Gene Kiniski

Nick Kiniski details Terry Garvin’s sexual advances during WWF run

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 26, 2024 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, News

Nick Kiniski has told the story before, but never on the record until now, about how he was...

Gene Kiniski elected to BC Sports Hall of Fame

Posted by Steven Verrier | Oct 7, 2021 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, News

This morning—Oct. 7, 2021—as the most recent nominator of a Canadian wrestling legend for a...

How Kiniski vs Ali helped promote Chuvalo vs Ali

Posted by Steven Verrier | Apr 21, 2019 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, The Sporting Connection

Many Canadians are aware of the real-life Rocky saga played out by former Canadian heavyweight...

New Kiniski bio ‘complete and definitive’

Posted by Jamie Hemmings | Feb 3, 2019 | Gary Howard Memorial Library

Readers who crack open author Steven Verrier’s latest book, Gene Kiniski: Canadian Wrestling...

Kiniski’s aid helped Molle grapple to ’84 Olympic medal

Posted by Steven Verrier | Jan 21, 2019 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, The Sporting Connection

Gene Kiniski had a long association with amateur wrestling dating back to his teenage years in...

Gene Kiniski’s deep ties to amateur wrestling

Posted by Steven Verrier | Aug 26, 2018 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Gene Kiniski, known throughout Canada and elsewhere as Canada’s Greatest Athlete, held the...

The campaign to get Gene Kiniski into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame

Posted by Steven Verrier | Jul 14, 2018 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

While Gene Kiniski received plenty of recognition and accolades during his post-wrestling years...

1957: The year the Ontario government questioned pro wrestling’s validity

Posted by Andrew Calvert | Mar 19, 2018 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Classics, Interviews

The world of pro wrestling has always had a history of conflict with the various sports...

Q&A with Kelly Kiniski

Posted by Steven Verrier | Dec 4, 2017 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Kelly Kiniski, the older son of former AWA and NWA Heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski, followed his...

Facing the champs: Bobby Bass reminisces

Posted by Caleb Smith | Oct 2, 2017 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

For over 20 years Bobby Bass toured the world, living his dream of being a professional wrestler....

Praise for ‘The Enforcer’ Arn Anderson

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 25, 2016 | CAC, Interviews

At April’s Cauliflower Alley Club banquet, “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson received...

Lou Thesz at 100: So many stories

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 24, 2016 | Interviews

Today, April 24th, would have been the 100th birthday of Lou Thesz, perhaps the greatest champion...

Mad Dog Vachon: A filmmaker’s memories – PAGE 3

Posted by JOHN DOLIN - For SLAM! Wrestling | Nov 21, 2014 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Hollywood Headlock Interviews, Obituaries, Opinion

The next several months were hit and miss. Sweet Daddy Siki, then a local disc jockey who lived...

The evolution of Mike Webster: Wrestling

Posted by Marty Goldstein | Sep 14, 2011 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

After the Cinderella victory of the Montreal Alouettes in the 1970 Grey Cup, defensive tackle Mike...

Duncan McTavish dead at 80

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 6, 2011 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Matt Gilmour, who died Monday morning, is one of those wrestlers who traveled the globe, perhaps...

Edouard Carpentier dead at 84

Posted by Greg Oliver | Nov 1, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

The great, revolutionary Edouard Carpentier died Saturday night, October 30, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at...

Rod Fenton: Rough wrestler, respected promoter

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 30, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

When most wrestlers around today talk about Rod Fenton, they are referring to the long-time...

Kinji Shibuya dead at 88

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 8, 2010 | Interviews, Obituaries

Kinji Shibuya, who died Monday at the age of 88, once described his move from wrestling to acting...

A final sellout crowd says goodbye to Kiniski

Posted by Guest Column | May 4, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

By SCOTTY SWEATERVEST – For SLAM! Wrestling PORT ROBERTS, Wash. — It was a beautiful,...

