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{{short description|American-Canadian football player and professional wrestler (1937–2021)}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2021}}
|image =
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
|Color=#c7cad0
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
|fontcolor=#000080
|image=Angelo Mosca 1984.jpeg
|caption=
|caption=Mosca, circa 1984
|name=The Mighty Hercules<br />King Kong Mosca
|ImageWidth= |ImageWidth=
|birth_date=February 13, 1937 |birth_date={{birth date|1937|2|13}}
|birth_place=], ] |birth_place=], U.S.
|death_date= |death_date={{death date and age|2021|11|6|1937|2|13}}
|death_place= |death_place=], Canada
|Height_ft=6
|College=]
|Height_in=4
|Position=]
|Weight_lbs=275
|import=no
|College=]
|position1=Defensive tackle
|number=68 |number=68
|DraftedYear=1959 |NFLDraftedYear=1959
|NFLDraftedRound=30
|DraftedRound=30 / Pick 350<BR>(By the ])
|NFLDraftedPick=350
|Career Highlights=Y
|NFLDraftedTeam=]
|CFLEastAllStar=1960, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1970
|career_highlights=
|CFLAllStar=1963, 1970
|CFLEastAllStar={{CFL Year|1960}}, {{CFL Year|1963}}, {{CFL Year|1965}}, {{CFL Year|1966}}, {{CFL Year|1970}}
|Awards=
|CFLAllStar={{CFL Year|1963}}, {{CFL Year|1970}}
|Honors= 5× ] champion (], ], ], ], ])
|Awards=] ({{CFL Year|1963}}, {{CFL Year|1970}})
|ProBowls= |ProBowls=
|DatabaseFootball= |DatabaseFootball=
|PFR= |PFR=
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|1958}}–{{CFL Year|1959}}
|years=1958-1959<BR>1960-1961<BR>1962<BR>1963-1972
|teams=]<BR>]<BR>]<BR>Hamilton Tiger-Cats |playing_team1=]
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|1960}}–{{CFL Year|1961}}
|playing_team2=]
|playing_years3={{CFL Year|1962}}
|playing_team3=]
|playing_years4={{CFL Year|1962}}–{{CFL Year|1972}}
|playing_team4=Hamilton Tiger-Cats
|CollegeHOF= |CollegeHOF=
|CFHOF=moscaangelo | CFHOF = angelo-mosca
|CFHOFYear=1987 |CFHOFYear=1987
}} }}


'''Angelo Valentino Mosca'''<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Hawthorn|first=Tom|date=November 11, 2021|title=Hulking Hamilton Ticats legend Angelo Mosca was known as Mr. Nasty|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hulking-hamilton-ticats-legend-angelo-mosca-was-known-as-mr-nasty/#:~:text=and%20hit%20hardest.%E2%80%9D-,Mr.,Park%20in%20Ottawa%20in%201968.|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> (February 13, 1937 – November 6, 2021) was an American professional ] player and ]. He was a ] in the ] (CFL). As a wrestler, Mosca was known by the nicknames '''King Kong Mosca''' and '''the Mighty Hercules'''. He had a son, Angelo Jr., who also wrestled. Mosca was elected to the ] in 1987, the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and the ] in 2013.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Angelo Mosca |url=http://oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/126-angelo-mosca |website=oshof.ca |publisher=] |access-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228125500/http://www.oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/126-angelo-mosca |url-status=dead }}</ref>
'''Angelo Mosca''' (b. February 13, 1938 in ]) is a former ] player and ]. He is also known by the wrestling nicknames '''King Kong Mosca''' and '''The Mighty Hercules'''. Mosca has a son, Angelo Jr., who also wrestled.


