Killer Kowalski Memorial Show
Encyclopedia
The Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Show was a professional wrestling
memorial event co-produced by the Big Time Wrestling (BTW) and United States Wrestling Federation (USWF) promotion
s, which took place on October 26, 2008 at the Irish American Club in Malden, Massachusetts
. The event was held in honor of Walter "Killer" Kowalski
, who had died August 30, 2008, a little over three weeks after suffering a heart attack on August 8, 2008. All proceeds from the show were donated to the Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Fund" to help pay for his medical bills; A wrestling memorabilia raffle was another attraction, and which included gift baskets (some filled with WWE t-shirts and DVDs), a broken autographed guitar by The Honky Tonk Man
, and autographed Killer Kowalski action figures and photographs donated from wrestlers all over the world. Fans were also able to bid on memorabilia from Kowalski's wrestling career including an original pair of wrestling tights, boots and his mask. In all, over $7,000 was raised.
and Kowalski's former tag team partner Ox Baker
, who each delivered speeches during the 30-minute opening ceremony, as was Walter's widow Theresa who performed a song entitled "When Polish Hearts Are Smiling" (sung to the tune of the Irish folksong When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
). Also scheduled to appear were Nikolai Volkoff
and Tito Santana
, however, both were later forced to cancel at the last minute with Santana suffering from strep throat
. A number of wrestlers from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
and World Wrestling Entertainment
, as well from the Northeastern
independent circuit
, were also present at the event to pay their respects as many of the attendees were either taught or mentored by Kowalski at some point in their career. A few wrestlers who had wanted to be at the show, most notably Hunter Hearst Helmsley, were unable to do so due to WWE holding a pay-per-view, Cyber Sunday
, in Phoenix, Arizona
that same night. Eight professional wrestling matches
were featured on the event's card
, with three including championships.
, including two female wrestlers, which was won by Tubby Muffin after eliminating Ron Zombie. There were two other two-semi main events. The first was a standard wrestling match for the BTW Heavyweight Championship between the champion, John Walters, accompanied by manager Johnny Fabulous, and the challenger, Aaron Stevens
, in which Stevens won the championship due to outside interference by Frankie Kazarian
, and the second, a match between Justin Credible and Spike Dudley. Another featured match was Jack Maverik and AJ Mtrino, managed by J.J. Dillon, against Eric Ego and Tony Delfonzo, which Maverik and Mtrino won. Doink the Clown
defeated Mr. TA, Tre Smooth successfully defended the BTW Gangsta Championship against Jimmy Jact Cash, and Dukes Dalton
and Mike Hallow defeated The French Connection (Antoine Roy and Roberto Rush) to win the BTW Tag Team Championship.
(Irish American Club)
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
memorial event co-produced by the Big Time Wrestling (BTW) and United States Wrestling Federation (USWF) promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
s, which took place on October 26, 2008 at the Irish American Club in Malden, Massachusetts
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
. The event was held in honor of Walter "Killer" Kowalski
Killer Kowalski
Władek "Killer" Kowalski was a Canadian professional wrestler. Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the NWA and WWF, and was a known heel wrestler...
, who had died August 30, 2008, a little over three weeks after suffering a heart attack on August 8, 2008. All proceeds from the show were donated to the Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Fund" to help pay for his medical bills; A wrestling memorabilia raffle was another attraction, and which included gift baskets (some filled with WWE t-shirts and DVDs), a broken autographed guitar by The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
, and autographed Killer Kowalski action figures and photographs donated from wrestlers all over the world. Fans were also able to bid on memorabilia from Kowalski's wrestling career including an original pair of wrestling tights, boots and his mask. In all, over $7,000 was raised.
Attendees
Among those in attendance included Richard Byrne, James J. DillonJames J. Dillon
James J. "J.J." Dillon is a retired American professional wrestler and manager.He is best known for being the strategic leader of the original Four Horsemen that consisted of Nature Boy Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn and Ole Anderson. He is most remembered as a manager in pro wrestling...
and Kowalski's former tag team partner Ox Baker
Ox Baker
Douglas A. Baker better known professionally as Ox Baker, is an American former professional wrestler and actor, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!" He has appeared in several...
, who each delivered speeches during the 30-minute opening ceremony, as was Walter's widow Theresa who performed a song entitled "When Polish Hearts Are Smiling" (sung to the tune of the Irish folksong When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" is a lighthearted song in tribute to Ireland. Its lyrics were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr., set to music composed by Ernest Ball, for Olcott's production of The Isle O' Dreams, and Olcott sang the song in the show...
). Also scheduled to appear were Nikolai Volkoff
Nikolai Volkoff
Josip Nikolai Peruzović , better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, is a professional wrestler who is best known for his performances for the World Wrestling Federation...
and Tito Santana
Tito Santana
Merced Solis better known by his ring name Tito Santana, is an American professional wrestler whose heyday spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, though he continues to appear on the independent circuit. He is best known from his time in the World Wrestling Federation...
