Gene Kiniski
| Gene Kiniski | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Eugene Nicholas Kiniski |
| Born |
November 23, 1928 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | April 14, 2010 (aged 81) Blaine, Washington, United States |
| Spouse(s) | Marion Kiniski |
| Children |
Kelly Kiniski Nick Kiniski |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Gene Kiniski Gene Kelly Mighty Canadian Big Thunder |
| Billed height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Billed weight | 122 kg (270 lb) |
| Trained by |
Dory Funk Tony Morelli |
| Debut | February 13, 1952 |
| Retired | February 25, 1992 |
Eugene Nicholas "Gene" Kiniski (November 23, 1928 – April 14, 2010) was a Canadian athlete who played football for the Edmonton Eskimos and later was a successful professional wrestler recognized as a multiple-time World Heavyweight Champion. "Canada's Greatest Athlete", as he billed himself for promotional purposes, was born in Edmonton, Alberta. 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/professional wrestler Nick Kiniski.
One of six children of local politician Julia Kiniski, who emigrated from Poland. At the age of seventeen he was over six feet tall. Gene Kiniski wrestled and played football at St. Joseph's High School. In March 1947, he entered the annual Edmonton School's Boxing and Wrestling Tournament at Westglen gymnasium. Due to his size, he was the lone heavyweight competing.
Kiniski captured the attention of Annis Stukus, a scout for the Edmonton Eskimos, of the then Western Interprovincial Football Union in 1949, (which later merged with the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union to form the Canadian Football League). Along with Kiniski, wrestlers Al Oeming and Stu Hart were at the training camp as well. Two of his Eskimos teammates were future wrestlers Wilbur Snyder and Joe Blanchard.
He secured himself a spot on the defensive line and his play earned him a scholarship to the University of Arizona. He was enrolled there from September 18, 1950 to January 26, 1952 and played on the defensive line for Bob Winslow. Rod Fenton recruited Kiniski into professional wrestling in Arizona in 1952.
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