With the new decade of the 1970s, “Killer” Kowalski continued to travel from territory to territory, with success always following. And, while the change in lifestyle did visually affect his once-mammoth, heavily-muscled physique, Kowalski’s legendary stamina and endurance remained unchanged. Following his retirement, Kowalski became a frequent public speaker on the virtues and benefits of vegetarianism. Not long after competing in the Hawaiian territory, Kowalski made the decision to switch to a vegetarian diet and lifestyle, which he continued for the remainder of his years.
After his impressive first run in the Heavyweight title by defeating Curtis Iaukea on November 3, 1965. Once there, he established himself as the most violent wrestler on the East Coast, giving every “fan favorite” wrestler, including by defeating the team of Skull Murphy and Brute Bernard. With his notorious name and reputation secured throughout The Great White North, Kowalski ventured back to America, this time to New York City and the World Wide Wrestling Federation. Of course, in reality, the injury was accidental, however, the press and notoriety that followed forever fortified Kowalski’s reputation among fans as being the most ruthless, bloodthirsty villain in the sport. It was in Montreal where he also cemented his reputation as wrestling’s most notorious villain when, on October 15, 1952, Kowalski tore off a portion of Yukon Eric’s ear while executing a knee drop. He wore the regionally prestigious IWA World Heavyweight championship eight different times between 1952-1962, defeating wrestlers the caliber of Verne Gagne, Edouard Carpentier, Don Leo Jonathon, Pat O`Connor, and others for Canada’s top championship. However, “Killer” Kowalski had some of his greatest success when he returned home to Canada (Montreal, in particular) and became a genuine superstar who was hated like none other. German powerhouse Hans Herman and the duo was among the era’s tag team elite, winning the NWA Pacific Coast Tag title in 1951, among other championships. Early on in his career he formed a highly successful and virtually undefeatable team with the equally huge 6′ 6″, 270 lbs. In 1951, he won the Central States Heavyweight title, defeating former three-time NWA champion “Wild” Bill Longson in Kansas City and instantly ruled the Midwest as a result.īut The Killer, who was incredibly agile for such a huge man, was also feared in the tag team ranks. On a roll, the Polish wrecking machine also won the Texas Tag Team title on December 11, 1950, single-handedly defeating reigning champions Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich in a handicap title match.
One of his earliest championships was the prestigious NWA Texas Heavyweight title, which he won on Augwhen he defeated “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers in Dallas, Texas. Standing head and shoulders above his competition, literally, Kowalski quickly became feared as one of the most vicious and unrelenting villains the sport had ever known. After appearing on Fred Kohler’s nationally broadcast Chicago-based wrestling program, Kowalski caught the eye of Sam Muchnick and other members of the NWA’s hierarchy, all of whom were interested in employing the young giant. He also used the ring name Hercules Kowalski before settling on the name that would make him famous, “Killer” Kowalski.
EDOUARD CARPENTIER PROFESSIONAL
Standing 6’6″ and weighing nearly 300 lbs., it wasn’t difficult to understand what attracted Ruby to Spulnik and he soon made his professional debut in 1948, originally competing in the Central States promotion as Tarzan Kowalski. He was discovered and trained by promoter Bert Ruby, who saw a future superstar (and, no doubt, many dollar bills) in the massive 22 year-old. Wladek “Killer” Kowalski was born Edward Władysław Spulnik on Octoin Windsor, Ontario. “Killer” Kowalski, the hulking Polish monster of the mat, was unquestionably one of the most famous of them all.
EDOUARD CARPENTIER PRO
Pro wrestling was experiencing a huge boom in popularity and certain names stuck out in the minds of wrestling fans and the public at large. At a time when a broadcast day for the networks lasted less than 12 hours, there was still hour after hour of professional wrestling featured on the new entertainment medium. During the “Golden Age” of professional wrestling immediately following World War II, there were many famous wrestling heroes and villains that were known all across the country, due primarily to the fact that wrestling was an enormous part of the early development of television.
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