“King” Del Douglas, Angie Minelli, And J-Ru All Named To WPPWHOF

By Thomas Leturgey

Earlier this month, the Western Pennsylvania Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2022 inductees. Included was a “King,” a second-generation superstar, as well as a current champion.

Organization founder Nels Cleath announced that “King” Del Douglas, Angie Minelli (the niece of Donna Christianello) and current Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) Heavyweight Champion J-Ru would be the 17th, 18th, and 19th members of the Pittsburgh-based Hall of Fame. The first class of inductees consisted of Dominic DeNucci, Mick Foley, Lord Zoltan and Larry Zbyszko in 2009.

Del Douglas is a multi-time champion in the KSWA for more than 20 years. In September, 2005, Douglas became “King” after winning the inaugural Millvale Days Battle Royal. He has since become a tag team and Golden Triangle Champion. One of the most entertaining wrestlers in the region, Douglas has had to take a step back from in-ring activity in 2022, but still remains an integral member of Pittsburgh’s rich professional wrestling scene.

Angie Minelli was a student of the Great Muta in the mid 1980’s and became a then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) wrestler who challenged anyone, including then-Women’s Champion “Sensational” Sherri Martell. Minelli, who was particularly close to her real-life aunt Donna Christianello, who Cleath inducted into the HOF in 2011. Minelli was also a very popular wrestler in Japan. Retired from in-ring matches, Minelli was on hand for the KSWA’s first-ever “Donna Christanello Match '' at last year’s FanFest.

Jason “J-Ru” Russo is the current KSWA Heavyweight Champion, and just the 16th man to hold that title in 22 years. J-Ru has wrestled for more than 22 years in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and beyond. He has also been the mastermind of his own wrestling promotion, MVP, in his hometown of Charleroi. A multi-time champion, J-Ru has also trained other wrestlers and is a hip-hop artist who recently recorded his own ring music.

The HOF added members in 2010, 2011, and returned in 2020.

According to its website, the “Western Pennsylvania Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to highlight the incredible, rich history of professional wrestling in our region. From legends like Bruno Sammartino, Dominic DeNucci, Larry Zbyszko and Shane Douglas to more recent names like Dennis Gregory, Bubba the Bulldog and Mitch Napier, our region’s legacy of professional wrestling dates back to the 1900’s.

“Also, legendary venues like the AJ Palumbo Theater, The Civic Arena, Spirit Hall and The Rostraver Ice Garden will be highlighted. These legendary places play just as big a par of our region’s history as do the in-ring performers…These men and women are as important as the buildings and wrestlers in that without these people, there would be no professional wrestling in our area.”