==CFL career== == Early life ==
The second oldest boy in a family of four boys and seven girls,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> Mosca was born on February 13, 1937, in ], to Agnes and Angelo Mosca.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Hawthorn|first=Tom|date=November 11, 2021|title=Hulking Hamilton Ticats legend Angelo Mosca was known as Mr. Nasty|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hulking-hamilton-ticats-legend-angelo-mosca-was-known-as-mr-nasty/#:~:text=and%20hit%20hardest.%E2%80%9D-,Mr.,Park%20in%20Ottawa%20in%201968.|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> His father Angelo was an immigrant from ] in southern Italy, and his mother's mother was an African-American (and also half-] and half-Black), which was kept a secret from neighbours in their segregated, working-class neighbourhood in Waltham since ] was not known for its racial tolerance at the time.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Hawthorn|first=Tom|date=November 11, 2021|title=Hulking Hamilton Ticats legend Angelo Mosca was known as Mr. Nasty|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hulking-hamilton-ticats-legend-angelo-mosca-was-known-as-mr-nasty/#:~:text=and%20hit%20hardest.%E2%80%9D-,Mr.,Park%20in%20Ottawa%20in%201968.|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Mosca's parents were alcoholics, and he was often neglected and abused by them, which opted Mosca to run away from home at the age of 16.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> His father died in 1986, and his mother died at the age of 93.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
Mosca attended ] and was drafted by the ]'s ] in 1959 in the 30th round (350th overall.) He had already decided to play in the ], in 1958 and 1959 for the ]. He was traded to the ] for ] on August 15, 1960, and played for the Rough Riders in 1960 and 1961 before joining the ] in 1962. He played his remaining years, 1963 to 1972 in Hamilton. He was a 5-time all star. At Hamilton, Mosca played at left defensive tackle, with ] next to him from 1958 to 1959 and from 1963 to 1970, forming a veritable wall up the middle against which few offensive teams were successful in running against it.


==Football career==
Angelo played in 9 ] games, more than any other player in CFL history, tied with ], winning 5, one with the ], the ] of 1960, and four with the ], the ] of 1963, the ] of 1965 (the so-called Wind Bowl), the ] of 1967 when Saskatchewan was throttled 24-1, and the ] of 1972 when the defences predominated in a 13-10 win over Saskatchewan again, but also losing 4, the ] of 1958, the ] of 1959, the ] of 1961, and the ] of 1964. He is famous (or more aptly infamous) for the ] game out-of-bounds and late hit on ] star running back ]. The hit was considered by many to be a deliberate attempt to knock Fleming out of the game. With Fleming out of the game, the Tiger-Cats went on to with the ] and Angelo Mosca's reputation as being the meanest professional football player was solidified. It was a reputation he later promoted as the notorious professional wrestler "King Kong" Mosca.
Mosca attended the ] on a scholarship, but was kicked out for ].<ref name=":1" /> He then went to ], but was booted out for theft, allegedly stealing typewriters and cameras from stores and selling them on campus.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He was drafted by the ]'s ] in 1959 in the 30th round (350th overall).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca dead at 84|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2021/11/06/angelo-mosca-dead-at-84/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Slam! Wrestling}}</ref> He had already decided to play in the ], in 1958 for the ].<ref name=":0" /> He went to ] the same year after graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in business administration.<ref name=":1" /> He was traded to the ] for ] on August 15, 1960, and played for the Rough Riders in 1960 and 1961 before joining the ] in 1962 for 5 games.<ref name=":0" /> He played his remaining years, 1962 to 1972 in Hamilton and was a five-time all star.<ref name=":0" />


Mosca played both offensive and defensive tackle, middle guard and end.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> He played in nine ] games, more than any other player in CFL history, tied with his teammate ].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> Mosca's teams won five Grey Cup games, one with the ] and four with the ].<ref name=":0" />
Source: Heroes of the Game, A History of The Grey Cup - Stephen Thiele, Moulin Publishing 1997


He is infamous for the ] game out-of-bounds and late hit on ] star running back ].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> With Fleming out of the game, the Tiger-Cats went on to win the ] and Mosca's reputation as being the meanest CFL player grew.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> It was a reputation he later promoted as the notorious professional wrestler "King Kong" Mosca.<ref name=":3">Heroes of the Game, A History of The Grey Cup - Stephen Thiele, Moulin Publishing 1997</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> Mosca was the runner-up for the Schenley Most Outstanding Lineman award in 1963 and 1970.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> He also only missed one game his entire football career.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
==Post-football career==


On August 25, 2015, the Tiger-Cats announced that they would retire Mosca's jersey number 68.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
Following his retirement, Mosca had a short run as a broadcaster for the ] (WWF). He would leave the broadcast booth to manage his son's career.


