Steve Olsonoski
Steven L. "Steve" Olsonoski (born 3 July 1953),[1] better known by the ring name Steve O, is a retired American professional wrestler[2] from Minnesota. He was considered one of the top junior heavyweights during the 1980s.[3]
Steve Olsonoski | |
---|---|
Birth name | Steven L. Olsonoski |
Born | [1] Edina, Minnesota[1] | 3 July 1953
Residence | Minneapolis, Minnesota[1] |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Steve O Steve Olsonoski Super Ninja Super Ninja Go[1] |
Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1] |
Billed weight | 230 lb (100 kg)[1] |
Trained by | Verne Gagne[1] |
Debut | 1978[1] |
Retired | 1991 |
Professional wrestling career
Steve Olsonoski, purportedly from Edina, Minnesota, began his wrestling career in the late 1970s in the American Wrestling Association. He was often described as an up-and-coming star.[3] He briefly teamed with Evan Johnson in the AWA, but his career progressed substantially as a solo wrestler. He wrestled off and on for the AWA through the 1980s.
Olsonoski, also known as Steve O., also wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance in the early 1980s in the Georgia Championship Wrestling territory. While in Georgia he won the NWA Georgia Junior Heavyweight Championship, the NWA National Heavyweight Championship, the NWA National Tag Team Championship and twice won the NWA National Television Championship. He later returned to worked for Verne Gagne in the American Wrestling Association.[3]
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA Rookie of the Year Award (1978)
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Pro Wrestling This Week
- Wrestler of the Week (20–26 March 1988) tied with Greg Gagne[7]
References
- "Steve O Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
- "Jones defeats Bockwinkel". Milwaukee Sentinel. 5 June 1978. p. 2, Part 2. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- Andrews, Michael (21 April 2015). "Steve O. fondly remembers his former life as a wrestler". Canadian Online Explorer. SLAM! Sports.
- "NWA Georgia Television Championship history".
- Hoops, Brian (16 January 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/16): Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton win WCW Tag Team Titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 – 1991". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- Pedicino, Joe; Solie, Gordon (hosts) (26 March 1988). "Pro Wrestling This Week". Superstars of Wrestling. Atlanta, Georgia. Syndicated. WATL.