{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = George Gadaski |image = George Gadaski.JPG |caption = |birth_name = George Kosti |birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1930|04|30}} |birth_place = Limerick, Saskatchewan, Canada |death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1982|12|16|1930|04|30}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=6259|title=Profile|publisher=Wrestlingdata|accessdate=2024-03-14}}</ref> |death_place = St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, United States |resides = |names = George Gadaski<br>Scrap Iron<br>George Kosti <br>Johnny Costa |height = 6 ft 0 in |weight = 240 lb<ref name="WWE2020">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLXmDwAAQBAJ&dq=george+gadaski+wwe+encyclopedia&pg=PA25 |page=25 |title=WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment New Edition |author1=Kevin Sullivan |author2=Steve Pantaleo |author3=Keith Elliot Greenberg |author4=Dean Miller |author5=Jake Black |year=2020 |isbn=9780241488058 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited}}</ref> |billed = Great Fall, Minnesota, United States |trainer = Stu Hart |debut = 1956 |retired = 1981 }} '''George Kosti ''' (30 April 1930 – 16 December 1982) was a Canadian professional wrestler and referee who spent his career in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in Minnesota under the ring name '''George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=9236&name=George+Gadaski|title=George Gadaski « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=}}</ref> Gadaski was considered the "jack of all trades" as he did ring set up, and later became a road agent.
==Professional wrestling career== Originally an ice hockey player, he was the property of the Regina Pats and Chicago Blackhawks. He chose family obligations over hockey and ended his career. Trained by Stu Hart and became a wrestler.
Kosti made his professional wrestling debut in 1959 in Calgary for Stampede Wrestling. Kosti would then work in Canada and the southern States. He got the nickname "Scrap Iron" by a Georgia promoter.<ref name="SlamWrestling">{{cite web |author=Kosti, Derek |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2010/06/09/the-interesting-road-of-george-scrap-iron-gadaski/ |title=The interesting road of George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski |access-date =2010-06-09 |date =9 June 2010 |work=SLAM! Wrestling|publisher=Canoe.com}}</ref>
Kosti made his debut in Minnesota for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1966 where he would be known as George Gadaski.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/awa/awa25-2.htm |title=Regional Territories: AWA #25 Page #2 |last=Zordani |first=Jim |date=2002 |website=KayfabeMemories.com |access-date=March 15, 2024}}</ref>
On December 10, 1972, Gadaski fought in Ric Flair's first ever match ending in a 10-minute draw.<ref name="woodward">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/53439/this-day-in-history-ric-flair-wrestles-his-first-professional-match-38-years-ago-today-terry-funk-wins-the-world-title-sixperson-hell-in-a-cell.html?p=1|title=This day in history|last=Woodward|first=Buck|date=December 10, 2010|website=PWInsider|access-date=February 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="slam">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/flair.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522073933/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/flair.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |title=Ric Flair|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 13, 2007|author=Milner, John and Richard Kamchen}}</ref> In 1973, he defeated Flair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ricflairmatchhistory.weebly.com/1973.html |title=1973 }}</ref>
Kosti teamed with Kenny Jay during his career<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/awa/awa25.htm |title=Regional Territories: AWA #25 |last=Zordani |first=Jim |date=2002 |website=KayfabeMemories.com |access-date=March 15, 2024}}</ref> and wrestled his last match in 1981. Also refereed his last match in January 1982.
==Death== Kosti was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In April 1982, the AWA did a fundraiser. He died on December 16, 1982, from the effects from the tumor at a hospital in St. Croix Falls. He was 52.<ref name="SlamWrestling"/>
==References== '''General''' * {{cite book |last=Nevada |first=Vance |author-link=Vance Nevada |date=2022 |title=(Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy |location= |publisher=FriesenPress |isbn=9781039154797 }}
'''Specific''' {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{professional wrestling profiles}} *{{Find a Grave|id=6868579/george-kosti}} * {{IMDb name|1269068}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gadaski, George}} Category:1930 births Category:1982 deaths Category:Canadian male professional wrestlers Category:Canadian professional wrestling referees Category:Professional wrestlers from Saskatchewan Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen