A book on the great man is scheduled for release just after Christmas. From the promotional material:
”George Gordienko (1928-2002) may be the greatest wrestler you've never heard of. From humble, Ukrainian immigrant roots on the Canadian Prairies, he endured a tough childhood during the Great Depression to emerge as a leading "shooter" and one-of-a-kind artist on the mat. Excluded from wrestling in the U.S. during the McCarthy era for his one-time membership in the Communist Party, he was deprived of a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, for which he was hand-picked by the great Lou Thesz. After retirement, Gordienko transitioned to a different sort of canvas and became a successful painter. This first full-length biography traces his remarkable career”.
I'd forgotten all about this. And to be honest with a price of £40 I'm unlikely to read it unless Anglo Italian is feeling uncharacteristically generous next Christmas.
Has anyone read it?
George Gordienko: Canadian Wrestler, Artist and Renaissance Man
I cant wait that the book is published. Its for me special because the author contacted me to help him with Georges German and Austrian results.
I wonder how George Gordienko would fare today with his left wing views which would be considered extreme in the USA. World Wrestling Entertainment is principally controlled by the McMahon family and both Vince and his wife Linda are ardent Donald Trump supporters. In fact Linda was appointed to a Government role by Trump. I believe George would be asked a few questions!
Enjoy a few clips of Gordienko from his debut year.
Couldn't care care less about politics, each party are as bad as the next. George Gordienko's biography's going straight to the top of my Christmas list. I wasn't born when he was wrestling but the esteem in which he is held speaks reams.
If recall George had been involved briefly with a student communist movement while in college, which did him no favors, the whole witch hunt was closing the barn door after the horse has already departed. We’re reaping today what was sewn by Harry Hopkins in the 30’s. What crushed George was marrying the red witch pazandak, at the time 2 strikes were out.
Put Georges and Bill Robinson up on a pedestal, then argue about the rest.
The book should make fascinating reading. I do recall George was effectively barred from wrestling in the United States hence he became a regular visitor to the UK. He was the best wrestler I ever saw live and fully deserves a literary recognition.
Pazandak also trained early NHB fighter Jason Godsey, who enjoyed high level regional success in chicago/the midwest, but fell a little short on his shots on the big stage. Of course, he never got an easy fight on his shots at the big time either, losing to pete williams and jeremy horn in the ufc. He had beaten horn previously, yuki kondo also. Did joe work over in the old country much? Joe lost a shooting match against johnny valentine, if you can believe that. Valentine wasn't much of a legitimate wrestler, but was quite the scrapper in the vein of tank abbot, with punches like 300lb sledgehammers, when the bell rang valentine refused to budge from his corner, and managed to tee off on pazandak when he attempted to drag valentine out of his corner.
George was probably the best for a while, it’s who Thesz wanted to put his title on after the nwa refused to do business with Karl. Pazandaks daughter was the pinko that got George in trouble
I seem to recall him being married to great old time shooter joe pazandak's daughter, who was an unapologetic red.
Thanks Mad Mac. Something to look forward to.
Thanks for letting us know, Mac, I will definitely be buying that, big George was one of the all time greats.