View source for Angelo Mosca

{{short description|American-Canadian football player and professional wrestler (1937–2021)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2021}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
|image=Angelo Mosca 1984.jpeg
|caption=Mosca, circa 1984
|name=Angelo Mosca
|ImageWidth=
|birth_date={{birth date|1937|2|13}}
|birth_place=[[Waltham, Massachusetts]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2021|11|6|1937|2|13}}
|death_place=[[Hamilton, Ontario]], Canada
|Height_ft=6
|Height_in=4
|Weight_lbs=275
|import=no
|College=[[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]]
|position1=Defensive tackle
|number=68
|NFLDraftedYear=1959
|NFLDraftedRound=30
|NFLDraftedPick=350
|NFLDraftedTeam=[[Philadelphia Eagles]]
|career_highlights=
|CFLEastAllStar={{CFL Year|1960}}, {{CFL Year|1963}}, {{CFL Year|1965}}, {{CFL Year|1966}}, {{CFL Year|1970}}
|CFLAllStar={{CFL Year|1963}}, {{CFL Year|1970}}
|Honors= 5× [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[48th Grey Cup|1960]], [[51st Grey Cup|1963]], [[53rd Grey Cup|1965]], [[55th Grey Cup|1967]], [[60th Grey Cup|1972]])
|Awards=[[CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award#CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award - Runners Up (1955-1973)|CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award - Runner Up]] ({{CFL Year|1963}}, {{CFL Year|1970}})
|ProBowls=
|DatabaseFootball=
|PFR=
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|1958}}–{{CFL Year|1959}}
|playing_team1=[[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|1960}}–{{CFL Year|1961}}
|playing_team2=[[Ottawa Rough Riders]]
|playing_years3={{CFL Year|1962}}
|playing_team3=[[Montreal Alouettes]]
|playing_years4={{CFL Year|1962}}–{{CFL Year|1972}}
|playing_team4=Hamilton Tiger-Cats
|CollegeHOF=
| CFHOF = angelo-mosca
|CFHOFYear=1987
}}

'''Angelo Valentino Mosca'''<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Hawthorn|first=Tom|date=November 11, 2021|title=Hulking Hamilton Ticats legend Angelo Mosca was known as Mr. Nasty|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hulking-hamilton-ticats-legend-angelo-mosca-was-known-as-mr-nasty/#:~:text=and%20hit%20hardest.%E2%80%9D-,Mr.,Park%20in%20Ottawa%20in%201968.|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> (February 13, 1937 – November 6, 2021) was an American professional [[gridiron football|football]] player and [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. He was a [[defensive lineman]] in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL). As a wrestler, Mosca was known by the nicknames '''King Kong Mosca''' and '''the Mighty Hercules'''. He had a son, Angelo Jr., who also wrestled. Mosca was elected to the [[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]] in 1987, the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and the [[Ontario Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2013.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Angelo Mosca |url=http://oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/126-angelo-mosca |website=oshof.ca |publisher=[[Ontario Sports Hall of Fame]] |access-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228125500/http://www.oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/126-angelo-mosca |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Early life ==
The second oldest boy in a family of four boys and seven girls,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> Mosca was born on February 13, 1937, in [[Waltham, Massachusetts]], to Agnes and Angelo Mosca.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Hawthorn|first=Tom|date=November 11, 2021|title=Hulking Hamilton Ticats legend Angelo Mosca was known as Mr. Nasty|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hulking-hamilton-ticats-legend-angelo-mosca-was-known-as-mr-nasty/#:~:text=and%20hit%20hardest.%E2%80%9D-,Mr.,Park%20in%20Ottawa%20in%201968.|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> His father Angelo was an immigrant from [[Panni, Apulia|Panni]] in southern Italy, and his mother's mother was an African-American (and also half-[[Italians|Italian]] and half-Black), which was kept a secret from neighbours in their segregated, working-class neighbourhood in Waltham since [[New England]] was not known for its racial tolerance at the time.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Hawthorn|first=Tom|date=November 11, 2021|title=Hulking Hamilton Ticats legend Angelo Mosca was known as Mr. Nasty|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hulking-hamilton-ticats-legend-angelo-mosca-was-known-as-mr-nasty/#:~:text=and%20hit%20hardest.%E2%80%9D-,Mr.,Park%20in%20Ottawa%20in%201968.|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Mosca's parents were alcoholics, and he was often neglected and abused by them, which led Mosca to run away from home at the age of 16.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> His father died in 1986, and his mother died at the age of 93.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref>