==Professional wrestling career==
He has lived in and around Hamilton for many years. Angelo currently lives in ] with his wife, Helen, a real estate agent.
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| names = King Kong<ref name="Cagematch">{{cite web |title=Wrestler's Database: Angelo Mosca |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1247&name=Angelo+Mosca |website=Cagematch |access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref><br>King Mosca<ref name="Cagematch"/><br>Angelo Mosca Sr.<ref name="Cagematch"/>
| height = 6 ft 4 in<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=|publisher=]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/14}}</ref>
| weight = 319 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| billed =
| debut = 1959
| retired = 1986
| trainer =
}}
Mosca was brought into wrestling by Montreal promoter ].<ref name=":1" /> He began wrestling in the off-season, and became a full-time wrestler after his retirement from football.<ref name=":1" /> He wrestled all across North America, always at or near the top of the card, and almost always as a heel, even in Toronto until the late 1970s, then he became a face, and in the early 1980s, the lead face.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> He also wrestled in Verne Gagne's ] and in ]'s ], where he was frequently paired with ] in tag team competition.<ref name=":1" /> During the mid '70s and '80s, Mosca worked in the Carolinas, facing top stars such as ], ], ], and ].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
]
In 1981, during his time in the ], Mosca wrestled as (often – in a reversal of his character in Canada) as the promotion's most hated heel due to his brutal style.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> He became a top challenger to WWF Champion ]'s World Championship, but was not successful in winning the belt.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> He also engaged in a feud with ], a part-time wrestler who also did color commentary on the WWF's syndicated programs, after Mosca attacked Patterson at a television taping with a water pitcher; Patterson had grown disgusted with Mosca's rulebreaking tactics and, setting off the attack, publicly thanked a referee for disqualifying Mosca for refusing to pin his jobber opponent.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>


Mosca was the colour commentator and wrestled for the WWF TV tapings in Ontario from August 1984 until January 1985 as a babyface.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> After being fired by the WWF, Mosca promoted the NWA in Ontario in 1985-87. He and Milt Avruskin hosted a TV show featuring compilations of NWA matches. Mosca organized an NWA card in Hamilton in February 1986 called "Moscamania" that drew an excellent house of 12,000 but the follow-up a year later drew only 3,200. He retired from wrestling in 1986.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
Angelo is authoring a book with Steve Milton called , to be published by Lulu Canada Inc. The book is scheduled for release in September 2011.


Mosca's son, ], had a brief wrestling career.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca dead at 84|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2021/11/06/angelo-mosca-dead-at-84/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Slam! Wrestling}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca Jr. bio|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/angelo-mosca-jr/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Mosca managed his son for a brief time in late 1984 in the WWF.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca Jr. bio|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/angelo-mosca-jr/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
==Championships and accomplishments==
''''']'''''
*''']'''
:*] (])
:*The CFW ranked him # '''37''' of the ] of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network ].


==Personal life==
''''']'''''
Mosca lived in and around Hamilton for many years, and lived in ], with his wife, Helen, a real estate agent.<ref name=":0" /> He first met her in 1996 at a Ticats game; they married in 1998.<ref name=StarAlzheimers/> His first wife, the mother of his two children, died of cancer.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> His second wife, to whom he was married 20 years, suffered a fatal heart attack.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
*''']'''
:*] (])


He authored a book with Steve Milton called , published by Lulu Canada Inc.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The book was released in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Simmons|first=Steve|date=2011-09-14|title=Simmons: The two sides of Angelo Mosca|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/14/simmons-the-two-sides-of-angelo-mosca|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=]}}</ref>
*''']'''
:*Other honoree (])


In 2011, Mosca got into a fight with former ] quarterback ] at a CFL alumni luncheon regarding a controversial hit Mosca had made in the 1963 Grey Cup game, where Mosca ended up hitting Kapp on the head with his cane.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 27, 2011|title=CFL greats' fight 'most bizarre thing'|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-greats-fight-most-bizarre-thing-1.1125070|access-date=February 28, 2015|publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref> The video of the fight went viral, receiving over 647,000 views on YouTube<ref name=CaneAuction/> and mentions on ]'s '']'' and on ]'s '']''.<ref>{{cite web|date=2011-12-02|title=Angelo Mosca to discuss Grey Cup fight on Dr. Phil|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/argos/2011/12/02/angelo_mosca_to_discuss_grey_cup_fight_on_dr_phil.html|access-date=February 28, 2015|publisher=]}}</ref> Mosca auctioned off the cane he used against Kapp at the following year's alumni luncheon for $7,700 ({{Inflation|CA|7700|2012|fmt=eq}}), with the money going towards the alumni association's "dire straits" fund for struggling former players.<ref name="CaneAuction">{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Brendan|date=2012-11-23|title=Grey Cup: Angelo Mosca's cane auctioned for charity|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2012/11/23/grey_cup_angelo_moscas_cane_auctioned_for_charity.html|access-date=February 28, 2015|publisher=]}}</ref>
*''']'''
:*] (])
:*] (]) &ndash; with ]
:*] (])


