Penny Banner

Infobox Wrestler
name=Mary Kostecki
names=Penny Banner


img_capt=
height=convert|5|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on|lk=on
weight=convert|165|lb|kg|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=birth date|1934|8|11|mf=y
birth_place=St. Louis, Missouri
death_date=death date and age|2008|5|12|1934|8|11
death_place=
resides=Charlotte, North Carolinacite web |url=http://www.glorywrestling.com/gg/PennyBanner/PB.asp |title=Penny Banner of G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling |accessdate=2008-02-16 |publisher=G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling]
trainer=Marines in Judo Class
debut=July 1954
retired=June 1977cite web|url=http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=PROWRESTLING12-08-12-04 |title=Alex Marvez's weekly look at professional wrestling |accessdate=2008-02-16 |date=2004-08-12 |publisher=Scripps Howard News Service |last=Marvez |first=Alex]

Penny Banner (August 11, 1934 – May 12, 2008), born Mary Ann Kostecki,cite web|url=http://www.austin360.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/L/lipstickanddynamite/ajc.html|title='Lipstick & Dynamite': You'll fall for these ladies|author=Eleanor Ringel Gillespie|publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|accessdate=2008-07-14] was a professional wrestler. She was best known for her time spent in the American Wrestling Association. She was also the Commissioner of the Professional Girl Wrestling Association (PGWA).

Early life

Growing up, Mary Ann Kostecki's family did not have television.cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingChats/ladies.html|title=Lipstick Dynamite, Piss Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling Chat with Penny Banner, Ida May Martinez and Ella Waldek|author=Greg Oliver|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2008-07-14|date=April 29, 2004] She idolized Hank Williams Sr., a musician, when she was young.

Later, Kostecki began working at a cocktail waitress in St. Louis, while also acting as a nanny to three children.cite web|url=http://www.warned.net/InterviewPennyBanner.html|title=Wrestling Interview With Penny Banner|author=E L Farrell|publisher=Warned.net|accessdate=2008-07-14|date=October 2, 2006] During this time, Sam Muchnick, owner of the National Wrestling Alliance, came into the lounge where she worked, and her boss told him that Banner was capable of doing 200 sit-ups. Muchnick bet her she could not complete the task, and after she did, she began getting calls to be a female professional wrestler.

Professional wrestling career

Kostecki began her career in wrestling as a way to learn how to defend herself outside of the ring. She came up with the name "Penny Banner" because she admired Charlton Heston, who used the surname Banner in a movie, and the first name Penny was also significant to her.

She held many titles in her career, including the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship three times between 1956 and 1960, the NWA Texas Women's Championship once in 1936, and the AWA World Women's Champion in 1961. During her career, Banner had her nosed ripped up and her elbow dislocated.

Banner claimed that she retired in 1977 after June Byers, who owned the NWA Women's Championship, retired because of a car accident, and that Moolah had corned much of the national women's wrestling scene with her trainees and herself, which left Banner with nobody to wrestle in the Carolinas.

After retirement

After retiring from the ring, Banner worked as a real-estate agent, worked in a rodeo, was the president of a local 4H, and began showing horses. She competed in the Senior Olympics doing swimming plus the shot put and discus throws. She also served as the Commissioner of the PGWA from 1992 until her passing.

Banner's autobiography, "Banner Days" was completed 2005. Also in 2005, she was featured in the documentary film "Lipstick & Dynamite".

Personal life

Banner went on five dates with Elvis Presley between 1956 and late 1958. She was married to Johnny Weaver for 35 years before divorcing him in 1994. She had one child, a daughter named Wendi (*1960).

In late 2005, Penny Banner was diagnosed with cancer. In February 2006, the cancer had shrunk considerably after a doctor's check-up. In late 2007, Banner suffered several health crises, including pneumonia, resulting in severe weight loss. She died in her sleep at the home of her daughter, Wendi, in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 12 2008.

In wrestling

*Signature and finishing moves
**Inside cradle
**Sunset flip
**Dropkick

Championships and accomplishments

*American Wrestling Association:*AWA World Women's Championship (1 time)

*George Tragos/Lou Thesz International Wrestling Institute:*Frank Gotch Award (2008)cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/hof/iwim.html |title=International Wrestling Institute and Museum |accessdate=2008-02-16 |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo]

*Georgia Championship Wrestling:*NWA Southern Women's Championship (Georgia version) (1 time)cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/ga-south-wm.html |title=N.W.A. Women's Southern Title (Georgia) |accessdate=2008-02-16 |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |quote=Penny Banner & Lorraine Johnson, 55, Ohio]

*National Wrestling Alliance:*NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Bonnie Watson (1), Betty Jo Hawkins (1) and Lorraine Johnson (1)

*NWA Southwest Sports:*NWA Texas Women's Championship (1 time)

*Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame:*Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2005)cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/hof/pwhf.html |title=The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum |accessdate=2008-02-16 |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo]

*Stampede Wrestling:*Stampede Wrestling Hall of Famecite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame |accessdate=2008-02-16 |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo]

*St. Louis Wrestling Hall Of Fame
**(Class of 2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.bannerdays.com/ The official website of Penny Banner]
* [http://www.glorywrestling.com/gg/PennyBanner/PB.asp/ G.L.O.R.Y profile]
* [http://www.ladysports.com PGWA Website]