Killer Karl Krupp
| George Momberg | |
|---|---|
Killer Karl Krupp, with tag team partner Karl Von Stroheim (left)
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| Born |
May 13, 1934 The Netherlands |
| Died | August 24, 1995 (aged 61) Hamilton, Ontario |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) |
Killer Karl Krupp Dutch Momberg Mad Dog Momberg Baron von Krupp |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Billed weight | 256 lb (116 kg) |
| Billed from | Germany |
| Debut | 1957 |
| Retired | 1988 |
George Momberg (May 13, 1934 – August 24, 1995), better known by the ring name Killer Karl Krupp, was a Dutch-born professional wrestler famous during the 1970s and early 1980s.
George Momberg was born in the Netherlands and was a child during the Nazi occupation of his home country. Sometime after the war, he emigrated to North America.
Making his debut as a professional wrestler in 1957, the first half of Momberg's lengthy career, as Dutch Momberg, was not particularly memorable. Sometime around 1971, he changed his name to Mad Dog Momberg. In 1972, he finally hit upon the gimmick that would make him a star, the character of the 'evil German,' Killer Karl Krupp.
The German heel gimmick had been around a good twenty years by this time, first popularized by Hans Schmidt and carried further by later stars, such as Fritz von Erich. A late entry into the field, Killer Karl Krupp was among the most wildly over-the-top of them all: with eyes bulging, head shaved and a short black beard framing a leering grin, Krupp was the very image of a wildly cartoonish yet frightening wrestling villain. He accessorized for the part with monocle, riding crop, heavy black boots and black ring cape, and delivered ranting promos in an affected German accent rife with mangled pronunciations. Utilizing other familiar staples of the German heel gimmick, Krupp goose-stepped to the ring, threw stiff-arm salutes, and used an Iron Claw hold (the 'Eye Claw') as his finishing move. What was unknown to the public at the time was that Momberg hated the Nazis who had occupied his homeland, and he did the over-the-top gimmick as a way of mocking them, Hogan's Heroes-style.
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