Ted Arcidi

Theodore Arcidi (born June 16, 1958) is an American former professional wrestler, actor and powerlifter. He is known to be the first man in history to bench press over 700 pounds in competition, establishing an official world record.

Early life

Arcidi was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Concord, Massachusetts. The son of a nurse, Anne Arcidi and orthodontist, Doctor Joseph M. Arcidi. Ted was raised Roman Catholic and attended parochial schools with his 6 siblings, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Throughout elementary and high school, Ted was active in all sports, particularly Ice hockey. Ted received a BS from Norwich University and went on to Graduate School at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. While he was obtaining more science credits to get into dental school he taught junior high and high school biology. That was cut short when his power lifting talent was good enough to compete at a world class level.

Powerlifting/Bench press world record

Ted Arcidi bench pressed 705.5 pounds (320 kg) on March 3, 1985 at Gus Rethwisch's Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii for an APF & USPF world record, to become the first man to bench 700 pounds in an officially recognized powerlifting competition.Ted Arcidi
Then, after being 5 1/2 years away from competition due to his wrestling career, he made a comeback. Weighing 291 pounds, Arcidi set another world record with a 718.1 lbs bench press at the APF Bench Press Invitational on September 30, 1990, in Keene, New Hampshire. On September 14, 1991, at a Mr. Olympia contest, he squared off face to face with his greatest rival Anthony Clark to determine who the greatest bench presser of the world was. Arcidi defeated the much bigger Clark (5'8", 375 lbs) by pressing 725 pounds off his chest to establish a new world record, but was disqualified when judges deemed he failed to lock out his elbows.

Arcidi's 705 pound all-time world record bench press was performed in one of the earliest bench shirts - an original pre-prototype supportive bench press shirt, which was 50% polyester and 50% cotton and only one layer thick. It was thus later categorized as "equipped", although it did not improve his bench by much, if anything. It was an equivalent to a modern day Under Armour shirt. In 1984 Arcidi had benched an official 666.9 pounds (302.5 kg) at 286.0 pounds bodyweight completely raw, without a bench shirt, elbow or wrist wraps at the Hawaii International Powerlifting Championships as well. He is considered to be one of the strongest bench pressers of all time.

Records done in Official Power Lifting Full Meets

Done in official powerlifting full meets:
* Raw bench press:
** 666.9 lbs (302.5 kg) @308 lb class (286 lb bodyweight) ''raw without wrist wraps, elbow wraps or a bench shirt'' (1984 Honolulu, Hawaii) (USPF/APF/WPC)
** 650.4 lbs (295.0 kg) @275 lb class (275 lb bodyweight) ''raw without wrist wraps, elbow wraps or a bench shirt'' (1983 Westminster, Maryland) (NSM)
:→ current all time completely raw (unequipped using no wrist wraps, no elbow wraps or a bench shirt) benchpress world records in the 308lb and 275lb class
Done in official bench-only invitational meet:
* Equipped bench press: 718.1 lbs (325.7 kg) @308 lb class (291 lb bodyweight) ''in an early single-ply bench shirt'' (1990 Keene, New Hampshire) (APF)
:→ former all-time bench press world record regardless of weight class and equipment

Professional wrestling career

Arcidi lifted for several years and eventually was sought by and debuted in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in late 1985. Arcidi faced other "strongmen" such as Tony Atlas, Big John Studd, and Hercules Hernandez during his stint and made a single appearance at WrestleMania 2 in the WWF/NFL Battle Royal. In 1986, he wrestled Big John Studd for the main event at the Boston Garden. He was the first WWF wrestler to hold the moniker of "The World’s Strongest Man". His final match was against Jake Roberts on February 14, 1987 in Calgary, Alberta.

Arcidi was immortalized as a wrestling doll when WWF brought out a line of Wrestling Superstars toys in 1987.

After his WWF run, he went to Calgary and briefly worked for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. Where Arcidi turned heel. After that, Arcidi moved on the World Class Championship Wrestling in Dallas, Texas, where he was known as "Mr. 705" (referring to his world record bench press). He was managed by Percival Pringle III and was part of a stable of wrestlers including Rick Rude, the Dingo Warrior and Cactus Jack Manson. Arcidi captured that organization's Texas Heavyweight Championship on August 31, 1987 and held it until he lost to Matt Borne on November 10 that same year.

Championships and accomplishments

*World Class Wrestling Association
:* WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time)

Business ventures

After leaving Pro-Wrestling, Ted created a vitamin supplement company called Arcidi Strength Systems. Among these are his ownership of New England's largest women's gym in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a gym equipment company called Weightlifters Warehouse. Later, Arcidi bought the building with his father.

Acting career

Arcidi started focusing on his acting career in 1997, with parts in films and shows such as ''Law & Order'' and in several commercials. He participated in numerous acting classes and casting director workshops on a weekly basis, engaging with both the New York City and Boston markets. During this period, he also seized opportunities to act in various student films and low-budget projects, collaborating with institutions such as Emerson College, Boston University, Boston College, and New York University.

Filmography

The table below comes from IMDb.

See also

* Progression of the bench press world record
* Anthony Clark
* Big James Henderson
* Jim Williams
* Shear'Ree

References

External links

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*
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Ted Arcidi profile at Dave Hartnett's Power/Strength History website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arcidi, Ted
American male professional wrestlers
Living people
Sportspeople from Nashua, New Hampshire
American powerlifters
American strength athletes
Professional wrestlers from New York (state)
Stampede Wrestling alumni
20th-century male professional wrestlers
20th-century American professional wrestlers
1958 births
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champions