Captain Lou Albano Stats & Biography

Captain Lou Albano Stats

Height: 5 foot 10
From: Carmel, N.Y.
Career Highlights: United States Tag Team Champion, managed Ivan Koloff to the WWE Championship, managed over a dozen teams to the World Tag Team Championship. Associates: The Wild Samoans, The Valiant Brothers, numerous other tag teams, Ivan Koloff, Pat Patterson, Cyndi Lauper
WWE Debut: 1963 (formation)

He was “often imitated, never duplicated” and rightfully so, because the legendary Captain Lou Albano will always be one of a kind. With his open Hawaiian shirts, outrageous facial hair and trademark rubber bands hanging from his cheek, Captain Lou may not have looked like much of a success, but his record speaks for itself.

Albano was an excellent athlete as a youth, attending the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship. After a stint in the United States Army, he began his sports-entertainment career in Canada in 1953. Albano soon began teaming with Tony Altimore; together they were known as “The Sicilians.” After coming to the WWWF in the 1960s, they defeated the legendary Bruno Sammartino & Spiros Arion to win the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in 1967.

After the breakup of The Sicilians, Albano transformed himself into a manager, making it his sole mission to end the lengthy WWE Championship reign of Bruno Sammartino. This made him perhaps the most hated man in the promotion, but in 1971, he accomplished his goal; protégé Ivan Koloff defeated Sammartino in Madison Square Garden to end the Italian champion’s seven-plus year reign. Koloff’s reign lasted only three weeks, and despite managing several other Hall of Famers, Koloff was the only World Champion Albano ever managed. He would lead Don Muraco, Greg Valentine and Pat Patterson to the Intercontinental Championship, but never again tasted a World title.

Having been a tag team star himself, though, it was in managing duos where Albano excelled. In the span of 20 years, he managed 15 different teams to the World Tag Team Championship, earning the nickname “The Guiding Light” and a record that may never be broken. Several of his championship duos featured Hall of Famers, including fellow 1996 Hall of Fame inductees The Valiant Brothers and 2007 inductees The Wild Samoans. Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito, The Executioners and The Moondogs were just of few of the other teams to become World Tag Team Champions under Captain Lou’s guidance.

After 15 years of being one of the most hated men in sports-entertainment, however, Albano had a change of heart. In 1983, he appeared in Cyndi Lauper’s music video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and later claimed to be the catalyst to Lauper’s success. Thus began the legendary “Rock n’ Wrestling” Era in WWE, which combined with Hulkamania helped launch WWE into a new stratosphere in the mid-1980s. After a lengthy rivalry with the singer (which saw Lauper’s pal Wendi Richter win the Women’s Championship from Albano’s client The Fabulous Moolah), Captain Lou apologized to Lauper and became an instant fan favorite. Once the Rock n’ Wrestling phenomenon began to wind down, Albano led the British Bulldogs to the World Tag Team Championship in 1986 before leaving WWE.

In his time away from WWE, Albano capitalized on his newfound celebrity. He appeared in several episodes of shows such as Miami Vice before starring in the film Body Slam alongside fellow Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in 1987. Albano also managed and performed with rock group NRBQ, who wrote the song “Captain Lou” in his honor. Later, the Captain starred in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, a hybrid live-action/animated show; Albano played Nintendo legend Mario in the live portion while also voicing his cartoon counterpart.

After nearly a decade away from the ring, however, Captain Lou returned for one final hurrah. In 1994, Albano joined former protégé Afa the Wild Samoan as advisor of Samu & Fatu, the Headshrinkers. Together, Albano & Afa had success once more, leading Samu & Fatu to the World Tag Team Championship. The Headshrinkers thus became the final team on Captain Lou’s legendary list of World Tag Team Champions.

In 1996, Albano claimed his rightful place in the pantheon of the elite, the WWE Hall of Fame. Inducted by legendary New York media personality Joe Franklin, Albano was finally truly recognized as one of sports-entertainment’s elite. He was often imitated but never duplicated, and he certainly will never be forgotten either.

