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By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

Walter "Killer" Kowalski died last night at age 81 in a Boston area hospital. His career spanned from 1947 to 1977, after which he became a trainer of wrestlers.

Check out Greg Oliver's article on Kowaksi at Slam Wrestling along with a recent photo: Click Here

Jim Ross wrote about Kowalski in his JRsBarBQ.com Blog today. Excerpt:

Kowalski will always be considered one of the businesses greatest antagonists and he was a perennial main eventer around the world for decades. Walter also was an accomplished photographer, writer, and taught many individuals who went on to become some of wrestling's more prominent names including his best student, HHH.

Walter was a staunch disciplinarian when he was actively teaching his students but had a heart of gold and a unique sense of humor. For example, when Walter married at approximately 79 years of age he kidded some of his closest acquaintances that "he had to marry the lady because she was with child."

Kowalski was a vegan who at one time had one of the most freakish physiques of any one in the business and was always considered too nice a guy by many promoters to be a wrestling "bad guy" but nonetheless Killer Kowalski will always be remembered for being one of the wrestling business all time greats.

Also, Frankie Kazarian wrote on his MySpace page today about his relationship with Kowaksi as a trainer and friend:

KAZ'S TRIBUTE TO KOWALSKI

I was just woken up by a phone call that I have been dreading. My good friend Steve King just called and informed me that our dear friend and trainer Walter "Killer" Kowlaski has passed away. Anyone who knows me knows that I have always attributed Walter with all of my success in pro wrestling.

He took in a 20 year old kid who hadtraveled 3,000 miles from southern California, and embraced him like a son. He was kind enough to pass on his extensive, and unique knowledge of this business to me.  From day one, Walter became my trainer, and my friend. He guided me through every step of pro wrestling, but more importantly, taught me how to be a genuine, good person, and to treat others with respect, dignity and class. I owe so much to Walter, thatI could never put it all in words.

The time we spent together is and always will be some of the most precious memories I have, andI will keep it in a special place in my heart. So much of the best things that have happened to me are a direct result of his mentoring.

The people I have met, the relationships I have made, and my success in and out of the ring are a direct result of him. Walter loved angels. We had many conversations about them on our regular trips to church that we both enjoyed on Sundays.

To me, and anyone who knew him, Walter was an angel. He was a gentleman, friend, and honestly one of the best people to come into my life. Walter, I love you and I could never sing your praise enough. You set me on a path in this business, and in life, that has been in one word, a dream.

Rest in the kingdom of heaven my dear friend, as you are now amongst the angels that you loved. Your student, friend, and brother inChrist, Frankie.

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