Anthony Durante

**Anthony Durante** (July 26, 1967 – September 25, 2003) was an American professional wrestler best known as "**Pitbull #2**" as one half of the tag team The Pitbulls, with "Pitbull #1" Gary Wolfe.

## Professional wrestling career

Durante got his start in the WWF in 1989, competing as a jobber under his real name (Tony Durante). Durante would face WWF stars such as Rick Rude, the then-Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man, and The Barbarian.

He, along with tag team partner Gary Wolfe (then going by Gary Wolf) also tag-teammed against The Hart Foundation and The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers on the WWF's weekend show "Superstars". Typically Durante's matches in the WWF were squash matches, lasting three minutes or less.

Durante achieved the greatest success of his career in ECW, being one half of the tag team known as The Pitbulls, along with Pitbull #1, Gary Wolfe (who he teamed with in the WWF when the two were enhancement talent). The Pitbulls won the ECW World Tag Team Championship on September 16, 1995 from Raven and Stevie Richards after interference from their manager, Francine.

   On May 11, 1996, at *A Matter of Respect*, Durante faced off against Raven in a losing effort for the ECW World Championship, in a match that also involved The Sandman. However, on June 1, 1996, at *Fight the Power*, Durante defeated Shane Douglas to win the ECW World Television Championship.

At Hardcore Heaven, Durante lost the title to Chris Jericho after a distraction by Shane Douglas. On April 13, 1997, at the first ECW pay-per-view, Barely Legal, Durante faced Shane Douglas in a losing effort for the ECW World Television Championship.

Pitbulls returned to ECW at As Good as it Gets, where they turned heel by aligning themselves with Lance Wright and confronting Taz, who attacked Pitbulls. As a result, Pitbull #2 began feuding with Taz and faced for the World Television Championship in a losing effort at November to Remember. Pitbulls made their last televised appearance in ECW on the December 20 episode of *Hardcore TV*, after which they left ECW. On March 4, 2000, they would return to ECW as they lost to Amish Roadkill and Danny Doring.

After leaving ECW, Pitbulls competed in various promotions on the independent circuit. At Jersey All Pro Wrestling's (JAPW) *Halloween Hell* event on October 31, 1997, Durante participated in a battle royal for the inaugural JAPW Heavyweight Championship. The first JAPW Heavyweight Champion was Joe Rules, who won the title on October 31, 1997. He eliminated Durante in the 20 man battle royal to become the champion. But later in the evening Durante would defeat Joe Rules for the title. His reign would last until December 5, 1997 when he would be stripped due to injury.

He briefly participated in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) for two bouts, both of which he was unsuccessful in winning.

## Death

Durante died on September 25, 2003, along with his girlfriend, Dianna Hulsey, both from a Fentanyl-induced overdose. He and his girlfriend were found after lying in their home dead for days, with needle marks on their bodies, all while their two small children, a 21-month-old boy and 8-month-old girl, were apparently alone in the house among the bodies for 24 to 48 hours.

The 21-month-old boy left a trail of food from room to room, with a spilled quart of milk, chicken nuggets and bits of bread he had pulled from the refrigerator, and the 8-month-old girl was found in her crib. Both children were unharmed and custody was granted to their grandparents.