Posted on 08/30/2008 2:59:50 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
Walter "Killer" Kowalski passed away early this morning. Kowalski had been taken off life support two weeks ago. He suffered a massive heart attack back on August 8th.
You're probably thinking of "The Grand Wizard" (Ernie Roth.) The Wiz always appeared wearing a turban, a sequin sport coat, and very loud slacks and shirts. He passed away from a heart attack in the early 80s (1983-84?), and was only in his mid 50s. He died just before Vicnce McMahon took the WWF national, which was a shame. He would have been great in promoting his stable of wrestlers for Wrestlemania and the other big PPVs that followed. At the time of his death, he was managing Sgt. Slaughter, who was making his first tour of the WWF as a heel. During the Sarge's first televised match after the Wizard's death, he came out and saluted the empty corner where his manager would have been standing.
Unfortunately, Haystacks did not have an easy time of it at the end of his life. He spent his final years in a nursing home, suffered from diabetes, and had a leg amputated because of the disease. He's been gone for quite a few years now.
That big dude scared the heck out of me when I was a lad
(our ages are showing...)
Just goes to show ya’ that no matter how big and bad
you may think you are; nobody makes it outa here alive
- may he rest in peace
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