/>


===National Wrestling Alliance (1974-1980)===
⚫
Morales never won another title and had reached an advanced stage in his career by the time of [[Vince McMahon|Vince McMahon Jr.'s]] national expansion of the WWF in the mid-1980s. Morales made his only [[WrestleMania]] appearance in 1986 when he was a part of a 20-man invitational [[battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] at [[WrestleMania 2]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#II | title = WWF WrestleMania Results (2) | accessdate = 2007-09-21 | author = prowrestlinghistory.com | quote = Andre the Giant won a "battle royal" which included both wrestlers and NFL players. The other wrestlers were: ... Pedro Morales, Jim Niedhart}}</ref> He wrestled in a WWF ring for the final time in late 1987.
⚫
After leaving the WWWF, Morales wrestled for other [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotions]] around the United States and Puerto Rico, including returns to NWA regions where he won more tag team gold with [[Pat Patterson]] and then [[Rocky Johnson]].<ref name="Titles"/>


===World Wrestling Federation (1980-1987)===
⚫
After retirement from the squared circle, Morales became a commentator for WWF's Spanish-language TV programming. Pedro Morales was inducted into the [[WWF Hall of Fame]] in 1995.<ref name="WWEHOF"/>
⚫
In May 1980, Pedro staged a WWF comeback.<ref name=ring/> He added yet another title to his career on [[August 9]] when he teamed with reigning Heavyweight champ [[Bob Backlund]] to defeat the tag team titleholders, the [[Wild Samoans]], at the [[Showdown at Shea#1980|Showdown at Shea 1980]].<ref name=ring/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/|title=World Tag Team title history|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> However, Backlund and Morales quickly had to forfeit the belts due to a rule stating that no Heavyweight champion could also hold a second title at the same time.<ref name=ring/><ref name="Titles"/>


The [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] was now the only major men's title that Morales had never won in the promotion. On [[December 8]] [[1980]], however, he became the first man to complete the federation's [[Triple Crown Championship|Triple Crown]] with a victory over [[Ken Patera]] at [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref name=ring/><ref name=Triple/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322372|title=Morales' first Intercontinental reign|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> Morales feuded with [[Don Muraco|"Magnificent" Don Muraco]] during 1981,<ref name=ring/> losing the belt to him on [[June 20]] but reclaiming it on [[November 23]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/|title=Intercontinental Championship title history|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> With this win, Morales became the first man to hold the Intercontinental title twice, and he held it for fourteen months, the longest reign up until that point.<ref name=IC2>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322384|title=Morales' second Intercontinental reign|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> During his third reign, Morales defended his build against Don Muraco and [["Superstar" Billy Graham]].<ref name=ring/> It was Muraco, however, who ultimately ended Morales' second Intercontinental title reign on [[January 22]] [[1983]].<ref name="Titles"/><ref name=IC2/>
⚫
== Finishing and signature moves==

⚫
:* '''''Morales Lock''''' ([[Boston crab]])
⚫
Morales never won another title and had reached an advanced stage in his career by the time of [[Vince McMahon|Vince McMahon Jr.'s]] national expansion of the WWF in the mid-1980s. He competed in the [[King Of The Ring#1985|1985 King of the Ring]] tournament, defeating [[Johnny Valiant]] and receiving a [[Bye (sports)|bye]] to advance to the third round before losing to Don Muraco.<ref>{{citeweb|title=King of the Ring: July 8, 1985|work = Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering85.html|accessdate=2007-10-03}}</ref> The following year, he defeated Rudy Diamond, [[Mike Rotunda|Mike Rotundo]] and [[Nikolai Volkoff]] before losing the final match to [[Harley Race]].<ref>{{citeweb|title=King of the Ring: July 14, 1986|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering86.html|accessdate=2007-10-03}}</ref> Morales made his only [[WrestleMania]] appearance in 1986 when he was a part of a 20-man invitational [[battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] at [[WrestleMania 2]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#II | title = WWF WrestleMania Results (2) | accessdate = 2007-09-21 | author = prowrestlinghistory.com | quote = Andre the Giant won a "battle royal" which included both wrestlers and NFL players. The other wrestlers were: ... Pedro Morales, Jim Niedhart}}</ref> He wrestled in a WWF ring for the final time in late 1987.
⚫
:* '''''Caribbean Cannonball Splash''''' ([[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Senton|Senton splash]])

⚫
:*[[Backbreaker]]
===Retirement===
⚫
After retirement from the squared circle, Morales became a commentator for WWF's Spanish-language TV programming.<ref name=ring/> Pedro Morales was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame|WWF Hall of Fame]] in 1995.<ref name="WWEHOF"/>

==In wrestling==
⚫
*'''Finishing and signature moves'''
⚫
** '''''Morales Lock''''' ([[Boston crab]])
⚫
** '''''Caribbean Cannonball Splash''''' ([[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Senton|Senton splash]])
⚫
**[[Backbreaker]]

