Throughout most of the territorial era of professional wrestling, one man was chosen as the very best wrestler in the world to carry the sport’s most coveted trophy, the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship.

At the 1965 NWA Convention, the Championship Committee put forth the name of Gene Kiniski to succeed it’s perennial champion, Lou Thesz. That man was Gene Kiniski, who won the title from Thesz in a two out of three falls match at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis on January 7th, 1966.

Today, two amazing historian friends join me as we discuss the life and career of Gene Kiniski. Steve Verrier, who chronicled the life of the champion in his book, “Gene Kinski: Canadian Wrestling Legend” and the co-host for our Vancouver Territory Shows. George Schire, AWA Historian and co-host of our AWA History Shows. These two wonderful lovers of wrestling history have so much to share about Kiniski’s storied career in this special bonus episode honoring the g0th anniversary of Kiniski being crowned “the best in the world.

• (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: Gene Kiniski
• (00:03:36) - Gene Kinisky On The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (00:05:07) - Gene Kinisky, Canada's Greatest Athlete
• (00:13:53) - Bob Kinisky on Wilbur Snyder and the AWA
• (00:21:03) - Whipper Billy Watson vs Gene Kinisky
• (00:29:53) - Gene Kanisky Was Recognized As The National Wrestling Alliance World Champion
• (00:40:53) - Giant Baba vs Gene Kinisky
• (00:50:38) - Gene Kinisky vs Verne Haggerty
• (00:57:53) - Steve Kovac on Gene Kiniski's Suicide
• (01:05:41) - Gene Kinisky On The 60th Anniversary
• (01:07:44) - Final thoughts on Gene Kinisky
• (01:08:48) - Gene Kiniski Induction into the Wrestling Hall of Fame
• (01:12:11) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (01:15:00) - Pro Wrestling: The Time Tunnel
• (01:15:40) - Podcast