Moose Cholak

Edward S. Cholak (March 17, 1930 – October 31, 2002) was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Moose Cholak.[1][2][3]

Moose Cholak
Birth nameEdward S. Cholak
Born(1930-03-17)March 17, 1930
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 31, 2002(2002-10-31) (aged 72)
Hammond, Indiana, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Arlene Miller
​
​
(m. 1957; his death 2002)​
Children2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Moose Cholak
Eddie Cholak
Golden Moose
Golden Terror
Yukon Moose
Billed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Billed weight360 lb (160 kg)
Billed fromMoosehead, Maine
Trained byAl Haft
Debut1952
Retired1987

Cholak competed in North American regional promotions from 1952 until 1987, primarily in the Midwest and northeast. The nearly 400-lb Cholak was known for wearing a moose head to the ring and giving a "moose call" prior to his matches.[4][5]

Career

A native of Chicago's Southeast Side, Cholak was an all-city wrestling champion and an AAU amateur champion at Chicago Vocational High School.[2] Cholak played tackle for the University of Wisconsin football team, but left after one year to join the Navy during the Korean War. In addition to boxing and wrestling in the service, he was also trained as SeaBee engineer.[1][2][3]

After leaving the Navy in 1952, Cholak was recruited into professional wrestling by former AWA World Heavyweight champion, Chief Don Eagle.[3][5] Cholak was trained by Columbus, Ohio promoter and former NWA vice president, Al Haft.[6][7]

Between 1953 and 1987, Cholak wrestled in 8,000 matches.[2] Cholak's moose gimmick and finishing move "El Squasho" as well as the big splash[5] finishing move made him a star in the early years of televised wrestling,[1] including Wrestling from Marigold and Wrestling from the International Amphitheater that both originated from Chicago. Among his many singles and tag-team championships, Cholak won the International Wrestling Association championship in Japan in 1963, defeating Rikidozan.[3]

Later life

From 1976 to 1996, Cholak supplemented his wrestling income by working as an engineer for Chicago's Streets and Sanitation Department.[1][2][3] On nights and weekends when he wasn't booked to wrestle, Cholak also worked in his family's tavern, Calumet Beach Inn. Cholak met Arlene, his wife of 45 years, at the tavern.[3]

Eventually weighing over 400 pounds, Cholak died of complications from a stroke on October 31, 2002 in a Hammond, Indiana hospital at the age of 72.[1][2][3]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Bush, Rudolph (November 3, 2002). "Edward "Moose" Cholak, 72, Crowd favorite on pro wrestling circuit". chicagotribune.com, Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  2. "Wrestling star Edward `Moose' Cholak dead at 72". qconline.com. Associated Press. October 31, 2002. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  3. ROTZOLL, BRENDA (November 1, 2002). "Edward 'Moose' Cholak, Wrestling Star, Engineer, Dies". croatia.org. Croatian World Network. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  4. Carter, Madison (2003). "Moose Cholak". Weird World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  5. "Moose Cholak". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  6. Friend, Percival A. (November 4, 2002). "The Way It Was - The Moose Bellows No More!!!". The Way It Was. Retrieved August 24, 2017. Alt URL
  7. "Al Haft Wrestling History". legacyofwrestling.com. Legacy of Wrestling. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
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