Wrestling Veterans ‘Wildman’ Jack Armstrong and Jumbo Baretta Pass Away

The wrestling community is mourning the loss of two longtime performers, “Wildman” Jack Armstrong and Jumbo Baretta, who both passed away on Sunday, October 25.

News of Armstrong’s death came from bodybuilder Laura Creavalle, who shared the news on Facebook. He was 79. Creavalle had previously posted that Armstrong’s health was declining, explaining that it was why she made the decision to return to Los Angeles after being away for 19 years so she could be by his side in his final stretch.

Details surrounding Jumbo Baretta’s passing have not been made public beyond the confirmation that he died the same day as Armstrong.

Both men were part of the generation of independent and territory-era talent whose names may not have topped marquees nationally but who helped keep the business alive on a local and regional level for years, often working through the same towns and promotions week after week, building the audiences that eventually fed into the bigger national stages. Performers like Armstrong and Baretta are the backbone that veteran wrestlers, trainers and historians often point to when discussing just how deep the sport’s talent pool has run over the decades — the guys who never needed a national push to be respected by their peers.

Armstrong’s decades-long career and larger-than-life nickname made him a familiar face to longtime wrestling fans who followed the regional scenes, and the outpouring expected in the coming days from colleagues and students will likely reflect the kind of behind-the-scenes impact that rarely gets captured in highlight reels or title histories.

As is often the case with wrestlers from this era, additional details about both men’s careers, the circumstances of their passing, and tributes from those who worked alongside them are likely to surface in the days ahead as the community processes the loss.

PW Exclusive extends its condolences to the family, friends, and fans of “Wildman” Jack Armstrong and Jumbo Baretta.