[The Best Of The Very Best]

This has been edited.

It's great that Freight Train is posting updates on Kowalski's condition. And it's great that there is a Memorial fund being set up. But are they being posted on any other major websites besides this one and Chaotic?

Killer Kowalski is a world wide known name, WWE Hall-Of-Famer and 99.9999999% of the wrestling world have never heard or know that the Burning Hammer website exists. That is a very sad and a terrible miscarrige of justice to Walter. And that is in Walter's words The Shits.

I will be donating to the Chaotic address and the real bank fund and also buying the Kowalski shirts. Hopefully alot of money will be raised.

I earlier mention about promotions getting together for a Kowalski Benefit but got crapped on for that. Their wrestlers can fight each other in the same match and don't have to worry on if their guy is jobbing to another promotion. Didn't his happen years ago down in southern Mass for a kid with cancer? I heard even Mick Foley showed up for the show.

We can no longer put off for tomorrow when we can do it right now. I'm sure some have bought cards but not sent them. I'm sure some want to visit Walter but put it off for a better time.

Well there is no better time than right now. I'm sure that there will be alot of people at his funeral and wake saying I wish I did this and I wish I did that. I know since I am one of those people. And I no longer keep up with the boys so I can't asked them for Dan's phone number. I'm sure alot of Kowalski's student and workers lost touch with each other.

May God Bless Walter and watch over him in this terrible time of his life. Walter gave more to his students than they will ever know and really never asked for anything in return. If it wasn't for him, who knows where Triple H would be today?

Where would anybody be today if he didn't open the door for regular marks to learn the business and realize their dream? Wasn't the Kowalski Institute the first real wrestling school? And there are still some out there that hadn't make it big yet but still will thanks to Walter giving them their start when nobody else would give them the chance.

Sorry this post ran long.

I appoligize now and ahead of time if I stepped on people's toes or rubbed them the wrong way for this post and all my other times when I stupidly posted when I was in a very bad mood and had nothing nice to say. You could basically say that I was human garbage.

[Hbrody]

What u guys need to do is get the word and keep calling the WWE offices. Vince has alot of money and for him not to send a check to walter for 100 grand is a shame. Same with Hunter Hearst Helmsley. He owes alot to Walter. Let them give. The family of Walter shouldnt have to ask for any help as the WWE Should be taking care of them. Case Closed. And if they dont, dont support them anymore or their product.

[DavidDeacon]

Usually TBOTVB, I don't think very highly of you.

But this was well spoken and it needed to be said.

Cheers to you.

[maddogms]

The Best Of The Very Best wrote:

People have to put their differences aside and work together to get the word out. I've just checked and there is absolutely no mention of Walter on the NECW website or on Sheldon's blog.

I would hope this post isn't trying to stir up trouble, but just an FYI... since the establishment of the funds for Walter, Sheldon has been pushing the address on the Mouthpiece Wrestling Radio show weekly (with listeners calling in and checking in NATIONALLY via streaming online from Tampa to Los Angeles). He is also responsible for the information of the fund and how to donate getting to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, one of the biggest wrestling news sites on the Internet, and subsequently posted.

I think that would qualify as trying to help the cause....

[The Big Shill]

Just because we haven't mentioned Walter on our website - and I have mentioned him in my blog - doesn't mean we don't care.

We mentioned the memorial fund on our radio show this past Friday and gave the address.

To be honest, I don't want to step on the toes of his family and close friends by trying to take publicity away from whatever they are planning to do.

I know Walter had a business relationship with Chaotic Wrestling and they have claimed to be THE contact for him. They have issued press releases regarding Walter.

We don't want to get in the middle of anything. We will post the address of the fund on our site when we do another update, but we also want to respect his family and their privacy too.

Walter was a personal friend and a kind and generous man. He is in our thoughts and prayers.

[Big Time Wrestling]

The Best Of The Very Best wrote:

IAnd now people here who don't work for Chaotic are trying to stop people from donating money to a real wrestling website that is doing more for Walter at this moment than alot of other websites like a forum. And why? Because you are from their territory and they don't use you? Just to let you know that I don't work with Chaotic in any way. But I will be donating to both funds and also buying the Kowalski shirts.

Perhaps it was not clear. There is ONE fund. It is:

The Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Fund
Citizens Bank
876 Main St.
Malden, MA 02148

No one is trying to stop anybody from doing anything. You can send your donations directly to the fund at the bank. Chaotic will do the same thing with what they collect on their site...they will also mail the funds to the address above. It is NOT a different fund as you suggest. Obviously, if you send your donation directly to the bank it will be available sooner and be of more immediate assitance to Theresa and Walter. You are reading a lot more into this than there is.
Just know that Walter and Theresa have a lot of friends. Sheldon is right, please respect everyone's privacy.

