Lanny Poffo

@@LannyPoffo
Last updated by M.A LeBlanc on February 3, 2023

Title History

NWA (Detriot) World Tag Team titles w/ Angelo Poffo defeating Bobo Brazil and Fred Curry (January 1975);
NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team titles w/ Randy Poffo defeating Jonathan Foley and Edward Heath (January 20, 1976);
NWA Mid America Heavyweight title defeating Dennis Hall in a tournament final (October 9, 1977);
AGPW (Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling) International Heavyweight title (1978);
NWA Mid America Tag Team titles w/ Bobby Eaton defeating Leroy Rochester and Gypsy Joe (January 1978);
ICW (Poffo) World Heavyweight title defeating Joe Banek (May 10, 1978);
ICW (Poffo) World Tag Team titles w/ George Weingeroff won a tournament (June 14, 1979);
ICW (Poffo) World Heavyweight title defeating Randy Savage (July 21, 1979);
ICW (Poffo) World Heavyweight title defeating Randy Savage (1981);
ICW (Poffo) World Tag Team titles w/ George Weingeroff defeating Ricki Starr and Rip Rogers (1981);
ICW (Poffo) World Tag Team titles w/ George Weingeroff defeating Jeff Sword and Doug Vines (June 15, 1981);
ICW (Poffo) Television title (1982);
ICW (Poffo) World Heavyweight title defeating Paul Christy (January 1, 1983);
WPWF (Florida) Tag Team titles w/ Bulldozer Benson defeating Romeo Rossalini and Dan Manson (April 20, 1997);
GNW Canadian heavyweight title winning a battle royal (September 3, 2011);

Career Highlights

Lanny Poffo is the brother of Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage, and the son of Angelo Poffo.
Lanny Poffo was a major star in in his father’s promotion in Lexington known as International Championship Wrestling.
Mid-80s: “Leaping” Lanny Poffo was one of the most prominent jobbers in the World Wrestling Federation.
~~~Leapin’ Lanny’s trademark was bringing frisbees to the ring with his poetry on them and throwing them to the crowd.
Lanny Poffo made some publicity in late 1986 and early 1987 by competing in a series of Bunkhouse Battle Royals in full knight’s armor.
Lanny Poffo is also noted for competing in a Battle Royal on Saturday Night’s Main Event at the Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit in 1987, where he was headbutted and eliminated by André the Giant, causing him to bleed immensely all over the floor and have to be carried out on a stretcher.
~~~André, in his first televised match as a heel, had accidentally caught Poffo on the bridge of the nose with his headbutt and he required stitches to close the wound.
1988: Lanny Poffo self-published a 172-page book of his poetry titled Wrestling with Rhyme.

The Genius:

In April 1989, Lanny Poffo was re-introduced as The Genius, adopting a highly intelligent, arrogant persona, wearing an academic cap and gown to the ring.
Lanny Poffo officially turned heel at the Boston Garden on March 18, 1989. Still known as Leaping Lanny, he berated the local Boston sports teams and instantly gained the ire of the rowdy Boston crowd. This was a mere two weeks before WrestleMania V.
~~~His poems now ridiculed the face wrestlers, and he now behaved in an even more effeminate manner to infuriate the crowd. During the match, the Genius would construct a mathematical equation that would tilt the balance of the match in his favor. In addition, the Genius also served as “executive consultant” (and occasional tag team partner) for Mr. Perfect.
March 16, 1986 – MSG Network: Jake Roberts defeated Lanny Poffo.
April 22, 1986 – MSG Network: Lanny Poffo defeated Rene Goulet.
May 19, 1986 – MSG Network: Lanny Poffo defeated Tiger Chung Lee.
June 14, 1986 – MSG Network: Harley Race defeated Lanny Poffo.
July 1, 1986 – House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated Rene Goulet.
July 27, 1986 – House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated Les Thornton.
August 8, 1986 – House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated Mr. Fuji by disqualification.
