Hundreds of people, many of them younger wrestlers, gathered today at a Malden church to pay their respects to Walter "Killer" Kowalski, the wrestling legend who died during the weekend at the age of 81.

Kowalski, who retired in the late 1970s and taught wrestling in the Boston area afterwards, taught students "how to carry yourself as a champion, how to protect your opponent as well as yourself, the dignity that comes with sweat, and how to scare little kids," Don Bravo, an old associate of Kowalski's, said in the eulogy.

One of Kowalski's most famous students, Paul Levesque, also known as "Triple H," the current World Wrestling Federation world champion, said after the service that Kowalski was an amazing teacher who imparted his wisdom so "guys could live the dream he lived."

The crowd at St. Joseph's Church included young men with shaved heads, long ponytails, and long feathered curls, who had been Kowalski's students. A few women were also among those in the crowd. Many had traveled from far away to attend.

Some wore purple because Kowalski had believed that that color was the best for a wrestler. A reporter and photographer from Japan, where Kowalski had a following, attended.

Kowalski was famous for his signature move, the claw hold, which consisted of grabbing his opponent's stomach and twisting, the Globe reported Sunday.

He retired from pro wrestling, which requires equal parts athleticism and showmanship, in April 1977 and then taught his techniques in Malden and North Andover, holding classes every Saturday up until March.

Outside the ring, Kowalski was a vegetarian who enjoyed classical music, philosophy, and photography, and followed the teachings of Jesus.

He suffered a massive heart attack Aug. 8 and was taken off life support Aug. 18.

A member of World Wrestling Entertainment's Hall of Fame, Kowalski leaves behind his wife, Theresa Ferrioli, and a brother, Stanley Spulnik of Ottawa.

Picture: Pallbearers (left to right) Paul Levesque, also known as "Triple H", Dan Ouellette, Jamie Jamacoski and Mike Hollow carried pro wrestling legend Walter "Killer" Kowalski into St. Joseph's Church.

Taken from: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/09/wrestler_kowals.html

MVP upset WWE management following a recent incident in which he made a derogatory comment to one of the drug testing monitors who watches the WWE performers while they submit urine samples.

Following the implementation of the WWE Wellness policy a few years ago, some wrestlers were submitting fake urine samples to beat the drug tests. One wrestler was eventually caught cheating in WWE developmental wrestler Afa Anoa'i Jr. As a result, Anoa'i was suspended by WWE for 30 days, on March 20, 2008, as cheating is an obvious violation of the WWE's Wellness policy. Following the incident, WWE instituted a new rule in which the performers have to be bare from their chest down to their knees while giving urine in front of a doctor to make sure they're not cheating. A number of the wrestlers are grouchy to the monitors as you would imagine. However, MVP went too far in what he said to one of them.

MVP asked the monitor if he graduated from college. The monitor said yet. MVP then insulted him, saying something along the lines of, "So you went to school for four years to watch people's (expletive)?"

The monitor promptly complained to WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis as well as Bruce Prichard. Soon after, Laurinaitis indirectly addressed the matter in locker room meeting, instructing talent to be respectful of the testers and to not harass them. People aware of the MVP incident felt it was obvious that the meeting was held due to it.

Since the incident, MVP has been getting the cold shoulder from a few officials. Suddenly, the word backstage is that he doesn't know how to work as a heel to get heat. At last week's SmackDown/ECW tapings in Pittsburgh, Shelton Benjamin - who's been in-and-out of favor with WWE officials for a number of years - was given high praise in that he knows to work as an effective heel. They liked his smiling facials after he laid out MVP with his "Paydirt" finisher and more so later in the show after clocking Triple H with a belt.

After a wild beginning on ECW on Sci Fi with a live edition of "The Dirt Sheet," Matt Hardy, Finlay, Tommy Dreamer & Evan Bourne won an Eight-Man Tag Team Match, with Hardy pinning ECW Champion Mark Henry for the victory – after the World's Strongest Man was given a Shooting Star Press by Bourne, a splash from Dreamer, a body splash from Finlay, and a Twist of Fate from Hardy.

