Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the ‘Wrestling with Sin’ series that deals more with the seedier side of wrestling like arrests, murders and suicides. Grappling looks more at particular tragic incidents that have in some instances altered pro wrestling in some way.
Rudy LaDitzi
“Rowdy’ Rudy LaDitzi was born in Bucharest, Romania and emigrated to the United States with his parents at just 4 months old. He turned to professional wrestling in 1929 and didn’t win a match in his first two years as a pro. Eventually as he gained experience, LaDitzi became very successful as a brawling heel who wrestled all over the world. He competed in such places as Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Canada.
LaDitzi was banned from wrestling in New Zealand, due to his roughhouse style. He was the master of the Boston Crab and Back Breaker. Despite acting as a heel, LaDitzi was considered to be a mild mannered gentleman outside of the ring. He owned his own restaurant in Poughkeepsie, New York.
While wrestling overseas in Australia, LaDitzi contracted malaria and he died from the disease on October 28, 1942. Rowdy Rudy LaDitzi was just 33 years old at the time of his death.