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Ivan Putski

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Ivan Putski
Putski, c. 1982
Birth nameJózef Bednarski[1]
Born (1941-01-21) January 21, 1941 (age 83)[1]
Kraków, Poland
Children2, including Scott Putski
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Ivan Putski[1]
Jim Bednarski[2]
Polish Power
The Polish Hammer
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[3]
Billed weight245 lb (111 kg)[3]
Billed fromKraków, Poland[1]
Debut1968[2]
Retired1999[4]

Józef Bednarski (born January 21, 1941) is a Polish/American former professional wrestler and bodybuilder, best known by the ring name Ivan Putski.[1] He was given the nicknames the "Polish Hammer" and "Polish Power".

Putski is a former WWF World Tag Team Champion with Tito Santana.[1] He had a famous feud with Superstar Billy Graham over the WWF Championship, which led to many pose-downs, arm wrestling bouts, and long matches between the two. Other rivals included The Iron Sheik, Ivan Koloff, and Jesse Ventura, who would refer to Putski as "Puduski" when commentating for the WWF. Putski was the first Polish wrestler to perform in the WWF (now WWE).

Early life

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Putski was born in Kraków in Poland and immigrated to the United States at a young age.[2][3] He and his family arrived in Texas, where Putski began his professional wrestling career. He stood 5 ft 10 in and weighed around 225 lbs. In his earlier days, he was weighed in at the 250 lb mark.[3]

Professional wrestling

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Early career (1968–1974)

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Putski in an AWA wrestling program, 1974

Putski won the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship with José Lothario twice in 1973.[1]

Putski was a fixture on the Dallas-Ft. Worth wrestling scene and was one of its most popular personalities. He was routinely the feature act at the Sportatorium, a wrestling-only arena in an industrial section near Downtown Dallas. Putski's act consisted of being a happy-go-lucky, often aloof buffoon, who would "miraculously" pin his opponent. Putski was often introduced as a former concentration camp survivor, only adding to his sympathetic appeal to audiences of all ages.

In the early 1970s, Putski worked for the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he was a fan favorite.[5] It was during this time in the AWA that Putski also first clashed with Superstar Billy Graham, with the two feuding over who was the strongest wrestling in the AWA;.[5][1] During "Polish Power" Ivan Putski's time in the AWA, anti-Polish phrases where also a mainstay of lead American television series All In The Family's patriarch Archie Bunker against his Polish-American son-in-law Michael Stivic.

Prior to leaving the AWA, Ivan dropped most of his weight by getting into bodybuilding. Ivan kept himself fairly trim at the 215–220 pound mark.

World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation (1974–1987)

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Putski striking King Kong Mosca during a match, c. 1982

Putski debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1974.[3] While in the WWWF, Putski feuded with many wrestlers, including Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen and Ivan Koloff.[3] On June 25, 1976, at Showdown at Shea, Putski defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.[1][6] Four years later on August 9, Putski was again victorious at the next Showdown at Shea, defeating Johnny Rodz.[1] He also resumed his feud with Superstar Billy Graham. On October 22, 1979, Putski teamed with a young rookie Tito Santana to defeat Johnny and Jerry Valiant to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship.[1] They held the title for six months before losing it to The Wild Samoans.[3] Putski worked in the renamed World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1980s, primarily feuding with Roddy Piper and Sgt. Slaughter. He took a hiatus from wrestling in 1986. He soon returned to the independent circuit, also making occasional appearances in the WWF as a jobber to the stars. His last high-profile feud was in 1984 with Jesse Ventura. In November 1985, Putski lost to Randy Savage in the opening round of the Wrestling Classic.[1] His final appearance was in 1987 teaming on television with Junkyard Dog and Superstar Billy Graham in tag team matches.

Late career (1987–1999)

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Putski began to slow down his career in the 1980s.[3] He won his last tag team championship in May 1981, teaming with Wahoo McDaniel to defeat Dory Funk, Jr. and Larry Lane for the SWCW World Tag Team Championship.[1] He worked for International World Class Championship Wrestling from 1986 to 1988. He then retired from the sport.

After his run in the WWF, several promotions, and his semi-retirement, Putski returned to the ring in 1991. Putski made an appearance for International World Class Championship Wrestling teaming with his son, Scott to defeat the Masked Iraqis. Also made an appearance for Global Wrestling Federation in 1992 teaming with Gary Young against Tom and Mike Davis in a no contest.

In 1995, Putski was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame class of 1995 by his son, Scott.[3]

In 1996, he joined International Championship Wrestling, as a face. He won several matches in the company, and he was billed as a tough guy.

The father-and-son team returned in July 1997 to defeat Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher on Raw is War.

Putski wrestled his last match for NWA New Jersey as he defeated King Kong Bundy by disqualification on February 27, 1999.

After his retirement from wrestling, he had a strongman career. Putski occasionally made appearances in the ring during the years.

In 2010, Putski appeared in a reunion event called "LegendsMania" and he was interviewed.

Other media

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Video games

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Video game appearances
Year Title Notes
2001 Legends of Wrestling Video game debut
2002 Legends of Wrestling II
2004 Showdown: Legends of Wrestling

Strongman career

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Aside from wrestling, Ivan Putski also competed as a strongman. He participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition,[3] finishing eighth in a field of ten competitors.[7]

Personal life

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Putski's son, Scott Putski, is also a professional wrestler,[1] having previously worked at World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.[3]

From 2000 to 2007, Putski worked as head security guard at Jack C. Hays High School in Buda, Texas.

On January 8, 2012, Ivan Putski was inducted into the Cloverleaf Radio Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Ivan Putski's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Solomon, Brian (2006). WWE Legends. Pocket Books. pp. 138–141. ISBN 978-0-7434-9033-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Hall of Fame profile". WWE.com. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  4. ^ "Ivan Putski Profile & Match Listing". IW Database. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Schire, George (2010). Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling: From Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors. Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 103. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Solomon, Brian (June 15, 2010). WWE Legends. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-0450-4.
  7. ^ "The World's Strongest Man". Theworldsstrongestman.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  8. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [Fritz Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
  9. ^ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  10. ^ Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  11. ^ "NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
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