Romeo Valentino (born July 8, 1968Pro Wrestling Illustrated. "Statistics for Professional Wrestlers." PWI 2001 Wrestling Almanac and Book of Facts. Vol. IV. No. 1. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Co., 2001. (pg. 53)) is a retired American professional wrestler and promoter. He competed in a number of independent promotions in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States during the 1990s and early 2000s including American Commonwealth Wrestling, CyberSpace Wrestling Federation, The Bad Crew's Eastern Wrestling Federation, Music City Wrestling, National Championship Wrestling, NWA New Jersey, Ozark Mountain Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Alliance. He also had a brief stint as a preliminary wrestler in World Championship Wrestling.
He was a major star in Maryland Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, two of the biggest Mid-Atlantic promotions in the late 1990s. Often called "The Cornerstone of MCW", Valentino was one of the promotion's top heel performers during its early years. He was the inaugural MCW Heavyweight Champion, winning the title three times, a former MCW Rage Television Champion, and a two-time MCW Tag Team Champion with "Wiseguy" Jimmy Cicero and "Soda Pop" Ronnie Zukko. Valentino was inducted into the MCW Hall of Fame shortly after his retirement in 2006.
In the MEWF, Valentino was the last-ever MEWF Heavyweight Champion, losing the belt to MCW Heavyweight Champion Danny Doring in a unification match at the 5th annual Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup in 2003, as well as a former MEWF Maryland Unified Mid-Atlantic Champion. As one-half of The Goodfellows (or Goodfellas) with Dino Casanova and as a member of Menace 2 Society with Adam Flash and Quinn Nash, he twice held the MEWF Tag Team Championship. He also teamed with Don Bass, Tom Brandi, and "Doomsday" Danny Rose at various times in his career.
Early life Valentino was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 8, 1968. A fan of pro wrestling growing up, he was encouraged to join Larry Sharpe's famed Monster Factory after hearing about the school on the WCAO talk radio program The Larry Katz Show. Valentino was put in contact with his future trainer Duane Gill after calling the show and began working out at the facility. He made his professional debut against Ricky Blues on August 11, 1990.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1990–1994) After a few years wrestling on the local independent circuit, Valentino began teaming with Dino Casanova as The Goodfellas (or The Goodfellows) in the summer of 1993. In the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, they defeated The Outrageous Ones (Quinn Nash and Ricki Lane) for the MEWF Tag Team Championship. They also challenged the Lords of Pain for the WWA Tag Team Championship in Essex, Maryland on April 9, 1994. Three months later, they wrestled "Superstar" Johnny Gunn and Tommy Dreamer at Sauconfest '94 for the then vacant American Commonwealth Wrestling tag team championship. The Goodfellas spent the few years teaming together in the Mid-Atlantic region wrestling for NWA New Jersey, Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Alliance.
World Championship Wrestling (1995) In early-1995, Dino Casanova and Romeo Valentino began wrestling for World Championship Wrestling making their debut at the February 2nd edition of WCW Worldwide against The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Several weeks later, the team appeared in the main event match on WCW Main Event against Stars & Stripes (Marcus Bagwell and The Patriot). WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader, after an on-air argument with Eric Bischoff, interjected himself in the match attacking all four men. This was included as a dark match at SuperBrawl V at the Baltimore Arena that same night. Valentino made a few appearances after the PPV, most notably, wrestling Sting on WCW Pro (February 21) and teaming with Ricky Santana against The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) on WCW Saturday Night (April 13). His last appearance was on WCW Saturday Night against Brian Pillman on June 17, 1995.
Independent circuit (1995–1997) Shortly before splitting up with Casanova, Valentino began wrestling in singles competition. On February 26, 1995, Valentino lost to Johnny Gunn in a match to crown the first MEWF European Champion. The following year, he joined Adam Flash and Quinn Nash to form Menace 2 Society. The group defeated Axl Rotten and Corporal Punishment for the MEWF Tag Team Championship in Baltimore on September 13, 1996, however, they lost the belts to The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) in College Park, Maryland a day later. Nevertheless, Valentino and his partners remained together for another few weeks. Competing under the Freebird Rule, they challenged other teams, most notably, former tag team champions Darkside (Glen Osborne and Rockin' Rebel) on October 13, 1996. At the end of 1997, Valentino made his debut in Music City Wrestling where he wrestled J. C. Ice at Tennessee Homecoming in Nashville on November 27, 1997. He subsequently faced Rex King and Shane Eden on MCW TV before leaving the promotion.
