Pampero Firpo

Kachmanian was born on April 6, 1930, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. == Professional wrestling career ==

Having been trained by Rudy Dusek, he made his debut in 1953 and wrestled variously as Ervan the Armenian, Ivan the Terrible, The Missing Link, The Great Pampero and the Wild Bull of the Pampas, as well as his most famous alter-ego of Pampero Firpo. Boxing great Jack Dempsey gave him the name "Pampero Firpo." Until then he had been wrestling as Ivan The Terrible. He was looking for a gimmick and Dempsey, recalling one of his famous opponents in the 1920s, Argentine boxer "Wild Bull of the Pampas" Luis Ángel Firpo, suggested that the grappler be billed as Firpo's son. Kachmanian popularized the drawn-out catchphrase 'ohhh yeah!' which would later become associated with Randy Savage. After January 1981, Kachmanian stopped actively competing after a tour of Japan in the fall of 1980 and a quick stint in California in January 1981. He retired from professional wrestling on October 17, 1986, after competing in 8,882 matches, after last competing for All-Star California Championship Wrestling in 1986 and winning the CCW Heavyweight Championship from Victor Rivera at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Firpo won a 20-man Battle Royal the previous month at the Olympic Auditorium to become #1 Contender and challenge Rivera. == Personal life ==

Kachmanian became an American citizen in 1965 and named it as one of his proudest moments. He visited five continents, 21 countries, and became fluent in eight languages. retiring at the age of 78. Kachmanian had three children, John, Juli, and Mary, and resided in an assisted living facility in Campbell, California. ==Championships and accomplishments==

• NWA Tri-State • NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • American Wrestling Association • Nebraska Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • All-California Championship Wrestling • ACCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) 1986 • Big Time Wrestling • NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) (3 times) • Cauliflower Alley Club • Other honoree (2001) • Jim Crockett Promotions • NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time) – with Larry Hamilton • Mid-Pacific Promotions • NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Neff Maiava (1) and Jim Hady (1, as Missing Link) • NWA Hollywood Wrestling • NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (3 times, first) • NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jack Evans • Pacific Northwest Wrestling • NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame • Class of 2018 • Southwest Sports/NWA Big Time Wrestling • NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tony Borne • World Wrestling Council • WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (1 time) ==References==