Paul Roma
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Paul Centopani  |
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|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Paul Roma |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Billed weight | 244 lb (110 kg) |
| Born | April 29, 1960 (age 46) Kensington, Kentucky |
| Resides | Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Debut | 1985 |
Paul Roma (born Paul Centopani April 29, 1960) is a professional wrestler who is most known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling primarily as a tag-team wrestler alongside such partners as Jim Powers, Hercules, Arn Anderson and Paul Orndorff
Contents |
[edit] Career
Before taking up wrestling Roma was an avid bodybuilder which accounts for his extremely well defined physique.
[edit] World Wrestling Federation
Roma made his pro wrestling debut in 1985 and soon signed with the WWF as an “Enhancement Talent” (a more polite term for Jobber). His first big break came in 1987 when he was paired up with Jim Powers in a a tag team called The Young Stallions. The team seemingly received their name by accident when play-by-play commentator Vince McMahon referred to them once as "a couple of young stallions" thus naming the team. The statement was fitting as Powers possessed huge biceps and a chiseled torso, while Roma's physique resembled that of a Greek God. Powers and Roma were still viewed as enhancement talent when, during the August 8, 1987 episode of WWF Superstars, they scored an upset disqualification victory over WWF Tag Team Champions the Hart Foundation. The victory launched the team into a run as run as featured performers in the WWF. They were even one of only two surviving teams alongside The Killer Bees in the elimination tag team match at the first annual Survivor Series pay-per-view on November 26, 1987.
It wasn't too long before WWF owner Vince McMahon seemed to lose interest in the idea of pushing the Young Stallions. This may have been due, in part, to the fact that Powers and Roma did not get along with each other. The team was placed in featured matches on television and at house shows, but most times ended up on the losing end. Following yet another loss, this time to Demolition on the March 19, 1989 episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge, the team began arguing after matches. Soon, they were split up off camera without an official announcement. Roma and Powers went their separate ways and both floundered on the undercard afterwards, for Powers it would be that way for the remainder of his career.
In the summer of 1990 Roma’s career took a turn as he turned heel alongside Hercules and the two became Power and Glory managed by Slick. They had a high profile feud with the Rockers and challenged |WWF World Tag-Team Champions the Hart Foundation but the two, despite working well together as a team, never seemed to be able to win that “big match” they needed to cement themselves as serious players in the tag-team division. When The Legion of Doom squashed them in 30 seconds at WrestleMania VII the writing was on the wall, the team was not destined for greatness. After Summer Slam 1991 Roma left the WWF and Hercules spent the rest of his time in the WWF as an “Enhancement Talent”.
[edit] Boxing Career
After leaving the World Wrestling Federation Paul Roma turned to pro boxing, competing under his “Wrestling Name” of Paul Roma since it was the name that had the most “Recognition factor”. He had a sum total of three professional boxing matches.
In his debut match on March 06, 1992 Roma lost on points to Jerry Arentzen, the victory was one of Arentzen’s two wins in 22 matches.
On April 1, 1992 he defeated Norman Fortini and then on on May 5, 1992 he fought and defeated Norman Shrink, this was both Fortini’s and Shrink’s only professional boxing match ever. After the third fight Roma stopped boxing and returned to professional wrestling mainly on the independent circuit.
[edit] World Championship Wrestling
In 1993 Paul Roma signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling and would receive his biggest push ever as he became part of the legendary Four Horsemen alongside Ric Flair and Arn Anderson (so technically they were “the Three Horsemen”). Ric Flair had returned from the WWF in early 1993 to rejoin Arn and they promised a Horsemen reunion at Smalboree. The original plan was to have former horseman Tully Blanchard return, but the negotiations between WCW and Blanchard hit a snag and Paul Roma was selected instead. The crowd was not receptive to Roma as a Horseman, he was last seen as a jobber in the WWF and not “Elite” like the Horsemen were supposed to be, which led to fans labeling this incarnation of the Horsemen as the weakest version. Roma and Arn Anderson teamed up and won the WCW World Tag Team Championship from ”Stunning” Steve Austin and ”Lord” Steven Regal (who was substituting for an injured Brian Pillman).
Roma and Anderson would only hold on to the gold for a little over a month before losing the gold to The Nasty Boys after a short and relatively uneventful title reign. After the 1993 WCW PPV Battlebowl the Horsemen Paul Roma and Arn Anderson faced the semi-regular team of Paul Orndorff and”Stunning” Steve Austin on WCW Saturday Night. During the match Roma acted very indifferent to his tag-team partner sewing the seeds to his heel turn. Next Roma teamed with Erik Watts to take on the team of Orndorff and Austin once again, this time Roma took it a step further and attacked Erik Watts before announcing that he was now teaming with Paul Orndorff.
Under the tutelage of manager Masked Assassin the team quickly began to work well together in a feud with Marcus Alexander Bagwell and 2 Cold Scorpio. After a few months as a team they targeted the then WCW World Tag-Team Championship Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan. Going into Bash at the Beach 1994 Pretty Wonderful had the advantage as both champions were suffering from injuries inflicted by the challengers on previous occasions (or so the storyline went). Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan were unable to hold off Roma and Orndorff as Pretty Wonderful left the ring with the gold. After winning the titles Pretty Wonderful was immediately challenged by the Nasty Boys but the Nasty Boys were never able to take the gold from the champions. Next Pretty Wonderful were challengedby the duo of Stars’N’Stripes (Marcus Alexander Bagwell & The Patriot) at Fall Brawl the champions retained but a week later the championship changed hands when Stars’N’Stripes got the 1-2-3. Pretty Wonderful was granted a rematch against the new champions with a match booked for Halloween Havoc, Pretty Wonderful regained the titles when Roma used one of the title belts to knock Bagwell out cold.
At Clash of the Champions XXIX Stars’N’Stripes were granted one FINAL shot at the tag-team titles, but the challengers also had to put up he Patriot’s mask on the line, if they lost he would unmask. After a controversial double pin finish Stars’N’Stripes were declared the winners and thus the champions putting the end to Pretty Wonderful’s second and final run with the gold. After the loss Roma and Orndorff went their separate ways with Roma being used as “Enhancement talent” to help build young stars.
When Roma was asked to help make WCW newcomer ”Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright look good at SuperBrawl V he refused to cooperate even going so far as to opening mocking Wright during the match and was then fired for not following the instructions.
He attempted to make a WWF comeback in late 1997 alongside a student of Mr. Fuji called Alex Roma, calling themselves the Pretty Primos. However, they only made one appearance together at a WWF house show and no contract was ever offered to the two. After failing to make it into the WWF again Roma decided to retire in 1998 and focus on other business ventures in relation to bodybuilding and wrestling.
In 2006 Paul Roma resurfaced on the wrestling scene as he was named the commissioner of the independent promotion, Connecticut Championship Wrestling, a federation which is currently closed down. He also had a “Pretty Wonderful” reunion with Paul Orndorff in Connecticut Championship Wrestling. Roma has since been competeing in the IAW wrestling promotion
[edit] IAW Wrestling
Paul Roma won the IAW Heavyweight Champion, after beating Brian Costello (aka The Crippler), on July 8, 2006 at IAW Clash at the Cove VIII, in South Bend, IN. He would eventually lose the title to The Crippler on March 24, 2006 at IAW Clash at the CAVE II( held in the gym of Mishawaka High School in Mishawaka, IN) after receving a piledriver onto a chair, behind the back of special referee Brandon Trtan, who was attacked and knocked out of the ring by Roma.During the match, Roma made an open challenge to WWE Superstar John Cena, shouting to the crowd " I Could kick Cena's A**!!"
[edit] Personal Life
Paul Roma is currently working as a sales consultant for Office Depot, he recently just got married in September of 2006, and he is running a wrestling training school in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He is reportedly working on writing a book on the inner workings on the World Wrestling Federation, based on his 6 years with the company, no publishing date nor publisher has been confirmed though.
[edit] In Wrestling
- Finishing moves
[edit] Managers
- Slick
- Masked Assassin
- Mr. Ruby
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- World Championship Wrestling
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Arn Anderson (1) and Paul Orndorff (2)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI # 434 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- PWI Most Improved Wrestler Award 1990
[edit] See also
Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)
