Vito LoGrasso

Vito LoGrasso
Lo Grasso, aka Big Vito, making his entrance at a show in March 2013
Birth name	Vito Joseph LoGrasso
Born	(1964-06-18) June 18, 1964[1] Brooklyn, New York
Spouse(s)	Noel Harlow (m. 2014)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Skull Von Krush[2] Von Krus Vito Krus[2] Vito LoGrasso[2] Big Vito[2] Vito
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Billed weight	249 lb (113 kg)[2]
Billed from	Little Italy, Manhattan, New York, Staten Island, New York
Trained by	Johnny Rodz[2]
Debut	1990[2]

Vito Joseph LoGrasso^[1] (born June 18, 1964)^[1] is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling as Big Vito and more recently World Wrestling Entertainment and working for their "developmental territories" Ohio Valley Wrestling and Deep South Wrestling as Vito.^[2]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (1990–1993)

LoGrasso started wrestling in 1990 on the independent circuit until being approached by NOW Wrestling Federation, based in Japan. Vito then went on to work in the USWA and WWC using the name Skull Von Krush.

World Wrestling Federation (1991–1993)

He worked there for a while and then returned to the states in 1991 and became a jobber in the WWF. He wrestled on early editions of WWF Monday Night Raw as Von Krus, a generic big wrestler who began with a subtly "evil foreigner" gimmick. He faced such superstars as Bret Hart and The Undertaker.

Memphis Wrestling (1994)

1994 Vito debuted in USWA as Skull Von Krush managed by Lee Womack. He feuded with Brian Christopher, Spell Binder, and Jeff Gaylord. On March 7, 1994 Memphis Memories show. Vito, as Skull Von Krush, teamed with Danny Davis & Ken Wayne in a six-man tag match at a USWA show in Memphis to defeat the team of Jeff Gaylord, King Cobra & Spellbinder. He also later attacked Jerry Lawler.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1999)

After a lot of success in those promotions, Vito met up with extreme wrestler Tazz at Johnny Rodz training school, who was able to get him a try out in ECW. When he started in ECW, he was still using the name Skull Von Krush. He later changed his name to Vito "The Skull" LoGrasso and became a member of "Da Baldies" stable, who in the storyline, claimed to be an offshoot of a real life New York street gang, and as such took issue with New Jack calling himself a "Gangsta" and began a feud with him.^[2] Vito worked a couple of shows with the now defunct LIWF with Billy Alaimo and was on the Junkyard Dog memorial show in a casket match at The Elks Lodge in Queens, New York.

On the November 19, 1999 edition of ECW Wrestling on TNN, LoGrasso was pinned in a tag team match where the loser of the fall was forced to leave the company.

World Championship Wrestling (1999–2001)

In 1999 Vito left ECW for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) where he teamed with Johnny the Bull as The Mamalukes.^[3] Managed by Tony Marinara The Mamalukes captured the WCW World Tag Team Championship twice, and were, in storyline, jointly awarded the WCW Hardcore Championship.^[2] After being awarded the championship, however, Vito and Johnny were forced to face each other in a match to crown one champion, which Vito won.^[2]

In WCW Vito was billed from Staten Island, New York, which is where he actually grew up.

In December 2000, the Mamalukes reunited and teamed together until March 2001, when WCW was acquired by the WWF. After the acquisition, Vito was one of the wrestlers who was lost in the shuffle, neither becoming a part of The Invasion nor taking one of the large ticket buyouts offered.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004)

Vito also had a brief run in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in late-2004 with Glenn Gilbertti, Trinity and Johnny Swinger as the "New York Connection".^[4] His only feud was with "Irish" Pat Kenney, in which they exchanged victories.^[5][6]

Return to WWE

The Full Blooded Italians and Singles competition (2004–2007)

In early 2005, Vito worked in various dark matches with Val Venis before signing a contract with WWE in June.[7]

On the August 6, 2005 episode of WWE Velocity, Vito made his WWE debut, where he helped Nunzio win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship from Paul London.^[8] Vito and Nunzio would then reform as The Full Blooded Italians, wrestling in various tag team matches.^[2] After a brief feud with Gregory Helms, in March 2006, Vito and Nunzio would turn heel, after Vito announced he wanted to be recognized as a "Godfather".

