Klondike Bill

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Klondike Bill
Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States[3]
Trained byStu Hart[3]
Retired1987[4]

William Soloweyko (December 1, 1931 – October 3, 2000), better known by his

professional wrestler. He wrestled in various National Wrestling Alliance territories throughout the 1960s and 1970s, before moving onto World Championship Wrestling
.

Professional wrestling career

Soloweyko was an accomplished amateur wrestler.

Calgary, Alberta, he began his career wrestling as Bill "The Brute" Soloweyko. He was noted for his barrel-chested physique, beard, and bearhug finishing move.[1][6] On January 18, 1962, Bill and Whipper Billy Watson defeated Chris and John Tolos to win the NWA International Tag Team Championship, until they dropped the titles back to them in March.[7] From 1963 to 1964, as Klondike Bill, he performed for the WWWF, often defeating enhancement talent, but served on the losing end against bigger stars like WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino, Bobo Brazil, and Ernie Ladd.[8][9]

Bill unsuccessfully challenged for the

NWA Tri-State, holding the United States Tag Team Championship with Luke Brown in early 1974.[5] He would then wrestle only sporadically after this.[1]

He was hired by

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, and was also a road agent for World Championship Wrestling.[5] In addition, he worked for Crockett's minor league baseball team, the Charlotte O's, as a groundkeeper.[2][12] During the late 1990s, Bill was involved in a storyline that saw Eric Bischoff demoted as president and forced to set up a ring under Bill's supervision.[1]

He was also known for being the only person to consume two 72-ounce steaks at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in the one-hour time limit back in the 1960s.[13][12] Bill and fellow wrestler Johnny Heidemann were once kicked out of a buffet after they ate 56 pieces of chicken.[6]

Death

Soloweyko died on October 3, 2000, at the age of 68, in Pineville, North Carolina.[2] He had been suffering from a neuromuscular disorder that took away the use of his tongue and left him speechless.[6]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  2. ^ a b c d e f "William Soloweyko obituary". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. October 4, 2000. p. 25. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0
    .
  4. ^ "Wrestler Profiles: Klondike Bill". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  5. ^
    ISBN 9780786417544
    .
  6. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  7. ^ a b "International Tag Team Title (Ontario)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Ring Results: 1963". The History of WWE. 16 January 2023. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Ring Results: 1964". The History of WWE. 16 January 2023. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "NWA World Heavyweight Championship Matches: 1966". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "NWA Georgia Television Title". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  12. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  13. ^ "Big Texan Free 72oz Steak Facts". Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  14. ^ "Hawaii Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "All Asia Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "NWA United States Tag Team Title (Oklahoma & Louisiana & Arkansas & Mississippi)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Klondike_Bill&oldid=1208313374"