Stan Holek
Encyclopedia
Stan Holek was an Canadian professional wrestler
, better known by his ring name
s, Stan Lisowski and Stan Neilson. He became known for being part of two famous "brother" tag teams, the Lisowskis (with Reggie Lisowski
) and the Neilsons (with Art Neilson).
After the team split up, Holek began teaming with Lisowski's old partner Art Neilson. Neilson and Holek became known as the Neilsons. The Neilsons would become AWA World Tag Team Champions
in 1962 defeating the team of Bob Geigel
and Stan Kowalski. They lost the title later that year to Mr. High and Mr. Low.
In addition, Holek wrestled as Stan Lutze in New England in the 1950s. He also toured Japan in the 1960s.
and has an older brother named Laddie. He moved to California in 1960 and later became an American citizen. He worked in the rodeo for 13 years, and he also worked in gold mines in Nevada.
He was married twice. He has been married to his second wife for over 30 years, and they have two daughters.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, better known by his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
s, Stan Lisowski and Stan Neilson. He became known for being part of two famous "brother" tag teams, the Lisowskis (with Reggie Lisowski
Reginald Lisowski
Reginald Lisowski was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The Crusher ....
) and the Neilsons (with Art Neilson).
Professional wrestling career
Holek originally got into wrestling after his older brother began wrestling in Detroit. At age 18 in 1951, he debuted after training with Bert Rubi, The Sheik and Larry Shane in Detroit. He then began teaming with Reggie Lisowski as the Lisowski Brothers.After the team split up, Holek began teaming with Lisowski's old partner Art Neilson. Neilson and Holek became known as the Neilsons. The Neilsons would become AWA World Tag Team Champions
AWA World Tag Team Championship
The American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
in 1962 defeating the team of Bob Geigel
Bob Geigel
Robert "Bob" Geigel is a former American professional wrestling promoter and also a former professional wrestler. Geigel ran the NWA Central States promotion between 1963 and 1986, until it was bought out by Jim Crockett Promotions...
and Stan Kowalski. They lost the title later that year to Mr. High and Mr. Low.
In addition, Holek wrestled as Stan Lutze in New England in the 1950s. He also toured Japan in the 1960s.
Personal life
Holek grew up on a farm in Chatham, OntarioChatham, Ontario
Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...
and has an older brother named Laddie. He moved to California in 1960 and later became an American citizen. He worked in the rodeo for 13 years, and he also worked in gold mines in Nevada.
He was married twice. He has been married to his second wife for over 30 years, and they have two daughters.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Alliance
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (Indiana version) (4 times) - with Art Neilson
- Maple Leaf WrestlingMaple Leaf WrestlingMaple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
- NWA Canadian Open Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Canadian Open Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling championship in the Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Wrestling from 1952 through 1961. The title was then replaced with the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship.-Title history:...
(2 times) - with Reggie Lisowski
- NWA ChicagoNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Chicago version) (3 times) - with Reggie LisowskiReginald LisowskiReginald Lisowski was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The Crusher ....
- NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club / American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling AssociationThe American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
- AWA World Tag Team ChampionshipAWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
(1 time) - with Art Neilson - NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version) (2 times) - with Reggie Lisowski
- Stampede WrestlingStampede WrestlingStampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) - with Art Neilson
- World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)
- WWA International Television Tag Team ChampionshipWWA International Television Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWA International Television Tag Team Championship was the tag team title in the Los Angeles-based World Wrestling Association from the promotion's formation in 1954 until 1964 when it was unified with the WWA World Tag Team Championship. -Title history:...
(3 times) - with The Preacher (2) and Art Neilson (1)