Monday, May 18, 2015

Benito "Bouncing" Gardini!!!

From 1940-1956, Gardini wrestled in over 660 matches. The fans really didn't watch him to see if he would win, but watch him get bealed or hip tossed and bounce across the ring! He would bounce from one side to the other to the delight of the fans.
From Baltimore to Chicago's Marigold Arena, Benito took on greats like Roy McClarity and Desplaines Illinois own NWA Champion Walter Palmer!
Some call it a gimmick, but to the fans who were mainly immigrants Benito was a working mans hero!
We remember "Mr. Five by Five"!
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 22, 2016 at 7:33 PM

    I remember "Bouncing Benito:, Skyhigh Lee, Georgoius George, Wild Red Berry. to name a few... earky and mid 50'

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  2. schaumburgstewJuly 30, 2018 at 12:48 PM

    In one hilarious match at Marigold, Argentina Rocca drove Gardini crazy with his high flying antics. Finally, Gardini stopped wrestling, turned to the crowd and yelled; "This guy's nuts"! The fans roared with laughter.
    But Gardini could be a very nasty heel at times especially against weaker competition.

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  3. Bill NagyAugust 31, 2022 at 3:21 PM

    My father and uncle both worked for then promoter Fred Kohler.I often carried Benito's gym bag to the ring and was often asked for my autograph.Benito was a good friend and a great guy to anyone who really new him.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 29, 2023 at 6:44 PM

    My Sicilian grandfather loved baseball and wrestling in the ‘50s. Benito, Don Eagle, Farmer Don Marlin, Schnabel bros., Billy Talaber, Lou Theiz, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMay 12, 2024 at 4:49 PM

    Used to watch "The Flower of Italy" on the B & W tv from the International Amphitheatre in Chicago on Saturday nights in the late 1950s.

    ReplyDelete

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