Gene Kiniski

Wrestler: Gene Kiniski
Real Name: Eugene Kiniski
Birthday: Early 30s in Edmonton
Hometown: Blaine, Washington
Marital Status:
Height & Weight: 6'4"
Trained by: Dory Funk Sr.
Tony Morelli
Debut:
Previous Gimmicks: Mighty Canadian -masked-
Gene Kelly (Texas)
"Big Thunder"
"Canada's Greatest Athlete"
Finishing Move: Backbreaker
Favorite Moves:
Notable Feuds: Whipper Watson
Verne Gagne
Dutch Savage
Don Leo Jonathan
Bruno Sammartino
Stan Stasiak
Dory Funk Jr.
Steven Bolus
Dean Higuchi (Dean Ho)
Mike & Ben Sharpe

Titles Held:

WWA (Los Angeles) International Television Tag Team titles w/John Tolos defeating Bobo Brazil & Wilbur Snyder (October 13, 1954);
NWA (San Francisco) World Tag Team titles w/Lord James Blears defeating Ben & Mike Sharpe (May 7, 1955);
NWA (San Francisco) World Tag Team titles w/Lord James Blears defeating Johnny Barend & Enrique Torres (August 9, 1955);
NWA (San Francisco) World Tag Team titles w/Lord James Blears defeating Ray Stern & Ronnie Etchison (November ??, 1955);
NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/James Blears defeating Sandor Kovacs & Johnny Barend (December 4, 1955);
NWA Texas Heavyweight title -as Gene Kelly- defeating Pepper Gomez (August 17, 1956);
NWA Texas Tag Team titles -as Gene Kelly- w/Len Crosby defeating Herb Freeman & Ray Gunkel (September 18, 1956);
NWA (Toronto) British Empire Heavyweight title defeating Pat O` Connor (May 2, 1957);
MAC (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Edouard Carpentier (June 12, 1957);
NWA (Toronto) Canadian Open Tag Team titles w/Fritz Von Erich defeating Pat O` Connor & Billy Watson (October 31, 1957);
NWA (Toronto) British Empire Heavyweight title defeating Billy Watson (April 17, 1959);
NWA (Toronto) Canadian Open Tag Team titles w/Don Leo Jonathan defeating Yukon Eric & Billy Watson (October 29, 1959);
NWA (Chicago & Indianapolis) World Tag Team titles w/Dick Afflis defeating Ray & Roy Shires (Febuary 11, 1960);
AWA United States Heavyweight title defeating Wilbur Snyder (December 6, 1960);
AWA United States Heavyweight title defeating Wilbur Snyder (April 1, 1961);
AWA World Heavyweight title defeating Vern Gagne (July 11, 1961);
AWA World Tag Team titles w/Hard Boiled Haggerty defeating Leo Nomellini & Wilbur Snyder (July 19, 1961);
NWA (Vancouver) British Empire Heavyweight title defeating Billy Watson (August 21, 1961);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacfic Coast Tag Team titles w/Killer Kowalski defeating Roy McClarty & Billy Watson (January 22, 1962);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacfic Coast Tag Team titles w/Hard Boiled Haggerty defeating Mr. Kleen & Billy Watson (March 26, 1962);
NWA Southwest Tag Team titles w/Fritz Von Erich defeating Ricky Romero & Dory Funk Sr. (July 19, 1962);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacfic Coast Tag Team titles w/Hard Boiled Haggerty defeating Bearcat Wright & Billy Watson (August 7, 1962);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Mr. X defeating Dan Miller & Sandor Kovacs (Febuary 11, 1963);
NWA (Vancouver) British Empire Heavyweight title defeating Billy Watson (July 22, 1963);
AJPW All Asia Tag Team titles w/Caripus Hurricane defeating Michiaki Yoshimura & Toyonobori (May 14, 1964);
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title defeating Neff Maivia (July 16, 1964);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Don Leo Jonathan defeating Roy Heffernan & Al Costello (January 11, 1965);
WWWF United States Tag Team titles w/Waldo Von Erich defeating Luke & Jerry Graham (Febuary 4, 1965);
WWA (Indianapolis) World Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (August 21, 1965);
NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Lou Thesz (January 7, 1966);
NWA (Hawaii) North American Heavyweight title defeating Toru Tanaka (Febuary 19, 1969);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacfic Coast Heavyweight title defeating Mark Lewin (April 13, 1970);
NWA (JWA) International Heavyweight title defeating Giant Baba (December 3, 1970):
NWA (Vancouver) Pacfic Coast Heavyweight title defeating Don Leo Jonathan (December 28, 1970);
NWA (Hawaii) North American Heavyweight title defeating Sam Steamboat (May 12, 1971);
NWA (Hawaii) North American Heavyweight title defeating Ed Morrow (September 9, 1971);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Bob Brown defeating Dean Higuchi & Steven Little Bear (October 11, 1971);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Bob Brown defeating Mark Lewin & Steven Little Bear (January 24, 1972);
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title defeating Ed Francis (Febuary 16, 1972);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacfic Coast Heavyweight title defeating Steven Little Bear (June 26, 1972);
NWA (Missouri) Heavyweight title defeating Terry Funk (March 16, 1973);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/The Brute defeating Gerry Romano & John Quinn (August 20, 1973);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Mr. X defeating Flash Gordon & Leo Madril (April 17, 1974);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Dutch Savage defeating The Brute & Mr. X (August 5, 1974);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating Mr. X (October 14, 1974);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Mr. Saito defeating Wayne Bridges & Dan Kroffat (November 11, 1974);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Dale Lewis defeating Ormand Malumba & Guy Mitchell (May 19, 1975);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating Seigfried Steinke (August 10, 1975);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Seigfried Steinke defeating George Wells & Dean Higuchi (Febuary 9, 1976);
NWA (Amarillo) International Heavyweight title defeating Super Destroyer (April 8, 1976);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating Don Leo Jonathan (January 10, 1977);
NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating John Quinn (May 15, 1978);

Career Highlights:

In the Beginning:

Eugene Kiniski started wrestling at the Edmonton YMCA when he was around 15 years of age..
Eugene Kiniski also wrestled and played football at the Universtiy of Arizona..
Early 1950s: Eugene Kiniski played football for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League for four years..
~~~The Los Angelas Rams were reportedly scouting Kiniski for the NFL but he declined the offer and began wrestling..

Getting into the Business:

Gene Kiniski was trained by Dory Funk Sr. and Tony Morelli, and says that he was never trained by Stu Hart..
Gene Kiniski made his wrestling debut down in Arizona & Texas..

American Wrestling Association:

July 11, 1961: Gene Kiniski defeated Verne Gagne for the AWA World Heavyweight title..
July 19, 1961: Hard Boiled Haggerty & Gene Kiniski defeated Wilbur Snyder & Leo Nomellini for the AWA World tag team titles..
August 8, 1961: Verne Gagne defeated Gene Kiniski to recapture the AWA World Heavyweight title..

National Wrestling Alliance:

1966: Gene Kiniski defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA World title and lost the belt three years later to Dory Funk Jr..
January 7, 1969: Gene Kiniski defeated Bill Dromo to retain the World's Heavyweight title in Macon, Georgia..

Retirements:

Gene Kiniski regularly teamed with James Blears, Waldo von Erich, John Quinn, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Bob Brown & Don Leo Jonathan..
Gene Kiniski's sons Kelly Kiniski and Nick Kiniski were both professional wrestlers..
Gene Kiniski currently hosts a TV show on Canadian Television called "Wrestling with the Past"..

credit: onlineworldofwrestling.com