Killer Kowalski on Letterman, 1982 Pt1

[@SavoxYT]

I've always found it funny how a guy as tough as Kowalkski could have such a soft and pleasant voice.

[@samdustinchris]

What’s crazy, is that outside of a minor few, guys who are tough and can handle themselves tend to be very nice people. Especially back then, who is going to try a guy called “killer”!?

[@misterslats]

I remember watching this when it aired and being amazed at the Killer's comedic timing and wit. He was as quick with a great comeback as Letterman was. He was a hell of a character and wrestling crowds in the late 40's and early 50's were genuinely AFRAID of the man from his promos alone. Today's wrestling has NOTHING nearly as genuine. The fans all know that ALL the wrestlers - the good guys and the bad guys - are all friends in real life who go back to their hotel rooms and have video game nerd parties.

[@DropkickMurphysFan01]

Yup, very smart and well spoken also which I think some can't pick up due to his accent.

[@mackdog832]

He was the best ….RIP brother!…..they made big sacrifices with their lives to entertain us

[@eellexa]

Used to go see him in Melbourne Australia. Fabulous! R I P Killer.

[@leftys408]

Saw him wrestle in Boston many times. A great showman and clearly one of the top 5 wrestlers of the 1950s and 60s.

[@jimanderson7648]

i would put him the top 5 of all time. Killer and Mad Dog Vachon were the best tag team ever

[@alanstrong3295]

Glad to know that he would not have hurt someone outside of the arena. Did not spot him on TV in the Central States wrestling lineup. Kansas City got shortchanged.

[@jamesburkjr2803]

@@jimanderson7648 him and Gorilla Monsoon wasn't bad either

[@napaquatics3639]

@jimanderson7648 4 years later I still agree

[@TheRealStevieB]

Remembering Killer who left us 5 years ago today. RIP my friend.

[@leftys408]

Killer was a true gentleman. RIP.

[@johncasper8031]

Killer was "The man they love to hate." In real life he was a funny man and very intelligent.

[@davecoleman3770]

Walter was a great guy once you got to know him . He is surely missed R.I.P big guy.

[@imcrazyal1]

In real life he was a Gentlemen, always Shopping at Down Town Boston Mass.

[@Johnflugelhorn]

You arre right about that. Killer Kowalski would drop by the Liggett&Rexalldrugstore where I worked in the late 50s and would have some food at the diner section. When he walked in everyone would notice him since he was very tall and he always wore a suit and as you say a real gentleman.

[@imcrazyal1]

And do you Remember his Famous Hold The Claw Hold

[@anothonypeterson3402]

Man,I loved Killer Kawalski-he was such an interesting wrestler-I wish I had more photos and films of him wrestling.

[@Suldog29]

Killer is a very funny guy. Loved him.

[@briansam2524]

At 6' 7" 275 lbs. or so Kowalski was a very mobile big man, he may have been mean in the ring but he was gentleman outside of it, he is very articulate and very well spoken man.

[@tgfabthunderbird1]

This is what made Letterman's show so interesting back in the early days...he did not always have on A-list celebs, bands and the like. You never knew who might show up; I often found the lesser-known individuals to be the best interviews because there didn't seem to be as much pressure on them. I liked that a lot more than the way the show is now.

[@romeyburgin7221]

The Killer was the most feared but he also had a great sense of humor.

[@general5886]

he was massive

[@casyatbat]

Killer would have been a hall of fame defensive football end.

[@TheHannibalTV]

Wow

[@johncasper8031]

After the Yukon Eric incident with the ear, Eric & Killer wrestled many times. If there was a small crowd Eric would say "Hey, looks like I might have to sacrifice another ear."

[@fuscinula]

An incident in Montreal? Keeping traditions alive, aren't we Vince?

[@melbias5046]

the killer wore hair piece til the day he died.

[@bwilliams463]

Legend has it that his toupee is still wandering around out there, somewhere...

[@alyours2889]

Legend!

[@johnneebe824]

I was his plumber. He like McMahon Sr as he always got him work.

[@alexandrebertrand-lafleur3114]

It's a tough guy, Killer Kowalski! He gave a interview in French broadcast for a documentary about the wrestling history in Quebec, he fought against Yvon Robert, Edouard Carpentier and Lou Theaz! I remember he want then the journalist touch him cauliflower ear, to prove the truth about the ears!

[@garybryant8410]

Great interview and very funny!! Killer was a scream!

[@bobbytheblade2550]

OUCH - that man wig!

[@pedrohernandez8647]

Lou Thesz had a grudge against Killer Kowalski and he absolutely hated wrestling that madman of Polish descent. Kowalski was an all-out brawler who would go after you non-stop, even when he's hurt, until the match is ended. At one point, he tore the lobe of his opponent's ear with a kneedrop. Bruno Sammartino regarded Killer Kowaski as among his toughest opponents. They wrestled each other many times and, more often than not, their matches ended in a bloody mess.

[@Aphelion_k9f]

Another wrestler from that era who was just as mean and nasty as Kowalski was Hans Schmidt. Schmidt and Kowalski had some wild matches. There's one on KZbin.