In an Extreme world where five Superstars will vie for the ECW Championship at Unforgiven, things were upside down when The Miz & John Morrison hosted a special episode of their hit WWE.com show, "The Dirt Sheet," on ECW on Sci Fi. Miz is one of the challengers in the ECW Championship Scramble on Sunday, and he was joined by guests Matt Hardy, Chavo Guerrero, Finlay and the World's Strongest Champion, Mark Henry.

Each guest, however, was treated to the insulting words of Miz & Morrison – words that sparked a wild melee when Morrison hit Hardy with a microphone. As Miz, Morrison, Guerrero, Bam Neely, Mark Henry and WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas attacked Hardy and Finlay, Evan Bourne and Tommy Dreamer rushed to their aid, clearing the ring of the imminent threat. Who will walk out of Unforgiven with the ECW gold? Can Henry hold on despite the 80 percent chance of losing his title? Or will someone else step up and take the gold for themselves?

Ricky Ortiz continued his undefeated streak on ECW, defeating Ryan Braddock. The towel-waving Ortiz has been impressive during his streak, but how long can he keep the victories piling up?

Victories seem to be eluding newcomer Gavin Spears who, despite his claims that he is the "crown jewel" of ECW General Manager Theodore Long's New Superstar Initiative, has yet to taste success on ECW on Sci Fi. Spears did battle with Super Crazy Tuesday night, once again coming up short in his bid to earn his first win. Will Spears live up to his claims?

Taken from: ecw.com

Leave it up to ECW General Manager Theodore Long to keep the Extreme waters stirring on Tuesday nights. Following in the footsteps of his GM colleagues on Raw and SmackDown, Long announced that the Land of the Extreme would also have a Championship Scramble Match at Unforgiven.

Not only will that five-way contest take place, but a sneak preview in the form of an ECW Battle Royal took place Monday night on Raw. All five ECW Championship Scramble Match competitors shared the ring as the World's Strongest Champion Mark Henry ousted Finlay, Chavo Guerrero, The Miz and Matt Hardy to earn an impressive victory.

Just 24 hours later, these men will step in the same ring again - this time as hosts on John Morrison & The Miz's live "Dirt Sheet" on ECW on Sci Fi. What dirty deeds might be ahead for these Superstars when WWE.com's controversial original series comes to the Land of the Extreme, mere days before Unforgiven?

Week after week, Henry, with help from his associate, WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas, has done everything he can to stack the odds in his favor. But, after a whirlwind series of matches qualified the other four Superstars to join him in the innovative pay-per-view bout, how will the World's Strongest Man react to such overwhelming opposition to his throne?

Finlay may have gotten some retribution on Mike Knox for last week's SmackDown assault by brawling his way to qualifying glory. But, have things truly been settled between to the two tough-as-nails Superstars? Or will this latest victory by the man who loves to fight prove to be nothing more than another battle in their very grueling war of hatred?

Find out the answers to these questions and more on ECW on Sci Fi, tonight at 10/9 CT. And, don't miss all three unprecedented Championship Scramble Matches at Unforgiven, live Sunday, only on pay-per-view.

Taken from: ecw.com

The following matches are scheduled for the 2008 WWE Unforgiven pay-per-view (PPV):

• World Tag Team Championship Match: Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase vs Cryme Tyme

• Unsanctioned Match: Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho

• ECW Championship Scramble Match: Mark Henry vs Matt Hardy vs The Miz vs Finlay vs Chavo Guerrero

• World Heavyweight Championship Scramble Match: CM Punk vs Kane vs JBL vs Batista vs Rey Mysterio

• WWE Championship Scramble Match: Triple H vs Jeff Hardy vs Shelton Benjamin vs MVP vs The Brian Kendrick

Christian Cage's current contract with TNA is set to expire before the end of the year and that a return to WWE is not out of the question. The other contracts (in addition to Christian Cage) that are running up over the next few months within TNA also include Team 3D, Kevin Nash and Awesome Kong.

