Speaking Of Sports

San Mateo CA Times – June 20, 1958
By Jack Bluth

With the exception of weightlifter Paul Anderson and the guys who go over 500 pounds, Leo Nomellini is the strongest man in professional wrestling today.

This is the testimony of Don Manoukian, the ex-Stanford footballer who broke into the grunt and groan fraternity under the muscular wing of Leo the Lion.

“He’s legendary,” Manoukian exclaimed. “Powerful shoulders. Strongest in the game outside of Anderson and a couple of the giants. He’s a tremendous specimen and in shape all the time.”

Rassler Kiniski Heads For Army

Tucson AZ Daily Citizen – April 8, 1954

Pro wrestler Gene Kiniski gives up the mat life and starts grappling with army problems next week.

And the Canadian wrestler-footballer isn’t too happy about taking a slice in salary. He’ll have the benefit of quick naturalization as a U.S. citizen in return.

Kiniski, who was a 225-pound lineman for the Arizona Wildcats in 1951, last year of coach Bob Winslow’s reign, reports to Phoenix Monday under the draft plan. He’ll report to Fort Bliss, El Paso, Tex., Tuesday, if his “football knee” passes physical inspection. It’s the one that was injured badly enough to hospitalize Kiniski and sideline him a year and a half in Canada. But it was strong enough for a season with the Edmonton Eskimos this past fall, plus wrestling here this winter.

Esks’ Gene Kiniski Quits Football

Canadian Press – March 4, 1953

EDMONTON, Alta. — Homebrew tackle Gene Kiniski has advised Edmonton Eskimos he plans to give up football for professional wrestling. Kiniski suffered a severe knee injury in last year’s Western grid opener at Regina and later underwent an operation.

Kiniski, after a brief stint with Eskimos following their return to big-time football in 1949, went to Arizona State College, where he bloomed into a top prospect, and earned all-American mention. Eskimos lured him back to the fold last season.

Cleats And Clouts

El Paso Herald-Post – June 3, 1952

Gene Kiniski, the former Arizona gridder now making wrestling his life’s work, will leave late this month for training with the Edmonton, Canada football team. Kiniski’s contract allows him to wrestle during the grid season.

All you heartbroken dolls can smile, though. Grapplin’ Gene says he’s coming back to El Paso and the southwest to wrestle just as soon as Canadian Football League season ends in December. . . .

Kiniski Roaring Success In Pro Mat Debut

Tucson Daily Citizen – February 14, 1952

Gene Kiniski’s wrestling debut proved a roaring success as he rode Curly Hughes to the mat in 12 minutes to take last night’s one-fall special attraction at the Sports Center.

The former University of Arizona gridder showed the 2,200 fans present all kinds of grappling technique in the heavyweight match that was a slugfest after the first seven minutes.

Kiniski To Face Hughes In Debut

Tucson Daily Citzen – February 8, 1952

Gene Kiniski trades his gridiron togs for a pair of wrestling shorts to make his professional mat debut at the Sports Center next Wednesday.

The University of Arizona tackle of the past season from Edmonton, Canada, will face Curly Hughes in a one fall to a finish event. Kiniski will weigh in at 230 pounds and stand 6 feet 4 1/2 inches; his foe will be approximately 10 pounds heavier but two inches shorter.

Promoter Rod Fenton, who has been training the young grappler, predicts big things for him in the mat world. Kiniski wrestled a great deal as an amateur, winning titles both here and in Canada.

Wrestling May Lure Kiniski

Lethbridge Herald – January 16, 1952

Edmonton – Promising careers in both football and wrestling are being considered by big Gene Kiniski, Edmonton product who played football the last two seasons for the University of Arizona. It appears the grunt-and-groan sport will win him.

Kiniski said in a letter to an Edmonton friend that he has been approached by coach Frankie Filchock of Edmonton’s football Eskimos. But he said he doubts if Eskimos can match the lucrative professional wrestling contract he has been offered in Tucson.

Kiniski played for the Eskimos in the 1949 season.

Co-Features Top Wrestle Card Tonight

Buffalo Courier-Express – November 8, 1957

One of the most attractive wrestling programs of the current season will be presented by the Buffalo Wrestling Club tonight at 8:15 in Memorial Auditorium.

Fritz von Erich will face Ronnie Etchison and Gene Kiniski will go against Joe Blanchard in the co-features.

Testy Tasker Awards Bout To Sammartino

Globe & Mail – September 27, 1965

Wrestler Johnny Powers caught referee Tiger Tasker in one of his no-trifling moods last night at Maple Leaf Gardens. The result was Powers was disqualified in the main bout with Bruno Sammartino at 16:18. Tasker awarded the one-fall match to Sammartino, a mighty pleasing decision to the crowd of 4,999.

Whipper Retains Empire Title As Curfew Ends Kiniski Bout

Globe & Mail – September 24, 1965
By Steve York

They call it all-in wrestling in Britain and a look at the ending of the main bout at Maple Leaf Gardens last night showed why. There was Gene Kiniski…

What? The result? Oh, that was a draw between Whipper Watson and Kiniski. The 11 o’clock curfew halted the one-fall match for the British Empire heavyweight championship at 30:32 and referee Tiger Tasker ruled the outcome a draw. That meant Watson retained the title.