Solomon Weingeroff
Encyclopedia
Solomon Weingeroff was an American professional wrestling
manager
, known by his ringname "Gentleman" Saul Weingeroff, who led several tag teams to the NWA World Tag Team Championship
during the 1960s and 70s such as The Islanders (Afa
and Sika
) and Kurt and Karl Von Brauner.
Often using his signature cane as well as fireballs (one of the earliest managers to do so) to aid in the victories of his wrestlers, he and the Von Brauners were one of the most popular "heels
" in the National Wrestling Alliance
during the early 1960s both for the Von Brauners Nazi
-like in ring personas as well as his eccentric antics such as his entering the 1964 U.S. presidential election
. The cause of rioting in several major cities, the trio often needed to have a police escort before and after wrestling events.
A well known personality in the Memphis-area, he and The Spoilers (Lorenzo Parente and Joey Corea) also had a long running feud with manager J.C. Dykes and The Masked Infernos (Frankie Cain and Jimmy "Rocky" Smith) over the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship
during the late 1960s later facing Dykes in several wrestling matches.
Among others he had managed during his near 30-year career included The Masked Strangler, Sweet Daddy Watts, "Pistol" Pez Whatley
, The Legionnaires (Sgt. Jacques Goulet
and Soldier LeBeouf), The Spoilers (Lorenzo Parente and Joey Corea), Mephisto and Dante, Tojo Yamamoto
and Sugi Sito
(and later Johnny Long), Sputnik
and Rocket Monroe and Angelo and Lanny Poffo
. He is also the father of professional wrestler George Weingeroff.
Operating a sign shop in downtown Nashville in his later years, he was also a regular guest columnist for Lew Eskin's Official Wrestling, Wrestling Monthly and Wrestling Review until his death on March 14, 1988.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
, known by his ringname "Gentleman" Saul Weingeroff, who led several tag teams to the NWA World Tag Team Championship
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
during the 1960s and 70s such as The Islanders (Afa
Afa Anoa'i
Arthur "Afa" Anoa'i, Sr. is a Samoan American retired professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. Since retiring in the 1990s, he has operated the World Xtreme Wrestling promotion and trained wrestlers at the Wild Samoan Training Facility.-Early life:Anoa'i was born in Samoa, but...
and Sika
Sika Anoa'i
Leati "Sika" Anoa'i is a former professional wrestler and a member of the Anoa'i family.-Career:Sika teamed with his brother Afa to form the tag team the Wild Samoans. They teamed in various promotions including WWF and Mid-South. In 1979, they signed with the World Wrestling Federation...
) and Kurt and Karl Von Brauner.
Often using his signature cane as well as fireballs (one of the earliest managers to do so) to aid in the victories of his wrestlers, he and the Von Brauners were one of the most popular "heels
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
" in the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
during the early 1960s both for the Von Brauners Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
-like in ring personas as well as his eccentric antics such as his entering the 1964 U.S. presidential election
United States presidential election, 1964
The United States presidential election of 1964 was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had come to office less than a year earlier following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. Johnson, who had successfully associated himself with Kennedy's...
. The cause of rioting in several major cities, the trio often needed to have a police escort before and after wrestling events.
A well known personality in the Memphis-area, he and The Spoilers (Lorenzo Parente and Joey Corea) also had a long running feud with manager J.C. Dykes and The Masked Infernos (Frankie Cain and Jimmy "Rocky" Smith) over the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship
NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship
The NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship was a secondary tag team title promoted as the name indeicates mainly in the Tennessee region from 1967 until 1977, first by Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling from 1967 to 1974 then by its successor Southeast Championship Wrestling from 1974 to 1977 when it...
during the late 1960s later facing Dykes in several wrestling matches.
Among others he had managed during his near 30-year career included The Masked Strangler, Sweet Daddy Watts, "Pistol" Pez Whatley
Pez Whatley
Pezavan Whatley was a professional wrestler in the 1980s and early 1990s who wrestled primarily under the ring name Pez Whatley.-Career:...
