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Ivan Putski talks differences between Vince McMahon Sr. & Jr., Why he quit WWF in 1987, Matches with Billy Graham, more

Ivan Putski talks differences between Vince McMahon Sr. & Jr., Why he quit WWF in 1987, Matches with Billy Graham, more

Posted: Jun 10th 2017 By: The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling

Episode #274 of The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling features yet another very rare interview with a WWE Hall of Famer that you do not hear from very often and that is “The Polish Power” Ivan Putski. Take a walk down memory lane with Ivan Putski as he relives his most memorable moments and classic battles with Superstar Billy Graham, Jesse Ventura and The Wild Samoans. In addition to some of the finer moments of his career the master of the “Polish Hammer” tells the story of how his family migrated to the United States and why he is so proud to have made a living wrestling in the land of opportunity. Also find out why Putski and Vince McMahon Jr. never got along and why he feels the WWE does not include him in any current projects. The full episode can be downloaded at this link.

Full Episode Download Link:

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tmptow/episodes/2017-06-08T05_41_17-07_00

Ivan Putski On Quitting The WWF Because Of Vince McMahon, Leaving With Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart:

https://youtu.be/PwIWb14tjh0

Ivan Putski On Why He Doesn’t Like Vince McMahon, The Difference Between Him & Vince Sr.:

https://youtu.be/w4pbmJtDUAE

Why he quit the WWF in 1987 and seeing the changes in the business:

“I wrestled up there for almost twenty years. Me and Bruno Sammartino were in the WWF longer than just about any wrestler that was ever up there. I finally said that I was getting tired of it and when Vince Jr. took over it just helped me make my mind up. Matter of fact, me and Bruno used to talk about it and after he retired I said it won’t be long until I retire too. We always had conversations and we used to tell each other that is not like it used to be and a lot of big changes came about. But I feel fortunate that I was there and was able to see the changes come and to get the opportunity to go through the changes and retire when I did.”

Why he doesn’t like Vince McMahon Jr.:

“I don’t know it is just the personality. Vince Sr. was such a good man and if you did something or made a mistake, he’d come and sit down with you real nice and he was just a good person and a good man and I got along with him real well. For some reason I couldn’t get along with Vince McMahon Jr. He just didn’t like me and I didn’t like him so I guess it made us even.”

Getting to wrestle a young Bret Hart before he retired:

“I’ve never seen a kid like that before. He was just a kid and I had been there a long time and when he came in I had never seen a kid hustle and want something as bad as Bret Hart. He was the nicest person and one of the nicest wrestlers in the business and I really thought a lot of Bret Hart. He was a good guy, a nice person to be around and a hard worker and he got rewarded. He appreciated everything he got and he showed it.”

Matches with Superstar Billy Graham:

“Superstar Billy Graham and Bruiser Brody were the two toughest guys that I ever got in the ring with. But that is how you learn. The tougher they are, the better I liked it. Ivan Koloff as well he was a tough guy. (Superstar) He could talk you out of your socks. He was gifted in that gab and he could really talk and that is what made him too because his interviews of when he got talking he was such a great interviewer and the crowd would be standing there with their mouths wide open just staring at him. He also had the biggest biceps in the business and had some guns on him.”

“Vince McMahon Sr. was promoting us then and we sold out and turned people away in every town that he and I were the main event. Vince Sr. used to get tickled to death because we were making him lots of money too and that is why Vince McMahon Sr. took care of us. Not just me but The Superstar and all of the guys that wrestled for him.”

His biggest title run as co-holder of the WWWF Tag Team Championship with Tito Santana:

“To me that was like winning a Super Bowl. I thought that was the greatest thing in the world, we were World Tag Team Champions (me and Tito) and as two Texas guys. I was really fortunate to have a partner like Tito Santana, he was the nicest guy and we enjoyed our road trips and had fun and he is such a good hearted guy. We never argued and I never remember a bad time with him. I felt real fortunate that we held them as long as we did. That was a big privilege and I am real proud of it.”

For this and every other episode of The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling please subscribe to us on iTunes, Podomatic, Player FM, Tune In Radio and The IRW Network, The EXCLUSIVE home of The Triple Threat Podcast featuring Shane Douglas & TMPToW. As well as follow us on Twitter @TwoManPowerTrip

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1984 Killer Khan became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2010 Cody Jones became the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 2010 Jack Legacy def. Jeff Starchild for the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 2010 Dustin Heritage def. Shane Morbid for the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 2010 A. T. F. (Al Farat & Gurkha Singh) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 2010 La Reina de Corazones became the NWA-OK Women's Champion
  • 2011 Rudy Edwards def. Ryan Styles for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 2011 Bernie D & Max McGuirk def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 2016 Tyson Jaymes def. Brandon Groom for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2018 Jack Swagger became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 2018 The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) became the WCR Tag Team Champions
  • 2018 Damon Windsor became the WCR Revolutionary Champion
  • 2021 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Drake Gallows def. Oxley for the RDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Derek James became the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 2022 Luna Nightshade became the RDW Women's Champion
  • 2022 Brandon Groom def. Derek James for the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 2022 Becky def. Luna Nightshade for the RDW Women's Champion