[The Best Of The Very Best]

I'm not trying to stir up any trouble at all and I have never gotten the chance to listen to Sheldon's radio show yet. I'm sure that anything involving Sheldon is great, interesting and very well done. He hasn't disappointed me yet and I would totally recommend attending his wrestling shows. I have seen many of his shows and have never seen a bad one yet. So I would like to appoligize to Sheldon for any wrong words or misunderstanding.

I was just talking about what I have read or didn't read. I was hoping that the post would inspire people to start spreading the word more.

[Tauron Nox]

I've mentioned the t-shirts that Chaotic has online on MMRP a few times.

I'll be bringing up the fund this week, and each following week as long as needed.

[the_truth]

It's disconcerting, but contact has been made with the WWE regarding Walter's condition. I used to work in the Tower a few years back. I actually started my career there with an internship in with the community relations department. I sent in an email to the Manger of the community relations department. She's been there since Wrestlemania 2, so needless to say she's not going anywhere. She passed along the letter to Vince's office, and was given the OK to purchase the wheelchair for Walter. I received a phone call from Vince asking me to keep Sue Community relatrions manager) in the loop after he heard about the heart attack (I'm not bragging about the phone call; I used to work for him and my father was in the business and worked for his father). This was before his heart attack. After that, it was decided (and I agree) that it was better hold off on by the wheelchair, as the circumstances dictated that the money might be better used elsewhere if Walter were to pass. So as much as we criticize and put down the Big "E" (and believe me, 99% of it is warranted) they aware of what's going on and waiting to see what they can do to help the most.

Through FT's updates, I have kept WWE up to speed on how Walter's doing. And I'l like to thank FT again. If it weren't for him relaying information, the "fuckin Internet" would have struck again, as other sites were reporting that Walter died from the heart attack.
What surprises both myself and Freight is that Walter has not heard from Triple H. I can not say for 100% certainty that he knows what's going on. But I spoke with his father-in-law and I have reached out to him through various contacts in the talent relations department. I would think it would be very hard for him NOT to know what's going on. But this is not "Burning Hammer" fun that a lot of us have sometimes. It's not throwing out there that "so-and-so sucks" or "this promoter's a loser". I think we can all agree that we've all (myself guiltier than most) have put out some outlandish accusations on this board. But it's an indy wrestling message board, and even if it seems ill-natured, it can all be taken in good fun. But now we're talking about a man's life. So without all the facts, I will not judge Triple H until I am certain that I can pass judgment with all the facts. I'm betting you guys will do the same. Regardless on how you feel about him.

Lastly, last month I spoke to a promoter about doing a benefit show. So the idea was not lost TBOTVB, but you're are correct in saying there has not been much discussed about it on this board. But I would really like to do the show, so I will try to make sure that it comes to fruition sometime down the road. I know that we will not have a lack of volunteers when the time comes.

Now I apologize for my rant.

The_Truth

[Big Time Wrestling]

Please do not make judgements of any kind. Many concerns brought up are not issues...again please respect everyone's privacy. Think about Walter and help if you can.

[Hbrody]

wippie do, Vinces office will pay for a wheelchair. what does that cost? Please. Either they step up or i will no longer support them or their product. this isnt about sheldon or anyone else. its about a multi billion dollar corporation stepping up to the plate along with a person who married into the family that was trained by this man. Period.

[DavidDeacon]

Well Walter is a very tall man at ( 6'7" I think? Someone correct me if I'm wrong), the standard cookie-cutter wheelchair is very uncomfortable for him and it costs much more to make one for a man of his stature since they can't use alot of the standard parts. That's why WWE was going to buy one for him.

[BubbaJ]

I cannot speak for anyone but myself. A short while back my friends grandfather died. I didn't know the man but I went to his funeral. He knew HHH when he was a kid. As HHH's career took off, he kept in touch with the family. He sent them tons of merch over the years. They were very proud of the hometown boy who made it big. He never forgot where he came from.

When the man died, HHH had just gotten injured again and was on his way home from the hospital. Making the trip up north was not in the cards for him. But HHH sent a card and flowers and a gift to the widow. He didn't have to do anything at all but he did.

This business is about familiy and I don't think for one moment that Vince McMahon has completely forgotten that and I know HHH hasn't.

This is a very difficult situation for Mr. Kowalski. Let's not forget that he has not passed nor does it look like he'll recover. WWE is a big company and I am sure if things were one way or the other, VKM would make sure that they responded appropriately.

Killer Kowalski has had an enormous impact on the business and we should all just pray for him and his family and leave all this bs alone untill after this situation is resolved.

I think we should either donate money to the fund or just sit quietly but either way have some respect for this man and his familiy.

At this point, a memorial show may be the best thing we can hope for and I hope to God that if there is one that I can be lucky enought to be a part of it.