August 9, 1986 – NESN: Lanny Poffo defeated Mr. X.
September 20, 1986 – Superstars: The Magnificent Muraco defeats Lanny Poffo.
September 21, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine) defeated Dick Slater and Lanny Poffo.
September 22, 1986 – MSG Network: Sika defeated Lanny Poffo.
October 3, 1986 – House Show: Lanny Poffo vs. Steve Regal ended in a draw.
October 4, 1986 – Saturday Night Main Event: Kamala defeated Lanny Poffo.
October 25, 1986 – Superstars: Paul Orndorff defeated Lanny Poffo.
November 2, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: Hercules Hernandez, Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik defeated Corporal Kirchner, Lanny Poffo and SD Jones.
November 8, 1986 – Superstars: Hercules Hernandez defeated Lanny Poffo.
November 24, 1986 – MSG Network: Lanny Poffo defeated Steve Lombardi.
November 29, 1986 – Superstars: King Harley Race defeated Lanny Poffo.
December 14, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: Butch Reed defeated Lanny Poffo.
December 21, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The Honky Tonk Man defeated Lanny Poffo.
January 14, 1987 – House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated Jimmy Jack Funk.
January 19, 1987 – MSG Network: Lanny Poffo defeated The Red Demon.
February 14, 1987 – Superstars: Bob Orton and The Magnificent Muraco defeated Lanny Poffo and Leo Strohein.
February 28, 1987 – Superstars: Lanny Poffo, Rick Martel and Tom Zenk defeated Adrian Adonis, Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake.
March 1, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: WWE tag team champions Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart defeated Lanny Poffo and SD Jones to retain the titles.
March 21, 1987 – Superstars: The Honky Tonk Man defeated Lanny Poffo.
May 13, 1987 – MSG Network: Lanny Poffo defeated Dave Barbie.
May 24, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Kamala and Sika defeated Lanny Poffo and Rick Hunter.
June 13, 1987 – Superstars: The Dream Team (Dino Bravo and Greg Valentine) defeated Lanny Poffo and Scott Casey.
June 21, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Islanders (Haku and Tama) defeated Lanny Poffo and Scott Casey.
June 27, 1987 – Superstars: Demolition defeated Jerry Allen and Lanny Poffo.
July 11, 1987 – Superstars: The Dream Team (Dino Bravo and Greg Valentine) defeated Lanny Poffo and Sivi Afi.
July 19, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Kamala and Sika defeated Lanny Poffo and Sonny Rogers.
July 25, 1987 – Superstars: Ron Bass defeated Lanny Poffo.
August 9, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Rick Rude defeated Lanny Poffo.
August 16, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Kamala and Sika defeated Lanny Poffo and Mark Richards.
August 22, 1987 – MSG Network: Lanny Poffo defeated Jose Estrada.
September 13, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Ted DiBiase defeated Lanny Poffo.
September 19, 1987 – Superstars: The Islanders (Haku and Tama) defeated Lanny Poffo and Scott Casey.
October 11, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Butch Reed defeated Lanny Poffo.
November 1, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Bolsheviks (Boris Zhukov and Nikolai Volkoff) defeated Lanny Poffo and SD Jones.
November 22, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Bolsheviks (Boris Zhukov and Nikolai Volkoff) defeated Lanny Poffo and Van Van Horne.
November 28, 1987 – Superstars: The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) defeated Jerry Allen and Lanny Poffo.
December 13, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Dino Bravo defeated Lanny Poffo.
December 20, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Butch Reed and The One Man Gang defeated Lanny Poffo and SD Jones.
January 9, 1988 – Superstars: The Islanders (Haku and Tama) defeated Jerry Grey and Lanny Poffo.
January 11, 1988 – House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated Rick Renslow.
January 17, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: Butch Reed, The Bolsheviks (Boris Zhukov & Nikolai Volkoff) and The One Man Gang defeated Lanny Poffo, Rick Hunter & The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell).