Mosca appeared in several Canadian TV commercials in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name=":0" /> Mosca still made PR appearances for the league and the Ticats and for other businesses.<ref name=":0" />
*''']'''
:*NWA Columbus Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*] (])
:*NWA Macon Heavyweight Championship (1 time)


In February 2015, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with ],<ref name="StarAlzheimers">{{cite web|last=Rush|first=Curtis|date=2015-02-27|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca copes with Alzheimer's &#124; Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/02/27/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-copes-with-alzheimers.html|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=]}}</ref> which took away his ability to swallow or eat solid foods.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
*''']'''
:*] (])


His number 68 football jersey was retired by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football club on August 27, 2015, in a ceremony at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
*''']'''
:*] (])


In July 2016, Mosca was named part of a ] lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/what-the-fox/wwe-sued-in-wrestler-class-action-lawsuit-featuring-jimmy-superfly-snuka-paul-mr-wonderful-orndorff/news-story/079fbd7db16f9cd71b7b569672baa4a5|work=]|date=July 18, 2015|access-date=July 20, 2016|publisher=] (])}}</ref> US District Judge ] dismissed the lawsuit in September 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Byron|date=September 22, 2018|title=Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows|url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/2018/09/22/wwe-uses-hell-cell-springboard-future-shows/1394073002/|access-date=October 23, 2018|publisher=]}}</ref>
*''']'''
:*] (])


==Death==
*''']'''
Mosca died at the Maccassa Lodge in Hamilton at age 84 on November 6, 2021.<ref name=":1" /> He had stayed there for a number of years.<ref name=":1" />
:*NWA Tri-State Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)


==Championships and accomplishments==
*''']'''
===North American football===
:*PWI ranked him # '''305''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
*''']'''
**] (])<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=]}}</ref>
**Ranked No. 37 of the ] of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network ]


===Professional wrestling===
*''']'''
**] (])<ref>{{Cite web|title=AWA British Empire Heavyweight Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/awa/awa-be-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*''']'''
**] (])<ref>{{Cite web|title=AWA/NWA United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/n/bigtime/sf-us-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*''']'''
**Other honoree (])
*''']'''
**] (])<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kreikenbohm|first=Philip|title=NWA Florida Bahamian Championship|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1011|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Cagematch}}</ref>
**] (]) &ndash; with ]<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Global Tag Team Title (Florida)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/global-t.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**] (])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-south-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*''']'''
**] (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbus Heavyweight Title (Georgia)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/columbus-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**] (])<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**] (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Macon Heavyweight Title (Georgia)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/macon-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*''']'''
**] (])<ref name=Jan17F4W>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0117-vader-wins-iwgp-heavyweight-title-301956 | title=Pro wrestling history (01/17): Vader wins IWGP heavyweight title | date=January 17, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2019 | work=] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref>
*''']'''
**] (])<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-tv.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*''']'''
**NWA Tri-State Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brass Knuckles Title (Oklahoma & Louisiana)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midsouth/nwa/tri-bk.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*''''']'''''
**Ranked No. 305 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the ''PWI Years'' in 2003
*''']''' *''']'''
:*] (]) **] (])<ref>{{Cite web|title=North American Heavyweight Title (Alberta & Saskatchewan)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-na-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
:*] <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990) |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |work= |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> **] (Class of 1995)<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990 |series=Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart |series-link=Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show |first=Ed (host) |last=Whalen |network=] |station=] |date=December 15, 1995 |time=27:55}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990) |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311030457/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html|archive-date=2005-03-11|url-status=dead }}</ref>

*''']''' *''']'''
:*] (]) **] (])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Caribbean Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pr/wwc/carib-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*''''']'''''
**] (1984)


==See also==
*''']'''
*]
:*] award in 1984

==Videos==


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{commons}}
*
* *
* *
* {{YouTube|6pj12yJNWzs|Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame member}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}


{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Eagles1959DraftPicks}}
{{48th Grey Cup}}
{{51st Grey Cup}}
{{53rd Grey Cup}}
{{55th Grey Cup}}
{{60th Grey Cup}}
{{Canadian Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship}}
{{WCW World Television Championship}} {{WCW World Television Championship}}
{{WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
| NAME = Mosca, Angelo
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = February 13, 1937
| PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mosca, Angelo}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mosca, Angelo}}
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Latest revision as of 05:55, 25 November 2024

American-Canadian football player and professional wrestler (1937–2021)

