Kirk wrestled most of his career as a singles performer, but did have a handful of tag matches to his credit as well (including, sadly, his last match). Many of his allies and opponents will ring a bell, though some only later in their careers, having wrestled Kirk under far lesser-known personas. In 1981, Kirk teamed up with Jim Harris, better known to the world as Kamala in WWE and WCW, and Sugar Bear Harris in several other territories. Kirk also teamed with 6’11”, 685-pound superheavyweight Giant Haystacks on three occasions, winning twice. Haystacks would debut in WCW in 1996 as “Loch Ness,” part of the Dungeon of Doom stable in their feud against Hulk Hogan, departing the company after a loss to The Giant at Uncensored later that year.

Among Kirk’s better-known opponents: “High Chief” Peter Maivia, Pat Patterson, Michele “Mad Dog” Martel, Bull Power (later known as Vader), Afa and Sika, Bob Remus (aka Sgt. Slaughter), none other than Andre the Giant, and some guy named Bret Hart (though not yet “The Hitman.”) Andre would best Kirk in singles competition twice, and would prevail in battle royals featuring both men twice as well in 1974. Five years later, Kirk would team with Rasputin against Andre in handicap matches, losing on all three occasions.

Hart and Kirk faced each other twice late in 1981, with Kirk getting a win in the first encounter and Hart prevailing via disqualification in the second. Recalling their time in the ring together, Hart would write in his book that Kirk “turned out to be a great worker and bump-taker, and when he collapsed on top of me, he was as light as if he’d covered me with a blanket.”