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Throwing Himself Back Into The Ring local news

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By GEOFF FOX gfox@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - "Roughouse" Ralph Mosca was talking about ACW Underground, a wrestling organization he has resurrected from the ashes of the defunct American Combat Wrestling outfit.

The shaven-headed promoter and wrestler closed the original ACW about a year ago so he could promote shows for Florida Championship Wrestling, a developmental territory for Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment.

Now, he wants to promote both - and wrestle in ACW Underground.

In fact, Mosca, 37, who has not graced the squared circle in more than eight months, has dropped 50 pounds - and wants to lose 10 more in a month. He insists, though, that he is not sculpting his figure to look good in the ring.

"I'm losing the weight for one reason and one reason only: health," he said, in a tone reminiscent of a pro wrestler's on-air rant.

"Seriously, bro," he said. "You feel more mobile, flexible, agile.

"You're one with the wind."

Imagining Mosca propelling himself through the air is difficult. He may have lost 50 pounds, but he still weighs about 235; that's 15 pounds heavier than Mike Tyson was the night he knocked out Trevor Berbick to win his first heavyweight title in 1986.

And Mosca isn't all muscle.

A blood-and-guts brawler who has endured at least seven concussions - mostly due to chairs getting bounced off his skull - Mosca is eager to return to action Saturday at ACW Underground's inaugural event at the Jewish Community Center in Port Richey.

A six-time former ACW singles champion and two-time tag-team titlist (once with the late Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow), Mosca said he will battle in a "four-way elimination, no-rules, no-disqualification, street-fight match."

He was inspired to revive the ACW under a new banner when other former ACW wrestlers said they wanted to wrestle locally.

Although he promotes weekly FCW shows at Bourbon Street, Mosca, a full-time salesman for a construction and industrial supplies company, said he had too much time on his hands. Besides, he had done plenty of shows at the Jewish Community Center before, and the people there were eager to do more.

Mosca also had an itch to get back in the ring.

Who wouldn't?

Besides the concussions, Mosca has suffered a torn rotator cuff, a dislocated knee, a cracked sternum and a bruised tailbone since embarking on a part-time wrestling career in the early-1990s. His forehead is covered with scar tissue - a tell-tale sign of razor-induced bloodletting.

"I don't remember him ever having stitches," said his wife, Nicole. "He had those staples in his head, though. That was years ago - from a metal chair."

The couple has been together for 18 years, married for nine. They have three children: Anthony, 14; Alex, 9, and Vanessa, 5. Nicole and the kids don't attend many matches.

Mosca said he recently got a call from Mike O'Brien, a promoter with Northeast Wrestling in New York, the organization where Mosca first got paid to deliver flying elbows, absorb forearms to the back and argue with impossibly clueless referees.

"He's flying me up for a show Oct. 18," Mosca said. "I'm pumped."

The event will be held at Washingtonville High School, where Mosca graduated 20 years ago. The local newspapers are already trumpeting his return, he said.

Locally, ACW Underground will be more "extreme" than the family-friendly FCW shows.

He leapt at the FCW opportunity, as though he were springing off the top rope - and for good reason. The Tampa Bay area is the WWE's only developmental territory, and the FCW wrestlers are under contract with McMahon's organization.

The most he ever received for wrestling at a single event was $2,500, but he said the purses are usually a fraction of that.

While Mosca isn't getting rich promoting the FCW, it keeps him involved in professional wrestling and with the industry's juggernaut.

Since the FCW started staging shows at Bourbon Street, several of its wrestlers, such as Nattie Neidhart, daughter of former wrestler Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, and Afa Anoai Jr., part of a famous Samoan wrestling family, have appeared on WWE's "Raw," "SmackDown" and "ECW" TV shows.

The organization trains wrestlers at a facility on Dale Mabry Highway, run by former wrestler Tom Pritchard. The Bourbon Street shows allow wrestlers under contract with WWE to hone their skills before a live audience.

Pritchard praised Mosca's promotional skills.

"We just need to keep our crowds consistent," he said. "During the summer, we had great turnouts with the kids out of school."

Long before the opening bell on a recent Tuesday, a stream of male and female wrestlers walked into Bourbon Street, all of them stopping to say hello to Mosca.

Michael Jarvi, who looks big enough to stop a charging rhinoceros, playfully grabbed Mosca's scarred, bald head between his heavily tattooed forearms and gave it a squeeze.

"Look at that smile," Jarvi said, looking down at the giddy promoter. "It makes me happy."

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613. Keyword: Everyday People, to see an interview with Mosca

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