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Services for Walter will be held Wednesday, September 3rd at the:
Weir Funeral Home
144 Salem Street
Malden, MA 02148
Afternoon Services 2pm-4pm
Evening Services 6pm-8pm
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that wrestling fans send donations to:
Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Fund
c/o Citizens Bank
876 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
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Walter “Killer” Kowalski. 1926 – 8/30/08.
You already know how much I respected and adored Walter Kowalski, who was my wrestling trainer and probably the only consistent male in my life for four years. I'm very sad to say that he passed away today.
Now, Prowrestling Digest has posted an amazing tribute to him - with some of my photos - that is fitting of his amazing legend: http://tinyurl.com/5tnk4d
“Shoot for the moon. If you miss, you may just hit a star.”!
“Make the people NOTICE YOU.” – Walter “Killer” Kowalski
April Hunter
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Michael Weaver, Jr. of Wrestling Update first reported, and it's now been confirmed, the passing of Walker "Killer" Kowalski:
From Frankie Kazarian's blog:
Walter "Killer" Kowalski
Current mood: sad
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" Kowlaski 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, thatI 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, andI 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
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Funk's Corner - Killer Kowalski - His "Stomp to
the Face" Didn't Hurt at All
In 1952, wrestling magazines were as important to professional wrestling
as television. As a 10 year old kid I living on Dory Funk Sr.'s Flying
Mare Ranch in Umbarger, Texas we had no wrestling on television. My main
source of information was the wrestling magazines published in New York.
I was shocked when I read the front page of Wrestling Review and saw a
picture of Killer Kowalski and Yukon Eric. The headline read, Killer Kowalski
kicks off Yukon Eric's ear.
Kowalski was 6' 6" tall and looked like the most amazing athlete
I had ever seen. I could imagine Kowalski's boot coming down on Yukon
Eric's ear and knocking it right off his head. Killer Kowalski was the
top heel in the country at the time.
Twelve years later, my father received a call from Jim Barnett, Wrestling
Promoter in Sydney Australia asking if I would be interested in coming
to Australia for three months. As I got off a Quantas Airlines 707 at
Sydney International Airport people were talking about professional wrestling
on television and "Bad Guy" Killer Kowalski.
They told me of an interview on a national TV show where the host asked
Killer Kowalski if it hurt when he stomped his opponent in the face with
his size 16 wrestling boot. Killer replied, "No it doesn't hurt at
all. I wear special thick soles and it doesn't hurt my foot at all."
The value of a professional wrestler to a promotion is his box office
appeal. My first match was in Sydney Stadium, only a short walk from our
hotel in Kings Cross. Sydney Stadium held 17,000 people and it was packed
to the rafters for the main event, Killer Kowalski against Tex McKenzie.
That same week Killer Kowalski and Tex McKenzie sold out Melbourne's Festival
Hall, 12,000 fans, Perth Australia's National Stadium 25,000 people and
Brisbane sold out to the tune of 8,000 people. Killer Kowalski was the
biggest star in one of the best territories in the world, Australia.
We worked five days a week and traveled first class from one end of the
country to the other. Killer Kowalski was the top heel for Jim Barnett's
Promotion. First class is the best way to describe Killer Kowalski as
a person. It was such a thrill on the end of the tour to have the opportunity
to wrestle the person I had been so impressed with as a child.
Killer Kowalski was a dear friend of Marti and I.
We will miss him.
Our condolences to his family.
Dory Funk Jr. and Marti Funk - http://www.dory-funk.com
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Walter "Killer" Kowalski 08/30/08
It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of Wladek (Walter) "Killer" Kowalski, a life member of the Cauliflower Alley Club and a Director Emeritus. Kowalski, aged 82, was one of the top villains of professional wrestling from the 1950s through the 1970s.
Kowalski, who is perhaps most widely remembered for the kneedrop that tore off part of Yukon Eric’s ear, was also a champion in several promotions throughout his career. A master of the clawhold, Killer had legendary battles against the likes of Bruno Sammartino, Whipper Watson, Yukon Eric, John Tolos and Mad Dog Vachon. Despite his in-ring persona of a “killer,” he was, in fact, a kind and warm person outside the ring. In the business of professional wrestling, there are very few people about whom one hears nothing negative; Killer Kowalski was one of those people.
In addition to wrestling, Killer was well regarded as a trainer of young wrestlers. Some of his graduates include Perry Saturn, John Kronus, Triple H and Big John Studd.
Kowalski was a strict vegetarian and credited his excellent physical conditioning and longevity to his diet. He was married for the first time in 2006 to Theresa who was his constant companion in his later years. With bad knees from his many years in the ring, he was confined to a rehabilitation center over the last period of his life.
Kowalski is one of the most decorated men in the history of professional wrestling, having been inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame (class of 1996), the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (class of 2003), the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (class of 1996), the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (class of 2007) and being the recipient of the 2002 Iron Mike Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club.
Please click here to visit our tribute page to Killer.
The Cauliflower Alley Club offer our deepest condolences to the friends
and family of Walter “Killer” Kowalski. There will never be
another like him.
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Walter "Killer" Kowalski. He passed away last night with his wife by his side.
