Ted Arcidi
{{Short description|American professional wrestler, actor, powerlifter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name=Ted Arcidi
|image=Ted Arcidi Head Shot.jpg
|image_size=
|caption=Arcidi in 2022
|birth_name=Theodore Arcidi
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1958|6|16|mf=y}}
|birth_place= Buffalo, New York, U.S.
|death_date=
|death_place=
|resides=
|names=Ted Arcidi
|billed=Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
|trainer=Tony Altomare
|debut= 1985
|retired= 1990
|website=
|alma_mater={{plainlist|
Theodore Arcidi (born June 16, 1958) is an American former professional wrestler, actor and powerlifter. He is known to be the first man in history to bench press over 700 pounds in competition, establishing an official world record.{{Cite book |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/226237533 |title=Tributes II : remembering more of the world's greatest professional wrestlers |date=2004 |publisher=Sports Publishing |isbn=1-58261-817-8 |oclc=226237533}}
Early life
Arcidi was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Concord, Massachusetts. The son of a nurse, Anne Arcidi and orthodontist, Doctor Joseph M. Arcidi. Ted was raised Roman Catholic and attended parochial schools with his 6 siblings, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Throughout elementary and high school, Ted was active in all sports, particularly Ice hockey.{{Cite web |url=https://archives.norwich.edu/digital/api/collection/p16663coll9/id/10/download |title= Theodore A. “Ted” Arcidi NU 1982, Oral History Interview March 11, 2015 |access-date=2025-03-26}} Ted received a BS from Norwich University and went on to Graduate School at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.{{Cite web | url=https://patch.com/new-hampshire/milford-nh/former-wwf-wrestler-saves-125-acres-farmland-milford-watch| title=Former WWF Wrestler Saves 125 Acres Of Farmland In Milford: Watch| date= 2022-07-28| accessdate=2025-03-26}} While he was obtaining more science credits to get into dental school he taught junior high and high school biology. That was cut short when his power lifting talent was good enough to compete at a world class level.
Powerlifting/Bench press world record
Ted Arcidi bench pressed 705.5 pounds (320 kg) on March 3, 1985 at Gus Rethwisch's Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii for an APF & USPF world record, to become the first man to bench 700 pounds in an officially recognized powerlifting competition.[http://healthyair.tripod.com/TedArcidi.pdf Ted Arcidi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194841/http://healthyair.tripod.com/TedArcidi.pdf |date=2013-10-29 }}{{cite book|title=Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|isbn=1-58261-817-8|year=2004|page=[https://archive.org/details/tributesii00dave/page/102 102]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/tributesii00dave/page/102}} Then, after being 5 1/2 years away from competition due to his wrestling career, he made a comeback. Weighing 291 pounds, Arcidi set another world record with a 718.1 lbs bench press at the APF Bench Press Invitational on September 30, 1990, in Keene, New Hampshire.{{cite web|title=Powerlifter Ted Arcidi interview|last=Weis|first=Dennis B.|work=Power Bobybuilding|url=http://www.power-bodybuilding.com/ted_arcidi_powerlifter.html|accessdate=2008-01-01|archive-date=2007-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112022457/http://power-bodybuilding.com/ted_arcidi_powerlifter.html|url-status=live}} On September 14, 1991, at a Mr. Olympia contest, he squared off face to face with his greatest rival Anthony Clark to determine who the greatest bench presser of the world was. Arcidi defeated the much bigger Clark (5'8", 375 lbs) by pressing 725 pounds off his chest to establish a new world record, but was disqualified when judges deemed he failed to lock out his elbows.{{Cite web | url=https://barbend.com/strongest-wrestlers-of-all-time/| title=These Are 10 of the Strongest Wrestlers of All Time | date= 2022-08-12| accessdate=2025-03-26}}
Arcidi's 705 pound all-time world record bench press was performed in one of the earliest bench shirts - an original pre-prototype supportive bench press shirt, which was 50% polyester and 50% cotton and only one layer thick.{{cite news | url=http://www.chrislift.com/ted.htm | work=Ted Arcidi | publisher=chrislift.com | title=Ted Arcidi concerning Bench Press Shirts | access-date=2012-10-07 | archive-date=2013-10-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193159/http://www.chrislift.com/ted.htm | url-status=live }}{{cite journal |last1=Todd |first1=Jan |last2=Morais |first2=Dominic |last3=Pollack |first3=Ben |year=2015 |title=Shifting Gear: A Historical Analysis of the Use of Supportive Apparel in Powerlifting |url=https://www.academia.edu/83945412 |journal=Iron Game History: The Journal of Physical Culture |volume=13 |pages=37–56}} It was thus later categorized as "equipped", although it did not improve his bench by much, if anything. It was an equivalent to a modern day Under Armour shirt. In 1984 Arcidi had benched an official 666.9 pounds (302.5 kg) at 286.0 pounds bodyweight completely raw, without a bench shirt, elbow or wrist wraps at the Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships as well.{{cite web|title=Powerlifter Ted Arcidi interview|work=Powerlifting Watch|url=http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records/600-pound-raw-bench-press|accessdate=2012-10-14|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191455/http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records/600-pound-raw-bench-press|url-status=live}} He is considered to be one of the strongest bench pressers of all time.{{cite news | url=http://www.strengthfighter.com/2011/05/worlds-strongest-man-of-wrestling.html | work=PYGOD | publisher=strengthfighter.com | title=World's Strongest Man of... Wrestling | access-date=2012-10-13 | archive-date=2012-09-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918004301/http://www.strengthfighter.com/2011/05/worlds-strongest-man-of-wrestling.html | url-status=live }}
= Records done in Official Power Lifting Full Meets =
File:666-mega-scaling-fotor-tweaking.jpg
Done in official powerlifting full meets:
- Raw bench press:
