Romeo Roselli
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Roselli (born September 23, 1980) best known as Romeo Roselli is a professional wrestler
and actor
best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment
on the Raw
brand as one half of the "Heart Throbs" and is not to be confused with another wrestler by the name of Kid Romeo
.
under the advisement of Kevin Landry.
From 1998-2000, Roselli wrestled as a heel
regularly appearing for the wrestling video company Junior Pro Wrestling Association as Johnny Heartbreaker. Roselli rose to the top of the JPWA ranks after defeating top-ranked Damian "Lionheart" Campari. Johnny Heartbreaker would go on to log the JPWA's longest undefeated streak until losing consecutive matches to Biff Backstreet and eventual JPWA champion Ticao. After losing an armwrestling challenge to Biff Backstreet, Backstreet challenged him in the ring, and became the first wrestler in the JPWA to defeat Roselli. At the demise of the JPWA, Roselli had the 3rd highest number of wins, behind only Sasha "The Russian Skullcrusher" and Campari. Roselli was a member of JPWA in less than half the time Sasha and Campari were. Roselli also appeared for the wrestling video company BG East Wrestling as Johnny Romano.
On January 23, 2004 in Southbridge, Massachusetts
, Johnny Heartbreaker (Roselli) and Antonio Thomas
defeated Cueball and Nick McKenna to win the Eastern Wrestling Alliance
Tag Team title.
In June 2004, Roselli moved to Louisville, Kentucky
to train with Ohio Valley Wrestling
, and was signed to a World Wrestling Entertainment contract in February 2005. Both Antonio Thomas
and Roselli debuted shortly afterwards as the "Heart Breakers".
In April 2005, William Regal
and Tajiri
successfully defended the World Tag Team belts against the debuting Romeo (Roselli) and Antonio (Thomas), known collectively as "The Heart Throbs
". They would go on to participate in Tag-Team Turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship at Backlash
.
The Heart Throbs, who have portrayed heels
, mainly appeared on the Raw B-show, Heat
. They have had short-lived feuds with Eugene
and William Regal, Hurricane and Rosey
, and V-Squared (Val Venis
and Viscera
).
During the first episode of Heat in 2006 the pair turned face
and began entertaining the crowd by bringing two "hot chicks" into the ring and getting them to dance, however. Known for his striking looks, Roselli gained attention in 2006 by ranking third among all wrestlers on the WWE rosters on number of web image searches, behind only John Cena
and Randy Orton
. On February 10, 2006 both The Heart Throbs were released from WWE.
Shortly after his release, Roselli spent several months wrestling in Puerto Rico
for the World Wrestling Council
where he would go on to defeat El Bronco for the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship
before leaving the island and losing the title back to El Bronco in a loser leaves town match.
Roselli continued on as an active competitor touring many American independents; sometime still competing with/against Antonio Thomas, while touring abroad. Roselli also made a one off appearance with Ohio Valley Wrestling
.
In November 2006, Roselli appeared on the television show Pants-Off Dance-Off
, a Fuse TV
program featuring competitors dancing and stripping.
Both of the Heart Throbs appeared on the Food Network
show, Ham on the Street
, cooking French style mussels alongside chef George Duran
during the summer of 2006.
After this, Roselli left America to tour with Nu-Wrestling Evolution
. During this tour, on December 10, 2006, in Palermo, Italy, Romeo defeated Vampiro
to win the NWE Heavyweight Championship. Romeo became only the third champion in the history of the NWE and the first Italian to claim the championship.
At Destination X 2007 on March 11, 2007, Roselli and Antonio Thomas
, identified as The Heartbreakers, appeared as a surprise tag team selected by Christy Hemme
to face the Voodoo Kin Mafia
. The Heartbreakers were defeated by the Voodoo Kin Mafia
and this would mark their only appearance for the company.
In May 2007, Romeo was booked by the Queens of Chaos
promotion in France
. He wrestled in front of 72,000 people which is the 2007 record for a wrestling show. A documentary will be released in 2008 from the event.