*'''Managers'''
**[[Gorilla Monsoon]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Dave Meltzer|title=Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers (p.112)|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|date=2004|isbn=1582618178}}</ref><ref name=prs/>


==Championships and accomplishments==
==Championships and accomplishments==
Line 54: Line 67:


*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''
*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''
:*[[PWI Wrestler of the Year]] award in 1972
:*[[PWI Wrestler of the Year]] award in 1972<ref>{{citeweb|title=Wrestler of the Year|work=Wrestling Information Archive|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiwoty.htm|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref>
:*PWI ranked him # '''111''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI Years Top 500|PWI Years]] in 2003.
:*PWI ranked him # '''111''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI Years Top 500|PWI Years]] in 2003.<ref>{{citeweb|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years |work=Wrestling Information Archive|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref>


*'''World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)''''''
*'''World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)'''
:*[[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)|WWA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)#Title History|2 times]])<ref name="Titles"/>
:*[[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)|WWA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)#Title History|2 times]])<ref name="Titles"/>
:*WWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with [[Luis Hernandez]] (1), [[Mark Lewin]] (1), [[Ricky Romero]] (1), and Victor Rivera (1)<ref name="Titles"/>
:*WWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with [[Luis Hernandez]] (1), [[Mark Lewin]] (1), [[Ricky Romero]] (1), and Victor Rivera (1)<ref name="Titles"/>
Line 76: Line 89:
:*Most Overrated Wrestler award in 1981
:*Most Overrated Wrestler award in 1981
:*Most Overrated Wrestler award in 1982
:*Most Overrated Wrestler award in 1982

<small>Pedro Morales was the reigning [[WWWF United States Championship|WWWF United States Champion]] when he won the [[WWE Championship|WWWF World Heavyweight Championship]] from [[Ivan Koloff]], making him the first wrestler in WWE history to hold two championships simultaneously. Pedro Morales is the first and only [[Hispanic]] wrestler to have ever won the short-lived WWWF United States Championship. He is the first Hispanic wrestler to hold the WWE Championship, which was then called the [[WWE Championship|WWWF World Heavyweight Championship]]. He is also the first Hispanic wrestler to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship, which was called the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] during the times he won it.</small>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 83: Line 94:


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 02:40, 4 October 2007

Pedro Morales Puerto Rico
Born (1942-10-22) October 22, 1942 (age 81)[1]
Culebra, Puerto Rico[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Pedro Morales
Billed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1][3]
Billed weight[undue weight? – discuss][1] - [undue weight? – discuss][3]
Trained byBarba Rojo[1]
Debut1959[2]
Retired1987

Pedro Morales (born October 22, 1942 in Culebra, Puerto Rico)[1] is a retired, Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He began his wrestling career as a teenager in 1959 and continued through the late 1980s. Morales was the first man in wrestling history to win all three major men's titles in the World Wrestling Federation: the WWWF Heavyweight Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF World Tag Team Championship.[4]

Career

Morales debuted in 1959 at the Sunnyside Gardens, beating Buddy Gilbert.[1] He wrestled on the West Coast during the 1960s,[3] taking on regional stars of the day such as Fred Blassie and The Destroyer, the latter from whom he took the World Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Championship on March 12 1965.[3] Morales lost the title on July 23 to "Crazy" Luke Graham,[3][5] but took it back from him on October 17.[1] He held the title for nine months before being defeated by Buddy Austin on August 5 1966.[6] Morales then concentrated on tag team wrestling, co-holding the WWA tag belts four times during 1966-68, with four different partners: Luis Hernandez, Mark Lewin, Victor Rivera, and Ricky Romero.[3][1] During a stint in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Morales held the Hawaiian U.S. title for two months in 1969.[7]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1970-1973)

In 1970, Morales joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) on the East Coast.[3] He won his first championship in the WWWF in January 1971, when he defeated Freddie Blassie in a tournament final for the WWWF United States Championship.[8]

As a babyface, Morales could not be expected to feud with fellow face Bruno Sammartino for his WWWF World Heavyweight Championship belt. Opportunity knocked on January 18 1971 when Ivan Koloff ended Sammartino's seven-year reign.[4] Three weeks later, on February 8, Morales wrestled Koloff for the belt at Madison Square Garden and won the match to become the fourth Heavyweight Champion in WWWF history.[3][7][4][9] When he won the WWWF World Championship, the United States Championship became vacant.[8]

Morales proved to be a popular champion,[4][10] especially among New York's Puerto Rican community.[11] Like Sammartino before him, Morales was an ethnic champion.[9][12][11] He became known for his scientific wrestling ability and endurance, as well as a "fiery Latin temper" that emerged during matches. During his reign as champion, Morales feuded with the now-heel Freddie Blassie, who was the number one contender for his title.[13][14]

On September 1 1972, however, he wrestled Bruno Sammartino in the main event of Showdown at Shea - it was the first WWWF title match to ever pit two fan favorites against each other.[2] After several near pins, the two men wrestled to a seventy-five minute draw.[15][3] After the match, the fans were noticeably angry, and some jumped into the dugouts to shake their fists at the wrestlers.[15]

During his reign, Morales worked an angle with the then-heel Larry Hennig.[16] After a title reign of almost three years, Morales dropped the title to Stan Stasiak on December 1 1973.[3][7][17] He soon faded from the WWWF.