With the way things are on SmackDown right now, there would certainly be a spot open for him to return and possibly feud or reunite with Edge. Christian was said to be burned out from the tough WWE schedule after his first stint with them, but has recently noticed that since he is 35 years old, his career could be winding down and wants to make as much money as he can now. Christian is very good with money though and has saved up over the years.

Christian is said to be happy with his current schedule and pay that TNA gives him, but he has been known to criticize the creative team in the past, and now that one of his good friends, Scott D'Amore just left the TNA creative team that could be enough reason for Christian to make the jump over to WWE.

At this point, it would be hard to trust Christian as well. Upon his departure from WWE in 2005, he told everyone that he wouldn't be switching companies when he had already made the deal with TNA.

While many feel he will probably stay with TNA, even Christian said himself "never say never" about a WWE return in his final interview after Taboo Tuesday.

On Saturday morning, wrestling legend Walter "Killer" Kowalski passed away in Boston, Massachusetts.

During an in-ring career that spanned from the 1940s to the 1970s, Kowalski was one of the most celebrated - and respected - grapplers of our time.

In the golden era of the sport in the 1950s when millions of Americans and Canadians discovered - and fell in love with - televised wrestling, Kowalski was one of the first superstars to become a household name.

Each and every week, fans tuned in to witness Kowalski battling other greats such as Buddy Rogers, Dr. Bill Miller, Whipper Billy Watson and Gorgeous George, regularly using his feared "Iron Claw" to beat opponents.

Kowalski also became famous for an incident in 1954 when he knee-dropped fellow wrestler Yukon Eric, tearing off a piece of his ear in the process. The move made headlines and forever earned Kowalski his "Killer" nickname.

In addition to multiple title reigns and worldwide acclaim, Kowalski was also regarded as one of the greatest teachers the sport has ever known. Following his retirement, Kowalski opened his own wrestling school outside Boston, Massachusetts, that served as the start for dozens of current and former wrestling superstars, including TNA's Frankie Kazarian and Roxxi Laveaux as well as names like Big John Studd, Triple H, Joanie Laurer, Albert/A-Train and many more.

"I am very saddened by Walter's passing," TNA founder Jeff Jarrett told TNAwrestling.com. "He was not only a trailblazer for an entire generation of wrestlers, but he also passed on his knowledge and experience after stepping away from the ring. That's something you don't always see from the veterans of this sport. He will be missed by everyone in our business."

Everyone at TNA Wrestling sends our thoughts and prayers out to the family of Walter "Killer" Kowalski.

Information on funeral arrangements, memorials and tributes are available on www.killerkowalskis.com and www.uswfwrestling.com

Taken from: tnawrestling.com

The following notes is from the Killer Kowalski's Pro Wrestling School's Official Website:

All of us at Chaotic Wrestling, Chaotic Entertainment Group, and Killer Kowalski's School of Professional Wrestling mourn the passing of Walter "Killer" Kowalski on August 30th. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. Information regarding services and donations will be forthcoming.

"Shoot for the moon - if you miss, you may hit a star." - Walter "Killer" Kowalski


Services for Walter will be held Wednesday, September 3rd at the:

Weir Funeral Home
144 Salem Street
Malden, MA 02148

Afternoon Services 2pm-4pm
Evening Services 6pm-8pm

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that wrestling fans send donations to:

Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Fund
c/o Citizens Bank
876 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148

Online donations can be made here.

According to Pro Wrestling Torch, Mick Foley has in fact agreed to sign with TNA once his WWE contract expires on September 1st. If something major goes wrong, or WWE offers him a billion dollars by the end of the month, he can change his mind, but it's almost certain he will sign.

Rumors have been floating around for the past two weeks about the jump and the reason the specifics have been kept quiet is because he was talking exclusively with TNA President Dixie Carter, with everyone else being kept in the dark. There have already been merchandising ideas discussed, including a T-shirt, according to PWInsider.com.

Foley became disgruntled after Vince McMahon was constantly screaming through the announcer's headset, telling him what to say. He felt he was being held back from becoming a great commentator.

There is no details on whether he will be a regular wrestler, announcer or on the creative side, although all three scenarios offer their own boost to the TNA product.