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Ken Patera

Nickname: Olympic Strongman; Former Olympian; The World's Strongest Human Being

Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 275 lbs

From: Portland, OR

Birthday: Nov 6th

Pro Debut: December 1972

Feds Worked For: AWA, SoCW, TSW, NWA, WWF, WWWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All State Wrestling (NE), Badger State Pro Wrestling (WI), Big Bear Promotions (Canada), Catch Wrestling Association (Belgium/Germany), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), International Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Enterprise (Japan), Juggalo Championship Wrestling, M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Northern States Wrestling Alliance (MI), NWA Big Time Wrestling (CA), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), Packerland Pro Wrestling (WI), Pro Wrestling America (MN), Southeast Championship Wrestling (AL/TN), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Tony's Championship Wrestling (Canada), Trans World Wrestling Federation (CT/MD/NJ/PA), Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (PA), Universal Wrestling Federation (CA/FL/ND/NV/NY/SC), Windy City Wrestling (IL)

Finisher: Swinging Full Nelson

Signature Moves: Bearhug, Elbow Drop

Career Highlights: -AWA World Tag Team Champion (2x; 1 each w/ Jerry Blackwell and Brad Rheingans)
-CWA International Champion (2x)
-NWA American Champion
-NWA American Tag Team Champion (w/ Tex McKenzie)
-NWA Georgia Champion
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Champion (2x)
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (w/ John Studd)
-NWA Missouri Champion (2x)
-PWA Tag Team Champion (w/ Baron Von Raschke)
-SECW Champion
-SoCW Brasss Knuckles Champion
-TSW Brass Knuckles Champion
-TSW United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Karl Kox)
-WWF Intercontinental Champion

Affiliates: Tex McKenzie, John Studd, Baron Von Raschke, Karl Kox, Jerry Blackwell, Brad Rheingans, Adnan Al-Kaissie, Mr. Saito, Bobby Heenan, Lou Albano, The Grand Wizard, Bobby Duncum, Billy Jack Haynes, Rufus R. Jones, Adrian Adonis, André the Giant, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Buddy Rose, Hercules, Afi, Jesse Ventura, Harley Race, King Kong Bundy, Mr. Perfect, Paul Orndorff, Ric Flair, Rick Rude, Haku, Tama, The Barbarian, The Brooklyn Brawler, The Missing Link, The Red Rooster, Angelo Poffo, Blackjack Lanza, Blackjack Mulligan, Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens

Notable Feuds: Dusty Rhodes, Wahoo McDaniel, Tony Atlas, Bob Backlund, Tommy Rich, Jack Brisco, André the Giant, Jim Brunzell, Greg Gagne, Baron Von Raschke, Dino Bravo, Ivan Putski, Hulk Hogan, Billy Graham, Blackjack Mulligan, Greg Gagne, Jay Strongbow, Dick Murdoch, Ric Flair, Jerry Blackwell, Mad Dog Vachon, Bolo Mongol/Masked Superstar/Ax, Smash, Hercules Hernández, Tito Santana, Adnan Al-Kaissey, Rick Martel, Rene Goulet, Pat Patterson, Gene Anderson, Ole Anderson, Lars Anderson, Tony Garea, S. D. Jones, Junkyard Dog, Ricky Steamboat, Ray Stevens, Jimmy Snuka, Billy Robinson, Paul Orndorff, Boris Malenko, Bobby Heenan, Rufus R. Jones, Peter Maivia, Nick Bockwinkel, Paul Jones. Buddy Wolff, Ivan Koloff, Brad Rheingans, Blackjack Lanza, Otto Wanz, The Spoiler, Johnny Valentine, Pedro Morales, Antonio Inoki

Other Facts: -Father of pro wrestler Heather Patera (AKA Miss Natural), who he trained for pro wrestling
-Brother of former Seattle Seahawks football coach Jack Patera and former NFL player Dennis Patera
-Was a world class power lifter
-Was the first American to lift over 500 pounds in both the military press and clean and jerk.
-Won four gold medals at the 1971 Pan-American Games in Cali, Columbia
-Represented the United States in power lifting at the 1972 Olympics
-Trained for pro wrestling by Verne Gagne at the AWA Training Camp
-Appeared in the movie "The Wrestler" in 1974, playing himself
-Participated in several World's Strongest Man contests that are still occasionally aired on ESPN
-Held the Intercontinental and Missouri titles simultaneously, making him the first person to hold a WWF and NWA Title at the same time.
-On April 7, 1984 Patera and Mr. Saito are arrested in Wisconsin following an incident where they threw a boulder through the window of a McDonald's that was closed and refused to serve the wrestlers food. When police came to the hotel where the wrestlers were staying, Patera and Saito fought with the cops before being taken in.
-Owned and operated the World All-Star Wrestling Alliance along with Adnan Al-Kaissie
-Currently works as a traveling salesman
-Former member of The Heenan family (both AWA and WWF versions)
-Voted Most Hated Wrestling by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1977 and 1981
-Won Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Match of the Year (vs. Bob Backlund) in 1980
-Ranked # 98 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 284 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked # 281 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked # 333 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked # 377 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Was a panelist on the "Tales from the Territories" episode entitled "AWA: Bodyslams in the Heartland" with Greg Gagne, Madusa, Dallas Page, and Jim Brunzell in 2022