==Football career==
Mosca attended the [[University of Notre Dame]] on a scholarship, but was kicked out for [[bookmaking]].<ref name=":1" /> He then went to [[Wyoming]], but was booted out for theft, allegedly stealing typewriters and cameras from stores and selling them on campus.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He was drafted by the [[National Football League|NFL]]'s [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in 1959 in the 30th round (350th overall).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca dead at 84|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2021/11/06/angelo-mosca-dead-at-84/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Slam! Wrestling}}</ref> He had already decided to play in the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]], in 1958 for the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]].<ref name=":0" /> He went to [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] the same year after graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in business administration.<ref name=":1" /> He was traded to the [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] for [[Hardiman Cureton]] on August 15, 1960, and played for the Rough Riders in 1960 and 1961 before joining the [[Montreal Alouettes]] in 1962 for 5 games.<ref name=":0" /> He played his remaining years, 1962 to 1972 in Hamilton and was a five-time all star.<ref name=":0" />

Mosca played both offensive and defensive tackle, middle guard and end.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=[[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]]}}</ref> He played in nine [[Grey Cup]] games, more than any other player in CFL history, tied with his teammate [[John Barrow (Canadian football)|John Barrow]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=[[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]]}}</ref> Mosca's teams won five Grey Cup games, one with the [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] and four with the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]].<ref name=":0" />

He is infamous for the [[51st Grey Cup]] game out-of-bounds and late hit on [[BC Lions]] star running back [[Willie Fleming]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> With Fleming out of the game, the Tiger-Cats went on to win the [[Grey Cup]] and Mosca's reputation as being the meanest CFL player grew.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> It was a reputation he later promoted as the notorious professional wrestler "King Kong" Mosca.<ref name=":3">Heroes of the Game, A History of The Grey Cup - Stephen Thiele, Moulin Publishing 1997</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> Mosca was the runner-up for the Schenley Most Outstanding Lineman award in 1963 and 1970.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=[[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]]}}</ref> He also only missed one game his entire football career.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref>

On August 25, 2015, the Tiger-Cats announced that they would retire Mosca's jersey number 68.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref>

==Professional wrestling career==
{{Infobox professional wrestler
 | names             = King Kong<ref name="Cagematch">{{cite web |title=Wrestler's Database: Angelo Mosca |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1247&name=Angelo+Mosca |website=Cagematch |access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref><br>King Mosca<ref name="Cagematch"/><br>Angelo Mosca Sr.<ref name="Cagematch"/>
 | height            = 6 ft 4 in<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/14 14]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/14}}</ref>
 | weight            = 319 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
 | billed            = 
 | debut             = 1959
 | retired           = 1986
 | trainer           = 
}}
Mosca was brought into wrestling by Montreal promoter [[Eddie Quinn]].<ref name=":1" /> He began wrestling in the off-season, and became a full-time wrestler after his retirement from football.<ref name=":1" /> He wrestled all across North America, always at or near the top of the card, and almost always as a heel, even in Toronto until the late 1970s, then he became a face, and in the early 1980s, the lead face.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> He also wrestled in Verne Gagne's [[American Wrestling Association]] and in [[Stu Hart]]'s [[Stampede Wrestling]], where he was frequently paired with [[Superstar Billy Graham]] in tag team competition.<ref name=":1" /> During the mid '70s and '80s, Mosca worked in the Carolinas, facing top stars such as [[Ric Flair]], [[Wahoo McDaniel]], [[Blackjack Mulligan]], and [[Ivan Koloff]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref>
[[File:Bob Backlund and King Kong Mosca, circa 1982.png|left|thumb|Mosca and Bob Backlund, {{Circa|1982}}]]
In 1981, during his time in the [[World Wrestling Federation]], Mosca wrestled as (often – in a reversal of his character in Canada) as the promotion's most hated heel due to his brutal style.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> He became a top challenger to WWF Champion [[Bob Backlund]]'s World Championship, but was not successful in winning the belt.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> He also engaged in a feud with [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]], a part-time wrestler who also did color commentary on the WWF's syndicated programs, after Mosca attacked Patterson at a television taping with a water pitcher; Patterson had grown disgusted with Mosca's rulebreaking tactics and, setting off the attack, publicly thanked a referee for disqualifying Mosca for refusing to pin his jobber opponent.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>