January 23, 1988 – Superstars: Hercules, King Harley Race and Rick Rude defeated Jerry Allen, Lanny Poffo and Scott Casey.
January 30, 1988 – Superstars: The Islanders (Haku and Tama) defeated Lanny Poffo and Scott Casey.
February 14, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Islanders (Haku and Tama) defeated Eric Cooper and Lanny Poffo.
February 19, 1988 – House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated Sika.
February 27, 1988 – Superstars: Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart and The Honky Tonk Man defeated Jerry Allen, Lanny Poffo and Omar Atlas.
March 27, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: Rick Rude defeated Lanny Poffo.
April 17, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The One Man Gang defeated Lanny Poffo.
April 23, 1988 – Superstars: Ron Bass defeated Lanny Poffo.
June 19, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: Rick Rude defeated Lanny Poffo.
June 25, 1988 – Superstars: Ted DiBiase defeated Lanny Poffo.
June 26, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: Demolition defeated Jerry Allen and Lanny Poffo.
July 23, 1988 – Superstars: The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) defeated Lanny Poffo and Scott Casey.
July 25, 1988 – MSG Network: Terry Taylor defeated Lanny Poffo.
July 31, 1988 – Wrestlefest: Jim Neidhart defeated Lanny Poffo.
August 27, 1988 – Superstars: Jacques and Raymond Rougeau defeated Brad Anderson and Lanny Poffo.
September 11, 1988 – House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated DJ Peterson.
September 24, 1988 – Superstars: Jacques and Raymond Rougeau defeated Bert Centeno and Lanny Poffo.
October 15, 1988 – Superstars: The Red Rooster defeated Lanny Poffo.
November 26, 1988 – MSG Network: Lanny Poffo defeated Barry Horowitz.
December 10, 1988 – Superstars: Ted DiBiase defeated Lanny Poffo.
December 18, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) defeated Jim Brunzell and Lanny Poffo.
December 24, 1988 – Superstars: The Powers of Pain defeated Joe Cruz and The Genius.
June 10, 1989 – MSG Network: The Genius defeated Jim Powers.
July 1, 1989 – Superstars: The Genius defeated Sonny Rogers.
July 10, 1989 – MSG Network: The Genius defeated Jose Luis Rivera.
November 25, 1989 – WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event: The Genius beat WWF Champion Hulk Hogan by count-out due to Mr. Perfect hitting Hogan with the championship belt.
~~~Later in the show, Mr. Perfect and Poffo took a hammer to the belt, shattering it to pieces.
~~~Shortly after WrestleMania VI, Bobby Heenan became Mr. Perfect’s manager.
January 21, 1990 – Royal Rumble: Brutus Beefcake vs. The Genius ended in a double disqualification.
February 19, 1990 – MSG Network: Brutus Beefcake and Hulk Hogan defeated Mr. Perfect and The Genius.
May 13, 1990 – Wrestling Challenge: The Genius defeated Dale Wolfe.
September 17, 1990 – House Show: Shane Douglas defeated The Genius.
December 2, 1990 – Wrestling Challenge: Dustin Rhodes defeated The Genius.
Lanny Poffo then wrestled in the undercard until the fall of 1991 when he became the manager of the Beverly Brothers (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom).
January 19, 1991 – Superstars: The Rockers defeated Charles Austin and The Genius in a dark match.
April 21, 1991 – Wrestling Challenge: Bret Hart defeated The Genius.
April 27, 1991 – Superstars: Jim Duggan defeated The Genius.
June 26, 1991 – House Show: The Genius defeated Jim Duggan.
May 8-10, 1992 – House Show: The Genius defeated Jim Bruznell.
July 19, 1992 – House Show: The Genius defeated Bob Bradley.
Lanny Poffo would leave the WWF shortly after Survivor Series 1992.
June 12-14, 1993 – WWS: Demolition Ax defeated Lanny Poffo.
October 7, 1993 – ICWA: Lanny Poffo defeated Dancing Wolf.