The Mighty Hercules
King Kong Mosca
No. 68
Mosca, circa 1984
Born:(1937-02-13)February 13, 1937
Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died:November 6, 2021(2021-11-06) (aged 84)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)DT
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight275 lb (125 kg)
CollegeNotre Dame
NFL draft1959, round: 30, pick: 350
Drafted byPhiladelphia Eagles
Career history
As player
1958–1959Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1960–1961Ottawa Rough Riders
1962Montreal Alouettes
1962–1972Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1963, 1970
CFL East All-Star1960, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1970
AwardsCFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award - Runner Up (1963, 1970)
Honors5× Grey Cup champion (1960, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1972)
Career stats

Angelo Valentino Mosca (February 13, 1937 – November 6, 2021) was an American professional football player and professional wrestler. He was a defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League (CFL). As a wrestler, Mosca was known by the nicknames King Kong Mosca and the Mighty Hercules. He had a son, Angelo Jr., who also wrestled. Mosca was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987, the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Early life

The second oldest boy in a family of four boys and seven girls, Mosca was born on February 13, 1937, in Waltham, Massachusetts, to Agnes and Angelo Mosca. His father Angelo was an immigrant from Panni in southern Italy, and his mother's mother was an African-American (and also half-Italian and half-Black), which was kept a secret from neighbours in their segregated, working-class neighbourhood in Waltham since New England was not known for its racial tolerance at the time. Mosca's parents were alcoholics, and he was often neglected and abused by them, which opted Mosca to run away from home at the age of 16. His father died in 1986, and his mother died at the age of 93.

Football career

Mosca attended the University of Notre Dame on a scholarship, but was kicked out for bookmaking. He then went to Wyoming, but was booted out for theft, allegedly stealing typewriters and cameras from stores and selling them on campus. He was drafted by the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1959 in the 30th round (350th overall). He had already decided to play in the CFL, in 1958 for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He went to Hamilton the same year after graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in business administration. He was traded to the Ottawa Rough Riders for Hardiman Cureton on August 15, 1960, and played for the Rough Riders in 1960 and 1961 before joining the Montreal Alouettes in 1962 for 5 games. He played his remaining years, 1962 to 1972 in Hamilton and was a five-time all star.

Mosca played both offensive and defensive tackle, middle guard and end. He played in nine Grey Cup games, more than any other player in CFL history, tied with his teammate John Barrow. Mosca's teams won five Grey Cup games, one with the Ottawa Rough Riders and four with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

He is infamous for the 51st Grey Cup game out-of-bounds and late hit on BC Lions star running back Willie Fleming. With Fleming out of the game, the Tiger-Cats went on to win the Grey Cup and Mosca's reputation as being the meanest CFL player grew. It was a reputation he later promoted as the notorious professional wrestler "King Kong" Mosca. Mosca was the runner-up for the Schenley Most Outstanding Lineman award in 1963 and 1970. He also only missed one game his entire football career.

On August 25, 2015, the Tiger-Cats announced that they would retire Mosca's jersey number 68.

Professional wrestling career

Angelo Mosca
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)King Kong
King Mosca
Angelo Mosca Sr.
Billed height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Billed weight319 lb (145 kg)
Debut1959
Retired1986

Mosca was brought into wrestling by Montreal promoter Eddie Quinn. He began wrestling in the off-season, and became a full-time wrestler after his retirement from football. He wrestled all across North America, always at or near the top of the card, and almost always as a heel, even in Toronto until the late 1970s, then he became a face, and in the early 1980s, the lead face. He also wrestled in Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association and in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling, where he was frequently paired with Superstar Billy Graham in tag team competition. During the mid '70s and '80s, Mosca worked in the Carolinas, facing top stars such as Ric Flair, Wahoo McDaniel, Blackjack Mulligan, and Ivan Koloff.

Mosca and Bob Backlund, c. 1982

In 1981, during his time in the World Wrestling Federation, Mosca wrestled as (often – in a reversal of his character in Canada) as the promotion's most hated heel due to his brutal style. He became a top challenger to WWF Champion Bob Backlund's World Championship, but was not successful in winning the belt. He also engaged in a feud with Pat Patterson, a part-time wrestler who also did color commentary on the WWF's syndicated programs, after Mosca attacked Patterson at a television taping with a water pitcher; Patterson had grown disgusted with Mosca's rulebreaking tactics and, setting off the attack, publicly thanked a referee for disqualifying Mosca for refusing to pin his jobber opponent.

