The Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show was an annual professional wrestling event held between 1996 and 1999 as a tribute to wrestler Ilio DiPaolo and featured talent from World Championship Wrestling as well as appearances from older wrestling stars of the "television era". Several of these wrestlers came out of retirement to face their former rivals on the first three shows.
The show was organized by Dennis DiPaolo, along with family and friends of the late Ilio DiPaolo, and the proceeds were generally donated to charitable organizations. The second show, held at the Marine Midland Arena in 1997, was attended by over 16,000 people and raised $70,000 each for the Sick Children's Hospital and the Ilio DiPaulo Scholarship Fund. Jim Kelly, a former quarterback for Buffalo Bills, also received a plaque in recognition for his charity work and was one of several guest celebrities to appear on the show. Although many celebrities were paid for their appearances, wrestlers such as Johnny Barend did not accept payment to perform at the event.
Show results
First Annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show June 7, 1996 in Buffalo, New York (Buffalo Memorial Auditorium) Introduction: Johnny Barend, Dominic DeNucci, The Destroyer, Mario Fratterali, Woody Johnson, Gene Kiniski, Reginald Love, Angelo Mosca, Tony Parisi, Angelo Poffo, Johnny Powers, Bruno Sammartino, Waldo Von Erich, and Kurt Von Hess. #ResultsStipulationsTimes1Pee Wee Jones pinned Farmer PeteSingles match7:542Gino Brito beat The Missing Link via disqualificationSingles match6:123Dominic DeNucci & Tony Parisi defeated Bruiser Bedlam & Danny Johnson when Parisi pinned JohnsonTag team match12:464Diamond Dallas Page pinned Alex WrightSingles match9:175Konnan pinned Big Bubba Rogers to retain the WCW United States ChampionshipSingles match6:376VK Wallstreet pinned Joe GomezSingles match7:147The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) defeated The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) in a "street fight" match when Knobbs pinned GrungeTag team match9:108Lex Luger pinned Jim Duggan to retain the WCW Television ChampionshipSingles match5:159Randy Savage pinned Ric FlairSingles match12:0510The Giant defeated Sting by disqualification to retain the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipSingles match7:09
Second Annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show June 6, 1997 in Buffalo, New York (Marine Midland Arena) #ResultsStipulationsTimes1Gino Brito & Tony Parisi defeated Dory Funk, Jr. & Greg Valentine by disqualificationTag team matchn/a2Dean Malenko defeated Alex Wright to retain the WCW United States ChampionshipSingles matchn/a3The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner) defeated The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge)Tag team matchn/a4Diamond Dallas Page defeated Randy SavageSingles matchn/a5Chris Benoit defeated Meng by countoutSingles matchn/a6Dean Malenko wrestled Rey Misterio, Jr. to a time-limit draw to retain the WCW United States ChampionshipSingles matchn/a7The Outsiders (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash) defeated Lex Luger & The Giant to retain the WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipTag team matchn/a
Third Annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show June 11, 1998 in Buffalo, New York (Marine Midland Arena) Introduction: Dick Beyer, Gino Brito, Willie Farkas, Billy Red Lyons, Tony Marino, George Scott, Lou Thesz, Angelo Poffo, Waldo Von Erich and Kurt Von Hess. #ResultsStipulationsTimes1Dean Malenko defeated Scotty Riggs by submission to retain the WCW Cruiserweight ChampionshipSingles match6:112Juventud Guerrera pinned Billy KidmanSingles match7:083Booker T defeated Chris Benoit by disqualificationSingles match16:414Konnan defeated Scott Putski by submissionSingles match4:065Saturn pinned GlacierSingles match3:426The Giant & The Disciple fought to a no-contest with Randy Savage & Lex LugerTag team match1:117Bill Goldberg pinned Konnan to retain the WCW United States ChampionshipSingles matchn/a8Kevin Nash & Diamond Dallas Page defeated Hollywood Hogan & Bret HartTag team matchn/a
Fourth Annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show June 11, 1999 in Buffalo, New York (Marine Midland Arena) #ResultsStipulationsTimes1Jim Duggan defeated The BarbarianSingles matchn/a2La Parka, Psicosis & Damien defeated Silver King, El Dandy & Villano VTrios matchn/a3Konnan defeated Disco InfernoSingles matchn/a4Johnny Swinger defeated Evan KaragiasSingles matchn/a5Rey Misterio, Jr. & Billy Kidman defeated Chris Benoit & Dean MalenkoTag team matchn/a6Randy Savage defeated Ric FlairSingles matchn/a7Sting defeated Diamond Dallas PageSingles matchn/a
References
Further reading Teal, Scott, ed. "Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show." Whatever Happened To...? 1.36 (2005).