Post by Brainman2006 on Aug 31, 2008 23:52:30 GMT -5
source of information is tnawrestling.com
TNA JOINS THE WRESTLING WORLD IN MOURNING THE PASSING OF THE LEGENDARY WALTER "KILLER" KOWALSKI
On Saturday morning, wrestling legend Walter "Killer" Kowalski passed away in Boston, Massachusetts.
During an in-ring career that spanned from the 1940s to the 1970s, Kowalski was one of the most celebrated - and respected - grapplers of our time.
In the golden era of the sport in the 1950s when millions of Americans and Canadians discovered - and fell in love with - televised wrestling, Kowalski was one of the first superstars to become a household name.
Each and every week, fans tuned in to witness Kowalski battling other greats such as Buddy Rogers, Dr. Bill Miller, Whipper Billy Watson and Gorgeous George, regularly using his feared "Iron Claw" to beat opponents.
Kowalski also became famous for an incident in 1954 when he knee-dropped fellow wrestler Yukon Eric, tearing off a piece of his ear in the process. The move made headlines and forever earned Kowalski his "Killer" nickname.
In addition to multiple title reigns and worldwide acclaim, Kowalski was also regarded as one of the greatest teachers the sport has ever known. Following his retirement, Kowalski opened his own wrestling school outside Boston, Massachusetts, that served as the start for dozens of current and former wrestling superstars, including TNA's Frankie Kazarian and Roxxi Laveaux as well as names like Big John Studd, Triple H, Joanie Laurer, Albert/A-Train and many more.
"I am very saddened by Walter's passing," TNA founder Jeff Jarrett told TNAwrestling.com. "He was not only a trailblazer for an entire generation of wrestlers, but he also passed on his knowledge and experience after stepping away from the ring. That's something you don't always see from the veterans of this sport. He will be missed by everyone in our business."
Everyone at TNA Wrestling sends our thoughts and prayers out to the family of Walter "Killer" Kowalski.
TNA asks our fans to consider donating to the Walter "Killer" Kowalski memorial fund - information on the fund as well as funeral arrangements can be found on www.killerkowalskis.com and www.uswfwrestling.com
TNAwrestling.com received the following statement from Kazarian via email on Saturday afternoon on the passing of his mentor:
I was just woken up by a phone call that I have been dreading. My good friend Steve King just called and informed me that our dear friend and trainer Walter "Killer" Kowalski has passed away.
Anyone who knows me knows that I have always attributed Walter with all of my success in pro wrestling. He took in a 20 year old kid who had traveled 3,000 miles from southern California, and embraced him like a son. He was kind enough to pass on his extensive, and unique knowledge of this business to me.
From day one, Walter became my trainer, and my friend. He guided me through every step of pro wrestling, but more importantly, taught me how to be a genuine, good person, and to treat others with respect, dignity and class.
I owe so much to Walter, that I could never put it all in words. The time we spent together is and always will be some of the most precious memories I have, and I will keep it in a special place in my heart.
So much of the best things that have happened to me are a direct result of his mentoring. The people I have met, the relationships I have made, and my success in and out of the ring are a direct result of him. Walter loved angels. We had many conversations about them on our regular trips to church that we both enjoyed on Sundays. To me, and anyone who knew him, Walter was an angel. He was a gentleman, friend, and honestly one of the best people to come into my life. Walter, I love you and I could never sing your praise enough. You set me on a path in this business, and in life, that has been in one word, a dream.
Rest in the kingdom of heaven my dear friend, as you are now amongst the angels that you loved.
Your student, friend, and brother in Christ.
Frankie
TNA JOINS THE WRESTLING WORLD IN MOURNING THE PASSING OF THE LEGENDARY WALTER "KILLER" KOWALSKI
On Saturday morning, wrestling legend Walter "Killer" Kowalski passed away in Boston, Massachusetts.
During an in-ring career that spanned from the 1940s to the 1970s, Kowalski was one of the most celebrated - and respected - grapplers of our time.
In the golden era of the sport in the 1950s when millions of Americans and Canadians discovered - and fell in love with - televised wrestling, Kowalski was one of the first superstars to become a household name.
Each and every week, fans tuned in to witness Kowalski battling other greats such as Buddy Rogers, Dr. Bill Miller, Whipper Billy Watson and Gorgeous George, regularly using his feared "Iron Claw" to beat opponents.
Kowalski also became famous for an incident in 1954 when he knee-dropped fellow wrestler Yukon Eric, tearing off a piece of his ear in the process. The move made headlines and forever earned Kowalski his "Killer" nickname.
In addition to multiple title reigns and worldwide acclaim, Kowalski was also regarded as one of the greatest teachers the sport has ever known. Following his retirement, Kowalski opened his own wrestling school outside Boston, Massachusetts, that served as the start for dozens of current and former wrestling superstars, including TNA's Frankie Kazarian and Roxxi Laveaux as well as names like Big John Studd, Triple H, Joanie Laurer, Albert/A-Train and many more.
"I am very saddened by Walter's passing," TNA founder Jeff Jarrett told TNAwrestling.com. "He was not only a trailblazer for an entire generation of wrestlers, but he also passed on his knowledge and experience after stepping away from the ring. That's something you don't always see from the veterans of this sport. He will be missed by everyone in our business."
Everyone at TNA Wrestling sends our thoughts and prayers out to the family of Walter "Killer" Kowalski.
TNA asks our fans to consider donating to the Walter "Killer" Kowalski memorial fund - information on the fund as well as funeral arrangements can be found on www.killerkowalskis.com and www.uswfwrestling.com
TNAwrestling.com received the following statement from Kazarian via email on Saturday afternoon on the passing of his mentor:
I was just woken up by a phone call that I have been dreading. My good friend Steve King just called and informed me that our dear friend and trainer Walter "Killer" Kowalski has passed away.
Anyone who knows me knows that I have always attributed Walter with all of my success in pro wrestling. He took in a 20 year old kid who had traveled 3,000 miles from southern California, and embraced him like a son. He was kind enough to pass on his extensive, and unique knowledge of this business to me.
From day one, Walter became my trainer, and my friend. He guided me through every step of pro wrestling, but more importantly, taught me how to be a genuine, good person, and to treat others with respect, dignity and class.
I owe so much to Walter, that I could never put it all in words. The time we spent together is and always will be some of the most precious memories I have, and I will keep it in a special place in my heart.
So much of the best things that have happened to me are a direct result of his mentoring. The people I have met, the relationships I have made, and my success in and out of the ring are a direct result of him. Walter loved angels. We had many conversations about them on our regular trips to church that we both enjoyed on Sundays. To me, and anyone who knew him, Walter was an angel. He was a gentleman, friend, and honestly one of the best people to come into my life. Walter, I love you and I could never sing your praise enough. You set me on a path in this business, and in life, that has been in one word, a dream.
Rest in the kingdom of heaven my dear friend, as you are now amongst the angels that you loved.
Your student, friend, and brother in Christ.
Frankie