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Eugene Kiniski began his career in the Edmonton YMCA at the tender age
of fifteen, but took a detour into football as a standout at the University
of Arizona and then as part of the Edmonton Eskimos in the early 1950s.
Kiniski was reportedly offered a try-out with the Los Angeles Rams but
Kiniski had other ideas and began training for the mat wars under Dory
Funk Sr. and Tony Morelli and made his debut in 1953. Kiniski's first television
work came in Southern California with other future wrestling legends Wilbur
Snyder, Bobo Brazil, and John Tolos. Kiniski made his first attempt at
the NWA World Heavyweight Title in the Olympic Auditorium in November of
1954, losing to the great Lou Thesz with two straight falls. He recovered
from the loss, teaming with Lord James Blears to win the NWA World Tag
Team Titles in 1955 and then also captured the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
under the name of Gene Kelly in 1956.
Gene Kiniski returned to his homeland, making his Canadian wrestling debut in November of 1956 for Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto. He had classic confrontations with Whipper Billy Watson, who he feuded with on CBC wrestling programs for years after a classic tag team bout pitting Kiniski and Buddy Rogers against Watson and Pat O'Connor. Kiniski continued to make headlines, battling legends like Yukon Eric, Edouard Carpentier and Killer Kowalski.
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Gene Kiniski moved to Minnesota in 1960 to join the American Wrestling
Association and began feuding with Verne Gagne, who he defeated for the
AWA World Heavyweight Title in July of 1961. Just eight days later, Kiniski
teamed up with Hard Boiled Haggerty to make history by defeating the Great
Wilbur Snyder and Leo Monellini for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
as well. The AWA wasn't big enough for Kiniski, though, and the big man
joined the National Wrestling Alliance in Vancouver, Canada, while also
travelling to other organizations worldwide as well as the WWWF under Vince
McMahon Sr. Kiniski had classic confrontations with NWA World Champions
Buddy Rogers and Lou Thesz as well as the WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino.
Kiniski's greatest achievement came on January 7th, 1966 when he defeated
Lou Thesz to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in the great wrestling
city of St. Louis at the Kiel Auditorium. He hold the title for an amazing
three years, battling old foes like Edouard Carpentier, Pat O'Connor, Bobo
Brazil and new enemies like Dick the Bruiser, Johnny Valentine, Cowboy
Bill Watts, Haystacks Calhoun, the Tolos Brothers and the Funk Brothers.
He finally lost the title on February 11th, 1969 to the son of the man
who trained him, Dory Funk Sr's son Dory.
Kiniski continued to wrestle but also got into the promotional side in
Vancouver, Canada as well as helping Stu Hart as a promoter for Stampede
Wrestling. Gene Kiniski wrestled his final match on February 25, 1992 teaming
with future Canadian standouts Lance Storm and Chris Jericho to battle
"Bulldog" Bob Brown, the Natural and Gerry Morrow. Kiniski appeared at
WCW's Slamboree pay-per-view in 1993 as the corner-man for Dory Funk Jr
in his match against Nick Bockwinkel, as managed by Verne Gagne. In 1997,
Gene Kiniski was celebrated by the World Wrestling Federation in a Special
in-ring ceremony in St. Louis alongside other legends Harley Race, Lou
Thesz, the Funk Brothers and promoter Sam Muchnick. Kiniski was inducted
into the prestigious Tragos/Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in
2004 and is a truly deserving member of the UWOW Hall of Fame as well.
Kiniski represented Canada with pride on the international stage, becoming
one of Canada's greatest professional wrestlers, leading the way for others
like Stu Hart, Chris Jericho, Bret Hart and a host of others. Congratulations,
Mr. Kiniski, on your induction into the UWOW Hall of Fame.