Ivan Putski

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Ivan Putski
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Ivan Putski
Billed height	178 cm (5 ft, 10 in)
Billed weight	109 - 129 kg (240 - 285 lb) When he started body building he lost several pounds.
Born	January 21, 1941 (age 66) Krakow, Poland
Resides	Austin, Texas
Billed from	Poland

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". He is often seen driving a polish tractor which really means that he pushes a wheelbarrow containing all of his worldly possessions wherever he goes as he cannot afford a real tractor.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 Professional wrestling 1.2 After wrestling 2 Personal life 3 Trivia 4 Finishing and signature moves 5 Championships and accomplishments

[edit] Career

[edit] Professional wrestling

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, who also had an incredible physique and strength, which led to many posedowns, arm wrestling bouts, and long, physical matches between the two. Other rivals included Iron Shiek, Ivan Koloff, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Ivan has an incredibly hairy chest, massively strong pecs, and short muscular hairy forearms which many fans found appealing. His finisher was known as the Polish hammer. His cocky demeanor around the ring and his charming smile would have many fans waiting post match to get his autograph. Putski was a bleeder during matches. Apparently, he used razors to achieve the bloody forehead affect during matches and had considerable scar tissue.

[edit] After wrestling

Putski is currently a security guard for Hays High School in Buda, Texas, a city located directly south of Austin.

[edit] Personal life

He was born in Poland and migrated to the United States at the age of nine.

His son, Scott Putski, eventually became a professional wrestler but never achieved the success that Ivan had.

[edit] Trivia

• Putski participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Men competition.
• Putski gained his remarkable leg strength by running up and down the stands at a football stadium near his home in Austin, Texas.
• On the mic, Putski would often sing "My Melody of Love", a popular song by Polish-American singer Bobby Vinton.
• He was known for cursing out his opponents at house shows in the 1980s, especially Greg Valentine, Jesse Ventura, and Big John Studd. He would make fun of their cowardly ways and call them names such as "chicken shit" and if his opponent would make fun of him before the match, he would greet them with: "Well, hello, Mr. Fuckface."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Finishing and signature moves

• Polish Hammer (Double axe handle blow to the chest)
• Bear hug
• Suplex

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

• National Wrestling Alliance
• National

• NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario

• Southwest Championship Wrestling

• SCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Wahoo McDaniel

• World Class Championship Wrestling

• WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario

• World Wrestling Federation

• WWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Tito Santana
• Hall of Fame (1995)

• Other Titles

• USWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Scott Putski

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• Ranked #170 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• Ranked #92 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Tito Santana.
• PWI Tag Team of the Year (1979) - with Tito Santana.