By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Angelo Savoldi, who was billed as the world's oldest-living pro wrestler, reportedly died Friday (September 20) at the age of 99.

There are many ways to describe Savoldi - former World Jr. Hvt. champion during the prime years of his wrestling career in the 1950s and '60s, feuded with the legendary Danny Hodge, trained the legendary Jack Brisco, had ownership interest in the parent company of WWWF in the 1970s before it became WWF/WWE, and became an independent promoter in the Northeast during the 1980s and 1990s.

On Savoldi's last birthday in April, Gerald Brisco tweeted about his memories of Savoldi feuding with Hodge: "Angelo Savoldi 99 today. As a kid in OK and just becoming a fan, he had feud (with) Hodge what heat. Got to meet few years ago. Great man Person."

Two years ago, Savoldi was inducted into the NWA's 2011 Hall of Fame Class and he was honored by the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Carteret, N.J.

Savoldi was recently mentioned in the PWTorch All-Star Panel by historian Greg Oliver of Slam Wrestling:

Q: Who is/was a lower card wrestler/s with a lot of pull backstage? Or do lower carders not get much pull?

Oliver A: It's a mistake to think that someone who is not in the main event may not have pull. History is full of bookers who put themselves in a valuable position on the card, but not the main event, from the likes to Buck Robley to Dick Slater. Other guys were tight with the office, like "Bulldog" Bob Brown in Kansas City, who was guaranteed a job for life basically from promoter/friend Bob Geigel. Similarly, the WWWF had a lot of agents over the years who worked for the office, running the spot shows; men like Angelo Savoldi or Arnold Skaaland would often don the tights again to fill-in for a missing wrestler well after their major runs were done.

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWNLIVE NEWS: NXT star Sami Zayn announced for EVOLVE Tour

NEWS: Daughter of Bill DeMott dies in weekend car crash

HAAS NEWS: Charlie Haas getting back in the ring - big reunion match at OVW, headliner for CWE year-end tour