Steve DiSalvo

For the wrestler Steve Strong who competed in Hawaii and California during the 1970s and 1980s, see Stephen Cepello.
Steve DiSalvo
Born (1949-04-07) April 7, 1949
Boston, Massachusetts
Residence Edina, Minnesota
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Billy Jack Strong
Dinosaur DiSalvo
Indian Warrior
Sadistic Steve
Steve DiSalvo
Steve Strong
Strangler DiSalvo
The Minotaur
Billed height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight 310 lb (140 kg)
Billed from Tempe Arizona
Trained by Billy Anderson
Ross Hart[1]
Bruce Hart
Debut 1985

Steve DiSalvo (born April 7, 1949) is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling as The Minotaur and for his main event runs in Calgary and (as Sadistic Steve Strong) in Montreal and Puerto Rico.

Professional wrestling career

DiSalvo was trained by Billy Anderson. DiSalvo's career has taken him to the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Fighting as Steve Strong in the 1980s, he was a main-event performer in Montreal-based International Wrestling Owned by Gino Gino Brito Sr, managed by Eddy Creatchman and brawling with the likes of Abdullah the Butcher and Rick Martel

Stampede Wrestling

Moving on to Stampede Wrestling, he was known as "Strangler" Steve DiSalvo and was the top heel in the territory. Here, he feuded with Phil LaFleur over who had the better physique. DiSalvo would end up smashing a trophy over LaFleur's skull on TV, leading to several matches between the two. In time though, the Stampede fans would rally behind DiSalvo in his battles against the hated Mahkan Singh, and when Don Muraco arrived at Stampede, DiSalvo would help Muraco win the Stampede North American Title from Singh.

World Wrestling Council

DiSalvo moved on to the World Wrestling Council (WWC) promotion in Puerto Rico, where he again was known as "Sadistic" Steve Strong. Again, he had bloody brawls with Abdullah the Butcher, as well as company owner, Carlos Colón. Strong would win the WWC Universal Championship from Colón, only to lose it back to him soon after.

World Wrestling Federation

DiSalvo previously had made a one-off appearance for the WWF in 1987, wrestling twice on a house show event in Quebec (losing to Tito Santana via countout and defeating Outback Jack later in the night).[2] He was substituting for Butch Reed and Killer Khan in the event.

On February 13, 1990 he received a tryout match with the WWF at a Superstars taping in Phoenix, AZ, losing to The Red Rooster. He next made an appearance on a March 18 house show in Calgary, Alberta, defeating Buddy Rose. The following month he competed on a joint house show tour with the WWF and Arena Wrestling Alliance, tagging with Mano Yanez on three events against The Pitbulls.[3]

World Championship Wrestling

Two weeks later, DiSalvo received a tryout match for World Championship Wrestling on April 23, 1990 in Marietta, GA.[4] He was signed to the company later that year and given the gimmick of "The Minotaur". DiSalvo made his first televised appearance on the January 5, 1991 episode of WCW Saturday Night, defeating Man Mountain Bailey. He began a house show series against The Juicer and was undefeated, and later faced The Junkyard Dog.[5]

Independents and Retirement

DiSalvo also appeared in the American Wrestling Association, where he wrestled as Billy Jack Strong. He became Steve DiSalvo again and drifted around the independent circuit before retiring. He now sells homes for a living.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "Ross Hart: Entourage". cagematch.net.
  2. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/90.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw91.htm
  6. 1 2 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ↑ "North American Heavyweight Title (Calgary Stampede)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  8. ↑ "W.W.C. Universal Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  9. ↑ "W.W.C. World Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
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