INSIDE

Gene Kiniski enters Wrestling Hall of Fame

Four legends from the world of professional wrestling have been voted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Class of 2004.

Gene Kiniski, Brad Rheingans, Pat O’Connor and LeRoy McGuirk were honored earlier this summer. The hall of fame is located in the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton.

In addition, George Scott will receive the fifth annual Frank Gotch Award, which goes to a wrestler who has brought positive recognition to the sport from his work in and/or out of the ring.

At 6'5" and 260 pounds, Kiniski was one of the most physical wrestling champions in history. One of the last of the great NWA world heavyweight champions, Gene won the world title in 1966 from Lou Thesz and ruled for three years. He later won the AWA world heavyweight title from Verne Gagne. He was one half of the world tag-team championship on numerous occasions. Born and raised in Edmonton, Canada, Gene won several amateur titles in Canada and in Arizona. He played football at the University of Arizona and for two years in the Canadian Football League. Gene wrestled professionally for 30 years and today lives in the state of Washington.

The class of 2004 will be the sixth class since the hall of fame opened in 1998. Wrestlers can be nominated by anyone from around the world. The names and credentials are presented to the selection committee, which votes on the new class during inductions weekend.

The criteria for induction into the pro hall of fame is two-fold: true wrestling ability as evidenced by a strong amateur background or by general agreement of the committee, and a large impact on the sport of professional wrestling as evidenced by such factors as titles won and longevity.