The UCW Radio Host Louis Velazquez had the opportunity to have
WWE Pro Wrestling Star Lanny "The Genius" Poffo on the Show.
Lanny Poffo
began wrestling in the NWA territories in the 1970s before becoming a
star and champion in International Championship Wrestling. Over the course of
his regional career, Poffo both tag teamed and feuded with
older brother Randy. Upon the ICW's folding in 1984, he joined Randy in the CWA before
traveling with him again to the World
Wrestling Federation in June 1985.
The brother angle was never worked in the WWF and the relationship was never
mentioned on-air.
While Lanny never reached the heights as it relates to popularity as his
brother Randy "Macho Man" Savage did in the WWF, he still managed to find a
niche for himself as a minor fan favorite.
As Leaping
Lanny Poffo, the Wrestling Poet, he would bring Frisbees to the
ring, read a short ode written on one of them that he himself had penned, and
throw the Frisbees into the crowd. Each poem typically ridiculed his opponent
and created an opening or basis for a continued feud. Poffo wrestled a
high-flyer style at a time when big, heavy wrestlers still dominated the
promotion. He was one of the first wrestlers in North America to utilize the moonsault in their arsenal, though the announcers
referred to it at the time as a "leaping backflip". He made some publicity in
late 1986 and early 1987 by competing in a series of Bunkhouse Battle Royals in full knight's armor.
In April 1989, Poffo was re-introduced as a heel wrestler and became The Genius, adopting a highly
intelligent, sniffy persona and wearing an academic cap and gown to the ring. He
officially turned heel at the Boston Garden on March 18, 1989 still known as
Leaping Lanny, he berated Hulk Hogan and stuck up for his brother Randy Savage
in his poem. This was a mere two weeks before Wrestlemania V. His poems now
ridiculed the face wrestlers, and he now behaved in an even more effeminate
manner to infuriate the crowd. During the match, the Genius would construct a
mathematical equation that would tilt the balance of the match in his favor. In
addition, the Genius also served as a manager (and occasional tag team partner)
for Mr. Perfect.
On the November 25, 1989
edition of WWF Saturday Night's Main Event,
The Genius beat WWF Champion Hulk Hogan by count out due to Mr. Perfect
hitting Hogan with the championship belt. Later in the show, Mr. Perfect and
Poffo took a hammer to the belt, shattering it to pieces. Later, The Genius was
the manager of the Beverly Brothers . It was in this capacity that Poffo last
appeared in the WWF, at Survivor
Series 1992.
Outside of wrestling, Poffo has released a collection of poems and limericks, most of which were related to
drug and alcohol awareness, directed
toward young children. Poffo is a staunch anti-smoker and has released a book of
limericks entitled Limericks from
the Heart and Lungs!. He is also a certified credit counselor. He was last
seen on television in infomercials as
an endorser of Tony Little's Gazelle
Freestyle exercise machine.
Poffo is still on good terms with WWE, having written a poem for WWE.com in 2007
for the "Battle of the Billionaires" at WrestleMania
23 between Vince McMahon and Donald
Trump.
"Lanny Poffo is one of the most genuine people in the wrestling business, I
consider him to be a great example of professionalism as well as being an
inspiration to children through his poetry and books, he is just a great all
around guy." said Louis Velazquez, host of The UCW Radio Show.
Poffo Family Picture
Website: www.lannypoffo.com
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