- Glenn Kulka
Infobox Wrestler
name=Glenn Kulka
img_capt=
names=Glenn Kulka
Glen Kulka
height=height|ft=6|in=3
weight=convert|275|lb|kg|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=birth date and age|1964|3|3
death_date=
birth_place=Edmonton, Alberta ,Canada
death_place=
resides=Ottawa, Ontario
billed=
trainer=Bret Hart Leo Burke
debut=November 10 1997
vs.Sexton Hardcastle
retired=2000
website=|Glenn Kulka (born
March 3 ,1964 ) is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, hockey and football player who competed in Canadian independent promotions during the late 1990s and had a brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation in 1997.He also, at one time, held the North American pro football bench press record, pressing 225 pounds for 53 reps. [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/DonCallis/2004/06/20/507595.html |title=NFL will provide Lesnar a lesson |accessdate= |author=Callis, Don|date=2004-06-20|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling ]
Career
Early career
Born in
Edmonton, Alberta to Stan and Jeannine Kulka, (the youngest of 4 children) Glenn Kulka began playing hockey in the minor leagues with theBritish Columbia Hockey League with theCowichan Valley Capitals in 1980 and theMedicine Hat Tigers ,Spokane Flyers and theNanaimo Islanders in theWestern Hockey League from 1981-1983. [ cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=10918 |title=Glenn Kulka |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=HockeyDB.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] He signed his first professional contract, in 1986, with the Edmonton Eskimos, (as an offensive lineman) later playing with Montreal, Toronto, Saskatchewan, (and retiring) while playing for the Ottawa Roughriders. Signing with theOttawa Rough Riders as anoffensive lineman anddefensive end in 1990, he later was part of the Canadian All-Star Team the following year.While playing with the Ottawa Rough Riders, he was arrested and convicted of cocaine possession in March 1992 and was fined $300. The CFL also responded by issuing Kulka an additional $500 fine and was ordered to act as the organization's official anti-drug spokesman. [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/jan26_kulka.html |title=Kulka Glenn Kulka faces legal bout |accessdate= |author=Lisle, Lisa and Jason Cumming |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2000-01-26 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]
He later reentered professional hockey joining the
Hampton Roads Admirals in theEast Coast Hockey League during 1993 and 1994. Kulka joined theSaskatchewan Roughriders in 1995 and, after teaming with Bret "The Hitman" Hart in a tag team match against "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and "Psycho" Sid Vicious in a fundraising event for the Roughriders, Kulka became interested in pursuing a career in professional wrestling. [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/kulka_feature.html |title=Kulka joins mat pack |accessdate= |author=Brennan, Don |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1997-04-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]Kulka later appeared with fellow teammates Mike Anderson,
Bobby Jurasin andScott Hendrickson on WWF Superstars supporting Bret Hart at ringside during a match against "Psycho" Sid Vicious andTed DiBiase 'sMillion Dollar Corporation which includedKing Kong Bundy ,Kama and Bodydonna Skip at theRegina Agridome inRegina, Saskatchewan on November 4, 1995.Bret Hart later offered to train Kulka, and, with
Leo Burke , Kulka spent the next two years training in Calgary, Alberta and later toured withEmile Dupree 'sGrand Prix Wrestling during the summer of 1997. [ cite web |url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/may3_kulka.html |title=Kulka enjoying 'AAA' Memphis |accessdate= |author=Oliver, Greg |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1999-05-03 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]World Wrestling Federation
Later signed to a developmental contract with the WWF, he began appearing on WWF house shows in Ottawa during late-1997 appearing at ringside with
Ahmed Johnson against Rocky Maivia and theNation of Domination on November 7, 1997 and, two days later, made his television debut on Monday Night Raw defeating Sexton Hardcastle at theToronto Skydome on November 10, 1997. [ cite web |url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct23_kulka.html |title=Kulka to debut at SkyDome show |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1997-10-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]He later scored victories over
Doug Furnas ,Miguel Perez, Jr. and Adam Copeland before the end of the year [ cite web |url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_1671.shtml |title=Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #466 |accessdate= |author=Keller, Wade |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1997-11-15 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch |pages= |language= |archiveurl=http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:Nii2qHO5kz4J:www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_1671.shtml+&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=21&gl=us |archivedate=2007-09-06 |quote= ] and was also scheduled to make a one night appearance with Team Canada at the 1997 Survivor Series with "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart andTiger Ali Singh against Team USA which included The Patriot,Vader , Dude Love and Goldust on November 9, 1997 [ cite web |url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_1188.shtml |title=Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #462 |accessdate= |author=Keller, Wade |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1997-10-18 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch |pages= |language= |archiveurl=http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:cOGAcPLunasJ:www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_1188.shtml+&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=32&gl=us |archivedate=2007-09-05 |quote= ] although Kulka and Singh were replaced with Doug Furnas &Phil Lafon while the Patriot and Dude Love were replaced byMarc Mero andSteve Blackman .After suffering a broken leg during a match against The Jackyl in Regina during early 1998 [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/demarco_06feb98.html |title=Carl De Marco Q & A: February 6, 1998 |accessdate= |author=Oliver, Greg |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1998-02-06 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] , Kulka was forced to undergo corrective surgery remaining inactive for six months while in rehab. While recovering from his injury, he was invited to the WWF Training Dojo training under