Mosca was the colour commentator and wrestled for the WWF TV tapings in Ontario from August 1984 until January 1985 as a babyface.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> After being fired by the WWF, Mosca promoted the NWA in Ontario in 1985-87. He and Milt Avruskin hosted a TV show featuring compilations of NWA matches. Mosca organized an NWA card in Hamilton in February 1986 called "Moscamania" that drew an excellent house of 12,000 but the follow-up a year later drew only 3,200. He retired from wrestling in 1986.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/angelo-mosca-passes-away-84-years-old-358711|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>

Mosca's son, [[Angelo Mosca Jr.]], had a brief wrestling career.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=November 6, 2021|title=Angelo Mosca dead at 84|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2021/11/06/angelo-mosca-dead-at-84/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Slam! Wrestling}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca Jr. bio|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/angelo-mosca-jr/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Mosca managed his son for a brief time in late 1984 in the WWF.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca Jr. bio|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/angelo-mosca-jr/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Mosca lived in and around Hamilton for many years, and lived in [[St. Catharines, Ontario]], with his wife, Helen, a real estate agent.<ref name=":0" /> He first met her in 1996 at a Ticats game; they married in 1998.<ref name=StarAlzheimers/> His first wife, the mother of his two children, died of cancer.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> His second wife, to whom he was married 20 years, suffered a fatal heart attack.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref>

He authored a book with Steve Milton called [https://web.archive.org/web/20110807184822/http://www.angelomosca.com/ Tell Me To My Face], published by Lulu Canada Inc.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The book was released in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Simmons|first=Steve|date=2011-09-14|title=Simmons: The two sides of Angelo Mosca|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/14/simmons-the-two-sides-of-angelo-mosca|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=[[Toronto Sun]]}}</ref>

In 2011, Mosca got into a fight with former [[B.C. Lions]] quarterback [[Joe Kapp]] at a CFL alumni luncheon regarding a controversial hit Mosca had made in the 1963 Grey Cup game, where Mosca ended up hitting Kapp on the head with his cane.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 27, 2011|title=CFL greats' fight 'most bizarre thing'|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-greats-fight-most-bizarre-thing-1.1125070|access-date=February 28, 2015|publisher=[[CBC Sports]]}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> The video of the fight went viral, receiving over 647,000 views on YouTube<ref name=CaneAuction/> and mentions on [[ESPN]]'s ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' and on [[Fox TV]]'s ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]''.<ref>{{cite web|date=2011-12-02|title=Angelo Mosca to discuss Grey Cup fight on Dr. Phil|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/argos/2011/12/02/angelo_mosca_to_discuss_grey_cup_fight_on_dr_phil.html|access-date=February 28, 2015|publisher=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref> Mosca auctioned off the cane he used against Kapp at the following year's alumni luncheon for $7,700 ({{Inflation|CA|7700|2012|fmt=eq}}), with the money going towards the alumni association's "dire straits" fund for struggling former players.<ref name="CaneAuction">{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Brendan|date=2012-11-23|title=Grey Cup: Angelo Mosca's cane auctioned for charity|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2012/11/23/grey_cup_angelo_moscas_cane_auctioned_for_charity.html|access-date=February 28, 2015|publisher=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref>

Mosca appeared in several Canadian TV commercials in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name=":0" /> Mosca still made PR appearances for the league and the Ticats and for other businesses.<ref name=":0" />

In February 2015, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with [[Alzheimer's disease]],<ref name="StarAlzheimers">{{cite web|last=Rush|first=Curtis|date=2015-02-27|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca copes with Alzheimer's &#124; Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/02/27/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-copes-with-alzheimers.html|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=[[Toronto Sun]]}}</ref> which took away his ability to swallow or eat solid foods.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref>

His number 68 football jersey was retired by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football club on August 27, 2015, in a ceremony at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|date=November 27, 2021|title=Sports giant Angelo Mosca was a character for the ages|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/sports-giant-angelo-mosca-was-a-character-for-the-ages/article_93eb6ef8-4cac-11ec-92d2-0f3b1d0f15b8.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref>