Although Roselli continues to work as an independent wrestler, as well as a certified personal trainer, he apparently has turned his attention to acting. He is a member of SAG
and AFTRA, and has roles in the films College Road Trip
, Baby Mama
, and a featured role in The Wrestler
.
Roselli is also writing for the website WWEPreview.com where he has his own column.
In July 2008, Roselli appeared on the FUSE TV
program "You Rock, Lets Roll" - a dating show hosted by Jared Cotter
, where he had to choose between 3 female musical artists attempting to win him over with their musical skills.
Roselli returned to professional wrestling after recovering from ACL Reconstruction. He returned interrupting a Piper's Pit
segment for the promotion Northeast Wrestling on October 27, 2008 and had a face to face confrontation with WWE Hall of Fame
inductee Rowdy Roddy Piper.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
on the Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
brand as one half of the "Heart Throbs" and is not to be confused with another wrestler by the name of Kid Romeo
Sam Loman
Sam Loman is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling in 2001 under the ring name Kid Romeo, where he was one half of the first ever Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions alongside Elix Skipper.-Debut and departure:After a briefly working...
.
Career
Roselli began wrestling on the independent circuit first training in Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
under the advisement of Kevin Landry.
From 1998-2000, Roselli wrestled as a heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
regularly appearing for the wrestling video company Junior Pro Wrestling Association as Johnny Heartbreaker. Roselli rose to the top of the JPWA ranks after defeating top-ranked Damian "Lionheart" Campari. Johnny Heartbreaker would go on to log the JPWA's longest undefeated streak until losing consecutive matches to Biff Backstreet and eventual JPWA champion Ticao. After losing an armwrestling challenge to Biff Backstreet, Backstreet challenged him in the ring, and became the first wrestler in the JPWA to defeat Roselli. At the demise of the JPWA, Roselli had the 3rd highest number of wins, behind only Sasha "The Russian Skullcrusher" and Campari. Roselli was a member of JPWA in less than half the time Sasha and Campari were. Roselli also appeared for the wrestling video company BG East Wrestling as Johnny Romano.
On January 23, 2004 in Southbridge, Massachusetts
Southbridge, Massachusetts
The Town of Southbridge is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,719 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Johnny Heartbreaker (Roselli) and Antonio Thomas
Tom Matera
Thomas "Tom" Matera is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Antonio Thomas. He is best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand as one half of The Heart Throbs....
defeated Cueball and Nick McKenna to win the Eastern Wrestling Alliance
Eastern Wrestling Alliance
The Eastern Wrestling Alliance is an American professional wrestling promotion currently based in Massachusetts and founded in 1998 by James St. Jean and Bob Staples. The EWA has been a prominent professional wrestling company in the New England area since the early 2000s beginning most notably in...
Tag Team title.
In June 2004, Roselli moved to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
to train with Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
, and was signed to a World Wrestling Entertainment contract in February 2005. Both Antonio Thomas
Tom Matera
Thomas "Tom" Matera is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Antonio Thomas. He is best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand as one half of The Heart Throbs....
and Roselli debuted shortly afterwards as the "Heart Breakers".
In April 2005, William Regal
Darren Matthews
Darren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
and Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
successfully defended the World Tag Team belts against the debuting Romeo (Roselli) and Antonio (Thomas), known collectively as "The Heart Throbs
The Heart Throbs
The Heart Throbs is the name of a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Antonio Thomas and Romeo Roselli, currently wrestling on the independent circuit. Thomas and Roselli are billed as being popular "with the ladies", and typically approach the ring while performing pelvic thrusts to the...
". They would go on to participate in Tag-Team Turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship at Backlash
Backlash (2005)
Backlash was the seventh annual Backlash professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on May 1, 2005 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. The show's six matches showcased prominent WWE wrestlers, who acted out...
.
The Heart Throbs, who have portrayed heels
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
, mainly appeared on the Raw B-show, Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
. They have had short-lived feuds with Eugene
Nick Dinsmore
Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore , better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler...
and William Regal, Hurricane and Rosey
Hurricane and Rosey
Rosey and The Hurricane were a professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Entertainment based on the Raw brand. While in the WWE, their ring personas were those of a duo of superheroes....
