Malcolm Kirk
 |
| Malcolm Kirk | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 18, 1936[1] |
| Died | August 24, 1987[2] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | King Kong Kirk Kojak Kirk[1] |
| Billed from | West Yorkshire, England[1] |
Malcolm (Mal) Kirk (18 December 1936 – 24 August 1987) was an English professional wrestler who went by the ring name King Kong Kirk.
His height was 1.86m and his weight was 139-159kg
Bald and fearsome looking, Kirk was usually cast as the "bad guy" and often tagged with the superheavyweight Giant Haystacks. Kirk's work rose to its prominence in the 1970s and 1980s due to the popularity of televised wrestling in the United Kingdom.
In August 1987, Kirk died after a tragic turn of events during the final moments of the match at the hippodrome circus in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk against British wrestling legend Shirley "Big Daddy" Crabtree. After Big Daddy had delivered his signature belly-splash, rather than selling the impact of the finishing move, Kirk turned an unhealthy color and was rushed to the James Paget hospital in Gorleston in Norfolk, but was pronounced dead on arrival. The inquest into Kirk's death found that he had a serious heart condition and cleared Crabtree of any responsibility; nevertheless Crabtree was devastated and blamed himself for Kirk's death.
References
- ^ a b c "Wrestler Profiles: King Kong Kirk". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ^ Lister, John (2005). Slamthology: Collected wrestling writings 1991-2004. Lulu. p. 230. ISBN 1411653297.