Maryland Championship Wrestling (1998–1999) In the summer of 1998, Valentino joined Maryland Championship Wrestling, which had split from the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, and appeared on the 1st annual Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup to wrestle Mark "The Shark" Shrader. That fall, he was among the participants in the championship tournament to crown the first MCW Heavyweight Champion. On October 11, Valentino defeated Corporal Punishment in the tournament finals to become the promotion's first heavyweight champion. He successfully defended his title in rematches against Cpl. Punishment which included a tag team match with Tom Brandi against Cpl. Punishment and Terry Funk at MCW's "Legends Come to Town" show in Glen Burnie, Maryland on November 4, 1998. After a two-month reign, Valentino finally lost the heavyweight title to King Kong Bundy in Denton, Maryland on December 4, 1998. He was voted "Wrestler of the Year" at MCW's first-ever year-end award ceremony. Valentino regained the belt from Bundy in Glen Burnie on January 7, 1999. During this time Dino Devine became his personal bodyguard. He met Corporal Punishment in a no-disqualification match at the Volunteer Fire Hall in Denton on February 18. An alliance of sorts was made with Tom Brandi and manager Royce C. Profit during the show and they helped Valentino win his match against Cpl. Punishment in the main event. On March 12, he scored an impressive yet controversial victory over Stevie Richards at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, Maryland; Richards initially appeared to have won the title, however, Dino Devine put Valentino's leg on the ropes while the referee was distracted and the match was restarted ending with Valentino pinning his opponent. His second reign was ended by Headbanger Mosh four weeks later.
At Break the Barrier, an interpromotional show featuring wrestlers from 15 different independent promotions from throughout the United States, held at Philadelphia's Viking Hall, Valentino represented MCW by challenging Headbanger Mosh for the MCW Heavyweight Championship. Four days later, Valentino wrestled Tito Santana at a National Championship Wrestling show in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. On May 21, Valentino wrestled The Blue Meanie (with Bobcat) at a benefit show for Wheaton High School. Valentino later served as Cicero's cornerman during his match against Headbanger Mosh for the MCW Heavyweight Championship. He was scheduled to have a rematch against Headbanger Mosh the following night at North Harford High School in Pylesville, however, the champion was unable to make the show due to a WWE appearance in St. Louis. Instead, a mystery opponent was introduced later on in the show which was revealed to be WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Gillberg. Valentino tried to regain the MCW Heavyweight title in a 3-Way Dance with Mosh and Tom Brandi on June 17, but he was unable to win it back.
It was around this time that Valentino joined Royce C. Profit's "First Family", a heel stable including Tom Brandi and Jimmy Cicero, and feuded with the Family of Freaks in addition to Corporal Punishment and Axl Rotten."The PWI 500." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (Holiday 1999): pg. 66. Valentino eventually forced Rotten to leave the promotion in a Loser Leaves Town match. On July 8, he and Cicero won the MCW Tag Team Championship from Adam Flash and The Bruiser in Dundalk. Chased by "Doomsday" Danny Rose and The Bruiser, they held the title for over four months until their loss to The Bruiser and Jerry "The King" Lawler in Owings Mills, Maryland on November 13. That fall, Valentino regained the title from The Bruiser but lost it to him in Olney, Maryland on December 4, 1999. He also made a brief appearance for Memphis Power Pro Wrestling and was part of the Allied Powers Wrestling Federation's "Diceman Forever", a memorial show for Robert Hornack, wrestling Corporal Punishment and The Bruiser in a 3-Way Dance for the MCW Heavyweight Championship.
National Championship Wrestling (2000) Valentino was also a mainstay for Darren Wyse's National Championship Wrestling promotion based in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. On February 5, 2000, he took part in a three-way steel cage and ladder match with Adam Flash and Danny Rose at the Fairmount Arena for the NCW Heavyweight Championship. The match is considered by the promotion to be one of the greatest championship bouts in its history. Two months later, Valentino faced Flash in another ladder match for the Eastern Wrestling Federation's "Reading Invasion" in Reading, Pennsylvania. At the end of the year, Valentino and Danny Rose teamed up against Mukie and "Surfer" Ray Odyssey.
Maryland Championship Wrestling (2000) On March 18, 2000, Valentino wrestled WWF Hall of Famer George "The Animal" Steele in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He also faced former stablemates Tom Brandi and Jimmy Cicero, Gregory Martin, and Ronnie Zukko during the spring. On June 10, Valentino had a rematch with Steele at an MCW show near Ocean City, Maryland. That same night, Valentino won a battle royal after Orlando Jordan and Ronnie Zukko eliminated each other. A month later at the 2nd annual Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup, Valentino wrestled Julio Fantastico.
Independent circuit (2000) Valentino made several appearances for the MEWF that summer. Valentino and Dino Casanova, with midget wrestler Dink as special guest referee, lost to Morgus the Maniac and The Clown at the Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, Maryland on July 17, 2000. The following night at the Summer Sizzler supercard, he and Valentino wrestled The Tokyo Terrors for the MEWF Tag Team Championship but were disqualified when Thrasher attempted to interfere. This was the last-ever appearance of The Goodfellas as a tag team.
On October 25, 2000, Valentino wrestled T. Rantula on Far North Wrestling's "Return of the Monster" show; he returned to Irwin two months later to face Don Montoya in the main event.
Maryland Championship Wrestling (2000–2003)
Teaming and feuding with Ronnie Zukko (2000–2002) In late-2000, Valentino formed a tag team with "Soda Pop" Ronnie Zukko. On November 17, 2000, Valentino and Zukko wrestled Orlando and Marcus Jordan, The Ghetto Mafia, and TQM in a four-way match in Odenton, Maryland. Weeks later, he also wrestled his former bodyguard Dino Divine.