Pampero Firpo

Juan Kachmanian (April 6, 1930 - January 9, 2020), better known as Pampero Firpo, was an Argentinian professional wrestler of Armenian descent.
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 Firpo (named after the original, Luis Ángel Firpo). An early pioneer of Hardcore wrestling, Kachmanian usually wrestled as a heel, although he would go on to have a run as a face after being fireballed by The Sheik. Other notable feuds in his career would include Nick Bockwinkel, Alberto Madril and Apollo Jalisco.
Amongst the titles he held in his career were the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version), the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version), the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship and the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship, as well as being the inaugural holder of the NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship. Using the bear hug and the El Garfio as his signature moves Kachmanian popularized the drawn-out catchphrase 'ohhh yeah!' which would later become associated with Randy Savage. He retired in 1986 and worked for the United States Postal Service in San Jose, California until his death in 2020.
==Career==
==Personal life==
==In wrestling==
*Finishing moves
**Bearhug
**El Garfio (Clawhold)
==Championships and accomplishments==
*All-California Championship Wrestling
**ACCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Cauliflower Alley Club
:*Other honoree (2001)
*Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
:*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 (1 time) - with Jim Hady
*NWA Detroit
:*NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) (3 times)
*Southwest Sports, Inc. - NWA Big Time Wrestling
:*NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (1 time) - with Tony Borne
*Pacific Northwest Wrestling
:*NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Worldwide Wrestling Associates - NWA Hollywood Wrestling
:*WWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jack Evans
*World Wrestling Council
:*WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
==External links==
* Profile
Category:Argentinian wrestlers
Category:1930 births
Category:1953 debuts
Category:1986 retirements
Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:American Wrestling Association alumni
Category:Jim Crockett Promotions alumni
Category:Maple Leaf Wrestling alumni
Category:National Wrestling Alliance alumni
Category:NWA Big Time Wrestling alumni
Category:NWA Detroit alumni
Category:NWA Hollywood Wrestling alumni
Category:Pacific Northwest Wrestling alumni
Category:World Class Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:World Wrestling Council alumni
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment alumni
Category:Worldwide Wrestling Associates alumni
Category:Male wrestlers
Category:2020 deaths
Category:Wrestlers who have died