Mighty Igor

Mighty Igor
Ring name(s)	Dick Garza Johnny Bruce Mighty Igor Mighty Igor Vodic Strong Man Igor World's Strongest Wrestler
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight	289 lb (131 kg)
Born	July 16, 1931(1931-07-16)
Died	January 7, 2002(2002-01-07) (aged 70)
Billed from	Dearborn, Michigan
Debut	1967

Richard (Dick) Joseph Garza (July 16, 1931 – January 7, 2002), better known as Mighty Igor Vodic, or simply Mighty Igor, was a professional wrestler. He is a one time American Wrestling Association World champion. As Mighty Igor, he was frequently billed as the "World's Strongest Wrestler".

Early years

Garza grew up in Michigan and competed in bodybuilding contests. He won the Mr. Michigan title in 1954 before competing in Mr. America and Mr. Universe competitions.^[1][2] At a gym, Garza got into an argument with professional wrestler Brute Bernard and knocked him unconscious. This gained him the interest of wrestling promoter Bert Ruby, who convinced him to enter professional wrestling.^[1]

Professional wrestling career

Garza wrestled in Michigan and Ohio during his early career.^[2][3] He competed for a promotion named Wolverine Wrestling, where he won his first title, the Wolverine Wrestling Mid-West Heavyweight Championship, on February 14, 1957.^[3] He also competed in California, where he won the Los Angeles version of the WWA International Television Tag Team Championship in 1962 while teaming with Eric Rommel.^[4]

Garza later joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he was given the ring name Mighty Igor Vodic by Verne Gagne.^[3] On May 15, 1965, he won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Mad Dog Vachon. He held the title belt for one week before dropping it back to Vachon.^[5] In 1965 and 1966, Vodic also had two reigns as the Nebraska Heavyweight Champion.^[6] The following year, he defeated Bob Orton to win the AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship.^[7]

On January 7, 2002, Garza died after suffering a heart attack.^[1]

Ring style

Garza used the gimmick of a friendly, but unintelligent, Polish man. At times, he would wear nurse's shoes and long underwear in addition to his wrestling attire to make himself look foolish.^[8] He was also known for bringing toys and kielbasa to the ring, and he shared the kielbasa with his fans.^[1]

The other component of Garza's gimmick was his strength. He performed several feats of strength for the audience, including leaning with his back against a wrestling ring and using his legs to hold back a car driving toward him. Other performances included bending iron bars or placing cement blocks on his head and having someone break them with a sledgehammer.^[1]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Bear hug^[3]

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association
  • AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[5]
  • Nebraska Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[6]

• NWA Detroit
  • NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) (1 time)
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (1 time) — with Hank James

• NWA Los Angeles
  • WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Eric Rommel^[4]

• New Independent Wrestling Association
  • NIWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first)^[9]

• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Mooneyham, Mike. "The Mighty Igor Dead At 70". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Archived from the original on 2008-03-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20080312152145/http://www.mikemooneyham.com/pages/viewfull.cfm?ObjectID=8B84E940-07C9-11D6-853E00D0B7B3F75C. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Friend, Percival A.. "Dick Garza". The Way It Was. Archived from the original on 2009-10-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20091022144340/http://geocities.com/percivalafriend/friend011402.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Wrestler Profiles: Mighty Igor Vodik". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/mighty-igor.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "International Television Tag Team Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/nwa/int-tv-t.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/awa/awa-h.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Nebraska Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ne/ne-h.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
7. ^ "AWA Midwest Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ne/awa-mw-h.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
8. ^ Heenan, Bobby; Steve Anderson (2004). Other Obstacles: Winning Life's Wrestling Matches. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 77. ISBN 1582617627. 
9. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2000). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 

External links

Professional wrestling portal

• Online World of Wrestling profile

Persondata
Name	Mighty Igor
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1931-07-16
Place of birth
Date of death	2002-01-07
Place of death