Angelo Savoldi
A centenarian wrestler whose career inside and outside the ring helped shape the territorial era of American professional wrestling.
1914–2013 (age 99)·Italian/American professional wrestler·Birthday: April 21·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Angelo Savoldi's story is a classic wrestling tale of reinvention. Born Mario Fornini in Italy, he emigrated to the United States and, adopting the name of a famous wrestling brother (he was billed as a 'brother' of Jumping Joe Savoldi), carved out a formidable niche in the 1940s and 50s. A skilled brawler and tag team specialist, he held versions of the world tag team titles in various territories, often partnering with his 'kayfabe' brother. His true legacy, however, was built after his in-ring career wound down. Along with his sons, he founded the International Wrestling Association (IWA) promotion in the 1970s, a northeastern territory that provided a platform for future stars. Savoldi remained a respected elder statesman of the business, his longevity itself becoming a point of fascination; he lived to 99, a testament to the toughness required of his profession's pioneers.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Angelo was born in 1914, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Angelo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1914
Angelo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1914Born
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Started school
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Became a teenager
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Could drive
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1932Could vote
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Turned 21
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1944Turned 30
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 40
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 50
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 60
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 70
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 80
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2013Died at 99
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Won multiple regional versions of the World Tag Team Championship during the territorial era of professional wrestling.
- Founded the International Wrestling Association (IWA) promotion, which operated in the northeastern United States and Puerto Rico.
- Recognized at the time of his death as the world's oldest living retired professional wrestler at age 99.
Did You Know?
He was actually Italian-born and not biologically related to the famous Savoldi wrestling family, a common 'kayfabe' relationship of the era.
His IWA promotion was one of the first to regularly tape television shows for the Puerto Rican market.
He lived to see nearly the entire history of modern professional wrestling, from the carnival days to the WWE era.
“In this business, you don't just wrestle a man; you wrestle the crowd's belief.”
