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Adolf Kolestrator Dabrowski was born on 11th February, 1925. Like so many before him he travelled to Britain following the second world war after his own father had been killed. He joined a large number of his fellow countrymen and settled in the city of Coventry, applying for British citizenship in August, 1968.
A carpet fitter by trade Dabrowski took up wrestling and was trained by Freddie Barnes at his gym in Hillfields. Like many others on the nights he was not wrestling Adolf could be found working on the doors of Coventry clubs. He turned professional in the early sixties, and was quickly billed as the Polish Hercules.
His tactics did nothing to endear him to fans, being a rough, tough heavyweight villain of the independent circuit, tackling the likes of Pat Roach, Pete Roberts and Wild Angus Campbell in their formative years.
A collector of porcelain and paintings the real life Adolf was far removed from his ring persona. Adolf Dabrowski died of a heart attack, aged 81, on 30th March, 2006.
The funeral was a colourful affair that reflected Adolf’s flamboyant personality with a New Orleans style jazz band playing as a horse-drawn hearse carried the coffin to its final resting place. His body was laid to rest accompanied by his chess set.
Amongst those queuing up to pay tribute to the influence of this undeservedly overlooked bruiser was Tony Banger Walsh, a long time friend and wrestling student.
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