Joe Pedicino

Born

1949-10-04

Died

2020-04-12

Birthplace

New York City, United States

Biography

Joe Pedicino was a prominent professional wrestling announcer, commentator, promoter, and television and radio producer, mainly active in the Southern United States during the 1980s and early 1990s. Born in New York City, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia at age three, where he began his radio career at 14. He studied at Georgia State University and later attended the Wharton Business School. Pedicino created and hosted Superstars of Wrestling (1985–1992), an innovative program that aired eight hours weekly of wrestling from various promotions, including the National Wrestling Alliance, Puerto Rico, and Japan. The show gained national coverage and helped popularize Japanese wrestling in the U.S. He co-hosted with his wife Boni Blackstone and the legendary Gordon Solie, also running the wrestling news segment “Pro Wrestling This Week.” He was also co-owner and booker of the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), which aired on ESPN, and had involvement with the Ladies Professional Wrestling Association. Pedicino helped launch the careers of future commentators like Scott Hudson and Steve Prazak. After retiring from wrestling, he focused on radio and business, managing local stations in Georgia and consulting for major media companies. Alongside his wife, he founded Food Fax, an innovative restaurant advertising guide service. Joe Pedicino is remembered as one of the most influential voices of the wrestling “territory era,” known for his charisma and unique style, and regarded as a key figure by historians and wrestling fans.