Ivan Putski
- Actor
WWF Hall of Famer Ivan Putski was one of the most popular wrestlers in
the late 1970s and early 1980s. His chiseled physique and great
charisma made him a fan favorite for years. His Polish heritage made
him especially popular with the immigrant population of the northeast
pasrt of the country, where he wrestled for the WW(W)F for many years.
Putski was born in Kraków, Poland, in 1941. His family moved to the
United States when he was 9 years old. He originally aspired to be a
football player, but an injury forced him out of that sport and helped
open the door to his wrestling career. He started out in the wrestling
business in the early 1970s, sporting a beard and a less impressive
physique. While still extremely powerful, being mostly a power-lifter
during these years, he did not sport the ripped body that he was known
for later in his career. His strength gained him the moniker "Polish
Power". He won several titles throughout the country earlier in his
career, many of which were won by using his patented finishing move,
the Polish Hammer.
He joined the ranks of the then WWWF in the late 1970s, winning the Tag Team Titles with a young Tito Santana on 22 November 1979. They held the titles for several months before losing them to the Moondogs in 1980. Putski then concentrated on his singles career, feuding with the likes of Ivan Koloff, Iron Sheik, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura during the next couple of years. He remained one of the WWF's most popular stars throughout the early 1980s. Though he never wrestled at any of the early Wrestlemanias, Putski did participate in the Wrestling Classic in the fall of 1985. This was the WWF's first Pay Per View, which was built around a 16 man tournament. Putski lost in the first round to newcomer "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who pinned Putski by illegally using the ropes for leverage.
Putski wrestled off and on during the years after his WWF career. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also recently included in a special magazine released by the WWE profiling the top 50 WWWF/WWF/WWE superstars of all time. His son, Scott Putski, also became a wrestler, wrestling for WCW in the late 1990s.
He joined the ranks of the then WWWF in the late 1970s, winning the Tag Team Titles with a young Tito Santana on 22 November 1979. They held the titles for several months before losing them to the Moondogs in 1980. Putski then concentrated on his singles career, feuding with the likes of Ivan Koloff, Iron Sheik, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura during the next couple of years. He remained one of the WWF's most popular stars throughout the early 1980s. Though he never wrestled at any of the early Wrestlemanias, Putski did participate in the Wrestling Classic in the fall of 1985. This was the WWF's first Pay Per View, which was built around a 16 man tournament. Putski lost in the first round to newcomer "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who pinned Putski by illegally using the ropes for leverage.
Putski wrestled off and on during the years after his WWF career. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also recently included in a special magazine released by the WWE profiling the top 50 WWWF/WWF/WWE superstars of all time. His son, Scott Putski, also became a wrestler, wrestling for WCW in the late 1990s.
