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Bios

Ivan Putski

Nickname: Polish Power; The Leader Of The Polish Army

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 260 lbs.

From: Krakow, Poland

Birthday: Jan 21st

Pro Debut: July 16, 1969

Aliases: Joe Bednarski

Feds Worked For: SoCW, TSW, WCCW, AWA, GWF, NWA, WWF, WWWF, Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), International World Class Championship Wrestling (CT/ME/NJ/NY/PA/VT), International Wrestling (Canada), M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), USA All-Star Wrestling (TX), Varoussac Promotions (Canada)

Finisher: Polish Hammer

Signature Moves: Bearhug, Vertical Suplex, Scoop Powerslam, Headlock

Career Highlights: -NWA American Tag Team Champion (w/ Jose Lothario)
-NWA Texas Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Jose Lothario)
-SoCW Tag Team Champion (w/ Wahoo McDaniel)
-TASW 6-Man Tag Team Champion (w/ Big Bubba & Scott Casey)
-WWF World Tag Team Champion (w/ Tito Santana)

Affiliates: Jose Lothario, Tito Santana, Wahoo McDaniel, Andre the Giant, Scott Putski

Notable Feuds: Billy Graham, Ken Patera, The Wild Samoans, Ivan Koloff, Mr. Fuji, Greg Valentine, Baron Von Raschke, Johnny Valiant, Nikolai Volkoff, Jerry Valiant, John Studd, The Iron Sheik, Blackjack Mulligan, Jimmy Valiant, Bobby Duncum, Nick Bockwinkel, Bob Orton, Jr., Mikel Scicluna, Jesse Ventura, Bugsy McGraw, José Estrada, Johnny Rodz, Stan Stasiak, Swede Hanson, Stan Hansen, George Steele, Kim Duk, Killer Kowalski, Bruiser Brody, Paul Orndorff, Masa Saito, Spiros Arion, Missouri Mauler, Adrian Adonis, Dick Brower, Ray Stevens, Don Muraco, David Schultz, Jimmy Snuka, Jack Lanza, Larry Zbyszko, Ernie Ladd, Horst Hoffmann

Other Facts: -Father of pro wrestler Scott Putski & Brent Putski. He trained both of his sons for pro wrestling.
-Originally billed as the grandfather of pro wrestler Rachel Summerlyn when she was using the name Rachel Putski, but they are not actually related.
-Billed as the cousin of pro wrestler Igor Putski
-Early in his career, he was billed as a concentration camp survivor, to help add sympathy to his character.
-As Joe Bednarski, he used the nickname "Hercules"
-Participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition, finishing eighth in a field of ten competitors.
-Gained his remarkable leg strength by running up and down the stands at a football stadium near his home in Austin, Texas.
-Worked as a security guard at Jack Hays High School. He retired at the end of the 2006-2007 school year.
-Voted Tag Team of the Year (w/ Tito Santana) in 1979 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated
-Inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995