Former CFL Hall of Famer and professional wrestler Angelo "King Kong" Mosca passed away today after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's. He was 84.
A native of Waltham, Massachusetts and a collegiate football star at Notre Dame, Mosca found his success on the gridiron in Canada playing 15 seasons in the CFL primarily with the Hamilton Tiger Cats as well as the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Montreal Alouettes. Mosca played in 9 Grey Cups winning five (four with the Ticats and one with the Rough Riders). In 1987, Mosca was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
In the late 1960's, Mosca began wrestling in the off-season and would become a full pro wrestler after retiring from the CFL in 1972. Mosca primarily worked as a heel in various NWA territories (i.e. Georgia, San Francisco, Mid-Atlantic, Florida, Stampede, etc.) as well as in the WWF although towards the end of his career he would work as a face in Maple Leaf Wrestling as that territory did most of its shows in Toronto and Hamilton where Mosca was a beloved figure.
A decade ago, Mosca and got into physical altercation with another CFL legend Joe Kapp. The two had played against each other in the 1963 Grey Cup between the Ticats and B.C. Lions where Mosca made a late hit on Willie Fleming with the Ticats going on to win the game and there was still no love lost between the two.
Mosca makes reference to the incident in this 1984 wrestling promo he cut on the Iron Sheik. R.I.P.
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