December 2, 1993 – Anvil Promotions: Brutus Beefcake defeated Lanny Poffo.
December 28, 1993 – Anvil Promotions: Lanny Poffo defeated Johnny West.
December 29, 1993 – Anvil Promotions: Al Hardimon defeated Lanny Poffo.
December 30, 1993 – Anvil Promotions: Brian Blair defeated The Genius.
March 12, 1994 – IWF: The Warlord defeated The Genius.
June 11, 1994 – House Show: Mabel defeated The Genius.
July 26, 1998 – WWA vs. AWA: Golden Lion defeated Lanny Poffo to retain the WWA World heavyweight title.
January 29, 2005 – WrestlingReunion: Lanny Poffo defeated Adam Windsor.
August 13, 2005 – Ball Park Brawl V: Jimmy T and Kamala defeated Jimmy Hart and Lanny Poffo.
August 23, 2007 – Wrestling Supershow: Kamala defeated The Genius.
September 7, 2007 – PWS: Jay Lethal defeated The Genius.
October 19, 2007 – PWA: The Genius defeated Randy Myers.
June 20, 2008 – Wrestling Supershow: The Genius defeated Michael Von Payton.
June 21, 2008 – Wrestling Supershow: The Genius defeated Damian Styles.
January 24, 2009 – PWX: Lanny Poffo defeated Reck.
January 25, 2009 – PWX: Pepper Parks defeated Lanny Poffo.
April 23, 2009 – UCW: Chris Cooke defeated Lanny Poffo.
May 30, 2009 – Wrestling Vintage: Lanny Poffo defeated Aaron Epic.
June 18, 2009 – Wrestling Supershow: Lanny Poffo defeated Brutus Beefcake.
June 27, 2009 – UCW: Lanny Poffo and Sexton Phoenix defeated Chris Cooke and XXL.
June 29, 2009 – UCW: Lanny Poffo defeated Eric Edwards.
July 2, 2009 – UCW: Lanny Poffo defeated Lumberjack Johnson.
July 3, 2009 – UCW: Lanny Poffo defeated Eric Edwards.
October 24, 2009 – DDW: Don Roid defeated Lanny Poffo.
February 6, 2010 – Wrestling Legends Tour: Lanny Poffo defeated Darksoul.
February 7, 2010 – Wrestling Legends Tour: Lanny Poffo defeated Absolute Andy.
February 28, 2010 – CRW: Jeremy Prophet defeated The Genius. Darkko, Jeremy Prophet and Lanny Poffo defeated Academie de Police (Fred Lauzon & Pauly Platinum) and Leon Saver.
April 10, 2010 – IWC: Koko B. Ware defeated The Genius.
May 15, 2010 – GNW: Jeremy Prophet defeated The Genius.
June 26, 2010 – POWW: Justin James defeated Lanny Poffo to retain the Television title.
September 11, 2010 – GNW: Hannibal defeated Lanny Poffo.
September 12, 2010 – GNW: Lanny Poffo and The Honky Tonk Man defeated Darko and Hannibal.
May 14, 2011 – PWI: Team Beefcake (Brutus Beefcake, Bushwhacker Luke, CK Sexx and Lanny Poffo) defeated The Million Dollar Team (Big Daddy Hammer, Brian Knobbs, Jerry Sags and Virgil) in a tag team elimination match.
September 2, 2011 – PWL: Lanny Poffo defeated Paul Rosenberg to win the International title.
September 3, 2011 – GNW: Lanny Poffo won the battle royal heavyweight title battle royal.
September 24, 2011 – GNW: Lanny Poffo defeated Sexxxy Eddy to retain the Canadian heavyweight title.
September 25, 2011 – GNW: Jeremy Prophet defeated Lanny Poffo to win the Canadian heavyweight title.
January 28, 2012 – PWS: Lanny Poffo was in the rumble match won by The Godfather.
March 31, 2012 – PWS: Brian Blair, Carlos Colon, Lanny Poffo and Mike Graham defeated Gary Royal, Larry Zbyszko, Ron Bass and The Masked Superstar.
