Dig A Hole: Wrestling Great Wladek (Walter) “Killer” Kowalski
September 3rd, 2008 by Scott Marks
I saw Walter “Killer” Kowalski wrestle only once in my life. Being an AWA/Wally Carbo/Bob Luce baby, I seldom had the opportunity to see wrestlers from other circuits do battle in the Chicago area. My memory is a bit hazy, but I seem to recall the “Killer” dressed in a giant rabbit suit, hopping up and down, in order to mentally torment his fierce opponent Baron Fritz von Raschke. All I remember is 10 minutes of dueling claw-holds.
Apart from his status as legendary bad guy, the only thing I knew about the “Killer” was that he was Polish. With a name like Wladek Kowalski, Helen Keller blindfolded in another room could have figured that out. Here are ten things (in no particular order) I learned bout “Killer” Kowalski while researching this obit:
- Kowalski stopped eating meat in the late 60s and claimed to be the only vegetarian in professional wrestling.
- He stood 6 feet 7 inches and weighed 275 pounds.
- A self-proclaimed career bachelor, “Killer” tied the knot with Theresa Ferrioli on June 19, 2006.
- During a 1958 match against Pat O’Connor, boxing great (and guest referee) Jack Dempsey had to be hospitalized after being on the receiving end on an accidental kick to the diaphragm by Kowalski.
- Before being dubbed the “Killer,” Kowalski wrestled under the nicknames Hercules Kowalski, Tarzan Kowalski and The Polish Apollo.
- In a 1952 match against Yukon Eric, the force of the “Killer’s” knee drop knocked his opponent’s badly cauliflowered ear clean off his head. Kowalski apologized for performing a Van Gogh on Eric, but the next time he stepped into the ring, the fans yelled, “You animal! You killer.’” The name stuck.
- His favorite opponent was career good guy Bruno Sammartino.
- He legally changed his name to Killer Kowalski in 1963.
- After emigrating from Poland, Kowalski hoped to become an electrical engineer. While working out at a Y.M.C.A., it was suggested that someone with his physique should become a wrestler. Kowalski, who was only making fifty-bucks a week working at a plant, made his pro debut in 1948.
- After his retirement in 1977, Kowalski started a professional wrestling school in Malden, Massachusetts.
On August 8, Kowalski suffered a major heart attack. Ten days later he was taken off life support. “Killer” Kowalski died Saturday in Everett, Mass. He was 81.
Killer Kowalski vs. Yukon Eric
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