Dan Kroffat

Daniel Kroffat (born June 14, 1945) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with Stampede Wrestling in the 1960s and 1970s, where he invented the ladder match. In July 1972, Kroffat won his first Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship by defeating Tor Kamata. Kroffat and Kamata wrestled several times, and Kroffat designed a new match type for one of the encounters. A bag of money was hung from the ceiling and the two competitors fought to retrieve the bag by climbing a stepladder. The idea caught on, and subsequent matches saw Kroffat's title belt replace the money, with the stipulation that the first wrestler to retrieve the belt would be champion. The idea of a ladder match has been used ever since, as Bret Hart helped popularize the stipulation in the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment). He also won the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship twice in 1974, teaming with Leo Madril and Wayne Bridges.

Later career Back in Stampede Wrestling, Kroffat defeated his old rival Gouldie to regain the North American Heavyweight Championship. Once again, however, Gouldie won the title back later in the series of matches. He won the belt for the final time by defeating Killer Tim Brooks. After winning the belt, Kroffat retired from professional wrestling and vacated the championship. He continued to wrestle occasionally, however, until retiring for good in 1985.

After Kroffat's retirement, professional wrestler Philip Lafon, who was a fan of Kroffat's, took on the ring name Dan Kroffat in his honor. Cauliflower Alley Club Men's Wrestling Award (2011) NWA All-Star Wrestling NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) - with Leo Madril (1) and Wayne Bridges (1) World Wrestling Council WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Bobby Jaggers