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John Arezzi announced yesterday that former WWWF enhancement talent David "Sylvano Sousa" Silva passed away yesterday following a battle of COVID-19.
A New Jersey native, Sousa spent the majority of his career working for the WWWF, usually in undercard matches. He was broken into the business by Bruno Sammartino in the early 1970s and was a fixture on WWWF TV, appearing on WWWF Championship Wrestling and WWWF All-Star Wrestling almost weekly, putting over every babyface you can think of.
Beyond WWWF, Sousa also toured for All Japan Pro Wresting for their 1976 Summer Action Series, teaming with Gerald Brisco and working against the likes of The Destroyer Dick Beyer, Great Kojika and Shohei "Giant" Baba.
In 1982, Sousa had a run for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling in Canada, receiving a small push as a heel, including several bouts against Keith Hart and also made appearances for Vancouver's All Star Wrestling, including a run as the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion debuting as Champion before losing the bet to Al Tomko. Sousa also made several appearances for Mid-South Wrestling
It is believed Sousa last wrestled in for the WWF in 1987, losing to The One Man Gang on an episode of WWF Superstars. He later went on the promote the New England area under the Atlantic Wrestling Federation banner with regular events in Massachusets and Manchester, New Hampshire, running monthly at St. Cecelia’s Hall as well as training talents. His last match took place in 2001 when he defeated Damon D'Archangelo in a steel cage match at the Shriner's Hall in Wilmington, MA.
Sousa was among the plaintiffs for the now-dismissed lawsuit against WWE for their alleged handling of concussions and CTE, although he was never ever signed by the company.
In 2003, Sousa was inducted into the New Engand Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame:
PWInsider.com expresses our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Sylvano Sousa.
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