Greg Wojciechowski
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Greg Wojciechowski is a former amateur wrestler and professional wrestler.
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[edit] Amateur Background
As an amateur wrestler, Wojciechowski wrestled for Whitmer High School in Toledo, Ohio, where he won the Ohio state heavyweight championship in 1967 and 1968. He went to college and wrestled for the University of Toledo. In 1971, Wojciechowski won the NCAA heavyweight championship; he was the runner-up in 1970 and 1972 (losing in 1972 to the 415-pound Chris Taylor). He is also a 4-time AAU champion in the heavyweight division, having won the championship in 1970, 1971, 1974, and 1975. He also made the U.S. Olympic wrestling team in 1980, however he was unable to compete as the United States boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics. He was an alternate on the 1984 and 1988 U.S. Olympic wrestling teams.[1]
[edit] Professional Background
As a professional wrestler, Wojciechowski was trained by William Afflis (who wrestled as "Dick the Bruiser") and mainly wrestled for Afflis' World Wrestling Association promotion. Wojciechowski, who wrestled in the WWA as "The Great Wojo", won his first WWA World Heavyweight Championship in July 1984 from Stormy Granzig. In January 1985, Wojciechowski lost the title to his trainer, Dick the Bruiser; Wojciechowski regained the title from Dick the Buriser in September 1985, ending Dick the Bruiser's final reign as WWA Champion. In the summer of 1986, Wojciechowski lost the title to future wrestling superstar Scott Steiner (who wrestled under the name Scott Rechsteiner), but Wojciechowski regained the title for a final time in May 1987. Wojciechowski went on to lose the title to Calypso Jim.
[edit] The $10,000 Challenge
While in the WWA, Wojciechowski offered $10,000 to any person who could pin him in the ring in a "shoot" match. The challengers were always taken out of the audiences. Wojciechowski used his professional wrestling skills and his amateur wrestling skills to remain undefeated; he was never defeated in these challenges. In addition, it is reported that several of the competitors were legitimately injured.[2]
[edit] Post-Career
Wojciechowski has since retired from active competition. During his amateur and pro careers, he was a wrestling coach for Libbey High School and later Bowsher High School (both in Toledo, Ohio).
[edit] Trivia
Wojciechowski was forced to retire from wrestling due to a dissected aorta, the same heart ailment which killed actor John Ritter.
[edit] Championships and Accomplishments
Amateur
- 2-time Ohio state high school heavyweight champion (1967, 1968)
- 1-time NCAA heavyweight champion (1971)
- 4-time AAU heavyweight champion (1971, 1972, 1974, 1975)
- 1-time U.S. Olympic wrestling team member (1980)
- 2-time U.S. Olympic wrestling team alternate member (1984, 1988)
- University of Toledo Athletics Hall of Fame
Professional
- 3-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion