George Gordienko
George Gordienko | |
---|---|
Born | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | January 7, 1928
Died | May 13, 2002 Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada | (aged 74)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | George Gordienko |
Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
Billed weight | 260 lb (120 kg; 19 st) |
Trained by | Joe Pazandak[1] Stu Hart |
Debut | 1946 |
Retired | 1976 |
George Gordienko (January 7, 1928 – May 13, 2002) was a Canadian
Professional wrestling career
He wrestled professionally from 1946 to 1976. He started as a
George Gordienko won the Alberta Golden Jubilee tournament in 1955, defeating Adrien Baillargeon in the final. He then settled in UK. He was ranked the top heavyweight wrestler in the Great Britain in 1963. In 1970, George won the annual
George Gordienko wrestled all over the world, including the Middle East, Australia,
Personal life
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1928, Gordienko moved to the United States to pursue studies to enter a medical career. He was briefly associated with a communist party. He was arrested for distributing communist literature, which caused him to be deported and sent back to Canada.[5][15][16] He retired in Campbell River, British Columbia,[16]
Before his retirement, Gordienko became an artist. His favorite artist was Pablo Picasso, and he met Picasso at one point.[15] From 1976 to 1990, he lived in Italy with a Greek woman named Christina Tassou. Gordienko died of melanoma in 2002.[1]
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Posthumous Award (2009)[17]
- Fédération Française de Catch Professionnel
- World Heavyweight Championship (French version) (1 time)[19]
- Joint Promotions
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2012
- Stampede Wrestling
- NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (1 time)[8]
- 1 time) – with Super Hawk[11]
- Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)[20][12]
References
- ^ a b c d Oliver, Greg (2004-05-10). "Nephew aims to boost Gordienko's legacy". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
- ^ George Gordienko (1928–2002) Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "George Gordienko". Archived from the original on 2013-03-02. Retrieved 2005-12-15.
- ^ Wrestler & Artist George Gordienko
- ^ a b Will, Gary. "George Gordienko". Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame. Archived from the original on 2013-03-02. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b "British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b "British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Title (New Zealand)". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b "N.W.A. Canadian Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b "N.W.A. Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b "N.W.A. Canadian Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b "Stampede International Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ a b "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ "TOE-HOLD TRAPS NEGRO" The Sydney Morning Herald Friday 30 April 1954, p.12
- ^ "HERE TO WRESTLE". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 April 1954. p. 15. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ a b c d Carlson, Michael (2002-06-10). "George Gordienko". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-04-24.[dead link]
- ^ a b Grison, Brian. "George Gordienko: An Introduction to the Man and His Art". Winchester Galleries. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (April 16, 2009). "Top CAC award goes to top CAC man Nick Bockwinkel". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Mick Foley, Terry Funk headline pro hall of fame class at Gable Museum". The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ "World Heavyweight Championship Title (France)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 15:38. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
External links
- Profile at Online World of Wrestling
- HouseofDeception.com – autobiography, photos, representative artworks.
- More information
- Yesterday's News blog: 2007 interview with his son, Peter
- Article from SLAM! sports
- Article from Winchester Gallery
- Images of Gordienko's surrealist work
- Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame: George Gordienko