The wrestling world is mourning the loss of Kenny ‘Jay’ Benkowski, who has died at the age of 85.
A regular of the AWA, Benkowski would primarily serve as enhancement talent, sharing the ring with the likes of Mad Dog Vachon, The Crusher, Verne Gagne, and Jesse Ventura.
At one point, Benkowski faced boxing icon Muhammad Ali, ahead of Ali’s famed boxing vs. wrestling match with Antonio Inoki in June 1976.
Outside the ring, Benkowski was a football prospect in high school, and took a break not long after his wrestling training began in 1958 to serve in the U.S. military.
After retiring in 1985, Benkowski would return to the ring in 1990 and would wrestle occasionally in the 1990s and 2000s before retiring for good in 2012.
We at eWrestlingNews.com would like to extend our condolences to those who knew Kenny ‘Jay’ Benkowski at this sad time.
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