Information on funeral arrangements, memorials and tributes will be updated as we have them on Killerkowalskis.com and USWFwrestling.com
We ask that all wrestling fans respect the privacy of Walter and his family at this time.
Jamie Jamitkowski
CEO, Chaotic Wrestling
www.chaoticwrestling.com
www.chaotictc.com
www.killerkowalskis.com
978-852-8534
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Walter "Killer" Kowalski reportedly has passed
away.
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 11:03 — J.R.
I received an email this morning from long time wrestling fan Diane Devine who was informed that Killer Kowalski passed away early Saturday morning around 2:15 a.m. Killer has been in a coma for quite some time after suffering a heart attack and other ailments that severely affected his brain function. Until mid week, amazingly Walter's vital signs were strong even though the doctor's had discovered the severe brain damage.
Kowalski will always be considered one of the businesses greatest antagonists and he was a perennial main eventer around the world for decades. Walter also was an accomplished photographer, writer, and taught many individuals who went on to become some of wrestling's more prominent names including his best student, HHH.
Walter was a staunch disciplinarian when he was actively teaching his students but had a heart of gold and a unique sense of humor. For example, when Walter married at approximately 79 years of age he kidded some of his closest acquaintances that "he had to marry the lady because she was with child."
Kowalski was a vegan who at one time had one of the most freakish physiques of any one in the business and was always considered too nice a guy by many promoters to be a wrestling "bad guy" but nonetheless Killer Kowalski will always be remembered for being one of the wrestling business all time greats.
God Bless you Walter....thanks for the kindness and friendship you bestowed upon me and may you rest in eternal peace.
Jim Ross
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I guess at this age... when we reflect upon those
we 'knew'... or that 'impacted our lives'... and 'their passing'... it
is a time of thought and of the mystery of life...
I believe in a Sovereign Lord... so I do NOT believe in 'random events'...
I believe 'everything has purpose and meaning'... whether or not I understand
it...
And I've seen people 'who come into my life' for a 'moment'... and those
who have come in for 'a while'... and those too who have 'remained close'...
Walter Kowalski was one 'who came in for a brief but so important moment'
in the early '60's when I went -- as a young up and coming wrestling star...
I went to the NY 'territory' of Vince McMahon, Sr., on the recommendation
to them by Wild Red Berry in about '63 or '64...
Killer Kowalski was a huge star... almost like a guy who had two distinct
careers... his original publicity photos showed this giant man with an
awesome body... formed by weights and such...
and then... when I met him... he had become a 'vegetarian'... and lost
that 'bulk and buff body'... replacing it with still a tall and formidable
personage... with unbelievable endurance... and his 'style was non-stop'...
so you'd better be 'in shape' if you 'wanted to keep up'...
and 'there was method to his madness of attack'... he would 'pick a body
part'... and 'attack it and attack it'... so the crowd 'knew' he was trying
to destroy you'... by totally disabling that part... your shoulder...
arm... leg... whatever he selected... it was so tenacious...
A man of some 'mystery'... a Canadian... but a guy with a heart of pure
gold...
They booked me with him (as I was 'first getting over' on their TV and
in that area')... in Washington DC... and there 'Vince and all the bosses...
including Toots Mondt, Zacko, and Gilzenberg were always there... we did
a TV their... that hit NY a week later... and also they ran the old Uline
Arena...(if that name is correct)...
So... I was in a 'featured match'... (not the main event -- that was Bruno
vs whoever was his top opponent then... and the semi... or co-feature
there in Washington DC...would be Bobo with his current top opponent)...
with Kowalski... and they had us 'go Broadway' for 20 minutes... and it
turned out to be an 'awesome match'... the people never sat down... it
was non-stop... and so... the 'bosses loved it too'... in fact... Cowboy
Bill Watts 'got over' there because of 'that match with Killer'... because
of 'going 20 minutes Broadway with him!' (That is 'how over he was')...
he 'totally got me over by going 'through with me'... awesome!
And since I 'could stay with him'... he really took a liking to me...
and 'kind of took me under his wing'... and we began even traveling together...
I lived then in Paulsboro, NJ., and he lived in Philly... and so... we
would travel in his Cadillac...
Plus... he had an airplane... a Beechcraft "V-Tail" Bonanza...
the then 'Cadillac of single engine planes'... and he would take me with
him in that... and also began teaching me how to fly it... I remember...
it had a Canadian tail number... the last letters it seems were VVV...
In fact... once when he went home for a vacation... and left me his car
keys... which also had his plane keys on it... I 'borrowed his plane'...
and flew up and over NY City... while the World's Fair was in progress...
CRAZY...
But he just laughed when I told him... as I said... if you were Walter's
friend... you were his friend...
They 'booked us everywhere'... and each venue... we would do the 20 minutes
Broadway... and it would 'get me over'... (plus the other 'top hands'
began to give me a certain respect... as they saw me emerging in that
light...of course Bruno Sammartino was an awesome friend and mentor too...
as well as Monsoon... so many great men... but Walter was special)...