May 18, 2012 – IYFW: Lanny Poffo & The Uprising (Jamar Justice and Ricky Williams) defeated Blood Money (Michael Anthony, Rob Coleman and Scott Scarsdale).
June 30, 2012 – UCW: Bushwhacker Luke and Lanny Poffo defeated Earl Cooter and Titus.
April 13, 2013 – PWK: Lance Storie and Lanny Poffo defeated The JV Club (??? and ???).
July 16, 2013 – ICW: Lanny Poffo defeated KC Blade.
May 10, 2014 – UPW: Lanny Poffo defeated Greg Valentine.
March 14, 2015 – MCW: The Ecktourage (Dirty Money and Eric Chapel) defeated Colt Cabana and Lanny Poffo.
June 27, 2015 – FSW: Lanny Poffo and Malta The Damager defeated The Snot (Casanova Valentine and Kris Rex).
August 8, 2015 – CCW: Kahagas and Rico Casanova defeated Lanny Poffo and Pablo Marquez.
November 11, 2017 – FUW: Lanny Poffo defeated Kennedi Kendrick.
July 29, 2018 – HOW: Team Leonidas (King Leonidas, Lanny Poffo, Super Thunderfrog, U-Gene and Wildcat) defeated Team Chainsaw (Chainsaw King, Duke Cornell, Heavy Metal Lore, John Johnson and Nate Redwing).
June 28, 2019 – CWE: Bobby Jay and Lanny Poffo defeated Scott Ripley and Tod Bullet.
June 29, 2019 – CWE: Lanny Poffo and Sam Davidson defeated Gabriel Lestat and Jay Walker.
June 30, 2019 – CWE: Dragneel and Tyler James defeated Jude Dawkins and Lanny Poffo. Lanny Poffo also won a battle royal.
July 1, 2019 – CWE: Brian Rich and Lanny Poffo defeated Kevin Cannon and Tommy Lee Curtis.
August 29, 2019 – RCW: Lanny Poffo defeated Heavy Metal.
August 30, 2019 – RCW: Brice Sova, Lanny Poffo and The Aussie Legend defeated Top Talent (Big Jess Youngblood & Heavy Metal) and Christian Strife.
August 31, 2019 – RCW/CWC: Gabriel and Lanny Poffo defeated Top Talent (Big Jess Youngblood and Heavy Metal).
January 18, 2020 – MAW: Jerry Uhlricher, Lanny Poffo and Leonard Literacy defeated Garrisaon Creed, Jah-C and Paul Virk.
January 19, 2020 – SCW: El Jabroni, Enigma and Lanny Poffo defeated Dicky Moon, Ryan Faust and Sammy Diaz.

Retirement:

Lanny Poffo is working on a book of anti-smoking limericks (he has already written 147 of the planned 300).
Lanny Poffo is a member of the Abraham Lincoln Society and earns a living helping arrange loans for college students.
June 2004: Lanny Poffo has a book coming out in September for parents who want to teach their children not to smoke.
~~~Published by White-Boucke. For more info you can check at www.white-boucke.com/limericks.html
January 29, 2005 – WrestleReunion: “The Genius” Lanny Poffo defeated “The Royal Stud” Adam Windsor w/ Dory Funk Jr..
August 13, 2005 – Ballpark Brawl: Jimmy T (Local DJ) and Kamala defeated Jimmy Hart and Lanny Poffo in Buffalo, New York.
August 23, 2007 – SuperEx Showdown: “The Ugandan Giant” Kamala defeated “The Genius” Lanny Poffo in Ottawa, Ontario.
September 7, 2007 – Pro Wrestling Syndicate: “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal defeated Lanny Poffo w/ Chrissy Rivera.
October 20, 2007 – PWA: Lanny Poffo defeated Randy Myers.
June 20, 2008 – Wrestling Supershow: Lanny Poffo defeated Michael Von Payton.
