| content | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary Kostecki | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Penny Banner |
| Billed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.7 m) |
| Billed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Born | August 11, 1934 St. Louis, Missouri |
| Died | May 12, 2008 (aged 73) |
| Resides | Charlotte, North Carolina[1] |
| Trained by | Marines in Judo Class |
| Debut | July 1954 |
| Retired | June 1977[2] |
Penny Banner (August 11, 1934 – May 12, 2008), born Mary Ann Kostecki,[3] was a professional wrestler. She was best known for her time spent in the American Wrestling Association. She was also the Commissioner of the Professional Girl Wrestling Association (PGWA).
Contents |
Early life
Growing up, Mary Ann Kostecki's family did not have television.[4] She idolized Hank Williams Sr., a musician, when she was young.[4]
Later, Kostecki began working at a cocktail waitress in St. Louis, while also acting as a nanny to three children.[5] During this time, Sam Muchnick, owner of the National Wrestling Alliance, came into the lounge where she worked, and her boss told him that banner was capable of doing 200 sit-ups.[5] Muchnick bet her she could not complete the task, and after she did, she began getting calls to be a female professional wrestler.[5]
Professional wrestling career
Kostecki began her career in wrestling as a way to learn how to defend herself outside of the ring.[3] She came up with the name "Penny Banner" because she admired Charleston Heston, who used the surname Banner in a movie, and the first name Penny was also significant to her.[5]
She held many titles in her career, including the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship three times between 1956 and 1960, the NWA Texas Women's Championship once in 1936, and she was the first AWA World Women's Champions in 1961.[5] During her career, Banner had her nosed ripped up and her elbow dislocated.[5]
Banner retired in 1977 after June Byers, who owned the NWA Women's Championship, retired because of a car accident, which left Banner with nobody to wrestle in the Carolinas.[5]
After retirement
After retiring from the ring, Banner worked as a real-estate agent, worked in a rodeo, was the president of a local 4H, and began showing horses.[5] She competed in the Senior Olympics doing swimming plus the shot put and discus throws.[2]
Banner's autobiography, Banner Days was completed 2005.[2] Also in 2005, she was featured in the documentary film Lipstick & Dynamite.[3]
Personal life
Banner went on five dates with Elvis Presley between 1956 and late 1958.[5][2] She was married to Johnny Weaver for 35 years before divorcing him in 1994.[2] She had one child, a daughter named Wendi (*1960).[1]
In late 2005, Penny Banner was diagnosed with cancer. In February 2006, the cancer had shrunk considerably after a doctor's check-up. In late 2007, Banner suffered several health crises, including pneumonia, resulting in severe weight loss. She died in her sleep at the home of her daughter, Wendi, in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 12, 2008.
In wrestling
- Signature and finishing moves
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Alliance
-
- AWA World Women's Championship (1 time, first)[5]
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz International Wrestling Institute
-
- Frank Gotch Award (2008)[6]
-
- NWA Southern Women's Championship (Georgia version) (1 time)[7]
-
- NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Bonnie Watson (1), Betty Jo Hawkins (1) and Lorraine Johnson (1)[5]
-
- NWA Texas Women's Championship (1 time)[5]
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall Of Fame
- (Class of 2007)
References
- ^ a b "Penny Banner of G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling". G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
- ^ a b c d e Marvez, Alex (2004-08-12). "Alex Marvez's weekly look at professional wrestling". Scripps Howard News Service. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
- ^ a b c Eleanor Ringel Gillespie. "'Lipstick & Dynamite': You'll fall for these ladies". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
- ^ a b Greg Oliver (April 29, 2004). "Lipstick Dynamite, Piss Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling Chat with Penny Banner, Ida May Martinez and Ella Waldek". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l E L Farrell (October 2, 2006). "Wrestling Interview With Penny Banner". Warned.net. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
- ^ "International Wrestling Institute and Museum". Puroresu Dojo (2003). Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
- ^ "N.W.A. Women's Southern Title (Georgia)". Puroresu Dojo (2003). Retrieved on 2008-02-16. “Penny Banner & Lorraine Johnson, 55, Ohio”
- ^ "The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum". Puroresu Dojo (2003). Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
- ^ "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame". Puroresu Dojo (2003). Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
External links
