Phil Apollo

{{Short description|American professional wrestler}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name=Phil Apollo |image= |caption= |birth_name = Phil Pantos |names= The American Playboy Apollo the Greek Phil Apollo Phil Pantos The Playboy Vince Apollo |height={{height|ft=5|in=10}} |weight={{convert|290|lb|abbr=on}} |birth_date = |birth_place = Massachusetts, U.S. |billed= Boston, Massachusetts |trainer=Killer Kowalski |debut=1986 |retired=December 1995 |}} '''Phil Pantos''', better known by his ring name '''Phil Apollo''', is an American retired professional wrestler who competed in North American independent wrestling promotions including International Championship Wrestling (ICW) and World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). During the 1980s, he was part of Gary Hart's "New Age Management" stable in WCCW and teamed with Eric Sbraccia to form a team known as the '''Dynamic Duo''', winning the ICW Heavyweight Championship twice. He also worked in the World Wrestling Federation from 1991 to 1995.

==Professional wrestling career== Phil Pantos trained at Killer Kowalski's wrestling school prior to making his professional wrestling debut in 1986. Using the ring name Phil Apollo working for International Championship Wrestling (ICW) in his native Boston, Massachusetts. In March 1987 Apollo defeated Joseph Savoldi to win the ICW Heavyweight Championship.<ref name=IWCCWHeavyBook/><ref name=IWCCWHeavyWeb/> Later that year Apollo left ICW, vacating the championship in the process.<ref name=IWCCWHeavyBook/><ref name=IWCCWHeavyWeb/> He moved on to working in Texas for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) where he became part of manager Gary Hart's "New Age Management" group who also included Abdullah the Butcher, Al Perez, Jeep Swenson and John Nord. His first major show appearance was as part of WCCW's 1987 "Labor Day Star Wars" show on September 7, 1987 where he defeated Vic Steamboat.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/starwars.html#labor87 | title=Labor Day Star Wars 1987 | date=September 7, 1987 | accessdate=April 10, 2015 | work=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> A few months later, at WCCW's 1987 Christmas Star Wars he lost to The Missing Link.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/starwars.html#xmas87 | title=Christmas Star Wars 1987 | date=December 25, 1987 | accessdate=April 10, 2015 | work=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> He later wrestled at the 5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions as well as WCCW's 5th Cotton Bowl extravaganza.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/parade.html#88 | title=5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | date=May 8, 1988 | accessdate=April 10, 2015 | work=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/cotton.html#88 | title=5th Cotton Bowl Extravaganza | date=October 15, 1988 | accessdate=April 10, 2015 | work=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Following his stint in WCCW Apollo returned to ICW where he was teamed up with Eric Sbraccia to form a tag team known as the Dynamic Duo, a name taken in tribute to the WCCW team of the same name that was made up of Gentleman Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez. On March 5, 1989 the Dynamic Duo defeated the S & S Express (Vic Steamboat and Joe Savoldi) to win the ICW Tag Team Championship<ref name=IWCCWTagBook/><ref name=IWCCWTagWeb/> Their first run with the championship lasted 118 days until the S & S Express regained the championship.<ref name=IWCCWTagBook/><ref name=IWCCWTagWeb/> The Dynamic Duo would briefly hold the tag team championship again in December 1989 as they defeated the Undertakers (Henchman and Punisher) on December 28, then lost the titles to The Lethal Weapons (Dennis Condrey and Doug Gilbert) only two days later.<ref name=IWCCWTagBook/><ref name=IWCCWTagWeb/>

During the early 1990s, Apollo competed as a preliminary wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) most notably facing Adam Bomb with manager Johnny Polo in their debut on Monday Night Raw in 1993. Apollo retired from wrestling in 1995.

==Championships and accomplishments== *'''International Championship Wrestling (New England)''' :*ICW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name=IWCCWHeavyBook>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | chapter= Boston: International Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=IWCCWHeavyWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/icw/icw-h.html | title= International Championship Wrestling (1984-1991/01)/International World Class Championship Wrestling (1991/01-mid-1990s) Heavyweight Title | accessdate=April 8, 2015 | publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref> :*ICW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Eric Sbraccia<ref name=IWCCWTagBook>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | chapter= Boston: International Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=IWCCWTagWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/icw/icw-t.html | title= International Championship Wrestling (1984-1991/01)/International World Class Championship Wrestling (1991/01-mid-1990s) Tag Team Title | accessdate=April 8, 2015 | publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>

*'''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''' :*PWI ranked him # '''478''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1992

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/p/phil-apollo.html Online World of Wrestling: Phil Apollo]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Apollo, Phil}} Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:ICW/IWCCW Heavyweight Champions Category:Living people Category:Professional wrestlers from Massachusetts Category:Year of birth missing (living people)