Beginning in May, various superstars such as Orlando Jordan and Paul Burchill would approach Nunzio, spreading rumours that they had seen Vito in public places in various forms of cross-dress.^[9][10] On the June 2, 2006, episode of WWE SmackDown, after Nunzio would be defeated by Matt Hardy, Vito, wearing a dress, would come out to help Nunzio backstage.^[11] The following week on SmackDown, after arguing about Vito's clothing choices, the two would have a match against each other, where Vito would defeat Nunzio.^[12] Shortly after, Nunzio would join the ECW brand, leaving Vito on SmackDown, officially disbanding the team.^[13]

Despite him cross dressing, Vito would continually explain that he was a straight man; as on the June 23 episode of SmackDown, Vito would ask Ashley Massaro out on a date, which she agreed too.^[14] Vito would then begin to "have more fun" during his matches, running around and waving his dresses and otherwise interacting with the fans, turning him once again face.^[15] During this time, Montel Vontavious Porter^[16] and William Regal,^[17] as well as SmackDown color commentator JBL, began to voice their problems with a man wrestling in a dress. Both MVP and Regal would threaten General Manager Theodore Long with a sexual harassment lawsuit to get out of a match with Vito.^[18] At the same time, WWE began to "censor" any incidents of Vito's dress raising and exposing his (bethonged) buttocks. Vito would then begin an undefeated streak, which would last over four months until the October 21 episode of SmackDown, when Vito was defeated by Elijah Burke after interference from his partner Sylvester Terkay. On the November 3 episode of SmackDown, Vito would team with Layla in a losing effort against The Miz and Kristal.

On May 15, 2007, Vito was released from his WWE contract.^[19]

Deep South Wrestling (2007)

On January 25, 2007, Vito would win the Deep South Heavyweight Championship after defeating former champion Bradley Jay and Ryan O'Reilly in a three-way round robin match.^[2] After his title win, Vito would then undergo a gimmick change, as he began wearing martial arts-style trunks, a headband, and wrestling without shoes, with Vito later explaining that the only reason he won matches was because his opponents were claiming that him wearing a dress was a distraction.^[2] Vito would briefly return in his new gimmick when he appeared as a lumberjack on the episode of WWE Heat before WrestleMania 23, in a tag team match between Carlito and Ric Flair against Chavo Guerrero and Gregory Helms. On February 22, Vito re-lost the title to Jay.^[2]

Return to the independent circuit (2009–present)

Vito (left) and James Maritato in 2013.

Vito continues to travel the world; performing in France, Italy, Malta, Nepal, and Canada, as well as wrestling in the US for ISPW, ACPW, ACW, PWX, DTW, and Wrestling for a Cause in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

He has also wrestled on various tours of Europe with Irish Whip Wrestling.

Vito's tour March 2010 of Nepal makes him the first former ECW, WCW, TNA, WWE, Superstar to work in that country. There he was involved in a riot involving 4,000 people that made international news and became an internet viral video.

February 24, 2011, He returned to defeat the Himalayan Tiger in Kathmandu, Nepal for the Golden Cine Professional Wrestling Show held at the Dasharath Stadium in front of 20,000 people, to become the first ever Profession Wrestling Champion of Nepal.^[20] On March 1, 2011 Vito presence was requested by the US Embassy of Nepal. He was greeted and congratulated by the councilor of public affairs of US embassy to Nepal, Terry J. White and staff.

On March 12, 2011, he wrestled "Bulldog" James Dylan, who works for the DDP Yoga association, at an Atomic Championship Wrestling event and was victorious . He also formed a new tag team with Tate Hammer known as The Skull Von Hammer brothers, who defeated Jon Dahmer and Ryan Slater in a tag match at the same event.

