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Teutonic Terror
Shaven headed, rugged features and a disinclination to follow the rules were the trademark of eighteen stone, six feet tall Kurt Stein. Born in 1923 he was wrestling in Germany, as Johnny Stein, no later than 1954.
The heavyweight villain wrestled in many European countries and Africa as well as extensively in the UK. His first visit to our shore was in 1958, the highlight of his visit facing Mike Marino at the Royal Albert Hall; he lost. We would have loved to have been ringside for one of his other matches, against the turbulent Alan Garfield. No doubt the sparks flew before Kurt was disqualified and sent back to the dressing room.
He returned to Britain in 1960, staying through much of 1961, with some impressive wins over top heavyweights Dazzler Joe Cornelius, Rebel Ray Hunter, Judo Al Hayes and Gordon Nelson. Another Royal Albert Hall appearance had a more fortunate outcome, an impressive one fall apiece draw against Tibor Szakacs. Tibor won the return!
Kurt Stein went on to wrestle in the USA as (the second version) of Kurt Von Brauner and Kurt Von Stroheim. Last reported wrestling in 1979.
Not to be confused with the 1970s British version of Kurt Stein.
Our friends at wrestlingdata.com tell us his real name was Willi Kurt Rutkowsky and was born in Lithuania. He died on 17th February, 1993.
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Page added 06/02/2025
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