Tony Stetson

Infobox Wrestler
name=Tony Matteo


img_capt=
names="Hitman" Tony Stetson
Broad Street Bully
height= height|ft=5|in=10
weight= convert|228|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=c. 1960
birth_place=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
death_date=
death_place=
resides=New Castle, Delaware
billed=South Philadelphia
trainer=Larry Sharpe
debut=1985
vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
retired=|

Tony Matteo is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Hitman" Tony Stetson, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions during the late 1980s and 1990s. However, he is best known for his appearances in the Philadelphia-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance and Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Career

Early life and career

Born Tony Matteo, he grew up at 11th and Ritner in South Philadelphia and later attended St. John Neumann. A fan of Bruno Sammartino as a teenager, he played semi-pro football before training at Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory in Burlington County. Stetson would eventually debut in 1985 facing fellow Monster Factory alumni Bam Bam Bigelow at a World Wrestling Federation television taping at the Mid-Hudson Arena in Poughkeepsie, New York. "Biff! Pow! Sock!; Pro wrestling's hopefuls take their dreams to the mat in South Philly.". Philadelphia Inquirer. 20 May 2001 ]

Tri-State Wrestling Alliance

Tony Stetson made a name for himself wrestling in Joel Goodhart's Tri-State Wrestling Alliance as well as other promotions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s. He employed a hardcore wrestling style and was an early contributor to the Philadelphia wrestling scene, including his feud with Johnny Hotbody. Stetson and Hotbody trained wins in a variety of matches, including a Taped Fist First Blood match on March 31 1990.cite web | url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/tristate.html | title = Tri-State Wrestling Supercards | publisher = ProWrestlingHistory.com | accessdate=2007-07-02] Several months later, Stetson defeated Hotbody in a Hair vs Hair match. On March 2 1991, the two resumed their feud when Stetson won a Barbed wire match. When Stetson first started in the Business, he had a manager who went by the name of "The Godfather". The Godfather, was later known as "The Equalizer" and then ended his career as "Gianni Corleone" while working with Stetson toward the end of his career in the CWC.

Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling

'Stetson was among the first stars of ECW, along with Rockin' Rebel, John T. Smith, Glen Osbourne, The Sandman, Max Thrasher, and Jimmy Jannetty. On April 1, 1993, Tony Stetson and Larry Winters won the ECW World Tag Team Championship.cite web | url = http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtaghistory/ | title = ECW Tag Team Championship History | publisher = WWE.com | accessdate=2007-07-02] They were the second team ever to hold the titles, after defeating The Super Destroyers in Pennsylvania. However, they lost the titles one night later on April 2 to The Suicide Blondes (Chris Candido and Johnny Hotbody). On June 8, Stetson turned on Winters during a 16-man battle royal.cite web | url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw/1993.html | title = ECW: 1993 Results | publisher = Online World of Wrestling | accessdate=2007-07-02] On June 19, Stetson defeated Winters in a First Blood match.

After feuding with Winters, Stetson defeated Tommy Cairo on September 14 to win the ECW Pennsylvania Championship. He was one of only two men to ever hold the title before it was disbanded. Later, Stetson began to team with Johnny Hotbody. The two won the ECW Tag titles on September 17 1993 from Eddie Gilbert and The Dark Patriot. They held the belts for two months before losing them to the team of Tommy Dreamer and Johnny Gunn on November 12. They later joined Raven's ECW incarnation of the Raven's Nest.

In 1995, Stetson returned to the newly renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling, competing in both singles and tag team competition.cite web | url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw/1995.html | title = ECW: 1995 Results | publisher = Online World of Wrestling | accessdate=2007-07-02] By July, he began performing under the ring name Broad Street Bully. However, he returned to using his birth name in 1996. [cite web | url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw/1996.html | title = ECW: 1996 Results | publisher = Online World of Wrestling | accessdate=2007-07-02]

Recent years

Going into semi-retirement by the mid-1990s, Stetson worked corordinating supply distribution for Methodist Hospital for several years before joining promoter Lisa Constantino's Central Wrestling Coalition based in South Philadelphia in 1999. Reuniting with his old Manager Gianni Corleone (also known as "The Godfather" and The Equalizer early in his career), he would feud with Breaker Morant over the CWC Heavyweight Championship during the next two years in the promotion. Corleone worked both as a Manager with Stetson and also in Public Relations with many Wrestling Promotions until his retirement with the CWC.

In October 1999, Tony married Jennifer Brennan, a 1990 St. Maria Goretti graduate who is now a surgical division manager at the University of Pennsylvania. They had a home built in New Castle Delaware where they lived for 5 years. Together, their biggest accomplishment in life has been the birth of their beautiful daughter Madison Paige. Madison is now 6 years old and the Matteo's returned to their old roots in 2005. They had a home built in Packer Park and are happily enjoying their family, friends and wonderful neighborhood. Tony is approaching the 30 year mark at Methodist Hospital where he has been promoted to Purchasing as the Buyer for the hospital.

Along with his new wife and daughter, the "Hitman" also has two children from a previous marriage named Jennifer and Michael.

Championships and accomplishments

*Eastern Championship Wrestling
**ECW Pennsylvania Championship (1 time) (Last)
**ECW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Larry Winters (1) and Johnny Hotbody (1)

*Tri-State Wrestling Alliance
**TWA Bar Wars Championship (1 time) (First and only)

Notes

References

*Loverro, Thom. "The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling". New York: Simon and Schuster, 2006. ISBN 1-4165-1058-3
*Williams, Scott E. "Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW". Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing L.L.C., 2006. ISBN 1-59670-021-1

External links

*imdb|1438826|Tony Stetson