Former WWWF Star ‘Jumping’ Johnny DeFazio Passes Away At 80
The wrestling world has lost ‘Jumping’ Johnny DeFazio.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 is reporting that after a prolonged battle with cancer, DeFazio has passed away at the age of 80. Along with being a former Allegheny County Council president, he was known for his work in the wrestling industry, primarily in the 1960s and 70s.
DeFazio began wrestling in 1962 with Spectator Sports, the Pittsburgh territory run by Joseph Mondt, which was part of a bigger venture called Capitol Sports that he operated with Vince McMahon Sr. Capitol Sports became the WWWF in 1963. Spectator Sports was purchased by WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino in 1966 and continued operating as a regional affiliate.
John DeFazio was a four-time World Wide Wrestling Federation’s Junior Heavyweight Champion, as well as a WWWF International Tag Team Championship with Geeto Mongol. His career spanned over two decades, with his last match coming at a WWF event in Pittsburgh, where he defeated The Red Demon.
Outside of the ring, DeFazio was an Allegheny County councilman from 1999 until 2019.
Fightful would like to send its condolences to DeFazio’s family, friends and fans.
