Gary Michael Cappetta Returns to Philly with One Man Show

Before Howard Finkel, there was Gary Michael Cappetta.

A bright-eyed Jersey boy with a distinctive voice, Cappetta announced WWWF and WWF matches from 1974 until 1985. After a stint with the AWA on ESPN, he announced for NWA/WCW from 1989 until 1995.

Notice the years he left the two major wrestling companies: right before the Rock N Wrestling Era and right before the Monday Night Wars.

Perhaps that’s why the “World’s Most Dangerous Announcer” doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. By missing the two boom periods of the industry, Cappetta has faded into obscurity, a historical footnote on the iconic Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat trilogy.

But GMC is coming back. The legendary voice won’t be introducing newcomers in the ring, but he’ll be reminiscing about all-time greats on stage.

Cappetta kicks off the tour on February 19 in Philadelphia at the CSZ Club on 20^th & Sansom Streets. Through never-before-seen video and his artful yet no nonsense storytelling, Cappetta will relive his days in the world of wrasslin’. The show is an inside look at his most controversial and outrageous experiences, first written in his acclaimed memoir, Bodyslams!.

Bodyslams!: Memoirs of a Wrestling Pitchman was published in 2000 and the extended paperback version came out in 2005. There is neither a ghostwriter nor co-author: It’s simply GMC recounting how he broke into the business by happenstance, achieving his dream of watching matches for free, from the best seat in the house. Teaching Spanish to school children by day, and announcing George “The Animal” Steele by night, Cappetta lived two lives with one goal: educating and entertaining the masses.

Bodyslams! is a rare look behind the scenes of pre-Hulkamania WWF, when Vince McMahon Sr. still ruled with an iron fist full of jingling quarters. Cappetta expresses his fondness for mentor Gorilla Monsoon and doesn’t hold back on his “callous” relationship with the McMahons, especially Vince Jr.

 

As a matter of fact, Cappetta’s journey in pro wrestling is one of struggle, trying to maintain his love affair with the sport while dealing with frosty, deceptive management. He looks back on early 90s WCW, with its musical chair executives foreshadowing the downfall of the sports entertainment institution. His ballsy interactions with higher-ups are chronicled, and the lessons he’s learned have been shared for independent wrestlers looking to protect themselves against shady promoters.

As is customary with autobiographies of wrestling personalities during that timeframe, Bodyslams! delves into the WWF national expansion to explain its ramifications for non-fans, but Cappetta doesn’t dumb down the history lesson to the degree of offending the diehard’s intelligence.

From his crazy accounts of the Sid Vicious/Arn Anderson scissor fight and Mick Foley losing his ear, to road trips with not-yet-famous stars like Undertaker, Stone Cold and Mick Foley, Cappetta yanks down the curtain on his past in the traveling piledrivin’ circus. I recommend picking up the expanded version which goes into how he self-published the memoir, promoted its release and the feedback he received from wrestlers including a hilarious letter sent by Jim Cornette.

GMC has invited the Monster Factory roster and trainees to his show, where they’ll be in the lobby of the CSZ Club to meet fans and offer information on how to enroll in the training school.

Beyond Bodyslams! comes to Philadelphia on February 19 at the CSZ Club on 20^th & Sansom Streets. Show starts 3:05 pm.

$20 – General Admission

$40 – Meet & Greet – Includes Early Entry Gen Adm / Free Book / Free 8×10 Tour Photo / Post Show Photos & Autographs

Day of show tickets are $27 & $45.

For ticket purchasing and more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Next week on Wrestledelphia Radio listen to Part 1 of my interview with Gary Michael Cappetta: The WWF Years.