[@timidtornado2869]

Sharp......loathed =loved

[@bwilliams463]

If Killer Kowalski tells me he's the 'most-LOVED,' I guaran-damn-tee you I am not going to disagree with him.

[@Toracube]

Letterman hates it when someone is funnier than he is...

[@travismcdonald6576]

Letterman must’ve hated all his guests.

[@elc1960]

I was never quite sure why Killer wore a rug like that, because when he was an active wrestler he never wore one. He just let his receding hairline be, but occasionally he would attamt a combover.

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

Wow ... 63 points for an ear.

[@Drinapropriatetouch]

Letterman doesn't seem to like wrestlers, I think it's a credit to a wrestler if he can go on and have any decent interview.

[@Daves_Faves]

Letterman was a HUGE wrestling fan, going back to the days of Chicago wrestling with guys like Crusher & Bobby Heenan. Kowalski & Letterman are having fun with each other.

[@matts4240]

+The Red Buffoon Why would he have had Killer Kowalski on his show in 1982---long past Kowalski's prime---if he didn't like wrestlers? He must have gone out of his way to have him on the show.

[@Drinapropriatetouch]

***** Fair point, I just felt like Letterman wasn't giving much to the interview but I'm not above admitting I might be wrong.

[@olive6405]

Letterman was actually a wrestling announcer in Indianapolis early in his career. Jerry Lawler mentions in his autobiography that when he appeared on Letterman during his feud with Andy Kaufman that during the commercial break Letterman asked him if he ever wrestled Dick The Brusier.

[@tomservo5347]

I think the Undertaker took lessons from 'Killer'. The WWF used to send wrestlers to his school that were having trouble selling their offensive moves. Killer fixed them up and really made their moves offensive to look at sometimes.

[@TakersMissy]

Lol! I had no idea the Killer was also so funny! Plus - DAMN he was hot at 18, too!! :-)

[@rodmunch4879]

Did walters rug ever fall off during a match?

[@pumpkinsdontcry]

I came here after seeing Kevin Sullivan in a shoot day he grew up on killer kowalski

[@tornmask1]

Killer Kowalski was the master of mean in the world of professional wrestling!

[@hamadhumaid1984]

This man trained WWE Hall of Famer The Game Triple H and Matt Bloom aka Albert aka A-Train aka Tensai

[@SeamHead33]

Chyna and Perry Saturn too

[@paylmoffat3409]

He use to do the very painful “ Indian Death Lock” Got a submission every time

[@TakersMissy]

This was also the year, I believe, of the infamous Letterman segment when Jerry "The King" Lawler slapped the snot out of Andy Kaufman, which then led to Kaufman's profanity-laden rant! Great stuff!!

[@b4boomersblockboy722]

he looked right me one night and I thought he coming to get me...LoL...I was scared shitless !

[@robertbrooks7001]

A guy I know lived next to him. He had to buy two dogs because of threats!

[@jazzmanchgo]

Kowalski had a hell of a build when he was young. But I thought the Moondogs were Rex and Spot, not Rex and "Fido" . . .?

[@jethro1963]

@@Music--ng8cd Moondog King = Sailor White

[@qwueyu7966]

Im related to him

[@Cody_Cigar]

No matter how people respond, that's cool as hell mate

[@jdbankshot]

salut! j'imagine que te grandis avec la lutte internationale, les dimanche matin a 11hr...des bons souvenirs, avec carpentier, jos leduc, gino brito, la famille rougeau, andre/jean ferre, dino bravo, ricky martel, etc...ya, killer c'etais un vrai de vrai tough, comme mad dog vachon, the real deal! pis ici, il parle de l'incident au forum qu'il lui a donner le nom 'killer'. en tout cas, nice to see i'm not alone, take care, bonne journee!

[@ericbroderick3765]

Killer kowalski is my third cousin but I don't know much about

[@robertcox3872]

He Reminds me of Joe Namath :-)

[@stevedrums1675]

Trained HHH.

[@jaimejaviergarcia3743]

He trained some terrific talent.

[@Harpo.jr70]

That looks like a hair hat.

[@norm2944]

took over the dojo from Don McMahon, Malden

[@aboutdafunk]

Al Bundy

[@fredericbarclay7468]

Word. The pride of Polk High football. Should of had him guest on MWC as Al,Sr: Al finally would be scared to death of Something! RIP WLADEK

[@4EyedAnimation]

The toupee is a killer

[@kingchong1482]

lol at that wig

[@FerretJohn]

"runs the Killer Kowalski Institute for Professional Wrestling, right up there with Annapolis". He's not that far off, if you wanted to become an Air Force officer you went to Annapolis, if you wanted to become a professional wrestler you went to Kowalski's!

[@SeamHead33]

Nice wig

[@docdoom187]

Really? You're lucky!!! :)

[@richiebdointhings1102]

I wish he'd just bit off Letterman's gapped toothed head.

[@b4boomersblockboy722]

The meanest and loafed he was !,,,LoL

[@lancearmsgone2298]

Killer had the worst wig

[@youngbaccini]

POLSKA! BYCZYS

[@TheVirajster]

Horrible hair piece!!!