With it being Christmas we find ourselves sitting down and watching World’s Strongest Man.
One of the mainstays of WSM is Bill Kazmaier who provides insight and links between the events.
Kazmaier was an all-round strongman who had been power-lifting since the late 70’s before transferring his talent to the Strongman circuit. He dominated the circuit for the better part of a decade before looking elsewhere to diversify his skills.
After trying out for the NFL with the Green Bay Packers Kazmaier decided that wrestling looked to be a good fit. Kaz began training in 1986 and was trained by Verne Gagne and Brad Rheingans. Initial wrestling exposure was for Stampede Wrestling in Canada and Continental Championship Wrestling in America. He would also wrestle for Fighting Network RINGS in Japan in early 1991.
By mid 1991 WCW had come calling and Kazmaier was about to be pushed right into the title scene facing Lex Luger.
Kazmaier faced a pre-WWF Kevin Nash in his WCW role of Oz at Halloween Havoc 1991 and went on to face the likes of Cactus Jack.
Despite a few pushes the management behind WCW couldn’t see Kaz as a main event player and, after a short lived tag team with Rick Steiner and a brief stint in New Japan, he slowly faded from tv and made his return to the Strongman scene.
Kazmaier’s WCW stint makes me wonder what would have happened if WWE (WWF at the time) had gotten hold of him and pushed him right. As it was WCW’s mismanagement of the World’s Strongest Man leaves you with a What If? scenario that will never be answered.
Wrestling With Ideas 