- 666.9 lbs (302.5 kg) @308 lb class (286 lb bodyweight){{Cite web |url=http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/files/Records-08-26-12.pdf |title=ALL TIME HISTORICAL MEN AND WOMEN’S POWERLIFTING WORLD RECORDS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603124709/http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/files/Records-08-26-12.pdf |archive-date=2013-06-03 }} raw without wrist wraps, elbow wraps or a bench shirt (1984 Honolulu, Hawaii) (USPF/APF/WPC)
- 650.4 lbs (295.0 kg) @275 lb class (275 lb bodyweight) raw without wrist wraps, elbow wraps or a bench shirt (1983 Westminster, Maryland) (NSM){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/powerlifting-world-records/ |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Powerlifting World Records |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=15 April 2025}}
:→ current all time completely raw (unequipped using no wrist wraps, no elbow wraps or a bench shirt) benchpress world records in the 308lb and 275lb class{{Cite web|url=http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records/raw/world|title=Men's All-time Raw World Records|last=Vasquez|first=Johnny|publisher=powerliftingwatch.com|access-date=2013-06-22|archive-date=2012-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120123711/http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records/raw/world|url-status=live}}
Done in official bench-only invitational meet:
- Equipped bench press: 718.1 lbs (325.7 kg) @308 lb class (291 lb bodyweight) in an early single-ply bench shirt (1990 Keene, New Hampshire) (APF)
:→ former all-time bench press world record regardless of weight class and equipment
Professional wrestling career
Arcidi lifted for several years and eventually was sought by and debuted in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in late 1985. Arcidi faced other "strongmen" such as Tony Atlas, Big John Studd, and Hercules Hernandez during his stint and made a single appearance at WrestleMania 2 in the WWF/NFL Battle Royal.{{Cite web |title=World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) |date=2007 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412952606.n471 |work=Encyclopedia of Children, Adolescents, and the Media |pages=351 |access-date=2023-06-13 |publisher=SAGE Publications, Inc.|doi=10.4135/9781412952606.n471 |isbn=9781412905305 }} In 1986, he wrestled Big John Studd for the main event at the Boston Garden. He was the first WWF wrestler to hold the moniker of "The World’s Strongest Man".{{Cite web |title=What Superstars hold weightlifting records? |url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/strongest-superstars |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=WWE |language=en}} His final match was against Jake Roberts on February 14, 1987 in Calgary, Alberta.{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm |title=1987 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com |access-date=2017-03-11 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005451/http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm |url-status=live }}
Arcidi was immortalized as a wrestling doll when WWF brought out a line of Wrestling Superstars toys in 1987.{{Cite web | url=https://www.thesportster.com/wwe-wrestlers-who-surprisingly-got-action-figures/| title=10 WWE Wrestlers Who Surprisingly Got Action Figures| newspaper=TheSportster| date= 2022-03-12| accessdate=2025-03-26 |author = Scott Minor}}
After his WWF run, he went to Calgary and briefly worked for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. Where Arcidi turned heel. After that, Arcidi moved on the World Class Championship Wrestling in Dallas, Texas, where he was known as "Mr. 705" (referring to his world record bench press). He was managed by Percival Pringle III and was part of a stable of wrestlers including Rick Rude, the Dingo Warrior and Cactus Jack Manson. Arcidi captured that organization's Texas Heavyweight Championship on August 31, 1987 and held it until he lost to Matt Borne on November 10 that same year.{{Cite web |title=WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1457 |website=Cagematch}}
Championships and accomplishments
:*WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=268–269}}{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html | title=NWA Texas Heavyweight Title | accessdate=March 30, 2017 | work=Wrestling-Titles | archive-date=December 30, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230123802/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html | url-status=live }}
Business ventures
After leaving Pro-Wrestling, Ted created a vitamin supplement company called Arcidi Strength Systems. Among these are his ownership of New England's largest women's gym in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a gym equipment company called Weightlifters Warehouse. Later, Arcidi bought the building with his father.
Acting career
Arcidi started focusing on his acting career in 1997, with parts in films and shows such as Law & Order and in several commercials. He participated in numerous acting classes and casting director workshops on a weekly basis, engaging with both the New York City and Boston markets. During this period, he also seized opportunities to act in various student films and low-budget projects, collaborating with institutions such as Emerson College, Boston University, Boston College, and New York University.
Filmography
The table below comes from IMDb.{{cite web|title=From IMDb|website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0033827|accessdate=2022-08-24|archive-date=2023-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124224927/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0033827/|url-status=live}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.tedarcidi.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|33827}}
- {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
- [https://sites.google.com/site/powerliftinghistory/home Ted Arcidi profile at Dave Hartnett's Power/Strength History website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129005659/https://sites.google.com/site/powerliftinghistory/home |date=2011-01-29 }}
{{NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arcidi, Ted}}
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:Sportspeople from Nashua, New Hampshire
Category:American powerlifters
Category:American strength athletes
Category:Professional wrestlers from New York (state)
Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni
Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers