Lindenhurst, New York, located on the southern shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, has a quiet but notable history connected to the world of professional wrestling. While not as frequently cited as a hotbed of wrestling activity, Lindenhurst holds historical significance thanks to several key events and personalities.
Lindenhurst High School played host to WWF live events during the federation’s expansion years, including documented shows in the 1980s. These house shows, typical of the era, featured stars of the time performing for local audiences in school gymnasiums, armories, and civic centers across the Northeast. These appearances helped solidify the WWF’s fanbase before the era of national cable television and large-scale arenas. Documented events from 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986 included the likes of Bret Hart (as also discussed within the Long Beach section of this LibGuide), Jim Neidhart, Mr. Fuji, Curt Hennig (Mr. Perfect), Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Rocky Johnson (The Rock's father), Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, The Iron Sheik, Kamala, Tito Santana, and Sgt. Slaughter. More information on those cards can be found here.
The town also hosted a Universal Superstars Of America event in 1996. The USA card included matches with Typhoon (Tugboat, The Shockmaster), Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
One of Lindenhurst’s strongest personal ties to the wrestling world is through Lenny Montana, the towering wrestler-turned-actor who is believed to have spent his final years in the town and passed away there in 1992. Montana, reportedly born Leonardo Passafaro, wrestled professionally in the 1950s and 1960s and held multiple championships, including the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship. Wrestling under names such as Len Crosby and Lenny Montana, he was known for his brawler’s physique and charismatic presence inside the ring.
Montana’s most iconic role came outside the ring, when he portrayed the fearsome enforcer Luca Brasi in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. His performance, particularly the memorable scene in which he pledges loyalty to Don Corleone, became a pop culture touchstone. Montana’s success in both wrestling and film illustrates the crossover potential of pro wrestling personalities into mainstream entertainment, a path later followed by the likes of Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and John Cena.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on June 11, 2025. Updated on June 14, 2025.