Salvatore Bellomo

Salvatore Martino (June 18, 1951 – February 9, 2019) was a Belgian professional wrestler.

He debuted in his native Belgium in the early-1970s, wrestling at carnivals.

In 1973, he toured the United Kingdom as "Tino Salvadore", losing to Brian Maxine in the Royal Albert Hall in London and appearing on World of Sport.

In February 1975, he began wrestling in Guadalajara and Mexico City in Mexico with Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre as "Adonis Romano", primarily appearing in six-man tag team matches.

In August 1975, he returned to Europe.

He spent the next two years wrestling in Austria and Germany before relocating to Canada in late-1977.

In December 1977, Bellomo began wrestling in Canada, debuting in the Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based Stampede Wrestling promotion.

In March 1978, he left Stampede Wrestling to join the Vancouver, British Columbia-based promotion NWA All-Star Wrestling, where he adopted the ring name "Salvatore Martino" (sometimes shortened to "Sal Martino").

In October 1978, Bellomo and Mike Sharpe defeated The Iron Sheik and the Texas Outlaw to win the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship.

In mid-1978, Bellomo toured Japan with the Tokyo-based International Wrestling Enterprise promotion as part of its Big Summer Series.

He wrestled a total of 24 matches for the promotion, including a 20-minute time limit draw with Jiro Inazuma, a double count out with Mr. Hito, a steel cage match against Rusher Kimura, and several matches against Animal Hamaguchi.

They lost the titles to Igor Volkoff and UFO in January 1979.

In February 1979, Bellomo and Bill Cody won the titles from Volkoff and UFO.

Bellomo's second reign lasted until March 1979, when he and Joe Ventura (substituting for Cody) lost to Igor Volkoff and The Mongol.

That same month, Bellomo defeated Gene Kiniski to win the vacant NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship.

His reign lasted until May 1979, when he lost to Jean Louie.

In June 1979, Bellomo began appearing with the Portland, Oregon, United States-based promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling as "Sal Martino".

His career spanned over 40 years; he is perhaps best known for his appearances in the United States with the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s and with Eastern Championship Wrestling in the 1990s under the ring name Salvatore Bellomo.

Martino was trained to wrestle by Nino.

Bellomo continued to appear with NWA All-Star Wrestling until August 1980.

He appeared with the promotion until August 1980.

In January 1981, Bellomo began wrestling for the Los Angeles, California, United States-based NWA Hollywood Wrestling promotion under his real name.

He formed a tag team with Víctor Rivera.

In May 1981, Bellomo and Rivera defeated the Davidson Brothers for the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship.

They lost the titles back to the Davidson Brothers later that year.

Bellomo continued to wrestle for NWA Hollywood Wrestling until August 1981, after which he resumed wrestling in Germany.

In 1982, Bellomo was signed by the United States-based World Wrestling Federation after Peter Maivia advised him to audition as the WWF was looking for a new babyface Italian wrestler to replace Bruno Sammartino.

Wrestling under his real name, Bellomo made his televised in-ring debut on the June 28, 1982, episode of WWF on MSG Network, defeating Baron Mikel Scicluna in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

He went on to appear regularly on WWF Championship Wrestling and WWF on PRISM Network, going over opponents such as Johnny Rodz, Swede Hanson, Mr. Fuji, and Mr. Saito, establishing him as an "undercard hero".

In mid-1983, Bellomo and a series of tag team partners unsuccessfully challenging The Wild Samoans for the WWF World Tag Team Championships.

In late-1983 and early-1984, he unsuccessfully challenged both WWF Champion The Iron Sheik and WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco.

By mid-1984, Bellomo was winning less regularly, putting over opponents such as David Schultz, Greg Valentine, Big John Studd, Paul Orndorff, and Pat Patterson.

On the second episode of Tuesday Night Titans in June 1984, Bellomo defeated Ron Shaw, then later gave a demonstration on boat building.

In August 1984, he lost to former WWF Champion Bob Backlund in the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in what was Backlund's final match before leaving the WWF.

In November 1984, he lost to manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in Madison Square Garden.

On December 10, 1984, Roddy Piper was scheduled to interview Junkyard Dog on his talk show, Piper's Pit.

After Bellomo came to the ring instead of Junkyard Dog, Piper mocked him, quipping "I didn't order a pizza."

Piper, Paul Orndorff, and Bob Orton then attacked Bellomo until Junkyard Dog came to his rescue.

By 1985, Bellomo was being used as a jobber, losing to opponents such as Brutus Beefcake, Jim Neidhart, and The Missing Link, as well as losing tag team matches to opponents such as The Dream Team and The Hart Foundation.

At The War to Settle the Score in February 1985, he lost to Don Muraco.