In fact... in Pennsylvania once... at a 'spot show'... I could see 'Wild
Red Berry watching our match'... (which did not happen much since in the
dressing rooms then... the 'boys' generally played poker... and did not
pay attention to the matches... as neither did the 'office men'... who
should have been...I also say guys who were losing heavily get so upset...
they could not even focus on their match)...thus... years later... in
my dressing rooms... all card playing stopped one hour before the first
match bell!
And Walter and I 'worked a shoot'... and Red Berry thought we had gotten
mad at each other... and went to tell everyone in the dressing room (in
fact James Dillon was a young state athletic commission referee then...
and was there that night)...
Well (and I have always maintained... that two top hands could 'work so
good'... they could 'even make the boys' think it was a 'shoot' if they
did certain things... that were not generally of the 'working tradition')...
so... by the time we got to the dressing room... it was 'set' for us to
really 'get them'... and in fact... the dressing room soon 'chose sides'....
as the older wrestlers sympathized with Walter's saying 'these young guys...
think they are stars... and do not give those of us who are enough respect'...
And then... the younger guys... were on my side...when I said, "These
older guys don't know when its 'down hill for them'... and the changing
of the guard'"...
Old Frank Judson... the office man... 'got it'... because he was 'an old
shooter'... and so... he went along with it... and Walter and I had several
'back to back encounters' in that dressing room... that had to 'be broken
up'... it was truly hilarious...
And he stormed out of there.... then I stormed out of there...
But we were riding together... and laughed all the way home... it was
a 'good rib'... we fooled the boys...
So... Walter "Killer" Kowalski... came into my life for a moment...
and made a huge impact... with 'who he was'... a man of ethics... his
word was good... his heart was huge... and he worked extremely hard in
the ring...
He was a lonely man then... a bachelor... and dated little... I am so
glad he found and had a family as referenced by Diane's email... he was
such a big hearted guy...
In fact... in another 'spot show'...in Virginia... I kept 'potation him'...
and he got mad... and grabbed the ring bell hammer to come after me...
and he was really hot...
But I looked at him... and 'that hammer'... was NOT a full-sized hammer...
but a small one... and it looked so damn funny to see this big 6' 7"
man chasing me with a 'toy hammer'... (I was the baby-face... so could
not run much from the heel)... that I looked at it... I knew he was 'pissed
about the potatoes'... but that hammer looked so ridiculous... I shouted
at him... "what are you going to do with that stupid toy hammer"...
And he stopped... and realized how 'stupid it did look'... and in his
'wolfish way'... he grinned... and threw it away... and then... 'attacked
me'... and 'things were back to normal'...
Eating as a vegetarian... I've never seen anyone consume so many vegetables...
that too was a whole new experience...
When I left there... I only saw him once or twice afterwards...
When I had Mid-South... I never contacted him to 'come in'... because
the trips were such killers... I knew he would not like it there...
I saw him once in Vegas at the Cauliflower Reunion... but I do NOT know
if he 'really remembered' me in the same way I remembered him...
Walter Kowalski... you were a true 'giant to me'... and 'you touched my
life'... may you 'Rest in Peace'...
Cowboy Bill Watts
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Pallbearers (left to right) Paul Levesque, also known as "Triple H", Dan Ouellette, Jamie Jamitkowski, and Mike Hollow carried pro wrestling legend Walter "Killer" Kowalski into St. Joseph's Church.
'Killer' Kowalski, wrestler, remembered at Malden service
September 4, 2008 02:13 PM
By S.I. Rosenbaum, Globe Correspondent
Hundreds of people, many of them younger wrestlers, gathered today at a Malden church to pay their respects to Walter "Killer" Kowalski, the wrestling legend who died during the weekend at the age of 81.
Kowalski, who retired in the late 1970s and taught wrestling in the Boston area afterwards, taught students "how to carry yourself as a champion, how to protect your opponent as well as yourself, the dignity that comes with sweat," Don Bravo, an old associate of Kowalski's, said in the eulogy.
One of Kowalski's most famous students, Paul Levesque, also known as "Triple H," the current World Wrestling Federation world champion, said after the service that Kowalski was an amazing teacher who imparted his wisdom so "guys could live the dream he lived."
The crowd at St. Joseph's Church included young men with shaved heads, long ponytails, and long feathered curls, who had been Kowalski's students. A few women were also among those in the crowd. Many had traveled from far away to attend.
Some wore purple because Kowalski had believed that that color was the best for a wrestler. A reporter and photographer from Japan, where Kowalski had a following, attended.
Kowalski was famous for his signature move, the claw hold, which consisted of grabbing his opponent's stomach and twisting, the Globe reported Sunday.
He retired from pro wrestling, which requires equal parts athleticism and showmanship, in April 1977 and then taught his techniques in Malden and North Andover, holding classes every Saturday up until March.
Outside the ring, Kowalski was a vegetarian who enjoyed classical music, philosophy, and photography, and followed the teachings of Jesus.
He suffered a massive heart attack Aug. 8 and was taken off life support Aug. 18.
A member of World Wrestling Entertainment's Hall of Fame, Kowalski leaves
behind his wife, Theresa Ferrioli, and a brother, Stanley Spulnik of Ottawa.