, The Legionnaires (Sgt. Jacques Goulet
Jacques Goulet
Jacques Goulet was an early pioneer in New France , a miller and the ancestor of virtually all of the Goulets in North America.-Early Life:...
and Soldier LeBeouf), The Spoilers (Lorenzo Parente and Joey Corea), Mephisto and Dante, Tojo Yamamoto
Tojo Yamamoto
Harold Watanabe was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tojo Yamamoto. He was born in Hawaii.-In-ring career:...
and Sugi Sito
Sugi Sito
Francisco Javier Mar Hernández was a Mexican professional wrestler known as Sugi Sito, nicknamed El Orgullo de Oriente . He was born in León, Guanajuato to a Mexican father and Chinese mother...
(and later Johnny Long), Sputnik
Sputnik Monroe (wrestler)
Sputnik Monroe was a professional wrestler from the mid 1940s through the early 1970s. Monroe was a headliner in many territories, and was best known in Memphis, where he and Billy Wicks set an attendance record that lasted until the Monday Night Wars boom period.-Life:Sputnik was born Rosco...
and Rocket Monroe and Angelo and Lanny Poffo
Lanny Poffo
Lanny Mark Poffo , better known by his ring name "Leaping" Lanny is an American professional wrestler. Poffo was born in Calgary, Canada, to Angelo Poffo, an Italian American Catholic, and Judy, a Jewish American. He is also the brother of wrestling legend "Macho Man" Randy Savage...
. He is also the father of professional wrestler George Weingeroff.
Operating a sign shop in downtown Nashville in his later years, he was also a regular guest columnist for Lew Eskin's Official Wrestling, Wrestling Monthly and Wrestling Review until his death on March 14, 1988.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
-
- Use of Fireball
-
- Use of Cane
- Wrestlers managedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Johnny Long
- The Masked Strangler
- "Pistol" Pez WhatleyPez WhatleyPezavan Whatley was a professional wrestler in the 1980s and early 1990s who wrestled primarily under the ring name Pez Whatley.-Career:...
- Sweet Daddy Watts
- Tag teams managed
- The Islanders (AfaAfa Anoa'iArthur "Afa" Anoa'i, Sr. is a Samoan American retired professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. Since retiring in the 1990s, he has operated the World Xtreme Wrestling promotion and trained wrestlers at the Wild Samoan Training Facility.-Early life:Anoa'i was born in Samoa, but...
and SikaSika Anoa'iLeati "Sika" Anoa'i is a former professional wrestler and a member of the Anoa'i family.-Career:Sika teamed with his brother Afa to form the tag team the Wild Samoans. They teamed in various promotions including WWF and Mid-South. In 1979, they signed with the World Wrestling Federation...
) - The Legionnaires (Sgt. Jacques GouletJacques GouletJacques Goulet was an early pioneer in New France , a miller and the ancestor of virtually all of the Goulets in North America.-Early Life:...
and Soldier LeBeouf) - Mephisto and Dante
- The Monroes (SputnikSputnik Monroe (wrestler)Sputnik Monroe was a professional wrestler from the mid 1940s through the early 1970s. Monroe was a headliner in many territories, and was best known in Memphis, where he and Billy Wicks set an attendance record that lasted until the Monday Night Wars boom period.-Life:Sputnik was born Rosco...
and Rocket Monroe) - The Spoilers (Lorenzo Parente and Joey Corea)
- Tojo YamamotoTojo YamamotoHarold Watanabe was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tojo Yamamoto. He was born in Hawaii.-In-ring career:...
and Sugi SitoSugi SitoFrancisco Javier Mar Hernández was a Mexican professional wrestler known as Sugi Sito, nicknamed El Orgullo de Oriente . He was born in León, Guanajuato to a Mexican father and Chinese mother... - The Von Brauners (Kurt and Karl Von Brauner)
- The Islanders (Afa
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Hall of Fame (2006)