, and V-Squared (Val Venis
Sean Morley
Sean Allen Morley is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name Val Venis, during his time with World Wrestling Federation, later known as World Wrestling Entertainment...
and Viscera
Nelson Frazier, Jr.
Nelson Frazier, Jr. is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring names Mabel, Viscera, Big Daddy V, and King V. He is best known for his work with World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment...
).
During the first episode of Heat in 2006 the pair turned face
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
and began entertaining the crowd by bringing two "hot chicks" into the ring and getting them to dance, however. Known for his striking looks, Roselli gained attention in 2006 by ranking third among all wrestlers on the WWE rosters on number of web image searches, behind only John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
and Randy Orton
Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand...
. On February 10, 2006 both The Heart Throbs were released from WWE.
Shortly after his release, Roselli spent several months wrestling in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
for the World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
where he would go on to defeat El Bronco for the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship
WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship
The WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship is a secondary professional wrestling championship that is defended in the World Wrestling Council based in Puerto Rico. The title was created in January 1974 and, as its name suggests, is defended exclusively within Puerto Rico.-Title history:...
before leaving the island and losing the title back to El Bronco in a loser leaves town match.
Roselli continued on as an active competitor touring many American independents; sometime still competing with/against Antonio Thomas, while touring abroad. Roselli also made a one off appearance with Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
.
In November 2006, Roselli appeared on the television show Pants-Off Dance-Off
Pants-Off Dance-Off
Pants-Off Dance-Off is a dance contest which premiered on April 18, 2006 on Fuse. It features stripteasers as they dance while disrobing, and is now shown on its official website.-Format:...
, a Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
program featuring competitors dancing and stripping.
Both of the Heart Throbs appeared on the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
show, Ham on the Street
Ham on the Street
Ham on the Street is a cooking show hosted by George Duran on the Food Network in 2006. George adds comedy to cooking as he explores each show's topic in the strangest possible ways. For example, during the show on breakfast, George tested to see if an ostrich egg could be cooked sunny-side up...
, cooking French style mussels alongside chef George Duran
George Duran
George Duran is an American chef and entertainer who is currently a spokesman in commercials for Hunt's tomatoes. He also became host of TLC's Ultimate Cake Off in its second season.-Biography:...
during the summer of 2006.
Nu-Wrestling Evolution
Nu-Wrestling Evolution is an Italian professional wrestling promotion, owned by MAGNUMGROUP srl. The promotion's slogan is "Nu-Wrestling Evolution/NWE the place to be!"-History:...
. During this tour, on December 10, 2006, in Palermo, Italy, Romeo defeated Vampiro
Vampiro
Ian Richard Hodgkinson , better known by his ring name Vampiro, is a Canadian professional wrestler currently working as a wrestler and a consultant for Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Hodgkinson is semi-retired and is a member of the citizen crime patrol organization Guardian Angels, acting as...
to win the NWE Heavyweight Championship. Romeo became only the third champion in the history of the NWE and the first Italian to claim the championship.
At Destination X 2007 on March 11, 2007, Roselli and Antonio Thomas
Tom Matera
Thomas "Tom" Matera is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Antonio Thomas. He is best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand as one half of The Heart Throbs....
, identified as The Heartbreakers, appeared as a surprise tag team selected by Christy Hemme
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee "Christy" Hemme is an American actress, singer, model, professional wrestling valet and former professional wrestler. Hemme is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, as a backstage interviewer and ring announcer.-Early life:Hemme was born in Poway, California, but she...
to face the Voodoo Kin Mafia
New Age Outlaws
The New Age Outlaws, later known as the James Gang and the Voodoo Kin Mafia, were a professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Federation, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and Maryland Championship Wrestling consisting of B.G...
. The Heartbreakers were defeated by the Voodoo Kin Mafia
New Age Outlaws
The New Age Outlaws, later known as the James Gang and the Voodoo Kin Mafia, were a professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Federation, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and Maryland Championship Wrestling consisting of B.G...
and this would mark their only appearance for the company.
