Stan Stasiak

George Emile Stipich (April 13, 1937 – June 19, 1997) was a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Stan Stasiak. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in the 1970s, where he won the WWWF Heavyweight Championship in 1973. In 2018, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in the Legacy wing.

Stan Stasiak
Birth nameGeorge Emile Stipich
Born(1937-04-13)April 13, 1937
Arvida, Quebec, Canada
DiedJune 19, 1997(1997-06-19) (aged 60)
Portland, Oregon, United States
Cause of deathHeart failure
Spouse(s)
Jill Stipitch
(m. 1955; her death 1984)
FamilyShawn Stasiak (son)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Stan Stasiak
Billed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Billed weight270 lb (120 kg)[1]
Billed fromBuzzard Creek, Oregon[1]
Debut1958[1]
Retired1984

Professional wrestling career

Born George Stipich, Stasiak made his wrestling debut in Quebec, Canada. He used the nickname "Crusher" early in his career and used a bear hug as a finisher. Later on in his career, he adopted the heart punch as his finishing move. Stasiak also adopted his name from another wrestler named Stanley Stasiak (real name Ignacy Josef Stasiak) who had died in 1931 from blood poisoning suffered in a match with Ed Don George in Toronto.[2]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1971–1979)

During his stay with World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1971-1979, Stasiak would get one of the biggest opportunities of his career, as he won the WWWF Heavyweight Championship on December 1, 1973, defeating Pedro Morales, who held the championship for nearly three years. Unlike wrestlers today, Stasiak was given little notice about winning the title before it took place. According to him, he was sitting in the dressing room in Philadelphia and the road agent came to discuss the match. Stasiak considered this a formality as he had been having the same discussion, nearly verbatim, in every major city on the Eastern seaboard for the last two months. However, this time it was different, as the agent told Stasiak that Morales was to give him a belly to back suplex and as the ref makes the count, Stasiak raises his shoulder up after two, while Morales' shoulder stays down, thus Stasiak would win the championship. According to friend and fellow wrestler Frank Dusek, the company wanted to make Bruno Sammartino its champion again, but did not want Sammartino to defeat then champion Morales in the process, so they needed a heel wrestler to win it.[3] Stasiak was used as a transitional champion, defeating Morales for the championship belt and holding it for just nine days before dropping it to Sammartino on December 10, 1973.

Stasiak also had a WWWF Heavyweight Championship title shot against Superstar Billy Graham in 1977.

In 1974 to 1975, Stasiak fought Johnny Valentine in NWA Mid Atlantic and Toronto. He received an AWA World Heavyweight Championship title shot against Nick Bockwinkel in 1978 in Toronto. From there he went to Pacific Northwest where he teamed with Roddy Piper. In the early 1980s, he did commentary there and also worked as a photographer.

For several years he was the tag team partner of The Gladiator and wrestled primarily out of the Cow Palace in the San Francisco area. Stasiak and The Gladiator maintained a fairly long term rivalry with the team of Ray Stevens and Peter Maivia. Stasiak left the WWWF in 1979.

Death

Stipich died of heart failure in 1997.

Personal life

Stipich had two children: a daughter, Brittany, and a son, Shawn, who also wrestled professionally as Shawn Stasiak. He was survived by his widow Kimberly Stasiak.

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  2. "15 notable of MLW". Maple Leaf Wrestling. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  3. "The Night Stan Stasiak Became World Champ". www.wrestlingclassics.com. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  4. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Texas) Dallas: NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 271. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  5. "Texas Brass Knucks Title [East Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  6. Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 268–269. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  8. Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. "NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  10. Rodgers, Mike (2004). "Regional Territories: PNW #16". KayfabeMemories.com.
  11. 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.
  12. "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  13. "WWWF/WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  14. "2018 WWE HALL OF FAME LEGACY WING INDUCTEES ARE.... | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
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