Do You Know Ted Arcidi?

If you're a WWF wrestling fan from the 1980s, you probably remember Ted Arcidi. You also likely never actually watched him wrestle. I am sure you can't mention a single storyline he was a part of. The biggest thing I can remember is he was the replacement for Andre the Giant in a tag match that led to Andre being suspended and becoming Giant Machine, which sort of indirectly led to his famous heel turn on Piper's Pit in February 1987, setting up WrestleMania 3.

Arcidi is long gone by Wrestlemania 3. I'm not even sure how many times he shows up on TV after the aforementioned tag match.

Arcidi has to be the most well-known WWF wrestler with the shortest and most insignificant run. He really should be completely forgotten as a WWF superstar by now, but the '80s kids remember him even if we don't really remember him.

The reason is, despite his very short and unsuccessful run, the supposedly 'world's strongest man' (how many guys have been given that name is wrestling) got an action figure. Clearly. Vince McMahon thought he had a main eventer in his future.

But not only did he have an action figure, but he had to have been the most prevalent and common of all the LJN wrestling dolls. I think every kid had the doll, even though no one asked for it, and by the time they got it, Arcidi likely was long gone from TV.

Why was his run so short? It likely has to do with the fact he had the flexibility, charisms, and wrestling skills of his inanimate plastic immovable LJN wrestling doll.

I'm pretty sure the flooding of that doll is the reason he is better remembered int he WWF than guys like Dick Slater and George Welles, who were actually around longer and had more key matches.