Gene Kiniski: Canadian Wrestling Legend

by Steven Verrier

Overview

Gene Kiniski (1928-2010) was internationally known to a generation of wrestling fans and to Canadians everywhere as "Canada's Greatest Athlete." Older fans and wrestling historians remember him best for his accomplishments in the ring, his run-'em-over approach to the game, his growly demeanor, and his razor wit he could unleash at will. Drawing on recollections from fellow wrestlers, promoters, and friends, this first biography of Kiniski gives a full account of the life of a champion pro wrestler who won over fans throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan in a career spanning more than three decades.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476674834
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	01/10/2019
Pages:	254
Sales rank:	649,508
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Steven Verrier has previously written works of short drama, fiction, and nonfiction published in the United States, Canada, and Japan. He lives in Bonney Lake, Washington.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword by Nick Kiniski
Foreword by Kelly Kiniski
Preface
Introduction: The Historical Backdrop
 1. The Kiniskis of Chipman, Alberta
 2. Edmonton and Tucson: Tale of Two Cities
 3. Arizona Wildcat
 4. Learning the Ropes
 5. Return to the Gridiron
 6. Long Road to Hollywood
 7. Hot in California
 8. Breakthrough Years
 9. Indianapolis and Minneapolis
10. Vancouver Territory, 1961–1963
11. Julia Kiniski
12. 1964 … a Very Good Year
13. More of a Very Good Year
14. Height of His Career
15. Passing the Torch
16. Passing of Nicholas and Julia
17. Still Going Strong, 1969–1973
18. The Only Woman He Ever Loved
19. Focusing on Home
20. Kiniski–Tomko: An Uneasy Alliance
21. Slowly Winding Down
22. Endgame
23. “You couldn’t help but love the guy”
24. A Largely Retired Life
25. Final Decade
26. Celebration of Life
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

I enjoyed this book tremendously. Verrier has a way of recounting the history of a land, detail by painstaking detail, and tying it to the life story of his subject Kiniski. He paints a rich portrait of Kiniski’s life and career...highly detailed and informative.”—Pro Wrestling Historical Society; “Verrier digs deeply into the life of Kiniski.... Reading Verrier’s account of Kiniski’s life is to travel through wrestling history.... Verrier’s writing style is straightforward and clean...a compelling tale.”—Sport in American History; “A labour of love.... Readers will get a lot of bang for their buck and will learn more than they may have intended about Kiniski and professional wrestling. Nothing is missing here. The book could very easily be renamed The Kiniski Bible. Verrier has astutely crafted the complete and definitive biography on Kiniski.”—Slam! Sports; “Gene Kiniski: Canadian Wrestling Legend will thrill wrestling fans--and sports fans in general--with a colorful, blow-by-blow account of the fascinating life of one of pro wrestling’s early legends.... A must-read!”—Jason Beck, Curator and Director, British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, and author of The Miracle Mile; “Steven Verrier masterfully separates fact from fiction in this portrait of one of wrestling’s iconic villains.... After peeling back the myth, Steven leaves us with a heartfelt babyface turn that will last for the ages.”—Vance Nevada, author of Wrestling in the Canadian West; “Gene Kiniski: Canadian Wrestling Legend is as meticulously researched and well-written as any biography found in professional wrestling literature. Steve Verrier has gone above and beyond the call of duty.”—Tim Hornbaker, author of National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling.

From the Publisher