Lesser Known Family
Chapter Two: Joe Malenko
#PWHS #Article #LesserKnownFam #LKF #MalenkoFamily
As time goes by the illustrious history of Professional Wrestling is being lost day by day to the masses. The purpose of these articles is to preserve the memory of lesser known family members. They come from the same family of a recent star. They may even have been somewhat a star themselves to the fans of their generation. This is just another method of preserving Professional Wrestling history. Enjoy.
May 25, 1964 - Tampa Tribune
I have to admit that I did not know this wrestling champion. His father was wrestler/manager Professor Boris Malenko and his more known brother is usually mentioned as one of the most respected wrestlers, Dean “Man of a 1,000 holds” Malenko.
He was good enough to become the All Japan Pro Wrestling World Jr. Heavyweight Champion twice, no small feat….The Malenko Brothers were a respectable tag team in All Japan and even for America’s ECW for a short while. His career seemed to have revolved around his brother Dean in many ways. His most noted singles match was when he defeated his own brother in defense of his prestigious World belt (November 7, 1989).
Joe appeared on the WCW show once but only to confront Chris Jericho to add more fuel to the present Jericho-Dean Malenko storyline.
He was trained by KARL GOTCH who is said to have said Joe was his best student (and by his father, and Hiro Matsuda).
The Malenko Brothers vs, The British Bulldogs was voted “Tag Team Match of the Year” once in Japan. I have seen in print where Joe even wrestled at some time under the name of Karl Gotch Jr.. Many who saw Dean and Joe wrestle in Japan together say Joe was the better of the two. If that was true, I sure would have liked to have seen Joe catch on in the good ole USA.
He was good enough to become the All Japan Pro Wrestling World Jr. Heavyweight Champion twice, no small feat….The Malenko Brothers were a respectable tag team in All Japan and even for America’s ECW for a short while. His career seemed to have revolved around his brother Dean in many ways. His most noted singles match was when he defeated his own brother in defense of his prestigious World belt (November 7, 1989).
Joe appeared on the WCW show once but only to confront Chris Jericho to add more fuel to the present Jericho-Dean Malenko storyline.
He was trained by KARL GOTCH who is said to have said Joe was his best student (and by his father, and Hiro Matsuda).
The Malenko Brothers vs, The British Bulldogs was voted “Tag Team Match of the Year” once in Japan. I have seen in print where Joe even wrestled at some time under the name of Karl Gotch Jr.. Many who saw Dean and Joe wrestle in Japan together say Joe was the better of the two. If that was true, I sure would have liked to have seen Joe catch on in the good ole USA.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter Two.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #22.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter Two.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #22.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter Three - Read Here.
Lesser Known Family: Chapter One - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.