Ivan Putski (Alive)
Joseph Bednarski
1941 - Present
"Polish Power"
"Ivan Putski" Video
A native of Poland, Ivan Putski emigrated to Texas with his family when he was a young boy. Texas would prove fertile ground as he became a professional wrestler. He would go on to win the NWA American Tag Team Championship (1970) and the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1973) with partner Jose Lothario.
"Polish Power" entered the WWWF in 1976 and battled men like "Superstar" Billy Graham, Ivan Koloff, Bruiser Brody and Jesse "The Body" Ventura. He and tag partner Tito Santana captured the WWF World Tag Team Championship from Jimmy and Jerry Valiant in 1979, the same year they earned the PWI Tag Team of the Year. The 1980s marked the decline of Ivan's career. He was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame (1995).
An avid bodybuilder who competed in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition, Ivan has retired from wrestling and currently works as a security guard at a local high school.
User Comments - Add a Comment
Wrestling fan in Texas - 2008-12-08 15:52:30
You need to check your info on this one. Ivan Putski is dead.
[Editor's Note: We don't see anything online to indicate that Ivan Putski is dead: http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/ivanputski
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Putski
http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/i/ivan-putski.html.]
Capt Spaulding - 2009-03-02 14:09:20
You may want to check your info.Ivan is very alive and doing well living in Austin. His son Scott and I are very good friends and in fact Scott spoke with his father two weekends ago while we were looking at Iron Horse motorcycles. So Ivan is very much alive!!!!
Old Friend - 2009-03-05 16:06:51
My father is an old college friend of Ivan's. My dad knows him as "Joe Bed". Could you ask Scott if he could ask Ivan if he remembers Connie Hoffman from SWT?
Bud - 2009-03-09 10:24:17
I am glad to see that Mr. Bednarski is alive and well. I went to college with his son Kent at Texas A&I, and had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bednarski then. He is a prince of a guy.
Capt Spaulding - 2009-03-18 17:55:12
I'll be more than happy to pass this on to Ivan. Yea he is really a cool guy. It's just so sad that the wrestling industry doesn't have guys like Ivan around anymore. He is truly a one of a kind gentleman.
Capt Spaulding - 2009-03-23 15:21:34
Hey guys just an update, We were at Scotts this past weekend for his sons birthday party and Ivan was there. My god the guy(Ivan)is hard as nails and still ready to go at the sound of the bell! So for you out there the Polish Strongman Is still ready to rumble.
Old friend - 2009-03-24 16:22:42
Connie's name is Homer Hoffman and he lives in Arvada, Colorado. He has a State Farm Insurance agency in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He tried looking up Joe Bed's number but was unsuccessful. He would really like to talk to Joe to see how he is. Thanks.
Mike Williams - 2009-05-08 02:01:20
An absolute disgrace to wrestling nothing more than an unathletic steroid freak
Tom Hoffman - 2009-05-13 11:39:26
The man is a legend. My father knew him in college and knows that Joe Bed took pride and the utmost care of his health. Nowadays anyone that has great strength and a muscular physique is assumed to be on roids. Very sad.
dirion - 2009-07-15 11:04:08
I hate to tell you but most of the bodybuilders and pro wrestlers were taking steroids in the 70's. It was just legal then:)
Bill from Pittsburgh - 2009-08-14 17:39:50
I loved Ivan, never will forget him crushing a steel barrel, I was standing in a line at the Pittsburgh airport and he was just behind me, I asked "arent you Ivan Putski"? He just smiled.
Dr. Satan - 2009-08-15 00:09:09
Ivan Putski was one of my favorite heros in wrestling as Jessie The Body was my favorite comical heels. I always wanted to see him go toe to toe with Jessie , especially when Jessie misspronounced Ivans' last name on purpose
Paul - 2009-09-02 20:23:40
Mr. Putski, Where are you? Please consider doing autograph singings for the public. Many of us remember you from tv and in person. You are one of the best.
lilfancyb - 2008-08-17 11:14:09
I loved him...they should a show showing him