On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Killer Kowalski, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Walter Kowalski (born Edward Władysław Spulnik) was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on October 13, 1926.
He died on August 30, 2008 at the age of 81.
Killer Kowalski was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 as an individual and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2003 as part of the Television Era wing.
Killer Kowalski Profile Index
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Walter Kowalski (born Edward Władysław Spulnik)
- Ring Names
- Killer Kowalski ( April 26, 1977 - March 14, 2008)
- Executioner #1 ( March 10, 1976 - April 25, 1977)
- Killer Kowalski ( April 21, 1950 - March 9, 1976)
- The Masked Destroyer ( October 11, 1975 - December 23, 1975)
- Wladek Kowalski ( November 29, 1948 - July 16, 1963)
- Tarzan Kowalski ( January 6, 1949 - January 31, 1953)
- Born October 13, 1926
- Died August 30, 2008 (aged 81)
- Nationality Canada
- Birth Place Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Billed From
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Height 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
- Weight
- 280 lbs (127 kg)
Career History
-
Roles
- Part Time Wrestler ( June 23, 1980 - March 14, 2008)
- Wrestler ( January 1, 1947 - April 24, 1977)
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Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion WWWF April 29, 1974 April 23, 1977 Promotion NWA November 29, 1948 April 11, 1976 Promotion CWF November 10, 1975 January 27, 1976 Promotion AJPWBrand Heavyweight April 5, 1975 May 9, 1975 Promotion AJPWBrand Heavyweight November 24, 1973 December 24, 1973 Promotion BTW DALLAS April 20, 1970 September 18, 1971 Promotion GAC April 24, 1970 February 12, 1971 Promotion WWWF August 14, 1962 March 25, 1970 Promotion AWA July 29, 1966 April 23, 1967 Promotion BTW CALGARY October 27, 1961 July 10, 1964 Promotion CWC May 28, 1959 October 15, 1960 Promotion CWC October 19, 1957 August 30, 1958 Promotion GAC April 19, 1950 June 26, 1953 Promotion SWS TEXAS August 22, 1950 December 19, 1950 -
Images History
Apr 1977Mar 1976Jan 1947 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Heel January 1, 1947 March 14, 2008
-
Finishers
- Kowalski Claw - Vice Grip to the opponent's stomach or head ( January 1, 1947 - March 14, 2008)
- Diving Knee Drop ( January 1, 1947 - April 24, 1977)
Titles & Accomplishments
-
Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 1996, Individual
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2003, Television Era
-
World Wrestling Entertainment
- 1 WWWF World Tag Team Championship (with Big John Studd)
- 1 WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (with Gorilla Monsoon)
50th State Big Time Wrestling
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version)
Atlantic Athletic Commission
- 1 AAC World Heavyweight Championship
Central States Wrestling
- 1 NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (with Bulldog Austin)
- 1 NWA Iowa Tag Team Championship (with Ripper Daniels)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 1 NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)
International Wrestling Federation
- 1 IWF Heavyweight Championship
- 1 IWF Tag Team Championship (with Johnny Valiant)
Montreal Athletic Commission
- 13 MAC International Heavyweight Championship
NWA All-Star Wrestling
- 2 NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 with Ox Anderson, 1 with Gene Kiniski)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- 1 NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (with Kinji Shibuya)
NWA San Francisco
- 1 NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)
- 1 NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (with Hans Herman)
Southwest Sports, Inc. / Big Time Wrestling
- 2 NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship
- 1 NWA Texas Tag Team Championship
Stampede Wrestling
- 2 NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version)
- 2 NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (with Jim Wright)
United States Wrestling Federation
- 1 USWF Tag Team Championship (with Ox Baker)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- 5 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 4 IWA World Tag Team Championship (2 with Skull Murphy, 1 with Bill Miller, 1 with Mark Lewin)
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Other Accomplishments
- Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 1995)
- New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2008)
- NWA World Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Tournament Winner (1970)
- Cauliflower Alley Club's Iron Mike Mazurki Award (2002)
- PWI Tag Team of the Year (1976 - with Big John Studd)
- PWI Stanley Weston Award (2010)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
Teams & Relations
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Tag Teams & Stables
- The Executioners - Big John Studd ( March 9, 1976 - April 25, 1977)
- Managers