Wladek Kowalski

Wladek (Walter) "Killer" Kowalski was a professional wrestler.

Profile

• Height: 6'7"
• Weight: 290 lbs
• Birthday: October 13, 1926
• Hometown: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
• Trained by: Lou Thesz
• Professional debut: 1947
• Previous Identities: Tarzan Kowalski (St. Louis), The Masked Executioner, The Masked Destroyer, Killer Kowalski
• Finishing/Signature Move(s): The Claw, Flying knee drop

Career

The legendary Wladek "Killer" Kowalski wrestled over 6,000 bouts from 1947 to 1973 in a number of organizations, including the NWA and AWA. Always a fearsome heel, the genuinely intimidating Kowalski stood a good deal taller than most of his opponents and was known for a mean, unrelenting attack on any and all comers. He was on the first ever televised wrestling program in Canada, and with his easy-to-remember moniker he benefited from the first wave of televised wrestling popularity in the 1950s. He achieved his greatest fame as the main antagonist of Bruno Sammartino in the WWWF in the 1960s.

After his retirement Kowalski started the very successful Killer Kowalski's Professional Wrestling School. Among the alumni of this school are Paul Levesque (better known as Hunter Hearst Helmsley or Triple H) and Joanie Laurer (better known as Chyna).

Championships/Accomplishments

• 1-time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NWA Texas Tag-Team Champion (by himself)
• 2-time NWA Pacific Coast Tag-Team Champion (with Hans Herman)
• 1-time NWA Central States Heavyweight Champion
• 8-time Montreal International Champion
• 1-time NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WWWF United States Tag-Team Champion (with Gorilla Monsoon)
• 6-time IWA World Champion
• 1-time IWA United States Heavyweight Champion
• 4-time IWA World Tag-Team Champion
• 1-time IWA Americas Champion
• 1-time IWA Americas Tag-Team Champion (with Kinji Shibuya)
• 1-time Grand Prix Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WWWF World Tag-Team Champion (with John Studd)