| Ivan Putski | |
| Birthname: | Józef Bednarski |
| Birth Date: | 21 January 1941 |
| Birth Place: | Kraków, Poland |
| Children: | 2, including Scott Putski |
| Names: | Ivan Putski Jim Bednarski |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in |
| Weight: | 245 lb |
| Billed: | Kraków, Poland |
| Debut: | 1968 |
| Retired: | 1999[1] |
Józef Bednarski (born January 21, 1941) is a Polish/American former professional wrestler and bodybuilder, best known by the ring name Ivan Putski.[2] He was given the nicknames "the Polish Hammer" and "Polish Power".
Putski is a former WWF World Tag Team Champion with Tito Santana.[2] He had a famous feud with Superstar Billy Graham over the WWF Championship, which led to many pose-downs, arm wrestling bouts, and long matches between the two. Other rivals included The Iron Sheik, Ivan Koloff, and Jesse Ventura, who would refer to Putski as "Puduski" when commentating for the WWF. Putski was the first Polish wrestler to perform in the WWF (now WWE).
Putski was born in Kraków in Poland and immigrated to the United States at a young age.[3] [4] He and his family arrived in Texas, where Putski began his professional wrestling career. He stood 5 ft 10 in and weighed around 225 lbs. In his earlier days, he was weighed in at the 250 lb mark.[4]
Putski won the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship with José Lothario twice in 1973.[2]
Putski was a fixture on the Dallas-Ft. Worth wrestling scene and was one of its most popular personalities. He was routinely the feature act at the Sportatorium, a wrestling-only arena in an industrial section near Downtown Dallas. Putski's act consisted of being a happy-go-lucky, often aloof buffoon, who would "miraculously" pin his opponent. Putski was often introduced as a former concentration camp survivor, only adding to his sympathetic appeal to audiences of all ages.In the early 1970s, Putski worked for the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he was a fan favorite.[5] It was during this time in the AWA that Putski also first clashed with Superstar Billy Graham, with the two feuding over who was the strongest wrestling in the AWA;.[2] During "Polish Power" Ivan Putski's time in the AWA, anti-Polish phrases where also a mainstay of lead American television series All In The Family's patriarch Archie Bunker against his Polish-American son-in-law Michael Stivic.
Prior to leaving the AWA, Ivan dropped most of his weight by getting into bodybuilding. Ivan kept himself fairly trim at the 215–220 pound mark.
Putski debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1974.[4] While in the WWWF, Putski feuded with many wrestlers, including Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen and Ivan Koloff.[4] On June 25, 1976, at Showdown at Shea, Putski defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.[2] [6] Four years later on August 9, Putski was again victorious at the next Showdown at Shea, defeating Johnny Rodz.[2] He also resumed his feud with Superstar Billy Graham. On October 22, 1979, Putski teamed with a young rookie Tito Santana to defeat Johnny and Jerry Valiant to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship.[2] They held the title for six months before losing it to The Wild Samoans.[4] Putski worked in the renamed World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1980s, primarily feuding with Roddy Piper and Sgt. Slaughter. He took a hiatus from wrestling in 1986. He soon returned to the independent circuit, also making occasional appearances in the WWF as a jobber to the stars. His last high-profile feud was in 1984 with Jesse Ventura. His final appearance was in 1987 teaming on television with Junkyard Dog and Superstar Billy Graham in tag team matches. He then retired from the sport.
He began to slow down his career in the 1980s.[4] He won his last tag team championship in May 1981, teaming with Wahoo McDaniel to defeat Dory Funk, Jr. and Larry Lane for the SWCW World Tag Team Championship.[2] In November 1985, Randy Savage defeated Ivan Putski in the opening round of the Wrestling Classic.[2]
After his run in the WWF, several promotions, and his semi-retirement, Putski returned to the ring in 1991. Putski made an appearance for International World Class Championship Wrestling teaming with his son, Scott to defeat the Masked Iraqis. Also made an appearance for Global Wrestling Federation in 1992 teaming with Gary Young against Tom and Mike Davis in a no contest.
In 1995, Putski was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame class of 1995 by his son, Scott.[4] The father-and-son team returned in July 1997 to defeat Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher on Raw is War, in what would be Putski's final match.
In 1996, he joined International Championship Wrestling, as a face. He won several matches in the company, and he was billed as a tough guy.
Putski wrestled his last match for NWA New Jersey as he defeated King Kong Bundy by disqualification on February 27, 1999.
After working for several wrestling promotions, mostly, from the independent circuit, Putski retired from full active competition in the 1990s. After his retirement from wrestling, he had a strongman career. Putski occasionally made appearances in the ring during the years.
In 2010, Putski appeared in a reunion event called "LegendsMania" and he was interviewed.
| 2001 | Legends of Wrestling | Video game debut | |
| 2002 | Legends of Wrestling II | ||
| 2004 |
Aside from wrestling, Ivan Putski also competed as a strongman. He participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition,[4] finishing eighth in a field of ten competitors.[7]
Putski's son, Scott Putski, is also a professional wrestler,[2] having previously worked at World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.[4]
From 2000 to 2007, Putski worked as head security guard at Jack C. Hays High School in Buda, Texas.
On January 8, 2012, Ivan Putski was inducted into the Cloverleaf Radio Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.