Ivan Putski

Infobox Wrestler
name = Ivan Putski


names = Ivan Putski
height = 178 cm (5 ft, 10 in)cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/ivanputski/|title=Hall of Fame profile|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-12-17]
weight = 109 - 129 kg (240 - 285 lb)
birth_date = birth date and age|1941|1|21cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/i/ivan-putski.html|title=Ivan Putski's profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-12-17]
birth_place = Kraków, Poland
death_date =
death_place =
resides =Austin, Texas
billed = Poland
trainer =
debut =
retired =

Josef Bednarski (born January 21, 1941), is a Polish former professional wrestler and bodybuilder. Throughout his wrestling career he was known by the ring name Ivan Putski and was given the nickname "Polish Power".

Putski is a former WWF Tag Team Champion with Tito Santana. Ivan was known to have an ongoing feud with another professional at the time, "Superstar" Billy Graham over the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship, who also had an incredible physique and strength, which led to many pose-downs, arm wrestling bouts, and long, physical matches between the two. Other rivals included Iron Sheik, Ivan Koloff, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura.

Early life

He was born in Poland and migrated to the United States at a young age. The family arrived in Texas, where Putski began his professional wrestling career.

Professional wrestling

On February 9, 1970, Putski defeated Brute Bernard and Missouri Mauler for the NWA American Tag Team Championship. He also won the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship with Jose Lothario twice in 1973.

In mid-1974, Putski worked with the American Wrestling Association.

World Wide Wrestling Federation

Putski debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1976. While in the WWWF, Putski feuded with many wrestlers, such as Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, and Ivan Koloff. On June 25, 1976 at Showdown at Shea, Putski defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna. Four years later on August 9, Putski was once again victorious at the same event when he beat Johnny Rodz.

On October 22, 1979, Putski teamed with Tito Santana to defeat Johnny and Jerry Valiant to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship. They held the title for six months before they lost it to the Wild Samoans.

He began to slow down his career in the 1980s. He won his last tag team championship in May 1981, teaming with Wahoo McDaniel to defeat Dory Funk, Jr. and Larry Lane for the SWCW World Tag Team Championship. In November 1985, Randy Savage defeated Ivan Putski in the opening round of the Wrestling Classic.

World Wrestling Federation

He returned to the WWF in November 1987, but he was defeated in a WWF Legends Battle Royal by Dan Spivey.

In 1995, Ivan was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame by his son, Scott. The father and son team returned in July 1997 to defeat Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher in tag team action on "Raw is War". xxxxxxxxx

trongman career

Aside from wrestling, Ivan Putski also competed as a strongman. Putski participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition, finishing eighth in a field of ten competitorscite web|url=http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/wsm/history/history10.html/|title=The World's Strongest Man|publisher=Theworldsstrongestman.com|accessdate=2008-08-20] . Putski gained his remarkable leg strength by running up and down the stands at a football stadium near his home in Austin, Texas.

Personal life

His son, Scott Putski, is also a professional wrestler. He had some success in both the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.

He currently lives in Austin, Texas where he is a security guard at Jack C. Hays High School.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Polish Hammer" (Running or standing double axe handle blow to the chest):*Bear hug:*Suplex:*Scoop powerslam:*Headlock

Championships and accomplishments

*Big Time Wrestling:*NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario:*NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jose Lothario

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI Tag Team of the Year (1979) with Tito Santana:*PWI ranked him # 170 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. :*PWI ranked him # 92 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Tito Santana in 2003.

*Southwest Championship Wrestling:*SCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Wahoo McDaniel

*World Wrestling Federation:*WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1995):*WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Tito Santana

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards:*Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (1984):*Worst Wrestler (1984)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/i/ivan-putski.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/ivanputski/ WWE Hall of Fame profile]