Biography.guide
Home › People › Professional wrestler › Ivan Putski
Portrait of Ivan Putski

Ivan Putski

b. 1941

Polish-American wrestler and bodybuilder

Professional wrestler BodybuilderStrongman
Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Ivan Putski

Born 1941. Ivan Putski is a Polish professional wrestler, bodybuilder, strongman and security guard.

Józef Bednarski (born January 21, 1941) is a Polish and American former professional wrestler and bodybuilder, best known by the ring name Ivan Putski. He was given the nicknames the "Polish Hammer" and "Polish Power".

Putski is a former WWF World Tag Team Champion with Tito Santana. He and his family arrived in Texas, where Putski began his professional wrestling career. In his earlier days, he was weighed in at the 250 lb mark. It was during this time in the AWA that Putski also first clashed with Superstar Billy Graham, with the two feuding over who was the strongest wrestler in the AWA. Four years later on August 9, Putski was again victorious at the next Showdown at Shea, defeating Johnny Rodz.

Personal life Putski's son, Scott Putski, is also a professional wrestler, NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jose Lothario Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI Tag Team of the Year (1979) with Tito Santana PWI ranked him #170 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003 PWI ranked him #92 of the 100 best teams of the "PWI Years" with Tito Santana in 2003 Southwest Championship Wrestling SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) SCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Wahoo McDaniel Texas All-Star Wrestling - Texas 6 - Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Big Bubba and Scott Casey World Wrestling Federation WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tito Santana WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1995) Wrestling Observer Newsletter Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (1984) Worst Wrestler (1984)

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
WWE Hall of Fame
Also known as
Józef Bednarski

Family & relationships

Child
Scott Putski

People in Ivan Putski's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ivan Putski's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ivan Putski?

Polish-American wrestler and bodybuilder

When was Ivan Putski born?

Ivan Putski was born on 21 January 1941 in Kraków.

What is Ivan Putski's occupation?

Ivan Putski is a professional wrestler, bodybuilder, strongman and security guard.

What nationality is Ivan Putski?

Ivan Putski is Polish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ivan Putski

· Wikidata: Q1675608

· DBpedia: Ivan Putski

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ivan Putski. https://biography.guide/ivan-putski/

MLA: "Ivan Putski." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ivan-putski/.

Chicago: "Ivan Putski." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ivan-putski/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-27 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:16 UTC