Friends remember Kiniski’s stamina, toughness and wit

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 15, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

When Gene Kiniski’s friends and colleagues recall his lengthy wrestling career, it’s...

Gene Kiniski dead at 81

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 14, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Gene Kiniski was so media savvy that he instructed this writer on what to write when the...

Mat Matters: Personal reflections on Gene Kiniski

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 14, 2010 | Obituaries, Opinion

Gene Kiniski, who died Wednesday, was my favourite person to interview — ever. I loved to...

Starrcade ’83: The show that almost wasn’t

Posted by Steven Johnson | Aug 7, 2009 | Events, Interviews

CHARLOTTE–Starrcade ’83 is remembered as a seminal event in wrestling history, the...

Al Tomko — a true original — dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 6, 2009 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Historian Vern May once said, “To hear Al Tomko tell it, nothing special ever happened in...

Hitman, Patterson, Dr. Death headline CAC awards

Posted by Fred Johns | Jun 12, 2008 | CAC, Interviews

LAS VEGAS – The 43rd Annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion came to an end Wednesday night...

Kiniski ends Hall of Fame induction on high note

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 24, 2008 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, PWHF

AMSTERDAM, NY – With his booming voice, and heartfelt message, “Big Thunder”...

Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame expanding in more ways than one

Posted by Richard Kamchen | Mar 16, 2008 | Interviews, PWHF

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is growing as both its honouree list and...

Sam Steamboat was a Hawaiian legend

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 4, 2006 | Interviews, Obituaries

Beach boy, surfer, wrestler, teacher. These words and many more are used to describe Sam...

Horsing around with Duncan McTavish

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 8, 2006 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, The Sporting Connection

BORN: 1932 in Old Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland 5’9″, 235 pounds; “I’ve a...

Health lessons from Gene Kiniski

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 1, 2006 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Even over the phone, it sounds like Gene Kiniski could still go, and go hard. In a recent chat...

Chris Tolos dies of cancer

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 13, 2005 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Cancer has claimed half of one of the greatest tag teams of all time, leaving John Tolos unable to...

Tribute to Kovacs a labour of love

Posted by Fred Johns | Jun 21, 2005 | Interviews

This weekend’s Sandor Kovacs tribute means different things to different people. For some,...

Newton inducts Class of 2004

Posted by LEWIS CURRY | Aug 2, 2004 | Tragos/Thesz HOF

NEWTON, IOWA — This year, the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame honoured...

Kiniski, Rheingans entering Newton hall

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 28, 2004 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

The two living inductees into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame,...

Sandor Kovacs felled by Alzheimer’s

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 2, 2004 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

The rich, full life of Sandor Kovacs, a former wrestler and promoter, came to an end on Wednesday...

‘Sailor’ Art Thomas dies of cancer

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 21, 2003 | Interviews, Obituaries

The accolades are common when recounting the life of ‘Sailor’ Art Thomas, who died...

Ron Morrier: Voice of All-Star Wrestling

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 7, 2000 | Canadian Hall of Fame

REAL NAME: Roland Morrier BORN: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1914 DIED: August 6, 1981 in...

Gene Kiniski chats with SLAM! Wrestling

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Nov 10, 2000 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Classics, Interviews

Former NWA World champion Gene ‘Big Thunder’ Kiniski answered questions from wrestling...

Second generation grapplers reflect on their Dads

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 15, 2000 | Interviews

The pro wrestling world is full of second-generation wrestlers. Young men following in their...

Remembering Whipper Billy Watson

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 15, 2000 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Classics, Interviews

It’s been 10 years since we lost The Whip to a heart attack. But how does one explain the...

Gene Kiniski Career Record

Posted by Vance Nevada | Dec 4, 1900 | Results

“BIG THUNDER” GENE KINISKI (1952 – 1992) AKA: Gene Kelly Height: 6’4” Weight: 272...

Kiniski story archive

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Nov 3, 1900 | Story Archives

Gene Kiniski had a legitimate claim to being “Canada’s Greatest Athlete,” and...

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