Frank Scarpa

Frank Scarpa (September 28, 1915 – January 25, 1969) was an American professional wrestler. While best known for his time with Big Time Wrestling, where he held the Boston-version of the World Heavyweight Championship, Scarpa spent the majority of his career as a journeyman competing across Canada and the United States.

Frank Scarpa
Birth name	Francis Scarpa
Born	(1915-09-28)September 28, 1915[1] Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	January 25, 1969(1969-01-25) (aged 53) Boston, Massachusetts
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Frank Scarpa Manuel Garza Manuel Cortez[2] Ricardo Cortez Gino Martinelli
Billed height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight	251 lb (114 kg)
Trained by	Fred Myerson
Debut	1936

As Manuel Garza, he was a major star in the Los Angeles wrestling territory in the 1950s and won the NWA International Television Championship in 1957. According to wrestling historian Tom Burke, Scarpa set a record by selling out the Olympic Auditorium for 18 weeks in a row.^[3] Santos eventually returned to New England spending the final years of his career as the region's top star.^[4][5]

Death

On January 25, 1969, Scarpa suffered a heart attack one day after wrestling at the Jack Witschi Arena in North Attleboro - a Best 3-out-of-5 Falls match with Chief Eagle versus BTW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Gypsy Joe and Malcolm Cormier, which Scarpa's team won.^[6] He was sent to Boston City Hospital where he passed away. He was 53.^[7][8]

Championships and accomplishments

• Big Time Wrestling
  • BTW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • BTW United States Heavyweight Championship (5 times)^[9]

• NWA Los Angeles
  • NWA International Television Championship (1 time)^[10]