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Len Kruger


Last updated by David Buckler on April 28, 2014



Title History

  • New England Light Heavyweight title defeating Rob Van Winkle in a tournament final in Tomaston, ME (June 1984);

Career Highlights

  • In the beginning: after high school Len studied Criminal Justice and turned down an opportunity to be a police officer in Florida.
  • Len is a Okinawa Karate, Black Belt.
  • Len met N.E.W.A. promoter Jack Viles and started to work on the ring crew, sold tickets and escorted wrestlers to the ring and brought their ring jackets back to the dressing room.
  • In 1977 Len began training with the N.E.W.A. trainers and became the protege of Gypsy Joe Dorsetti.
  • June 1977 – Len made his pro debut.
  • July 4, 1978 – Len had his first Main Event.  Len Kruger and Joe Marciano vs. The Gulla Brothers.
  • In 1979 Len met Killer Kowalski and started working out with him at his school and wrestled in his I.W.F. as a German heel Hans Krueger.

World Wrestling Federation:

  • In 1983 Len debuted in the WWF as Len Kruger wrestling on TV in Allentown and Hamburg, PA.
  • August 13, 1983, in  Allentown, PA. taped for WWF Championship Wrestling Tony Atlas pinned Len Kruger with a gorilla press and slam.
  • August 20, 1983, in Allentown, PA. taped for WWF Championship Wrestling Chief Jay Strongbow def. Len Kruger with the sleeper hold.
  • September 14, 1983, in Hamburg, PA. tapped for WWF All Star Wrestling Tito Santana pinned Len Kruger with a flying forearm and pin.
  • October 1, 1983, in Allentown, PA. taped for WWF Championship Wrestling Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas def. Jeff Craney and Len Kruger.
N.E.W.A:
  • June 1984, In Tomaston, ME.  Len won a tournament to become the N.E.W.A. New England Light Heavyweight Champion over Rob Van Winkle.
World Wrestling Federation:
  • June 21, 1988, Glenns Falls, New York taped for WWF Superstars of Wrestling The Junkyard Dog pinned Len Kruger with a slam and press.
  • June 22, 1988, in Binghamton, New York taped for WWF Wrestling Challenge George “The Animal” Steele def. Len Kruger with a flying hammerlock.
  • August 23, 1988, Providence Civic Center, Providence, R.I., taped for WWF Superstars of Wrestling Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart def. Tony Ulysses and Len Kruger. Hart pinned Kruger with the flying clothesline.
  • September 9, 1988, Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Conneticut taped for WWF Wrestling Challenge Tito Santana pinned Len Kruger with the flying forearm. This was my last match.
  • In 1988 Len wrestled his last match against Tito Santana.

Retirement:

  • Len continued his work managing a security company and also working in executive protection.
  • In 2008 Len had heart attacks and multiple strokes causing him to go into early retirement.

  • Len Kruger wrote: My name is Leonard Kruizenga. I love your website. For eleven years I was a professional wrestler. I began my career in the New England Wrestling Alliance in 1977, trained by Gypsy Joe (Frank) Dorsetti, and worked for just about every independent promoter in New England at that time, including Tony Santo’s Big Time Wrestling. In 1983 and 1988, I worked for WWF doing TV’s in Allentown and Hamburg, PA, using the name Len Kruger.

Len Kruger wrote again: I had more time last night to look through your website and enjoyed the 150 wrestlers of all time and the top women wrestlers. I also enjoyed the article regarding Jobbers. It’s amazing how after all these years people start admitting how much they enjoyed the old school job guy. Frank Williams,SD Jones, Johnny Rodz, and Baron Scicluna seem to be the most popular. When I was a little kid Chuck Richards, Miquel Feliciano, Angelo Savoldi, and Ricky Sexton were the jobbers at the old Boston Garden in Boston. I was 13 years old at the time and me and my friends, about five or six of us, would hop on the bus and get there early and buy balcony seats for $2.00, believe that only $2.00. We’d hang around outside the Madison Hotel, which was right next door where all the boys stayed and we’d get autographs.

Promoter Abe Ford, who worked for Vince McMahon Sr. at the time, promoted shows every month. I can remember Killer Kowalski vs. Eduardo Carpentier. When Kevin Sullivan first entered pro wrestling taking on Duke Savage and the Black Demon Tony Nero. Lenny Soloman aka Jack Armstrong did jobs. Bruno Sammartino vs. Killer Kowalski, I sometimes still can’t believe I trained with him at his wrestling school. The night Killer Kowalski and George Steele ended up in the stands fighting, I thought there would be a riot. The Boston police showed up in Riot gear. Bruno vs Waldo Von Erich. Bruno vs Ivan Koloff in a Russian Chain Match. Pedro Morales vs Bulldog Brower in a Steel Cage Match, these were the days when the ref. stayed outside and we swore they were really killing each other. Pedro Morales vs Blackjack Mulligan the night Mulligan was stabbed. Bob Backlund vs Masked Superstar, etc. I still think McMahon should of put the strap on the Masked Superstar, as Backlund wasn’t filling seats.

Theses were some classic WWWF and WWF classics. I also remember a special attraction back then, Jack Brisco vs. Bobby Shane. We knew who they were from seeing their pictures in the wrestling magazines. That match is one of my all time favorites. Even back then teachers would ask me what do you want to be when you grow up? My answer was always the same – a Professional Wrestler. I can go on and on, but I’m going to stop here.

From what I read you seem to have the same love and passion for pro wrestling that I have. I know what it’s all about, but I still love it. I don’t like all the changes but, as Killer Kowalski always said, “give the people what they want.”