The Kalmikoffs
The Kalmikoffs | |
---|---|
Stable | |
Members |
Ivan Kalmikoff Karol Kalmikoff Nikita Kalmikoff Stan/Igor Kalmikoff |
Name(s) |
The Kalmikoffs Ivan Kalmikoff and Karol Krauser Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff Ivan and Nikita Kalmikoff Karol and Stan/Igor Kalmikoff |
Debut | October 28, 1953 |
Disbanded | 1965 |
Promotions |
NWA AWA |
The Kalmikoffs were a professional wrestling group of fictitious soviet brothers. It began as a tag team consisting of Ivan (Edward Bruce) and Karol (Karol Piwoworczyk) who were later joined by "brothers" Nikita (Nikita Mulkovitch) and Stan (or Igor) (Eric Pomeroy). They were very successful in the mid-1950s to early 1960s, especially the original tag team of Ivan and Karol.
History
The original two members debuted on October 28, 1953 in Amarillo, Texas as Ivan Kalmikoff and Karol Krauser against George and Jack Curtis. Later, already known as the Kalmikoffs became fictional brothers and became a successful tag team in the Minneapolis territory (future American Wrestling Association) and in Canada winning several titles.
In 1962, after the formation of the AWA, Karol shortly left the promotion and Ivan begun teaming with another brother, Nikita with some success. After Karol returned to the AWA, the original duo won the AWA World Tag Team Championships.
By 1963, Ivan settled into a part-time job in the Detroit zoo as a landscaper. Karol Kalmikoff begun teaming with yet another "brother", Stan Kalmikoff, sometimes called Igor. The tandem didn't last, however, as Karol suffered a fatal heart attack on September 12, 1964 in Salt Lake City. Ivan would spend some time managing Mighty Igor Vodic while the other "brothers" moved on to other gimmicks.
In 1939 or 1940, Karol Krauser modeled for the Fleischer Studios in Florida for the Superman animated shorts.[1]
Championships and accomplishments
Ivan & Karol
- American Wrestling Alliance
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (Indiana version) (1 time)
- NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (3 times)
- NWA All-Star Wrestling
- NWA Southwest Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time)
Ivan & Nikita
- NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (2 times)
Ivan Kalmikoff
Born Edward Bruce (May 21, 1918 - June 9, 1996) in Detroit, Michigan, Ivan found early success outside the Kalmikoffs in Dory Funk's NWA Western States Sports in Amarillo, Texas.
- NWA Southwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ace Abbott
- NWA Southwest Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Duke Keomuka
Karol Krauser/Kalmikoff
Karol Piwoworczyk (Born Sept 12, 1912 Hollyok MA, ]) won one singles championship before passing away in 1964.
- Midwest Wrestling Association
- MWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
References
- ↑ http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=11553 Did You Know? Karol Krauser was Fleischer's Superman Model
External links
- Online World of Wrestling profile - The Kalmikoffs
- Online World of Wrestling profile - Ivan Kalmikoff
- Online World of Wrestling profile - Karol Kalmikoff
- Online World of Wrestling profile - Nikita Kalmikoff
- Online World of Wrestling profile - Stan/Igor Kalmikoff
- Slam! Sports - Eric Pomeroy: Still a happy Russian (and more)