Gene Kiniski

Gene Kiniski
Kiniski in 1966
Birth nameEugene Nicholas Kiniski
Born(1928-11-23)November 23, 1928
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[1]
DiedApril 14, 2010(2010-04-14) (aged 81)
Blaine, Washington, U.S.[1]
Spouse(s)Marion Kiniski
ChildrenKelly Kiniski
Nick Kiniski
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gene Kiniski[1]
Gene Kelly[1]
Mighty Canadian[1]
Big Thunder[2]
Billed height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Billed weight122 kg (270 lb)
Trained byDory Funk[1]
Tony Morelli[1]
DebutFebruary 13, 1952
RetiredFebruary 25, 1992

Eugene Nicholas Kiniski (November 23, 1928 – April 14, 2010) was a Canadian athlete who played football for the Edmonton Eskimos and then became a three-time professional wrestling world heavyweight champion. "Canada's Greatest Athlete", as he billed himself for promotional purposes, was born in Edmonton, Alberta.[1][3] Like Bronko Nagurski before him, Kiniski was one of the first world champions in professional wrestling to have a previous background in football. He is the father of professional wrestler Kelly Kiniski and international amateur and professional wrestler Nick Kiniski.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Gene Kiniski profile". OWOW. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  2. ^ SLAM! Sports: Gene Kiniski bio[usurped]
  3. ^ National Wrestling Alliance, The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling, p. 211, Tim Hornbaker, ECW Press, 2007, ISBN 1-55022-741-6

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