Killer Kowalski Defeats NWA Champion Buddy Rogers

by Mark Long

Killer Kowalski - historyofwrestling.comWalter “Killer” Kowalski was victorious in a title match against “the Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, holder of the National Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight championship. Kowalski was awarded the match when Rogers broke his ankle jumping out of the ring during the first fall of their best two out of three falls match. However, Rogers argued that because Kowalski hadn’t secured the second fall that the belt could not be turned over. Nonetheless, Kowalski toured throughout Canada and the United States with the belt.

The title was eventually put back on Rogers who lost it the following year to Lou Thesz.