In May 2007, Romeo was booked by the Queens of Chaos
Queens of Chaos
Queens of Chaos is a French based female independent professional wrestling promotion created in 2005. Queens of Chaos promotes its own shows but also showcases matches on its parent promotion Fighting Spirit Federation, which mainly deals with the male side of professional wrestling...
promotion in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He wrestled in front of 72,000 people which is the 2007 record for a wrestling show. A documentary will be released in 2008 from the event.
Although Roselli continues to work as an independent wrestler, as well as a certified personal trainer, he apparently has turned his attention to acting. He is a member of SAG
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
and AFTRA, and has roles in the films College Road Trip
College Road Trip
College Road Trip is a 2008 American family/comedy directed by Roger Kumble and starring Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symoné, Brenda Song, Margo Harshman, and Donny Osmond. The film centers on college-bound teen Melanie Porter , who goes on a road trip to different colleges with her father...
, Baby Mama
Baby Mama (film)
Baby Mama is a 2008 comedy film from Universal Pictures written and directed by Michael McCullers and starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, Greg Kinnear, and Dax Shepard.-Plot:...
, and a featured role in The Wrestler
The Wrestler (2009 film)
The Wrestler is a 2008 sports drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky, written by Robert D. Siegel and starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Production began in January 2008 and Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired rights to distribute the film in the U.S.; it was released in a...
.
Roselli is also writing for the website WWEPreview.com where he has his own column.
In July 2008, Roselli appeared on the FUSE TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
program "You Rock, Lets Roll" - a dating show hosted by Jared Cotter
Jared Cotter
Jared Lincoln Cotter is an American pop/R&B singer, songwriter and model. He has hosted a number of TV shows, and he co-wrote the number 1 song "Down" by Jay Sean.-Biography:...
, where he had to choose between 3 female musical artists attempting to win him over with their musical skills.
Roselli returned to professional wrestling after recovering from ACL Reconstruction. He returned interrupting a Piper's Pit
Piper's Pit
Piper's Pit was an interview segment featuring Roddy Piper which was a mainstay of WWF/WWE television from 1984 to 1987, and then returned briefly in 1989. Also, Piper hosted similar segments while wrestling for other promotions in 2003 - 2011....
segment for the promotion Northeast Wrestling on October 27, 2008 and had a face to face confrontation with WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw television program...
inductee Rowdy Roddy Piper.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Diving neckbreaker
- Signature moves
- Discus punch
- Diving crossbody
- Double knee backbreaker
- Skin the cat
- Somersault plancha
- With Antonio ThomasTom MateraThomas "Tom" Matera is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Antonio Thomas. He is best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand as one half of The Heart Throbs....
- Erectile Dysfunction (Double STO)
Championships and accomplishments
- Not Rated Pro Wrestling
- NRPW World Championship (1 time)
- NRPW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Antonio Thomas
- Eastern Wrestling Alliance
- EWA Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Antonio Thomas
- Nu-Wrestling EvolutionNu-Wrestling EvolutionNu-Wrestling Evolution is an Italian professional wrestling promotion, owned by MAGNUMGROUP srl. The promotion's slogan is "Nu-Wrestling Evolution/NWE the place to be!"-History:...
- NWE Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Wrestling CouncilWorld Wrestling CouncilThe World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
- WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight ChampionshipWWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship is a secondary professional wrestling championship that is defended in the World Wrestling Council based in Puerto Rico. The title was created in January 1974 and, as its name suggests, is defended exclusively within Puerto Rico.-Title history:...
(1 time)
- New England Pro Wrestling
- NEPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
External links
- RomeoRoselli.com (Official Website)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL4bm_EbxIg Giovanni Roselli in Baby Mama
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsQY7zbSJJ4 Romeo wins NWE Heavyweight Championship
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIOf59Ycgwg Romeo Roselli wrestles in front of 72,000 fans in Paris, France
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6su_b-282X8 Heart Throbs appear on the Food Network
- http://www.vimeo.com/3826525 Roselli Comeback Video From Knee Surgery