Professional wrestling has always relied on hard-working journeymen who carried the local territories, helped train future stars, and built the foundation upon which the business thrived. One such figure was David Mark DiMeglio (February 8, 1967 – March 1, 2002), better known by his ring name Dino Casanova. Best remembered as one half of the Cream Team alongside Rip Sawyer and later as one half of The Goodfellas with Romeo Valentino, Casanova carved out a respected career across the independent circuits of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Though his life was tragically cut short by a heart attack at the age of 35, he left behind a legacy of consistency, dedication, and passion for professional wrestling.
Early Career and the Cream Team
Casanova began his career in the late 1980s, entering a wrestling scene that still thrived in regional promotions despite the national expansion of WWF and WCW. Early in his journey, he teamed with Rip Sawyer to form the Cream Team, one of the standout independent tag teams of the era.
In May 1988, the duo achieved their first major success, defeating the Billion Dollar Babies (G.Q. Stratus and Mike Sampson) to become the first-ever tag team champions of Max Thrasher’s Atlantic Wrestling Federation (AWF). Their reign established them as one of the premier teams in the region.
By the end of 1988, they were already being tested against high-profile opponents. On December 17, 1988, the Cream Team battled the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) for the Virginia Wrestling Association Tag Team Titles. Although they lost via countout, simply sharing the ring with one of the most decorated tag teams of all time was proof of their rising stature.
Over the next few years, Casanova and Sawyer cemented themselves in the Mid-Atlantic wrestling scene. They became the first NWL Tag Team Champions, and their three-year run as AWF Tag Team Champions underscored their dominance. Eventually, their long reign ended when they dropped the belts to the Hellhounds in late 1991.
Beyond their own accolades, Casanova and Sawyer also gave back to the business. Along with peers like Barry Hardy and Duane Gill, they were instrumental in training Ian Rotten, who would later co-found IWA Mid-South and become a controversial figure in the hardcore wrestling boom of the 1990s.
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation and Regional Success
When the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (MEWF) launched its first event in August 1991, Casanova and Sawyer were there, competing in a match to crown the first MEWF Tag Team Champions. Though they initially lost to the Lords of Pain, they rebounded later that year, defeating Pain and Bubba Monroe to win the titles.
In addition, the Cream Team added to their resume by becoming the inaugural Atlantic Coast Wrestling Federation (ACWF) Tag Team Champions in April 1992. Their championship success demonstrated their ability to be cornerstone acts in emerging independent promotions.
But like many wrestling partnerships, the Cream Team eventually fractured. In 1993, the duo split, with Casanova forming a new tandem, The Goodfellows, alongside Nick Tarentino. The new team defeated Sawyer and A.J. Fritzoid for the AWF Tag Team Championship, a symbolic passing of the torch from one era to another.
Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW)
The early 1990s were a pivotal time for wrestling in Philadelphia, with Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW)beginning its transformation into the revolutionary promotion later known as Extreme Championship Wrestling. Casanova and Sawyer were part of that transition period, debuting for ECW in late 1992.
On October 3, 1992, they teamed with Glen Osbourne to defeat Max Thrasher and The Super Destroyers in a six-man tag match in Philadelphia. Later that month, they challenged The Super Destroyers for the ECW Tag Team Championship, though they fell short.
While their time in ECW was brief, it gave Casanova valuable exposure in a promotion that would soon change the wrestling world.
The Goodfellas and World Championship Wrestling
After parting ways with Sawyer, Casanova found a new long-term partner in Romeo Valentino. Together, they became known as The Goodfellas (sometimes billed as The Goodfellows), a nod to their Italian-American heritage and a mafia-inspired gimmick that fit the wrestling scene of the 1990s.
Their partnership took them across the Mid-Atlantic, from NWA New Jersey to Pennsylvania Championship Wrestlingand the World Wrestling Alliance. They also received a brief run in the national spotlight with World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
On February 2, 1995, Casanova and Valentino made their WCW debut on WCW Worldwide, facing the Fantastics at Walt Disney World. Weeks later, they appeared on WCW Saturday Night against Stars & Stripes (Marcus Bagwell & The Patriot). That match also served as a dark match at SuperBrawl V, where Big Van Vader attacked all participants, adding some high-profile drama to their appearance.
Casanova would continue to make occasional WCW appearances over the next two years. He wrestled Brian Pillman, Sting (for the U.S. Heavyweight Championship), and later faced Chris Benoit and Hugh Morris in televised matches. Although never signed full-time, these appearances gave him national recognition.
Return to the Independents and MEWF Championships
After his WCW stint, Casanova returned to his home base of Maryland, where the MEWF was thriving as one of the premier independent promotions of the region.
He enjoyed multiple title reigns there:
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MEWF Light Heavyweight/Maryland Championship (1996, though stripped shortly after winning)
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MEWF Tag Team Championship (1999, with Max Thrasher)
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MEWF Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (2001)
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MEWF Heavyweight Championship (two reigns in 2000 and 2001)
His championship victories made him one of the most decorated wrestlers in MEWF history, cementing his status as a cornerstone of the promotion.
Later Career and Final Years
Casanova’s career stretched into the late 1990s and early 2000s. He continued teaming with Romeo Valentino in marquee tag matches, while also pursuing singles gold in Maryland.
In addition to his MEWF work, Casanova appeared in NWA New Jersey and other regional promotions, battling familiar rivals like Gillberg, Morgus the Maniac, and Max Thrasher.
By the early 2000s, he was a respected veteran presence on the independent circuit, working both as a performer and mentor to younger wrestlers breaking into the business.
Death and Legacy
Tragically, David “Dino Casanova” DiMeglio died of a heart attack on March 1, 2002, at just 35 years old. He was survived by his wife, Leslie, and his young son, Dylan Mark. His passing shocked the Mid-Atlantic wrestling community, which remembered him not only as a champion and mainstay performer but also as a friend and mentor.
While he never achieved the fame of national headliners, Dino Casanova embodied the heart and soul of independent wrestling. His work with the Cream Team and the Goodfellas provided the Mid-Atlantic scene with memorable matches, and his title reigns in MEWF, AWF, and ACWF made him a respected figure wherever he wrestled. More importantly, he was part of a generation of independent wrestlers who kept the business alive in between the national booms, ensuring that local fans always had wrestling to support.
Conclusion
Dino Casanova’s career is a story of dedication. From teaming with Rip Sawyer in the Cream Team, to wrestling for ECW and WCW, to becoming a multiple-time champion in MEWF, Casanova left a legacy that resonated most with the regional fans who supported him week after week. His early death robbed independent wrestling of a loyal performer and mentor, but his contributions live on in the memories of those who saw him compete and those he helped guide into the business.
Though not a household name, Dino Casanova represents the backbone of professional wrestling: the regional journeymen who pour their heart into the sport, night after night, for the love of the game.