God bless "Killer."

[the_truth]

After researching the wheelchair, Freight got an estimate from a company he had worked for. The motorized wheelchair, which would have had to been custom built to fit Walter's large frame, was upwards around the $10,000 mark. To me that seemed expensive, having never really researched custom wheelchairs before. But they were going to pay for it. The initial email went out to Sue on Monday. By Thursday morning, they were ready to buy the chair. That means the morning after Vince got back from TV he was brought up to speed and offered to pay for the chair. I don't care if you're a millionaire or not, $10,000 is a lot of money. Most of us wouldn't spend half that kind of money without a lot of research. But the decision was made right away. Think what you want, but I think that' a very generous offer.

[The Big Shill]

The Best Of The Very Best wrote:

I'm not trying to stir up any trouble at all and I have never gotten the chance to listen to Sheldon's radio show yet. I'm sure that anything involving Sheldon is great, interesting and very well done. He hasn't disappointed me yet and I would totally recommend attending his wrestling shows. I have seen many of his shows and have never seen a bad one yet. So I would like to appoligize to Sheldon for any wrong words or misunderstanding. I was just talking about what I have read or didn't read. I was hoping that the post would inspire people to start spreading the word more.

Apology accepted. Like Terry Allen says, I am sure a lot of things have been discussed. Any benefit shows or PR efforts should be coordinated and/or approved by Theresa. She has a great support system of friends who love the man dearly. Please give them the space and the courtesy to address things in a proper manner.

As for the WWE, I can tell you this. Vince McMahon has done countless good deeds that were done anonymously or privately without fanfare or publicity. I have no reason to doubt anything the_truth says as I know it fits the company's way of doing business.

[eastman]

I have two radio interviews tomorrow night and I will plug Walter's fund (I took the infor from the Bank fund and not the Chaotic website. If that is wrong please let me know via pm before tomorrow night by 7pm CST.) I also dropped an e-mail to a few major wrestling reporter friends and they are going to be plugging the fund as well. I'll also send out a Myspace bulliten tomorrow morning.

Walter is a true legend and anything that people can do to help him out would be fantastic.

[freightrain]

i am going to try to touch on a bit of everyones comments.
Not that i need to defend anyone.
But
there are a lot of people doing things and doing it under the radar.
make no mistake and don't think for a millasecond that myself and terry allen have been the only ones spending time with walter. we're just the ones posting updates. many people are doing what needs to be done. they are people who do it ,just to do it. the way walter would.
the only reason you have been hearing from me is beacuse i am trying to be courtiuos to those who care about walter and theresa. and have lost contact. we all lose touch with friends. numbers and address' change.
the WWE has been in contact and is doing their part.
HHH has been in contact and too is doing his part.

just because they didn't announce it at summer slam doesn't mean they not there. also trying to respect walter and theresa's privacy. some things that theresa asked not to be mentioned are not being mentioned.there have been many people in the business and out helping and calling.
what i get asked a lot is what can i do. my answer to them is three things
pray, love walter and theresa and remember what walter did to make you honored to know him.
I posted updates to keep people informed. not to set up a forum for people to shit on the ones they don't hear about.or to put over the ones mentioned
the $10,000 for a custom chair. that is on the low end and for a very basic chair. and when it was brought to vince's attention he did NOT even flinch or blink when he said it's as good as done. but things changed in a moment.
so we are waiting to see what the next best move would be
i have watched people come to see walter and be beside themselfs. and others who cannot due to reasons beyond their control. and are devistated about it.as far as their privacy. the visits have been cut down drastically and restricted. the phone calls are being deflected to help theresa. please if you need to call or need someone to call you. either call one of the boys that you know and get my number. or call richard brynes or even email me on myspace at myspace.com/freightrainzoeparis and i will call you. please respect theresa's privacy and dont call the hospital. or her home. she needs her rest also. lets take a moment and think about if it was a loved one that wasn't as well known as walter. you would want people to respect your privacy. i know when my dad died the last thing i wanted to do is repeat myself everytime someone new called.
and
please remember
"don't judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes"
things are not always as they appear on the outside.

moments are precious
appreciate them.

[GrayGhost]

I find that w all the crap on this board at times and stuff, that this type of caring by Train and Terry and everyone anonymous is simply amazing. As to say, its great reading about real caring, and such, for a man thats obviously meant so much.

I will continue to pray for Mr Kowalski and his wife in this time of darkness, and hopefully the darkness will go away soon.

[Funk III]

Freighttrain-

Thanks for posting the updates. I'm not believing anything unless it's posted (or seconded) by you.



I told my Dad that Killer Kowalski was hospitalized and he quickly told me that I never got to see him. My Dad said he wanted to take to to one of his matches if he ever got the chance. But I was too young.