Capt. Lou Albano Passes

Capt. Lou Albano Passes

Written: October 14, 2009

World Wrestling Entertainment was saddened to learn of the passing of one of the company’s most popular and charismatic legends, “Captain Lou Albano.” WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Albano family.

“Captain Lou” was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. He performed for WWE from 1983 to 1996. Albano began his storied career with Vincent J. McMahon in the 1960’s as one half of “The Sicilians” tag team with his partner, Tony Altimore. He will be greatly missed by the WWE and his fans.

Breaking Update: The Tragic Death Of Andrew 'Test' Martin

Breaking Update: The Tragic Death Of Andrew 'Test' Martin

By Ryan Clark | March 14, 2009

Andrew Martin, best known for his days as Test in WWE, has been found dead in his apartment at the age of 33. He would have been 34 in four days. Authorities in Tampa, Florida, where Martin lived, have not provided any details yet.
They have stated that a body was found in a condo, but have not confirmed that the body in question was Martin, however multiple people within the wrestling industry have confirmed that it was Martin's body that was found.

Martin was released from WWE back in February of 2007 after failing a drug test. He then worked for TNA but was not offered a contract and went on to work a bit in Japan.

Once again, we would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of Andrew Martin.

The following is an article from Slam! Wrestling:

THE wrestling world is in mourning following the death of Andrew Martin at the age of just 33.
Best known as Test in the WWE, Martin won the federation’s intercontinental, European, hardcore and tag titles.

In his peak in the late 90s, he was regularly involved in storylines with The Rock, Triple H and the McMahon family.

Police in Tampa, Florida, were called to his home at 8pm on Friday night after his neighbour reported she could see a man lying motionless inside.

The officers forced entry and found Martin dead.

His body was transported to the local Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Martin's last stint in the WWE lasted from 2006-2007 but he left under a cloud after falling foul of the company’s strict Wellness Policy.

Questions over steroid abuse also stopped rival wrestling company TNA giving him a full-time job shortly afterwards.

In April 2008, Martin made local news headlines when he was arrested on a drink-driving charge in Florida. His police mugshot showed a man very different to in his wrestling prime.

Martin announced his retirement from the grappling business in December 2007 – although he was supposed to be going on a farewell tour of Ireland this March.

It is thought he wanted to return to college and become a personal trainer, leaving his dark days behind him.

The star – who had dated WWE Divas Stacy Keibler and Kelly Kelly – recently wrote on his MySpace page: “They say nobody retires from wrestling.

“I can't tell you how much I hate to see guys keep working long after they should be dead or permanently disabled.

“You have to come to terms when you ask yourself what is your health worth? To me? You can't put a price on it!

“So what are you wrestling for? One man's greed so he might throw you a bone?

“I loved wrestling, it was good to me. I'm still young, I'm in the shape of my life I've got some money tucked away.

“I never got into wrestling to be rich and famous.”

There are no further details as yet on the cause of death or funeral arrangements.

Martin was just a few days away from celebrating his 34th birthday.

"Special Delivery" Jones passes away

"Special Delivery" Jones passes away

Written: October 27, 2008

“Special Delivery” Jones, one of the steadiest performers ever to appear in a WWE ring, passed away on Oct. 26 in his native Antigua, West Indies; he was 63.

Jones, whose real name is Conrad Efraim, was trained in the early 1970s by WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz, and entered WWE in late 1976. His WWE tenure continued through 1986. Through that time, Jones was a competitor who always gave optimum effort in all of his matches. Many of his opponents knew that if they wanted to gain a victory over Jones, they absolutely had to dig deep to earn it.

One of the more infamous distinctions that S.D. will be remembered for was his match against King Kong Bundy at the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985. The match lasted a mere nine seconds, and although on the losing end, this match made Jones a part of WWE history for the fastest pinfall ever scored at that time.

S.D.’s last WWE appearance was in 2006, when he inducted his long-time friend and confidant Tony Atlas into WWE’s Hall of Fame.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Conrad Efraim, a.k.a., “Special Delivery” Jones.