Joe D'Orazio

Joe D'Orazio (27 July 1922 – 9 March 2022) was a British professional wrestler from the golden era.[1] He was also a well known referee,[2] presiding over bouts held in Blenheim Palace, Olympia, Cafe Royal & Lyceum Ballroom (London), Paisley Ice Rink, Paris, Belgium, Big Top Berlin and Big Top Hanover, King Hussein Stadium Jordan and Italy. For 20 years Joe D'Orazio was resident referee at the Royal Albert Hall tournaments.[3][4]

For the American football player, see Joe D'Orazio (American football).

Joe D'Orazio
Born(1922-07-27)27 July 1922
Bermondsey, London, England
Died9 March 2022(2022-03-09) (aged 99)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Joe D'Orazio
Kito Tani
Mario Maldoon
Bob Scala

Early life

D'Orazio was born in Bermondsey, South London, on 27 July 1922, to Italian parents.[5] Growing up he attended The English Martyrs RC Primary School where he met fellow wrestler and best friend Steve Logan.[6] As a boy, Joe worked in his father's fish and chip shop on the Old Kent Road.[5] After leaving school he worked as part of a demolition squad, knocking down old buildings. Shortly after the commencement of The Second World War he joined The Royal Air force alongside the wrestler Vic Coleman.[7] In 1948 he became a professional wrestler alongside his cousin Mike Marino, who was already an established wrestler. His first professional performance took place against New Zealander Russ Bishop.[6]

Other accomplishments

Other than being a wrestler, Joe is also an accomplished painter, writer, actor and stunt man. In September 1971 Joe featured on a double-page spread on pages 14 and 15 in the TVTimes where he was interviewed about his love of poetry.[8] He appeared regularly on ITV's World of Sport (UK TV series)[9] and featured in films such as The Reckoning (1969 film).[10] He worked as a stunt man in films such as The Camp on Blood Island.[11] He has also devoted over 60 years of his life teaching adults with learning difficulties to paint and draw.

Joe often appeared in magazines such as 'The Wrestler' [12] and would often write many of the articles under the name of 'Bob Scala'.[13]

In 1971 he released a book entitled "Who's Who of Wrestling"[14] and in July 2017 in order to celebrate his 95th birthday he released a poetry book entitled "A Wrestler's Lament".[15] In July 2018 Joe released another book entitled "Memories",[16] containing further poems and a short story. Many of the poems in his latest two books were written whilst he was still a professional wrestler, although some were written in the lead up to publishing his book.

In 1991, D'Orazio co-founded the British Wrestlers Reunion and remained their president until January 2022. The organisation was the second largest of its kind in the world with over 5,000 members and ran for 30 years but came to an end when D'Orazio retired from his role.[6]

D'Orazio was quoted as a reference on many topics in the book The Wrestling by Simon Garfield.[17]

Personal life

D'Orazio died on 9 March 2022, at the age of 99.[18]

References
  1. Gillott, Martin (27 February 2014). Confessions Of A Wrestler: The Autobiography of British Wrestling Legend Jackie 'Glitterboy' Evans. Memoirs Publishing. ISBN 9781861510693 – via Google Books.
  2. "#OnThisDay July 27th, 1977 - Pier Pavillion, #Hastings. From the family collection of Bronco Wells and @RealErnestARSpic.twitter.com/0vrMuMK6Q8". 27 July 2018.
  3. "The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery". wrestlingfurnace.site.
  4. "May 25, 1977 @RoyalAlbertHall forst 6 man tag at the venue:: @SethHanson1982 @mattfarmer93 @RealErnestARS @WrestlingCardz @SheriffLonestar @1978kid1 @OldWrestlingPic @WrestlingIsKingpic.twitter.com/kzocEM2ngf". 25 May 2019.
  5. "Joe D'Orazio (Also known as Kito Toni)". Wrestling Heritage. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. "British Wrestlers Reunion". British Wrestlers Reunion.
  7. McFadden, Robski. "Joe D'Orazio – The World's Oldest Living Wrestler Passes Away". ProWrestlingPost.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  8. "TV Times September 1971". radiosoundsfamiliar.com.
  9. "World of Sport (TV Series 1964–1985) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  10. "The Reckoning (1970)" – via trakt.tv.
  11. "The Camp on Blood Island" – via www.imdb.com.
  12. "The Wrestler Magazine, July 1968". www.wrestlingarchive.net.
  13. "Wrestlingarchive.net" (PDF).
  14. D'Orazio, Joe; Edwards, Pam (28 August 1971). The Who's who of Wrestling. Paul. ISBN 9780091092207 – via Google Books.
  15. A Wrestler's Lament: And one hundred other poems: Amazon.co.uk: Joe D'orazio: 9780244914745: Books. ASIN 0244914745.
  16. Memories: A collection of poems and a short story: Amazon.co.uk: Joe D'Orazio: 9780244989620: Books. ASIN 0244989621.
  17. Simon Garfield, The Wrestling, London, 1996
  18. Oliver, Greg (9 March 2022). "British Wrestler Joe D'Orazio Dies At 99". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
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