Happy Wednesday, everyone. Well, for me it's not such a happy Wednesday. Before I begin with the topic, I want you to know that this is NOT a kigurumi post, but it does affect me in a way. This will be a wrestling post, so those who don't like wrestling, please divert your browser, or iphone....or whatever you are using to look at this page. (I don't know really, but an iPhone would be nice to see this page on, but I digress) Today, the world of wrestling has lost one of its true pioneers of the early 70's and 80's. I am talking of course of none other than Captain Lou Albano. Now, given that I was not around when he was at the peak of his popularity, videos off YouTube has shown me that he was truly one of the WWE's most influential people.
Albano started his career in the WWE in the late 1960s as one half of the tag team, The Sicilians. He would then go on to become a commentator and He transformed himself into the brash, bombastic manager Captain Lou Albano. With a quick wit and a grating personality, Albano delivered memorable promos that made him wrestling's most villainous manager. He earned the scorn of the wrestling audience as he attempted to dethrone WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino.
In 1971, Albano achieved his objective when "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff ended Sammartino's seven year reign as champion. For the remainder of the 1970s, Albano's cadre of loyal henchmen were unable to resecure the championship once Sammartino won it back. Albano guided singles wrestlers such as Pat Patterson, Don Muraco and Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine to the Intercontinental Championship. Furthermore, Albano guided fifteen teams to the .
Under his tutelage, and Prof Toru Tanaka, and later Masa Saito, The Valliant Brothers, Wild Samoans, The Moondogs, and The British Bulldogs were a few of many that solidified Albano as wrestling's premiere tag team manager. By the end of his career, Albano managed over 50 different wrestlers who won two dozen championships.
By the 1980s, Albano appeared in Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "She Bop", "Time After Time" and "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" Parlaying the venture, new WWF owner Vince McMahon devised the Rock 'n' Wrestling storyline, a collaboration and cross-promotion between the newly renamed WWF and elements of the music industry. In March 1989, on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Albano had his trademark beard shaved on the air in order to star as the iconic Mario in the live action video game spinoff, "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show". Along with Danny Wells, he co-starred in live action segments during interludes of the Mario cartoon, as well as providing the voice of his animated counterpart.
In 1996, Captain Lou Albano was enshrined into the WWE Hall of Fame for his accomplishments and contributions to professional wrestling.
So it is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to one of wrestling's greatest superstars. A manager of champions, a champion in his own rights, and a lesson to us all that with a little hard work, and lots of determination, you can achieve anything your heart desires. Thank you Captain Lou, you will always be the guiding light.
Until next time,
~Cody Nakamura
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