Week of Sun 05-05 to Sat: 05-11

  • 05-05 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-05 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2002 Terry Montana def. Red Eagle for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2007 The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) became the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-05 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2017 El Greengo Loco & Karnage def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 2024 Tzuki def. Guerrerito for the EDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-06 1959 Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1969 Ramon Torres & Alberto Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treacherous Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1974 Rip Tyler def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) def. The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1985 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2005 Shane Morbid def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 05-06 2005 The 918 Boyz (Timmy J & Cade Sydal) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2011 Jeff Starchild became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-06 2017 Lone Star, Inc. (Cody Burns & Trey Cole & The Longhorn Outlaw) def. Simply the Future (J. D. & Alex) for the WFC Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. El Greengo Loco & Karnage for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Thrash def. Jason Jones for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 05-06 2023 MLP def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Red James def. MLP for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-07 1984 Killer Khan became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Cody Jones became the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Jack Legacy def. Jeff Starchild for the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Dustin Heritage def. Shane Morbid for the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 05-07 2010 A. T. F. (Al Farat & Gurkha Singh) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-07 2010 La Reina de Corazones became the NWA-OK Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Rudy Edwards def. Ryan Styles for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Bernie D & Max McGuirk def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2016 Tyson Jaymes def. Brandon Groom for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 Jack Swagger became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) became the WCR Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2018 Damon Windsor became the WCR Revolutionary Champion
  • 05-07 2021 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Drake Gallows def. Oxley for the RDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Derek James became the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Luna Nightshade became the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Brandon Groom def. Derek James for the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Becky def. Luna Nightshade for the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-08 1970 The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-08 1985 The Snowman became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-08 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. King Parsons for the WCCW World Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Brandon Groom def. Michael Barry for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 John O'Malley became the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Luc Lapointe & Se7en became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Se7en & Michael Barry & Jack Legacy) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Wage def. Eric Rose for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2010 John O'Malley def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 Michael H def. Tex for the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 J. R. Orullian & The Unknown def. The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Dennis Williams) for the 412PE Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 1967 Gorgeous George, Jr. & Jack Brisco def. The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-09 2004 John O'Malley def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Se7en became the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Bernie Donderwitz def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2009 Crazy Beautiful (Brett Taylor & Michael York) def. Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2009 Dane Griffin def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-09 2009 BLK-OUT (Jermaine Johnson & Montego Seeka) def. Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2015 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Hurricane Ross & J. R. Orullian for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2021 Erica def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 05-10 1966 The Assassins (Assassin 1 & Assassin 2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-10 2008 Jerry Bostic became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 05-10 2014 Billy Ray [1st] def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-10 2014 American Made def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE United States Champion
  • 05-10 2019 Kody Lane def. Latrell Upton for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-10 2023 Leo Fox def. The Wolf of War for the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 05-11 1976 Karl Kox & Bob Sweetan def. Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 1981 Ernie Ladd def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2008 The Midnite Rider def. Outlaw for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-11 2008 Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) def. The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 2013 Billy Ray [1st] became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2013 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Pretty In Pink (Mike Rose & Michael Duplanti) for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-11 2019 Drake Gallows became the KCW National Champion
05-07
  • Hercules May 7th Today!
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
  • Karl Krupp May 13th
  • Lars Manderson May 13th
  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Maggie Rae May 13th
  • Pete Maguire May 13th
  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Dave Ryda May 13th
  • Payton Scott May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
  • Shawn Bragan May 14th
  • Big Van Vader May 14th
  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
  • Steve Williams May 14th
  • Scott Irwin May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Joe Cuedo May 15th
  • Erwin IV May 15th
  • Andrew Bridge May 15th
  • Oscar Amazing May 15th
  • Koko May 15th
  • Kevin Von Erich May 15th
  • Ryan Martin May 16th
  • Buddy Knox May 16th
  • Buddy Roberts May 16th
  • Ryker James May 16th
  • Alan Jefferson May 16th
  • Wage May 17th
  • J. B. Pain May 17th
  • Billy Red Lyons May 17th
  • Mike Pappas May 17th
  • Dan Maestro May 17th
  • Kyle Hawk May 17th
  • Matt Riviera May 18th
  • Luna Nightshade May 18th
  • Gajo May 18th
  • Jimmy Snuka May 18th
  • Akuma Jones May 18th
  • Kristopher Haiden May 18th
  • J. R. Wind May 18th
  • Dick Slater May 19th
  • Andre the Giant May 19th
  • Mongol May 19th
  • Bateman May 19th
  • Buzz Markley May 19th
  • Will Chambers May 19th
  • Dale Veasey May 20th

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