In July 2016, Mosca was named part of a [[class action]] lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/what-the-fox/wwe-sued-in-wrestler-class-action-lawsuit-featuring-jimmy-superfly-snuka-paul-mr-wonderful-orndorff/news-story/079fbd7db16f9cd71b7b569672baa4a5|work=[[FoxSports.com]]|date=July 18, 2015|access-date=July 20, 2016|publisher=[[Fox Entertainment Group]] ([[21st Century Fox]])}}</ref> US District Judge [[Vanessa Lynne Bryant]] dismissed the lawsuit in September 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Byron|date=September 22, 2018|title=Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows|url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/2018/09/22/wwe-uses-hell-cell-springboard-future-shows/1394073002/|access-date=October 23, 2018|publisher=[[Montgomery Advertiser]]}}</ref>

==Death==
Mosca died at the Maccassa Lodge in Hamilton at age 84 on November 6, 2021.<ref name=":1" /> He had stayed there for a number of years.<ref name=":1" />

==Championships and accomplishments==
===North American football===
*'''[[Canadian Football League]]'''
**[[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]] ([[Canadian Football Hall of Fame#1987|Class of 1987]])<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Angelo Mosca – Class of 1987|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/angelo-mosca/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=[[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]]}}</ref>
**Ranked No. 37 of the [[TSN Top 50 CFL Players|Top 50 players]] of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network [[The Sports Network|TSN]]

===Professional wrestling===
*'''[[American Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship]] ([[AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=AWA British Empire Heavyweight Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/awa/awa-be-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco)|Big Time Wrestling ''(San Francisco)'']]'''
**[[NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)|NWA United States Heavyweight Champion ''(San Francisco version)'']] ([[NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=AWA/NWA United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/n/bigtime/sf-us-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
**Other honoree ([[Cauliflower Alley Club#1996|1996]])
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
**[[NWA Florida Bahamian Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Bahamian Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kreikenbohm|first=Philip|title=NWA Florida Bahamian Championship|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1011|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Cagematch}}</ref>
**[[NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Bobby Duncum, Sr.|Bobby Duncum]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Global Tag Team Title (Florida)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/global-t.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**[[NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)|NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship ''(Florida version)'']] ([[NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-south-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Columbus Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbus Heavyweight Title (Georgia)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/columbus-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**[[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**[[NWA Macon Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Macon Heavyweight Title (Georgia)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/macon-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[Maple Leaf Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version)|NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion ''(Toronto version)'']] ([[NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version)#Title History|4 times]])<ref name=Jan17F4W>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0117-vader-wins-iwgp-heavyweight-title-301956 | title=Pro wrestling history (01/17): Vader wins IWGP heavyweight title | date=January 17, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2019 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref>
*'''[[Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[WCW World Television Championship|NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-tv.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA Tri-State]]'''
**NWA Tri-State Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brass Knuckles Title (Oklahoma & Louisiana)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midsouth/nwa/tri-bk.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
**Ranked No. 305 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the ''PWI Years'' in 2003
*'''[[Stampede Wrestling]]'''
**[[Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=North American Heavyweight Title (Alberta & Saskatchewan)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-na-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**[[Stampede Wrestling#Hall of Fame|Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame]] (Class of 1995)<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990 |series=Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart |series-link=Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show |first=Ed (host) |last=Whalen |network=[[Shaw Communications|Shaw Cable]] |station=[[CICT-DT|Calgary 7]] |date=December 15, 1995 |time=27:55}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990) |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311030457/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html|archive-date=2005-03-11|url-status=dead }}</ref>
*'''[[World Wrestling Council]]'''
**[[WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Caribbean Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pr/wwc/carib-h.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''''[[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Worst Television Announcer|Worst Television Announcer]] (1984)

==See also==
*[[List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150706060042/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/mosca.html Angelo Mosca]
* [https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/angelo-mosca Historica History by the Minute profile]
* {{YouTube|6pj12yJNWzs|Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame member}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Eagles1959DraftPicks}}
{{48th Grey Cup}}
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{{WCW World Television Championship}}
{{WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship}}
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[[Category:1937 births]]
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