Career
He was a popular "babyface" in the promotion during the early 1990s, whose gimmick was based on the character Curly Howard from the comedy team The Three Stooges. Bill Apter"s 1Wrestling.com has called Curly Moe one of the most "silliest characters" in pro wrestling history. Zalesky trained under Johnny Rodz at "The World"s Famous" Gleason"s Gym in Brooklyn.
Initially wrestling under the name Diesel, Zalesky"s trainer changed his ring name several times, including Curly Manitoba Don, before settling on Diesel Don in late-1989.
An agile "big man", Zalesky could perform dropkicks and an double leg enzuigiri despite weighing over 500 lbs. He trained with fellow students such as Big Sweet William, Kid Krush, and Mondo Kleen while at the facility.
Zalesky made his pro wrestling debut the following year in International World Class Championship Wrestling. He was brought in by the Savoldi family as a "family friendly" character younger wrestling fans could relate to
His "gimmick" or in-ring persona was based on Curly Howard of The Three Stooges.
He not only bore a strong resemblance to Howard but skillfully mimicked his mannerisms both in and outside the ring. His finisher was called the Soitenly Splash and celebrated victories by performing the Curly Shuffle in the center of the ring. In September 1990, Zalesky was profiled by the Weekly World News.
The publication alleged that the young wrestler was receiving supernatural assistance from the late comedians.
The following month he pinned Doctor X in Pompano Beach, Florida with a big splash. Zalesky was largely used as a comedy act, who antagonized "Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble and other IWCCW "heels" with his zany antics, rather than as a serious competitor.
In 1991, Zalesky was ranked #445 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the country by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. He was also interviewed by PWI senior editor Bill Apter on PWI Conference.
Although weighing in at around 600 lbs. during his career, Zalesky retired due to health problems shortly after IWCCW folded.
Following his retirement, Zalesky began teaching English as Second Language (English as a Second Language) to adults in Newark, New Jersey. However, his weight continued to increase over the years. In 2005, his weight reached around 730 lbs. and Zalesky underwent a gastric bypass surgery, resulting in a significant weight loss of 340 lbs.
In December 2006, after false reports of his death had circulated the internet, Zalesky issued a public statement to editor Bill Apter regarding his life following his retirement and appeared on 1Wrestling.com.
The previous month, he had apparently left a message on the online forums of KayfabeMemories.com to dispel the internet rumors. 1Wrestling.com later included Zalesky"s "Curly Moe" gimmick as one of the "silliest characters in wrestling" for a special April Fools Day column in 2010.
Zalesky died on July 1, 2015. Finishing moves
Soitenly Splash (Big splash)
Signature moves
Body avalanche
Double leg enzuigiri
Elbow drop
Forearm smash
Entrance themes
"Three Blind Mice" by Spud Murphy (IWCCW)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked Curly Moe # 445 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991.