Mosca was the colour commentator and wrestled for the WWF TV tapings in Ontario from August 1984 until January 1985 as a babyface. After being fired by the WWF, Mosca promoted the NWA in Ontario in 1985-87. He and Milt Avruskin hosted a TV show featuring compilations of NWA matches. Mosca organized an NWA card in Hamilton in February 1986 called "Moscamania" that drew an excellent house of 12,000 but the follow-up a year later drew only 3,200. He retired from wrestling in 1986.

Mosca's son, Angelo Mosca Jr., had a brief wrestling career. Mosca managed his son for a brief time in late 1984 in the WWF.

Personal life

Mosca lived in and around Hamilton for many years, and lived in St. Catharines, Ontario, with his wife, Helen, a real estate agent. He first met her in 1996 at a Ticats game; they married in 1998. His first wife, the mother of his two children, died of cancer. His second wife, to whom he was married 20 years, suffered a fatal heart attack.

He authored a book with Steve Milton called Tell Me To My Face, published by Lulu Canada Inc. The book was released in September 2011.

In 2011, Mosca got into a fight with former B.C. Lions quarterback Joe Kapp at a CFL alumni luncheon regarding a controversial hit Mosca had made in the 1963 Grey Cup game, where Mosca ended up hitting Kapp on the head with his cane. The video of the fight went viral, receiving over 647,000 views on YouTube and mentions on ESPN's Monday Night Football and on Fox TV's The O'Reilly Factor. Mosca auctioned off the cane he used against Kapp at the following year's alumni luncheon for $7,700 (equivalent to $9,923 in 2023), with the money going towards the alumni association's "dire straits" fund for struggling former players.

Mosca appeared in several Canadian TV commercials in the 1970s and 1980s. Mosca still made PR appearances for the league and the Ticats and for other businesses.

In February 2015, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, which took away his ability to swallow or eat solid foods.

His number 68 football jersey was retired by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football club on August 27, 2015, in a ceremony at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

In July 2016, Mosca was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE. US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the lawsuit in September 2018.

Death

Mosca died at the Maccassa Lodge in Hamilton at age 84 on November 6, 2021. He had stayed there for a number of years.

Championships and accomplishments

North American football

Professional wrestling

See also

References

  1. ^ Hawthorn, Tom (November 11, 2021). "Hulking Hamilton Ticats legend Angelo Mosca was known as Mr. Nasty". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "Angelo Mosca". oshof.ca. Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Mooneyham, Mike (November 27, 2021). "Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages". The Post and Courier. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Oliver, Greg (November 6, 2021). "Angelo Mosca dead at 84". Slam! Wrestling. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987". Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Heroes of the Game, A History of The Grey Cup - Stephen Thiele, Moulin Publishing 1997
  7. ^ "Wrestler's Database: Angelo Mosca". Cagematch. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  9. ^ Rose, Bryan (November 6, 2021). "Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "Angelo Mosca Jr. bio". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Rush, Curtis (February 27, 2015). "Sports giant Angelo Mosca copes with Alzheimer's | Toronto Star". Toronto Sun. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  12. Simmons, Steve (September 14, 2011). "Simmons: The two sides of Angelo Mosca". Toronto Sun. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  13. "CFL greats' fight 'most bizarre thing'". CBC Sports. November 27, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Brendan (November 23, 2012). "Grey Cup: Angelo Mosca's cane auctioned for charity". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  15. "Angelo Mosca to discuss Grey Cup fight on Dr. Phil". Toronto Star. December 2, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  16. "WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff". FoxSports.com. Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  17. Robinson, Byron (September 22, 2018). "Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  18. "AWA British Empire Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  19. "AWA/NWA United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  20. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NWA Florida Bahamian Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  21. "NWA Global Tag Team Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  22. "Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  23. "Columbus Heavyweight Title (Georgia)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  24. "NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  25. "Macon Heavyweight Title (Georgia)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  26. Hoops, Brian (January 17, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/17): Vader wins IWGP heavyweight title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  27. "NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  28. "Brass Knuckles Title (Oklahoma & Louisiana)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  29. "North American Heavyweight Title (Alberta & Saskatchewan)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  30. Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 27:55. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
  31. "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from the original on March 11, 2005.
  32. "Caribbean Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

External links

Links to related articles
Philadelphia Eagles 1959 NFL draft selections
Ottawa Rough Riders 48th Grey Cup champions
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 51st Grey Cup champions
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 53rd Grey Cup champions
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 55th Grey Cup champions
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 60th Grey Cup champions
Members of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
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