Joe Scarpello

{{short description|American wrestler (1923–1999)}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Joe Scarpello

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| nickname =

| birth_name =

| fullname =

| nationality =

| residence =

|birth_date = January 16, 1923

| birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

| death_date = November 9, 1999 (aged 76)

| death_place =

| height =

| weight = 174.5 lb

| sport = Wrestling
Professional Wrestling

| event = Greco-Roman
Folkstyle

| country = United States

| team = USA

| collegeteam = Iowa

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

{{MedalSport | Men's Greco-Roman wrestling }}

{{MedalCompetition|Collegiate Wrestling}}

{{MedalCountry|the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling}}

{{MedalCompetition|NCAA Championships}}

{{MedalGold|1947 NCAA Wrestling Championships|Heavyweight}}

{{MedalBronze|1948 NCAA Wrestling Championships|Heavyweight}}

{{MedalSilver|1949 NCAA Wrestling Championships|Heavyweight}}

{{MedalGold|1950 NCAA Wrestling Championships|Heavyweight}}

}}

Joseph J. Scarpello (January 16, 1923 – November 9, 1999) was an American wrestler who competed in the Greco-Roman and later a professional wrestler. Scarpello was also a two-time NCAA wrestling champion at Iowa.[https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio_by_name/joe-scarpello Joe Scarpello]. National Wrestling Hall Of Fame{{cite web|url=https://hof.hawkeyesports.com/inductees/scarpello/|title=Joseph James Scarpello|publisher=HawkeyesSports}} He was an alternate to the Olympics in 1948 to gold medalist Glen Brand whom Scarpello had defeated the previous year for the NCAA title.[https://nebhalloffame.org/joe-scarpello-omaha-central/ Joe Scarpello]. Omaha Central

After graduating from college he became a professional wrestler from 1949 until 1981 where he mainly worked for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association in Minnesota.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=10851&gimmick=Joe+Scarpello|title=Joe Scarpello « Wrestlers Database « Cagematch |first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=}}{{cite web |author=Oliver, Greg |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2000/09/29/from-the-olympics-to-the-pros/ |title=From the Olympics to Pros |access-date =January 6, 2025 |date =September 29, 2000 |work=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=Canoe.com}}