, however, both were later forced to cancel at the last minute with Santana suffering from strep throat
Strep throat
Streptococcal pharyngitis, streptococcal tonsillitis, or streptococcal sore throat is a type of pharyngitis caused by a group A streptococcal infection. It affects the pharynx including the tonsils and possibly the larynx. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes...
. A number of wrestlers from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
and World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, as well from the Northeastern
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
, were also present at the event to pay their respects as many of the attendees were either taught or mentored by Kowalski at some point in their career. A few wrestlers who had wanted to be at the show, most notably Hunter Hearst Helmsley, were unable to do so due to WWE holding a pay-per-view, Cyber Sunday
Cyber Sunday (2008)
Cyber Sunday was the fifth and final Cyber Sunday professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on October 26, 2008 at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. It featured wrestlers from the Raw, ECW, and SmackDown brands...
, in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
that same night. Eight professional wrestling matches
Mock combat
Mock combat involves the execution of combative actions without intent to harm. Participants can engage in such sparring for ritual, training, recreational or performance reasons...
were featured on the event's card
Card (sports)
In sports, a card comprises a listing of the matches taking place in a title-match combat-sport event. Organizers divide overall cards into a main-event match and the undercard, which encompasses the rest of the matches. One can also further subdivide the undercard into midcard and lower card,...
, with three including championships.
Main event
The main event was a twenty-person battle royalBattle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
, including two female wrestlers, which was won by Tubby Muffin after eliminating Ron Zombie. There were two other two-semi main events. The first was a standard wrestling match for the BTW Heavyweight Championship between the champion, John Walters, accompanied by manager Johnny Fabulous, and the challenger, Aaron Stevens
Aaron Stevens (wrestler)
Aaron Haddad is an American professional wrestler. He is contracted to WWE, and appears in Florida Championship Wrestling , a WWE developmental territory, as Damien Sandow. He is the current FCW 15 Champion...
, in which Stevens won the championship due to outside interference by Frankie Kazarian
Frankie Kazarian
Frank B. Gerdelman is an Armenian-American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Frankie Kazarian or simply Kazarian. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, and the second, a match between Justin Credible and Spike Dudley. Another featured match was Jack Maverik and AJ Mtrino, managed by J.J. Dillon, against Eric Ego and Tony Delfonzo, which Maverik and Mtrino won. Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special...
defeated Mr. TA, Tre Smooth successfully defended the BTW Gangsta Championship against Jimmy Jact Cash, and Dukes Dalton
Dukes Dalton
James "Jim" McCarthy is an American professional wrestler and trainer, known by his ringname Dukes Dalton, who competes on the independent circuit in the Northeastern United States. He has wrestled for the Century Wrestling Alliance, the National Wrestling Alliance and Chaotic Wrestling where he...
and Mike Hallow defeated The French Connection (Antoine Roy and Roberto Rush) to win the BTW Tag Team Championship.
Results
October 26, 2008 in Malden, MassachusettsMalden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
(Irish American Club)
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luis Ortiz defeated Malice Mason and Benny Jux | Three-Way Dance | n/a |
| 2 | Jack Maverik and AJ Mtrino (with J.J. Dillon) defeated Eric Ego and Tony Delfonzo | Tag Team match | n/a |
| 3 | Tre Smooth (c) defeated Jimmy Jact Cash | Singles match for the BTW Gangsta Championship | n/a |
| 4 | Dukes Dalton Dukes Dalton James "Jim" McCarthy is an American professional wrestler and trainer, known by his ringname Dukes Dalton, who competes on the independent circuit in the Northeastern United States. He has wrestled for the Century Wrestling Alliance, the National Wrestling Alliance and Chaotic Wrestling where he... and Mike Hallow defeated The French Connection (Antoine Roy and Roberto Rush) (c) (with "The Poroxide Princess" Felicia Lou) |
Tag Team match for the BTW Tag Team Championship | n/a |
| 5 | Doink the Clown Doink the Clown Doink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special... defeated Mr. TA |
Singles match | n/a |
| 6 | Spike Dudley defeated Justin Credible | Singles match | n/a |
| 7 | Aaron Stevens Aaron Stevens (wrestler) Aaron Haddad is an American professional wrestler. He is contracted to WWE, and appears in Florida Championship Wrestling , a WWE developmental territory, as Damien Sandow. He is the current FCW 15 Champion... defeated John Walters (c) (with Johnny Fabulous) |
Singles match for the BTW Heavyweight Championship | n/a |
| 8 | Tubby Muffin defeated 19 other participants by last eliminating Ron Zombie.A partial list of the other participants included were: Benny Jux, AJ Mtrino, Eric Egoh, Tony Delfonzo, Louie the Pizza Guy, Wolfman Branford, Zachery Springate III, Slyck Wagner Brown Wagner Brown Wagner Brown is a professional wrestler better known by his ring name of Slyck Wagner Brown. He currently wrestles in the independent circuit in the Northeastern United States.... , Freight Train, and Luis "Demon" Ortiz. |
Twenty-man battle royal Battle royal (professional wrestling) In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner... |
n/a |