National Wrestling Alliance (1974-1980)

After leaving the WWWF, Morales wrestled for other promotions around the United States and Puerto Rico, including returns to NWA regions where he won more tag team gold with Pat Patterson and then Rocky Johnson.[7]

World Wrestling Federation (1980-1987)

In May 1980, Pedro staged a WWF comeback.[3] He added yet another title to his career on August 9 when he teamed with reigning Heavyweight champ Bob Backlund to defeat the tag team titleholders, the Wild Samoans, at the Showdown at Shea 1980.[3][18] However, Backlund and Morales quickly had to forfeit the belts due to a rule stating that no Heavyweight champion could also hold a second title at the same time.[3][7]

The WWF Intercontinental Championship was now the only major men's title that Morales had never won in the promotion. On December 8 1980, however, he became the first man to complete the federation's Triple Crown with a victory over Ken Patera at Madison Square Garden.[3][4][19] Morales feuded with "Magnificent" Don Muraco during 1981,[3] losing the belt to him on June 20 but reclaiming it on November 23.[20] With this win, Morales became the first man to hold the Intercontinental title twice, and he held it for fourteen months, the longest reign up until that point.[21] During his third reign, Morales defended his build against Don Muraco and "Superstar" Billy Graham.[3] It was Muraco, however, who ultimately ended Morales' second Intercontinental title reign on January 22 1983.[7][21]

Morales never won another title and had reached an advanced stage in his career by the time of Vince McMahon Jr.'s national expansion of the WWF in the mid-1980s. He competed in the 1985 King of the Ring tournament, defeating Johnny Valiant and receiving a bye to advance to the third round before losing to Don Muraco.[22] The following year, he defeated Rudy Diamond, Mike Rotundo and Nikolai Volkoff before losing the final match to Harley Race.[23] Morales made his only WrestleMania appearance in 1986 when he was a part of a 20-man invitational battle royal at WrestleMania 2.[24] He wrestled in a WWF ring for the final time in late 1987.

Retirement

After retirement from the squared circle, Morales became a commentator for WWF's Spanish-language TV programming.[3] Pedro Morales was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995.[2]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • Mid-Pacific Promotions
  • NWA San Francisco
  • World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)
  • Most Overrated Wrestler award in 1981
  • Most Overrated Wrestler award in 1982

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Wrestler Profiles: Pedro Morales". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  2. ^ a b c d WWE. "WWE Hall of Fame: Pedro Morales". Retrieved 2007-09-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Steven Slagle (2002). "Hall of Fame: Pedro Morales". The Ring Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Ivan Koloff's WWE Championship reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-01. Pedro Morales [defeated] Ivan Koloff for the [WWF] Championship...Morales would also go on to become the first Triple Crown winner [upon winning] the Intercontinental Championship and World Tag Team Championship.
  5. ^ "Wrestler Profiles: Luke Graham". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  6. ^ "Wrestler Profiles: Buddy Austin". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^ a b "History of the WWWF United States Heavyweight title". wrestling-titles.com. May 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  9. ^ a b Scott M. Beekman (2006). Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America (p.105). Greenwood Press. ISBN 027598401X.
  10. ^ Ross Davies (2001). Bruno Sammartino (p.72). The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 0823934322.
  11. ^ a b c Fred Blassie and Keith Elliot Greenberg (2004). "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (p.175). Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0743463161.
  12. ^ Ric Flair (2005). Ric Flair: To Be The Man (p.90). Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0743491815.
  13. ^ Fred Blassie and Keith Elliot Greenberg (2004). "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (p.174). Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0743463161.
  14. ^ "Freddie Blassie: classy to the very end - Phantom of the Ring - Obituary". Wrestling Digest. October 2003. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  15. ^ a b Ross Davies (2001). Bruno Sammartino (p.77). The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 0823934322.
  16. ^ Dave Meltzer (2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers (p.52). Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1582618178.
  17. ^ "Stan Stasiak's WWE Championship reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  18. ^ "World Tag Team title history". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  19. ^ "Morales' first Intercontinental reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  20. ^ "Intercontinental Championship title history". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  21. ^ a b "Morales' second Intercontinental reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  22. ^ "King of the Ring: July 8, 1985". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  23. ^ "King of the Ring: July 14, 1986". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  24. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF WrestleMania Results (2)". Retrieved 2007-09-21. Andre the Giant won a "battle royal" which included both wrestlers and NFL players. The other wrestlers were: ... Pedro Morales, Jim Niedhart
  25. ^ Dave Meltzer (2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers (p.112). Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1582618178.
  26. ^ "Wrestler of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  27. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved 2007-10-01.

External links

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