Lou Marconi

Lou Marconi (born June 19, 1973 ) is an American professional wrestler, trainer, and occasional actor.

Lou Marconi was born in Brooklyn, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, on June 19, 1973.

A lifelong wrestling fan, Marconi followed both the National Wrestling Alliance and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1980s.

Marconi was a major star in Pennsylvania-based Pro Wrestling eXpress and Steel City Wrestling during the mid-to late 1990s.

He held every championship title in both promotions as well as engaged in feuds with Cactus Jack and Stevie Richards.

Marconi also had brief stints in Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as a preliminary wrestler.

He has wrestled in numerous independent promotions in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern United States since his debut in 1992.

His favorite wrestlers were WWF stars Bret "the Hitman Hart and Mr. Perfect who later influenced his wrestling style. He began training under Charlie Fulton at the Ohio Monster Factory in Marion, Ohio, shortly after leaving high school. Marconi made his pro debut on June 19, 1993, after only two months of training.

Marconi spent the first years of his wrestling career on the local Ohio-Pennsylvania independent circuit including, most notably, J.T. Lightning's Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated alleged that his opponents had dubbed his infamous finisher the "Hellfire lariat" because "it takes five years off your life".

On May 25, 1994, Marconi appeared on WWF Superstars of Wrestling where he and Curtis Harrison wrestled The Headshrinkers (Fatu and Samu) for the WWF World Tag Team Championship.

On September 24, 1994, he teamed with Derek Stone to defeat Beauty & The Beast (Frank Stalletto and Futureshock) in Munhall, Pennsylvania, to become the inaugural SCW Tag Team Champions.

Beauty & The Beast won the belts three months later in Pittsburgh, however, Marconi soon formed Black & Blue with The Black Cat and made a second run for the tag titles.

Marconi and The Black Cat defeated Beauty & The Beast for the SCW Tag Team Championship in Plum, Pennsylvania, on March 17, 1995; the two reportedly defeated Futureshock and Stalletto in singles matches during the show.

The two were defeated by The Juicer and Preston Steele at Deaf Wrestlefest 1995 on April 9.

After a 7-month reign, Black & Blue lost the SCW Tag Team titles to Frank Stalletto and Stevie Richards in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, on October 21.

After the match, Raven and Richards attacked Stalletto and the belts were held up.

On November 11, 1995, Marconi and Frank Stalletto defeated Stevie Richards and Brian Rollins in St. Mary, Pennsylvania to win the vacant SCW Tag Team Championship.

Marconi was given this early opportunity, due in large part to his trainer Charlie Fulton, and would eventually become a regular WWF preliminary wrestler for its Midwestern tours from 1996 to 2000.

That summer, Marconi joined Steel City Wrestling based in Irwin, Pennsylvania.

On April 13, 1996, Marconi and Frank Stalletto defended the SCW Tag Team belts against Ron Cumberledge and Kenny "Hurricane" Hendrix in Barberton, Ohio.

A week later, Marconi and Frank Stalletto lost the belts to Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie at Deaf Wrestlefest 1996.

Marconi began wrestling for the American States Wrestling Alliance around this time.

Shortly before Deaf Wrestlefest, Marconi took part in an 18-man battle royal for an ASWA television taping in Lexington, Ohio; he was the last participant to be eliminated by the winner Max Profit.

On June 8, 1996, Marconi defeated Lumberin' Jack in Alliance, Ohio.

In August, Marconi made two appearances on WWF Superstars of Wrestling; his first match was against Marc Mero and the second a tag team match with Frank Stalletto versus The Smokin' Gunns (Billy and Bart Gunn).

He also wrestled "Stone Cold" Steve Austin on WWF Superstars two months later.

Marconi briefly returned to SCW in the fall.

On September 21, 1996, Marconi defeated Paul Atlas at the Tuscarawas County Fair in Dover, Ohio.

The following night, he lost to Stevie Richards at Sullivan Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On October 18, 1996, Marconi teamed with Micro Menace and Kaos in a 6-man tag team match to defeat Bo Dacious, Chip Emdale, and The Prince of Polyester at an ASWA television taping in Mansfield, Ohio.

Marconi and Chris Harris entered a championship tag team tournament and advanced to the semi-finals where, on November 22, they defeated Roger Ruffin and The Prince of Polyester at the Commerce Center in Mansfield.

On December 21, 1996, Marconi and Chris Harris defeated Lumberin' Jack and Chip Endale at the Mansfield Commerce Center.

At the end of the year, Marconi was one of several wrestlers featured in a Pro Wrestling Illustrated article about unusual nicknames in pro wrestling.

A back injury in 2000 prematurely forced Marconi into retirement.

He eventually returned to pro wrestling five years later, at age 32, and performed for Absolute Intense Wrestling, International Wrestling Cartel, and G.O.U.G.E. Wrestling.

Since August 2012, Marconi has competed in the National Wrestling Alliance winning titles in several NWA-affiliated promotions.

He is a former NWA East Three Rivers Champion, a two-time NWA Eastern States Champion, and two-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion.

His feud with Phil "Nitro" Monahan is considered by the NWA to be one of the organization's "fiercest rivalries" in recent years.

In May 2014, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Marconi #5 of the top ten wrestlers in the NWA.