Mario Mancini

Mario Mancini (born Leonard Inzitari; June 21, 1966) is a retired American professional wrestler who mainly worked in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as a Babyface jobber from 1984 to 1991.

On July 31, 1984, Mancini and fellow students Dave Barbie, AJ Petrucci, and Robby Parliament accompanied Altomare to a WWF taping in Poughkeepsie.

Given the opportunity to work in a real WWF ring prior to the start of the show, his mentor informed Mario that he would be having his first match that night against Greg Valentine.

At the time Mancini still believed that professional wrestling was a sport, and had to be smartened up prior to his first match.

In his second match he faced "Dr. D.' Dave Schultz at a house show in West Warwick, RI on August 13, 1984; during that encounter, Mario had his nose broken in two places. Mancini would later say that the early injury did him a favor, as the young wrestler would then avoid the hazing that others had to endure at the time. Having signed a contract at the Poughkeepsie taping, Mancini began to be used on a regular basis by the World Wrestling Federation. He appeared on successive episodes of WWF All Star Wrestling in October 1984, facing The Moondogs, Kamala, and a young Brutus Beefcake. Having lost his first five professional matches, the young wrestler gained the first victory of his career when he defeated real-life trainer Tony Altomare by disqualification at a house show in Middletown, CT on September 26, 1984.

On October 28, 1984, he faced Steve Lombardi at house show in Reading, PA, with the two young wrestlers competing to a draw.

On November 19, 1984, at another taping of All-Star Wrestling, Dave Schultz took to the microphone to publicly apologize to Mancini for breaking his nose.

After shaking Mario's hand, Schultz then slapped him across the face.

Mancini would finish the year competing against Paul Orndorff, Brutus Beefcake, Johnny Rodz, and Ken Patera.

On December 5, he gained the second victory of his young career when he teamed with Swede Hanson to defeat Johnny Rodz and AJ Petruzzi at a house show in Bronx, NY.

Mancini would begin 1985 with a televised pinfall loss to Don Muraco on an All Star Wrestling taping in Hamilton, Ontario.

Following several additional losses to various talents at house shows and on television, he was memorably squashed by King Kong Bundy in a warmup match prior to the latter's main event program at WrestleMania 2.

Mancini rebounded to gain another victory, this time teaming with fellow rookie wrestler Paul Roma to defeat Gino Carabello & Pete Pompeii on March 6, 1985, in Stratford, CT. Behind the scenes Roma and Mancini would become traveling companions and form a strong friendship as they progressed within the industry.

On March 21 the two wrestled each other in a Babyface vs Babyface match at a house show in Enfield, CT, ending in a draw.

On May 4, 1985, Mario gained another draw, this time facing Prince of Pain.

On May 2, 1985, he was invited to be a guest on an episode of Tuesday Night Titans where the WWF celebrated their "unsung heroes".

Appearing with Paul Roma, Jim Powers, Steve Lombardi, and "The Duke of Dorchester" Pete Doherty, host Vince McMahon interviewed the undercard wrestlers on their motivations and plans.

Mancini discussed his background, including being the youngest wrestler on the roster and beginning his career at 18.

McMahon jokingly acknowledged that Mario was no relation to Boom Boom Mancini.

Sixteen days later Mancini would face Dougherty at a show in Boston, MA and be defeated.

In the summer and fall of 1985 he would compete against a host of wrestlers, including Terry Funk, King Kong Bundy, and Randy Savage, as well as teaming semi-regularly with Paul Roma.

Mario rebounded to gain his first pinfall victory of his career, pinning Gino Carabello on November 9, 1985, at a house show in New Haven, CT.

Mancini entered 1986 now entrenched as one of the WWF's most visible jobbers.

He began the year with televised losses on WWF Championship Wrestling to The Hart Foundation, Adrian Adonis, and Hercules Hernandez.

On the June 21, 1986 edition of WWF All Star Wrestling he teamed with Scott McGhee and lost to Jimmy Jack Funk and Dory Funk; after the match he was hogtied by the Funks.

Mario also sustained losses to Rene Goulet, Iron Mike Sharpe and Terry Gibbs on the house show tour.

His losing streak continued as he lost a variety of televised and untelevised matches to Harley Race, The Hart Foundation, Hercules, Butch Reed, and Dino Bravo.

On the December 14, 1986 edition of Wrestling Challenge he faced WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage, but was defeated.

The streak was finally ended on December 14, 1986, when he wrestled Jerry Allen to a draw at an event in Milwaukee, WI.

1987 opened with Mario Mancini facing Butch Reed on the January 18th episode of Wrestling Challenge.

Before the match Andre the Giant was introduced to the crowd; only weeks before his heel turn, Andre would shake the hands of Mancini and the ring announcer.

A day earlier Mancini teamed with Salvatore Bellomo to face the new team of Demolition on WWF Superstars.

The match was also notable as this was the original version of the team, with Randy Colley playing the role of Smash.

On the March 22, 1987 edition of Wrestling Challenge he faced King Kong Bundy in another rematch; Mancini would be stretchered out after the match.

He returned on April 24 to team with Sivi Afi and Lanny Poffo to face The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, and Butch Reed in an unsuccessful effort.

He was The Undertaker's first ever opponent on an edition of WWF Superstars, taped on November 19, 1990, but not aired on television until December 15, 1990 (thus not The Undertaker's first televised debut).

Mancini's father had gone to school with former WWF wrestler Tony Altomare, and he eventually convinced him to train him.

Mario trained his entire senior year of high school.

On the Feb 14th edition of Superstars, Mancini would team with Sivi Afi to face the updated version of Demolition as Barry Darsow replaced Colley in the role of Smash.

Mario would debut that night against Greg Valentine on the taping for WWF Championship Wrestling, turning professional only six weeks after his 18th birthday, making him the youngest wrestler in the WWF at the time.