June 21, 2008 – Wrestling Supershow: Lanny Poffo defeated Damian Styles.
January 24, 2009 – PWX: Lanny Poffo defeated Reck.
January 25, 2009 – PWX: Pepper Parks defeated Lanny Poffo.
May 30, 2009 – Vintage Wrestling: Lanny Poffo defeated Aaron Epic.
June 18, 2009 – Wrestling Supershow: Lanny Poffo defeated Brutus Beefcake.
October 24, 2009 – DDW: Don Roid defeated Lanny Poffo.
February 5, 2010 – Wrestling Legends Tour: Lanny Poffo defeated Darksoul.
February 6, 2010 – Wrestling Legends Tour: Lanny Poffo defeated Absolute Andy.
February 28, 2010 – CRW: Jeremy Prophet defeated Lanny Poffo. Darkko, Jeremy Prophet and Lanny Poffo defeated Fred Lauzon, Pauly Platinum and Leon Saver.
April 10, 2010 – International Wrestling Cartel: Koko B. Ware defeated Lanny Poffo in Franklin, Pennsylvania.
May 15, 2010 – Great North Wrestling: Jeremy Prophet defeated The Genius.
September 11, 2010 – GNW: Hannibal defeated Lanny Poffo.
September 12, 2010 – GNW: Lanny Poffo and The Honky Tonk Man defeated Darko and Hannibal.
May 14, 2011 – CWI: Team Beefcake (Brutus Beefcake, Bushwhacker Luke, CK Sexx and Lanny Poffo) defeated The Million Dollar Team (Big Daddy Hammer, Brian Knobbs, Jerry Sags and Virgil) in a tag team elimination match.
September 2, 2011 – PWL: Lanny Poffo defeated Paul Rosenberg to win the PWL International title.
September 3, 2011 – GNW: Lanny Poffo won a battle royal to win the vacant GNW Canadian heavyweight title.
September 24, 2011 – GNW: Lanny Poffo defeated Sexxxy Eddy to retain the GNW Canadian heavyweight title.
September 25, 2011 – GNW: Jeremy Prophet defeated Lanny Poffo to win the GNW Canadian heavyweight title.
January 28, 2012 – PWS: Lanny Poffo was in a battle royal won by The Godfather.
March 31, 2012 – PWS: Brian Blair, Carlos Colon, Lanny Poffo and Mike Graham defeated Gary Royal, Larry Zbyszko, Ron Bass and The Masked Superstar in a tag team elimination match.
May 18, 2012 – IYFW: Lanny Poffo, Jamar Justice and Ricky Williams defeated Michael Anthony, Rob Coleman and Scott Scarsdale.
April 13, 2013 – PWK: Lance Storie and Lanny Poffo defeated The JV Club.
July 26, 2013 – ICW: Lanny Poffo defeated KC Blade.
May 10, 2014 – UPW: Lanny Poffo defeated Greg Valentine.
March 14, 2015 – MCW: The Ecktourage (Dirty Money and Eric Chapel) defeated Colt Cabana and Lanny Poffo.
June 27, 2015 – FSW: Lanny Poffo and Malta The Damager defeated The Snot (Casanova Valentine and Kris Rex).
August 8, 2015 – CCW: Kahagas and Rico Casanova defeated Lanny Poffo and Pablo Marquez.
February 2, 2023: Lanny Poffo passed away at the age of 68.

Jeff Nettleton wrote: I used to love watching Leaping Lanny’s matches for his father’s ICW promotion, every Saturday (and later, Sunday) afternoon. Lanny was different from the rest, with a high flying style and muscular physique. Most of the ICW guys were mat-based wrestlers, where Lanny was also skilled, but he flew around the ring like no other on the show. I saw him walk the ropes, perform moonsaults, victory rolls, and rolling reverse cradles; before most American wrestlers were performing them. Lanny always celebrated his wins with a backflip, showcasing his amazing agility. His tag-team with George Weingeroff was amazing. His matches with his brother were off the charts.