March 2, 2013 Vito made an appearance in Canada for the ECW Hardcore Roadtrip teaming with Nunzio against Pitbull Gary Wolfe and Balls. He also faced Al Snow earlier on the card as Skull Von Krush.

August 2013 Vito opened a wrestling school in Clearwater, Fl and launched a website BigVito.com

On September 19, 2013, Vito appeared in Ring Warriors as the leader of the stable The Slambinos.

On September 18, 2013, LoGrasso announced his relationship between his wrestling school and Dragon Gate USA, as the Farm territory.^[21]

Summer of 2014 Vito continued to wrestle in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Vito again appeared with the Ring Warriors in April 2015 as the manager of the Slambinos. This was his first appearance since filing suit against the WWE. LoGrasso did not wrestle at the event.

Acting career

Lograsso had a minor role as Bodo in the Science fiction film The Survivor.^[22] 2014 returned on screen in a leading role in the Horror thriller film The Church, who starred on the side of Clint Howard, Bill Moseley, Lisa Wilcox and Ashley C. Williams.^[23] He is also set in the role of Ricardo Lewis in the upcoming Action thriller film Apnea, who also will work besides his acting as Stunt coordinator.^[24]

Personal life

Vito married former wrestling personality, and model Noel Harlow LoGrasso on September 27, 2014 according to Gerwick.net. They previously worked together in the US, where she was billed as "Lil Noel" as a play on his "Big Vito" name.^[25]

July 2012, Vito has joined the fight to save the Pa771 ROTC in Coatesville, Pa. He helped raise money and awareness of the local program that does over 400 hours of community service per year. It was announced in August 2012 the program was saved.

Lograsso filed a class action lawsuit against WWE in January 2015 with former WWE developmental star Adam Mercer in Pennsylvania. Lograsso claims that he suffers from serious neurological damage, chief complaint being deafness as a result of concussions sustained while wrestling for WWE.^[26]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Code of Silence (Spinning lifting DDT)^[27][28]
  • Luca Brasi (Double underhook DDT)^[2]
  • Dress Code (Kimura with the opponent's head up his dress) - 2006
• Signature moves
  • Corner slingshot splash
  • Delayed vertical suplex^[27]
  • Diving elbow drop^[27]
  • Japanese arm drag
  • Savate kick,^[2] with theatrics^[27][28]
  • Swinging neckbreaker^[27]
• With Johnny the Bull
  • Double team finishing moves
    • Catching hip toss into a sky lift slam^[27]
• Managers
  • Disco Inferno / Glenn Gilbertti^[29]
  • Tony Marinara^[29]
  • Noel Harlow
• Nicknames
  • Knuckles^[30]
• Entrance themes
  • "Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from The Godfather)" (instrumental) – WCW
  • "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" by Prong - ECW
  • "King of the Streets" by Boner - ECW
  • "Hard as Stone A" by Jim Johnston - WWE
  • "No Sleep Till Brooklyn (Instrumental) by Beastie Boys (used while teaming with Nunzio) - WWE

Championships and accomplishments

• Atomic Championship Wrestling
  • ACW Tristate Championship (1 time)
• American Championship Pro Wrestling
  • ACPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
• Big Time Wrestling
  • BTW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Deep South Wrestling
  • Deep South Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2]
• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Killer
• European Wrestling Promotion
  • Ironman Hardcore Knockout Tournament (2002)
• Golden Cine Professional Wrestling
  • Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship of Nepal (1 time)
• International Wrestling Association
  • IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2]
• Midwest Championship Wrestling Alliance
  • MCWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Helmut Hessler^[31]
• United States Extreme Wrestling
  • UXW United States Championship (1 time)^[2]
• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW Hardcore Championship (2 times) – won jointly with Johnny the Bull^[2]
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Johnny the Bull

References

External links

• WrestlingEpicenter.com August 2008 Interactive Interview with Big Vito LoGrasso
• Gerweck profile
• Cagematch profile
• Online World of Wrestling profile
• Vito LoGrasso at the Internet Movie Database