DiPaolo was born in Italy and lived there until he moved to Venezuela in 1949.[1] There, he met promoterToots Mondt, who taught him to wrestle.[1] While waiting to get the proper paperwork to move to the United States, he relocated to the Dominican Republic to wrestle in the meantime.[1] After the paperwork was completed, he moved to Buffalo, New York in 1951.[2] He then began to work for Frank Tunney out of the Toronto area.[1] Around this time he teamed with Whipper Billy Watson to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship.[1] Also in Toronto, he wrestled Pat O'Connor for the NWA World title in 1959, but the match went to a one-hour time limit draw.[1] His last match was against Lou Thesz for the same title; a match that also went to a one-hour time limit draw.[1]
Personal life
DiPaolo met his wife Ethel, stepdaughter of promoter Pedro Martinez, in 1952.[2] The couple had four children.[2]
He opened his first restaurant, a pizzeria, when he was in his 40s, but it was destroyed by a fire.[2] DiPaolo retired from wrestling full-time in 1965 and opened his second restaurant, an eponymous Italian restaurant now known as "Ilio DiPaolo's" in Blasdell, New York.[1][2] He died in 1995 after being struck by a car during a torrential downpour while trying to enter a restaurant with his wife.[1] After his death, DiPaolo's oldest son Dennis began to run the restaurant.[2] His other children also worked in the restaurant.[2]
World Championship Wrestling held the Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show for DiPaolo from 1996 through 1999. To this point over $750,000 has been raised for the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund and for other Buffalo charities like Children's Hospital and People Inc.
DiPaolo was selected as a New York State Award recipient by the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2003.[3] The DiPaolo family has also been inducted into the New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for the creation of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship fund and continual contribution to high school wrestling.
ilio, dipaolo, november, 1926, 1995, italian, professional, wrestler, restaurateur, lived, buffalo, york, area, bornnovember, 1926introdacqua, abruzzo, italy, diedmay, 1995, 1995, aged, hamburg, york, professional, wrestling, careerring, name, trained, bytoots. Ilio DiPaolo November 7 1926 May 10 1995 was an Italian professional wrestler and restaurateur who lived in the Buffalo New York area Ilio DiPaoloBornNovember 7 1926Introdacqua AQ Abruzzo Italy 1 DiedMay 10 1995 1995 05 10 aged 68 Hamburg New York U S Professional wrestling careerRing name s Ilio DiPaoloTrained byToots MondtDebut1949 1 Retired1965 1 Contents 1 Professional wrestling career 2 Personal life 3 Championships and accomplishments 4 References 5 External linksProfessional wrestling career EditDiPaolo was born in Italy and lived there until he moved to Venezuela in 1949 1 There he met promoter Toots Mondt who taught him to wrestle 1 While waiting to get the proper paperwork to move to the United States he relocated to the Dominican Republic to wrestle in the meantime 1 After the paperwork was completed he moved to Buffalo New York in 1951 2 He then began to work for Frank Tunney out of the Toronto area 1 Around this time he teamed with Whipper Billy Watson to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship 1 Also in Toronto he wrestled Pat O Connor for the NWA World title in 1959 but the match went to a one hour time limit draw 1 His last match was against Lou Thesz for the same title a match that also went to a one hour time limit draw 1 Personal life EditDiPaolo met his wife Ethel stepdaughter of promoter Pedro Martinez in 1952 2 The couple had four children 2 He opened his first restaurant a pizzeria when he was in his 40s but it was destroyed by a fire 2 DiPaolo retired from wrestling full time in 1965 and opened his second restaurant an eponymous Italian restaurant now known as Ilio DiPaolo s in Blasdell New York 1 2 He died in 1995 after being struck by a car during a torrential downpour while trying to enter a restaurant with his wife 1 After his death DiPaolo s oldest son Dennis began to run the restaurant 2 His other children also worked in the restaurant 2 World Championship Wrestling held the Ilio DiPaolo Memorial Show for DiPaolo from 1996 through 1999 To this point over 750 000 has been raised for the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund and for other Buffalo charities like Children s Hospital and People Inc DiPaolo was selected as a New York State Award recipient by the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2003 3 The DiPaolo family has also been inducted into the New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for the creation of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship fund and continual contribution to high school wrestling Championships and accomplishments EditBig Time Wrestling BTW World Tag Team Championship 1 time with Buddy Lee 4 Cauliflower Alley Club Other honoree 1994 5 Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame 1996 inducteeMaple Leaf Wrestling NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship 5 times with Whipper Billy Watson 4 and Billy Red Lyons 1 Midwest Wrestling Association MWA Ohio Heavyweight Championship 3 times MWA Ohio Tag Team Championship 1 time with Athol LaytonProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum New York State Award 2003 3 Worldwide Wrestling Associates WWA International Television Tag Team Championship 1 time with Tex McKenzieStampede Wrestling NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship Calgary version 1 time with Tex McKenzie Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 1995 6 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Key George Canadian Hall of Fame Ilio DiPaolo SLAM Wrestling Retrieved 2009 12 28 a b c d e f g Oliver Greg May 12 2005 DiPaolo s Restaurant celebrates 40 years SLAM Wrestling Retrieved 2009 12 28 a b Beyer Dick Ilio Dipaolo Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Archived from the original on 2010 03 30 Retrieved 2009 12 28 Big Time Wrestling Tag Team Title Massachusetts Wrestling Titles com Puroresu Dojo 2003 Archived from the original on 2020 11 17 List of CAC Award Winners Cauliflower Alley Club Archived from the original on March 2 2014 Retrieved February 13 2019 Whalen Ed host December 15 1995 Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame 1948 1990 Showdown at the Corral A Tribute to Stu Hart Event occurs at 15 38 Shaw Cable Calgary 7 External links EditCanadian Wrestling Hall of Fame Profile Ilio DiPaolo s Restaurant and Ringside Lounge Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ilio DiPaolo amp oldid 1128439796, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
