Salvatore Sincere

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For the wrestler who performed as "The Patriot" in the 1990s, see The Patriot (wrestler).
Salvatore Sincere

Salvatore Sincere in May 2009.
Birth name Tom Brandi
Ring name(s) Johnny Gunn
The Patriot
Salvatore Sincere
Tom Brandi
Billed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Billed weight 270 lb (120 kg)[1]
Born (1966-07-09) July 9, 1966
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[1]
Resides Dover, New Hampshire
Billed from "Italy" (as Salvatore Sincere)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Trained by King Kaluha[1]
Debut September 1985[1]

Tom Brandi (born July 9, 1966) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation from 1996 to 1998 under the ring name Salvatore Sincere. Brandi is also known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling as Johnny Gunn and for his appearances on the independent circuit as The Patriot.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1985-1992)

Brandi debuted in 1985 after being trained by indy wrestler King Kaluha. His first notoriety came in International World Class Championship Wrestling where he won the IWCCW Television Championship as "Chippendale" Tom Brandi a gimmick similar to the one used by The Fantastics and The Fabulous Ones in the 1980s.

World Championship Wrestling (1992)

Brandi as The Patriot in a wrestling match against Virgil in 2009.

In World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Brandi went by Johnny Gunn. He achieved some of the most notable moments in his career while teaming with Tom Zenk. At Halloween Havoc 1992, Brandi partnered with Shane Douglas and Tom Zenk to defeat Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, and Michael Hayes.

American Wrestling Federation (1994)

In 1994, he competed for the short lived American Wrestling Federation on the TV series Warriors of Wrestling where he used the name "Johnny Gunn" and renewed his chippendales gimmick where he was a fan favorite. Brandi also teamed with Jim Powers while in the AWF.

Extreme Championship Wrestling and independent circuit

Brandi later joined Eastern Championship Wrestling and teamed with Tommy Dreamer to capture the ECW Tag Team Championships. They captured the titles from Johnny Hot Body and Tony Stetson in only nine seconds. Less than a month later, the pair would lose the titles to Tasmaniac (later Tazz) and Kevin Sullivan.

United States Wrestling Federation

In 1995, Brandi won the USWF Championship under the name Johnny Gunn. After losing the championship to his former trainer, King Kaluha, Brandi won the USWF Tag Team Championship from Damage Inc.

World Wrestling Federation (1996-1998)

He then went to the WWF, debuting in July 1996 as "Salvatore Sincere," a stereotypical Italian/Mafioso character who falsely claimed to be sincere and to "love" everyone. He appeared at the 1996 Survivor Series and In Your House: It's Time, where he wrestled in dark matches. He briefly feuded with Marc Mero over valet Sable. During this storyline, Brandi began wrestling under his given name after Mero called him a jobber and said that he was "Tom Brandi", not Salvatore Sincere. Sincere later would go on to win a match against Mero by countout. After going by his real name, he participated in the 1998 Royal Rumble match, lasting a matter of seconds before being eliminated by Cactus Jack and Terry Funk. Brandi left the WWF that April. He lost to Jeff Jarrett in his last televised match on March 14, 1998 episode of Shotgun Saturday Night.

Return to the independent circuit (1998-present)

Since leaving the WWF, Brandi has wrestled on the independent circuit under both the Brandi name and the Sincere name. Since 2002, he has also wrestled as "The Patriot", a gimmick to which he claims to have purchased the rights from the original Patriot, Del Wilkes. Brandi continues to don the Patriot mask as of 2012, wrestling for New Jersey's National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions. In a 2008 interview, Wilkes stated that Brandi is simply using the gimmick and trademark without his permission. Wilkes says he has not communicated with Brandi nor has seen him since 1994.[2]

In wrestling

  • Finishing moves
    • As Salvatore Sincere
      • Sincerely Yours (Full nelson slam)[1][3]
    • As Johnny Gunn
      • Thesz press[3]
      • Tilt-a-whirl slam[1]
  • With Buff Bagwell
    • Simultaneous vertical suplex / diving crossbody combination[3]
  • Nicknames
    • "Chippendale" Tom Brandi
    • "The Big Italian"

Championships and accomplishments

  • Devastation Wrestling Federation
  • DWF Heavyweight Championship
  • Independent Wrestling Alliance
  • IWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
  • International Pro Wrestling
  • IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
  • International Wrestling Association
    • IWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
  • National Championship Wrestling
    • NCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
    • NCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Snuka[6]
  • Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1/Premier Wrestling Federation
    • PWF Universal Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Kehner
  • Steel City Wrestling
    • SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
  • United States Championship Wrestling
    • USCW Pacific Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
  • United States Wrestling Federation
    • USWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • USWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Corino
  • Wrestling Independent Network
  • WIN North American Championship (1 time, first)[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Tom Brandi's Online World of Wrestling profile". 
  2. ↑ http://www.wrestlezone.com/article.php?articleid=230333126
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Other arena's finishing movelist". 
  4. ↑ "Jim Cornette profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-11-20. 
  5. ↑ "Kenny Casanova profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2010-06-09. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  7. ↑ "Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 

External links

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