.png) Putski,c. 1982 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Józef Bednarski[1] (1941-01-21)January 21, 1941 (age 85)[1] Kraków, Poland |
| Children | 2, includingScott Putski |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Ivan Putski[1] Jim Bednarski[2] Polish Power The Polish Hammer |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[3] |
| Billed weight | 245 lb (111 kg)[4] |
| Billed from | Kraków, Poland[1] |
| Debut | July 2, 1969[5] |
| Retired | February 27, 1999[6] |
Józef Bednarski (born January 21, 1941) is a Polish and American formerprofessional wrestler andbodybuilder, best known by thering nameIvan Putski.[1] He was given the nicknames the "Polish Hammer" and "Polish Power".
Putski is a formerWWF World Tag Team Champion withTito Santana.[1] He had a famous feud withSuperstar Billy Graham over theWWF Championship, which led to many pose-downs, arm wrestling bouts, and long matches between the two. Other rivals includedThe Iron Sheik,Ivan Koloff, andJesse Ventura, who would refer to Putski as "Puduski" when commentating for the WWF. Putski was the first Polish wrestler to perform in the WWF (now WWE).
He was inducted to the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.
Putski was born inKraków in Poland and immigrated to the United States at a young age.[2][4] He and his family arrived inTexas, where Putski began his professional wrestling career. In his earlier days, he was weighed in at the 250 lb mark.[4]
Putski won theNWA Texas Tag Team Championship withJosé Lothario twice in 1973.[1]
Putski was a fixture on the Dallas-Ft. Worth wrestling scene and was one of its most popular personalities. He was routinely the feature act atthe Sportatorium, a wrestling-only arena in an industrial section near Downtown Dallas. Putski's act consisted of being a happy-go-lucky, often aloof buffoon, who would "miraculously" pin his opponent. Putski was often introduced as a former concentration camp survivor, only adding to his sympathetic appeal to audiences of all ages.
In the early 1970s, Putski worked for theAmerican Wrestling Association (AWA), where he was a fan favorite.[7] It was during this time in the AWA that Putski also first clashed with Superstar Billy Graham, with the two feuding over who was the strongest wrestling in the AWA;.[7][1] During "Polish Power" Ivan Putski's time in the AWA, anti-Polish phrases where also a mainstay of lead American television seriesAll In The Family's patriarchArchie Bunker against his Polish-American son-in-lawMichael Stivic.
Prior to leaving the AWA, Ivan dropped most of his weight by getting into bodybuilding. Ivan kept himself fairly trim at the 215–220 pound mark.
Putski debuted in theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1974.[4] While in the WWWF, Putski feuded with many wrestlers, includingBruiser Brody,Stan Hansen andIvan Koloff.[4] On June 25, 1976, atShowdown at Shea, Putski defeatedBaron Mikel Scicluna.[1][8] Four years later on August 9, Putski was again victorious at thenext Showdown at Shea, defeatingJohnny Rodz.[1] He also resumed his feud withSuperstar Billy Graham. On October 22, 1979, Putski teamed with a young rookieTito Santana to defeatJohnny andJerry Valiant to win theWWF World Tag Team Championship.[1] They held the title for six months before losing it toThe Wild Samoans.[4] Putski worked in the renamed World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1980s, primarily feuding withRoddy Piper andSgt. Slaughter. He took a hiatus from wrestling in 1986. He soon returned to the independent circuit, also making occasional appearances in the WWF as ajobber to the stars. His last high-profile feud was in 1984 withJesse Ventura. In November 1985, Putski lost toRandy Savage in the opening round of theWrestling Classic.[1] His final appearance was in 1987 teaming on television withJunkyard Dog andSuperstar Billy Graham in tag team matches.
Putski began to slow down his career in the 1980s.[4] He won his lasttag team championship in May 1981, teaming withWahoo McDaniel to defeatDory Funk, Jr. and Larry Lane for theSWCW World Tag Team Championship.[1] He worked forInternational World Class Championship Wrestling from 1986 to 1988. He then retired from the sport.
After his run in the WWF, several promotions, and his semi-retirement, Putski returned to the ring in 1991. Putski made an appearance forInternational World Class Championship Wrestling teaming with his son,Scott to defeat the Masked Iraqis. Also made an appearance forGlobal Wrestling Federation in 1992 teaming with Gary Young against Tom andMike Davis in a no contest.
In 1995, Putski was inducted into theWWF Hall of Fameclass of 1995 by his son,Scott.[4]
In 1996, he joinedInternational Championship Wrestling, as a face. He won several matches in the company, and he was billed as a tough guy.
The father-and-son team returned in July 1997 to defeatJerry Lawler andBrian Christopher onRaw is War.
Putski wrestled his last match for NWA New Jersey as he defeatedKing Kong Bundy by disqualification on February 27, 1999.
After his retirement from wrestling, he had astrongman career. Putski occasionally made appearances in the ring during the years.
In 2010, Putski appeared in a reunion event called "LegendsMania" and he was interviewed.
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Legends of Wrestling | Video game debut |
| 2002 | Legends of Wrestling II | |
| 2004 | Showdown: Legends of Wrestling |
Aside from wrestling, Ivan Putski also competed as astrongman. He participated in the1978 World's Strongest Man competition,[4] finishing eighth in a field of ten competitors.[9]
Putski's son,Scott Putski, is also a professional wrestler,[1] having previously worked atWorld Wrestling Federation andWorld Championship Wrestling.[4]
From 2000 to 2007, Putski worked as head security guard atJack C. Hays High School inBuda, Texas.
On January 8, 2012, Ivan Putski was inducted into the Cloverleaf Radio Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.
On June 26, 2025, he was inducted into theNational Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame located in Troy, Michigan; Class of 2025.
,Cagematch,Wrestlingdata,Internet Wrestling Database
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