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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

  • 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

  • 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-10
  • Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th Today!
  • Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th Today!
  • Owen Sep 10th Today!
  • Vivian St. John Sep 10th Today!
  • Les Mayne Sep 10th Today!
  • Kool Ade Sep 10th Today!
  • Summer Thunder Sep 11th
  • Vic Nichols Sep 11th
  • Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
  • N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
  • Adrian Dell Sep 12th
  • Danni Bee Sep 12th
  • Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
  • Montego Seeka Sep 12th
  • Bash Sep 12th
  • Animal Sep 12th
  • American Anarchy Sep 12th
  • Poder Oriental Sep 13th
  • Angelina Love Sep 13th
  • K. P. Moore Sep 13th
  • Bobby Starr Sep 13th
  • Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
  • Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
  • Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
  • Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
  • Waddy Young Sep 14th
  • Bernie D Sep 14th
  • L. C. Green Sep 15th
  • Korvin Sage Sep 15th
  • Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
  • Daniel King Sep 15th
  • Haru Sonada Sep 16th
  • Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
  • Jake Swayze Sep 17th
  • Bill Irwin Sep 17th
  • Jim Cornette Sep 17th
  • Dick Brower Sep 17th
  • Rex Mori Sep 17th
  • Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
  • Billy Robinson Sep 18th
  • Titan Yin Sep 18th
  • Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
  • Angel Reed Sep 18th
  • Adam Asher Sep 19th
  • Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
  • Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
  • Ethan Page Sep 20th
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th
  • Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th
  • Bishop Simon Sep 20th
  • Boz Sep 20th
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
  • Satine Sep 22nd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd

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