On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Killer Kowalski, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Walter Kowalski (born Edward Władysław Spulnik) was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on October 13, 1926.
He died on August 30, 2008 at the age of 81.
Killer Kowalski has won a total of 2 championships in major promotions during his career.
Killer Kowalski was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 as an individual and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2003 as part of the Television Era wing.
Killer Kowalski Profile Index
Profile Info
- GenderMale
- Real NameWalter Kowalski (born Edward Władysław Spulnik)
- Ring Names
- Killer Kowalski (April 26, 1977 - March 14, 2008)
- Executioner #1 (March 10, 1976 - April 25, 1977)
- Killer Kowalski (April 21, 1950 - March 9, 1976)
- The Masked Destroyer (October 11, 1975 - December 23, 1975)
- Wladek Kowalski (November 29, 1948 - July 16, 1963)
- Tarzan Kowalski (January 6, 1949 - January 31, 1953)
- Born October 13, 1926
- Died August 30, 2008 (aged 81)
- Nationality
Canada - Birth PlaceWindsor, Ontario, Canada
- Billed From
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Height 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
- Weight
- 280 lbs (127 kg)
Career History
-
Roles
- Part Time Wrestler (June 23, 1980 - March 14, 2008)
- Wrestler (January 1, 1947 - April 24, 1977)
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
WWWFApril 29, 1974 April 23, 1977 Promotion 
NWANovember 29, 1948 April 11, 1976 Promotion 
CWFNovember 10, 1975 January 27, 1976 Promotion 
AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
April 5, 1975 May 9, 1975 Promotion AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
November 24, 1973 December 24, 1973 Promotion 
NWA HOLLYWOODFebruary 15, 1972 June 16, 1972 Promotion 
BTW DALLASApril 20, 1970 September 18, 1971 Promotion 
GACApril 24, 1970 February 12, 1971 Promotion 
SLWCApril 14, 1970 August 21, 1970 Promotion 
WWWFAugust 14, 1962 March 25, 1970 Promotion 
WCW AUSTRALIAOctober 23, 1964 July 16, 1968 Promotion 
BTW HAWAIINovember 8, 1967 March 20, 1968 Promotion 
AWAJuly 29, 1966 April 23, 1967 Promotion BTW HAWAIISeptember 29, 1965 January 5, 1966 Promotion SLWCFebruary 3, 1961 August 14, 1964 Promotion 
BTW CALGARYOctober 27, 1961 July 10, 1964 Promotion 
FKESeptember 16, 1960 March 22, 1963 Promotion 
NWA DETROITOctober 29, 1960 November 3, 1961 Promotion 
CWCMay 28, 1959 October 15, 1960 Promotion SMSANovember 11, 1948 December 11, 1959 Promotion CWCOctober 19, 1957 August 30, 1958 Promotion 
CSWJanuary 6, 1949 January 20, 1955 Promotion FKEJanuary 1, 1951 April 21, 1954 Promotion 
GACApril 19, 1950 June 26, 1953 Promotion 
MID AMERICAFebruary 27, 1950 November 24, 1952 Promotion 
NWA SFMay 8, 1951 September 25, 1951 Promotion SWS TXAugust 22, 1950 December 19, 1950 Promotion NWA DETROITNovember 23, 1948 October 2, 1950 -
Images History
Apr 1977
Mar 1976
Jan 1947 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment Details from to Heel January 1, 1947 March 14, 2008
-
Finishers
- Kowalski Claw - Vice Grip to the opponent's stomach or head (January 1, 1947 - March 14, 2008)
- Diving Knee Drop (January 1, 1947 - April 24, 1977)
Titles & Accomplishments
Career Awards
- WWE Hall of Fame - Individual (Year1996)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Television Era (Year2003)
-
World Wrestling Entertainment
-
x1 WWWF World Tag Team Championship (with Big John Studd) -
x1 WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (with Gorilla Monsoon)
-
50th State Big Time Wrestling
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version)
Atlantic Athletic Commission
- 1 AAC World Heavyweight Championship
Central States Wrestling
- 1 NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (with Bulldog Austin)
- 1 NWA Iowa Tag Team Championship (with Ripper Daniels)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 1 NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)
International Wrestling Federation
- 1 IWF Heavyweight Championship
- 1 IWF Tag Team Championship (with Johnny Valiant)
Montreal Athletic Commission
- 13 MAC International Heavyweight Championship
NWA All-Star Wrestling
- 2 NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 with Ox Anderson, 1 with Gene Kiniski)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- 1 NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (with Kinji Shibuya)
NWA San Francisco
- 1 NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)
- 1 NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (with Hans Herman)
Southwest Sports, Inc. / Big Time Wrestling
- 2 NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship
- 1 NWA Texas Tag Team Championship
Stampede Wrestling
- 2 NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version)
- 2 NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (with Jim Wright)
United States Wrestling Federation
- 1 USWF Tag Team Championship (with Ox Baker)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- 5 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 4 IWA World Tag Team Championship (2 with Skull Murphy, 1 with Bill Miller, 1 with Mark Lewin)
-
Other Accomplishments
- Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 1995)
- New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2008)
- NWA World Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Tournament Winner (1970)
- Cauliflower Alley Club's Iron Mike Mazurki Award (2002)
- PWI Tag Team of the Year (1976 - with Big John Studd)
- PWI Stanley Weston Award (2010)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
Teams & Relations
-
Tag Teams & Stables
- The Executioners - Big John Studd (March 9, 1976 - April 25, 1977)
- Managers
