Lanny Poffo
| Lanny Poffo | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 28, 1954 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | The Genius "Leaping" Lanny Poffo |
| Billed height | 6 ft (183 cm)2 |
| Billed weight | 228 lb (103 kg) |
| Billed from | Downers Grove, Illinois |
| Debut | 1973 |
Lanny Poffo (born December 28, 1954 in Calgary, Alberta), better known by his ring name "Leaping" Lanny Poffo is a Canadian-American professional wrestler. Poffo was born in Calgary, Canada, to Angelo Poffo, an Italian American Catholic, and Judy, a Jewish American.[1] He is also the brother of wrestling legend "Macho Man" Randy Savage.
Lanny Poffo
His Wrestling career started in 1973 upon graduation from Downers Grove High School North. He went on to wrestle in many territories until joining the roster of the WWF (WWE) in 1985.
Billed as Leaping Lanny Poffo, because of his acrobatic abilities, he did very well until the booker, George Scott was replaced by Pat Patterson. Without George Scott's protection, Lanny was used as enhancement talent until 1989, when he got his big break as The Genius.
Lanny's victory over Hulk Hogan on NBC's Saturday Night's Main Event propelled him to wrestling immortality. His appearance on Live with Regis Philbin Philbin was hilarious. His partnership with Mr. Perfect (Curt Hennig) was very successful. Box office records were broken during that partnership, including Los Angles Sports Arena.
In WrestleMania 6 in Toronto, Canada, Brutus the Barber Beefcake cut Lanny's hair to the delight of the crowd.
Outside of the ring, Lanny is in great demand as a children's author and motivational speaker. He is an advocate for clean living.
In 2006 Lanny starred in the horror film Curse of the Wolf. The film was winner of "Best Horror Feature" 2006 at the Great Lakes Film Festival
Lanny has written poems for the Jerry Lewis Telethon, the Special Olympics, the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
A published poet, In 2004 one of his books LIMERICKS FROM THE HEART (and LUNGS!) was nominated for a Newbery Medal. The purpose of the book is to dissuade young people from the allure of tobacco.
Lanny is a member of the Abraham Lincoln Society
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Crucifix pin
- Honor Roll (Senton bomb)
- Moonsault
- Wrestlers managed
Championships and accomplishments
- Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling
- AGPW International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
- ICW Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[4]
- ICW United States Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with George Weingeroff (3) and Mike Doggendorf (1)1[5]
- ICW World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)[6]
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (2 times) - with Angelo Poffo (1) and Chris Colt (1)[7]
1The ICW United States Tag Team Championship is referred to as the ICW World Tag Team Championship in some publications.
Footnotes
- ^ Floridian: A wrestling dynasty
- ^ AGPW International Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
- ^ NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
- ^ ICW Southeastern Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
- ^ ICW World Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
- ^ ICW World Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
- ^ NWA World Tag Team Title (Detroit) history At wrestling-titles.com
- ^ NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
- ^ NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
External links
- 1954 births
- American poets
- American professional wrestlers
- Italian-American sportspeople
- Jewish American sportspeople
- Jewish professional wrestlers
- Living people
- People from Downers Grove, Illinois
- Professional wrestling managers and valets
- People from Calgary
- Canadian professional wrestlers
- Alberta sportspeople