Saturday, January 20, 2007

WCW: The Minotaur

The Minotaur
Born: Boston, Massachusetts
Resides: Edina, Minnesota
Height and Weight: 6'2" - 310 lbs
Previous Gimmicks: Billy Jack Strong, Steve DiSalvo, Steve Strong, Sadistic Steve, Minotaur, Indian Warrior

Steve DiSalvo was a pro wrestler, best known for his appearances with the WCW as The Minotaur and his short run in WWF as Sadistic Steve.
Steve DiSalvo was trained by Billy Anderson, the man who also had a hand in training future superstars such as Sting and The Ultimate Warrior. DiSalvo's career has taken him to the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Fighting as Steve Strong in the 1980s, he was a main-event perfomer in Montreal-based International Wrestling, managed by Eddie Creatchman and brawling with the likes of Abdullah the Butcher (who was managed by Deepak Singh), and Rick Martel. At a time when Abdullah was destroying his opponents, DiSalvo battered him in a televised match, giving as good as he got.

Moving on to Stampede Wrestling, he was known as "Strangler" Steve DiSalvo, one of the most hated men in the company's history. Here, he feuded with Phil LaFleur over who had the better physique. DiSalvo would end up smashing a trophy over LaFleur's skull on TV, leading to several matches between the two.

In time though, the Stampede fans would rally behind DiSalvo in his battles against the hated Mahkan Singh, and when Don Muraco arrived at Stampede, DiSalvo would help Muraco win the Stampede North American Title from Singh.

DiSalvo moved onto the WWC (World Wrestling Council) promotion in Puerto Rico, where he again was known as Steve Strong. Again, he had bloody brawls with Abdullah the Butcher, as well as company owner (and father of current WWE superstar Carlito), Carlos Colón. Strong would win the WWC Universal Championship from Colón, only to lose it back to him soon after.

Strong returned back to the United States, this time for WCW, where he was named The Minotaur. Despite his intimidating look and brawling style, he was phased out in a matter of weeks.

He became Steve DiSalvo again and drifted around the independent circuit before retiring.

Steve DiSalvo has also had brief stays with the WWF, where he was seemingly lost in the shuffle due to his style being similar to so many other superstars of the time, and also in the AWA, where he wrestled as Billy Jack Strong, an utterly forgettable Native American gimmick.

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