Dory Funk, Jr. [ cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/smokyrobmoore/jp012599.htm |title=View from the Rising Sun: WWF Funking Dojo |accessdate= |author=Horie, Masanori |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1999-01-25 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Rob Moore, Texas Wrestling Announcer |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and made several appearances at the Dojo teaming withTom Howard against theHardy Boyz on September 24 and participated in a 14-man "WWF Dojo" Battle Royal at the NWA 50th Anniversary Show on October 24, 1998. [ cite web |url=http://www.pwbts.com/columns/b1018.html |title=As I See It: NWA 50th Anniversary |accessdate= |author=Magee, Bob |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=1998 |month=October |format= |work= |publisher=Pwbts.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]He would also appear at the WWF Dojo teaming with
Jose Estrada, Jr. againstThe Truth Commission (Recon & Sniper) on February 5, 1999.Power Pro Wrestling
Sent to the Memphis-based
Power Pro Wrestling , a WWF developmental territory, he first appeared as a masked wrestler who came to Michael Hayes defense after being disqualified in a match against Baldo after interference fromDowntown Bruno during a televised match on March 20, 1999. As members of managerRandy Hales stable attempted to attack Hayes after the match, a masked wrestler ran into the ring giving Hayes ahigh five before suddenly turning on him.After Downtown Bruno handcuffed Hayes, Kulka helped members of Hales' stable to carry Hayes out of the arena and into the trunk of a car driven by "Irish Assassin" Mick Tierney who drove off with Hayes inside. In an interview following this incident, Randy Hales revealed the masked wrestler as Glen Kulka, a former CFL player and "cousin" of Michael Hayes.
Aligning himself with Hales' group, he would face several veterans including Doug Furnas, "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony and
Kurt Angle as well as teaming withJR Smooth and Mick Tierney during his feud withAllan Steele during early 1999. While there, he would participate in two "Weapon Battle Royals" as well as an 8-man match for the Young Guns title against Kurt Angle, Allan Steele, Mick Tierney,Kid Wikkid ,Derrick King ,Bulldog Raines andVic Grimes on May 8, 1999.Retirement
In 1999, Kulka defeated The Godfather by disqualification at a WWF house show in Ottawa on June 21 in his last appearance with the company. Remaining with Power Pro Wrestling for the next several months, he and Mick Tierney were awarded the PPW Tag Team titles on October 2 after
Bill Dundee left the promotion. However, the titles became vacant after Kulka left the promotion himself in November.Released from his contract by the WWF in February 2000 [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/kulka_00feb18.html |title=Luna & Kulka released: WWF.com |accessdate= |author=Oliver, Greg |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2000-02-18 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] , he later feuded with Pierre-Carl Ouelette in
Northern Championship Wrestling , facing him at ChallengeMania 8 in May 2000. Although alleged to be in negotiations withExtreme Championship Wrestling [ cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20000319/ai_n13848946 |title=As predicted, Vince McMahon back in a big way |accessdate= |author=Brown, Blackjack |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2000-03-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] , Kulka retired from professional wrestling soon after his release.Recent years
Returning to Ottawa, he endeavored to start a gym and managed a Ford car dealership. In 2004, Kulka was asked by Ottawa sports station
The Team 1200 to cover on-field commentary for theOttawa Renegades . This eventually led to a regular spot as a co-host for Team 1200's "Over The Edge ", a popular sports talk radio show on CFGO. [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/03/09/1480554.html |title=Glenn Kulka still mouthing off |accessdate= |author=Johnson, Steven Dean |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-03-14 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]In late 2006, he made two guest appearances on the sports talk show "Off the Record".
Glenn still lives in Ottawa, with his wife Mariko, and his two children, Laura and Jaxson. He is one of several former CFL players to publicly admit to steroid use, over his professional career.
Glenn will be making his MMA debut as he climbs into the ring with Wayne Xilon on the next Freedom Fight Card held on July 26th, 2008 at The Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau, Quebec.
Glenn made short work of Wayne Xilon by beating him at 1:13 of Round#1 by way of TKO.
Championships and accomplishments
*Power Pro Wrestling
**PPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Mick Tierney
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI ranked him # 392 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2000References
http://www.sportsshooter.com/seankilpatrick/pastgallery/images/3.jpghttp://ottsun.canoe.ca/Sports/OtherSports/2008/07/27/6276241-sun.html
External links
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/g/glen-kulka.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.bodyslamming.com/other/kulka.html Other Superstars - Glen Kulka]
* [http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=3455&worker=Glen+Kulka CageMatch.de - Glen Kulka] ger
* [http://www.sportsshooter.com/seankilpatrick/pastgallery/pages/3.html SportsShooter.com - Special Gallery] , a photo of Glen Kulka taken by theOttawa Sun
*imdb|name=Glenn Kulka|id=2431270
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