Martino". He appeared with the promotion until August 1980. NWA Hollywood Wrestling (1981) In January 1981, Bellomo began wrestling for the Los Angeles, California, United States-based NWA Hollywood Wrestling promotion under his real name. He formed a tag team with Víctor Rivera. In May 1981, Bellomo and Rivera defeated the Davidson Brothers for the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles back to the Davidson Brothers later that year. Bellomo continued to wrestle for NWA Hollywood Wrestling until August 1981, after which he resumed wrestling in Germany. World Wrestling Federation (1982–1987) In 1982, Bellomo was signed by the United States-based World Wrestling Federation after Peter Maivia advised him to audition as the WWF was looking for a new babyface Italian wrestler to replace Bruno Sammartino. Wrestling under his real name, Bellomo made his televised in-ring debut on the June 28, 1982, episode of WWF on MSG Network, defeating Baron Mikel Scicluna in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. He went on to appear regularly on WWF Championship Wrestling and WWF on PRISM Network, going over opponents such as Johnny Rodz, Swede Hanson, Mr. Fuji, and Mr. Saito, establishing him as an "undercard hero". In mid-1983, Bellomo and a series of tag team partners unsuccessfully challenging The Wild Samoans for the WWF World Tag Team Championships. In late-1983 and early-1984, he unsuccessfully challenged both WWF Champion The Iron Sheik and WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco. By mid-1984, Bellomo was winning less regularly, putting over opponents such as David Schultz, Greg Valentine, Big John Studd, Paul Orndorff, and Pat Patterson. On the second episode of Tuesday Night Titans in June 1984, Bellomo defeated Ron Shaw, then later gave a demonstration on boat building. In August 1984, he lost to former WWF Champion Bob Backlund in the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in what was Backlund's final match before leaving the WWF. In November 1984, he lost to manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in Madison Square Garden. On December 10, 1984, Roddy Piper was scheduled to interview Junkyard Dog on his talk show, Piper's Pit. After Bellomo came to the ring instead of Junkyard Dog, Piper mocked him, quipping "I didn't order a pizza." Piper, Paul Orndorff, and Bob Orton then attacked Bellomo until Junkyard Dog came to his rescue. By 1985, Bellomo was being used as a jobber, losing to opponents such as Brutus Beefcake, Jim Neidhart, and