The Great Wojo was Greg Wojciechowski, an outstanding amateur wrestler from Toledo, Ohio died of a suspected heart attack this past Tuesday evening, according to family sources.
He started wrestling and strength training at the very young age of 5 years old. As a teen, he became involved in wrestling at Wittmer High School in his hometown., where he was Ohio State Heavyweight Champion in 1967 and 1968.
He was recruited and wrestled for the University of Toledo, winning the NCAA Division I and All-American Heavyweight Championship in 1971, he was runner-up in 1970 and 1972. In 1972, he lost out to another future pro, Chris Taylor, from Iowa State, who was a huge human being, 460 pounds. Wojo had practically owned Taylor prior to '72, but Taylor went on a roll, beating Wojo five or six times in a row. This caused the Olympic Committee at the time to believe in Taylor so much, they allowed him to compete in both the free style and Greco-Roman, the first American to do that.
In the 1980 Olympic tryout tournament, he beat Jimmy Jackson in freestyle and Pete Lee in Greco-Roman wrestling to become the last American to win both styles. The 29-year-old Wojo defeated 20-year-old Bruce Baumgartner in the final Olympic tryouts. Baumgartner, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame would go on to win 13 Olympic and World Medals during his career. Wojciechowski won the 1980 Olympic Trials in free-style and Greco-Roman, the last American to do so, but chose not to compete in wrestle-offs for the Greco-Roman-team.
Pictured: Greg Wojciechowski executes a takedown on an opponent
He did not get to compete in the 1980 Olympic Games because the United States boycotted the games that year. Wojo was a 6-foot tall, 260-pound specimen with bulging arms and a thick neck. Exactly what the stereotypical wrestler would look like. Wojo was not typical, he was a tremendous talent, being in the Olympic picture in 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980, but never actually making it to the games. In fact, in 1968, he was a runner-up in the free-style category for the Olympics, losing out to bronze medalist and future pro star, Bob Roop.
Pictured: Greg Wojciechowski at the various stages of his life and career
Once he was out with the U.S. boycotting the Olympic Games, Wojo turned pro in September 1980. He was broken into the pro business by an old friend from High School, Jerry Jaffe, who wrestled as Jerry Graham, Jr. He worked here primarily in the Bruiser's version of the WWA, based in Indianapolis, which ran Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and around the Midwest. His first professional match was against the friend of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel, Jim Lancaster.
In 1983, he published "Takedown for Heavyweights" as part of the Wrestling Coaching Series and was later an alternate on the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Teams.
Wojo, who never could get pushed over Dick the Bruiser, who was the owner of the WWA with Wilbur Snyder, did however, get three runs with the WWA World Heavyweight Championship. In close to a year from now, Wojo would have a program with another newcomer to the business, Scott Rechsteiner (Scott Steiner).
Wojo, once he turned heel, used a variation on a gimmick used by a lot of amateur guys, the $10,000 challenge. Any person from the crowd who could pin him in five minutes would receive ten grand. Wojo would usually pin them in anywhere from ten to thirty seconds. A gimmick that could never be utilized today.
He wrestled occasionally in the Midwest, Canada and Japan after the WWA closed in 1989. Wojciechowski retired from active competition and took employment as a high school coach for wrestling full-time, including Libbey High School and later Bowsher High School.
Wojciechowski wrestled on and off through his last match in 1994, although his matches were few and far between after 1986. The Great Wojo's last big, promoted match was in his hometown of Toledo in 1989, taking on the former boxer, Leon Spinks. Wojo won by count out.
In 1999, he suffered some health issues, including a dissected aorta in 1999, while he was showing a move to a high school student. He had a surgical procedure for the torn heart issue, recovered from the condition and returned to establish wrestling programs in Ohio middle schools. He son Chad was the head wrestling coach in Libbey High School as well.
Pictured: Greg Wojciechowski at the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
Wojo was inducted into the George Tragos\Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in the class of 2015. Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine ranked him #308 of the Top 500 Singles Wrestlers of All-Time in 1991. He was a member of the University of Toledo Athletics Hall of Fame and ta Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, being awarded that honor in 2025.
The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel extends prayers for peace and comfort to the family of Greg "The Great Wojo" Wojciechowski. one of the greatest amateur and professional wrestlers of all time on passed on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025. He was 74 years old, just 3 months shy of his 75th birthday. RIP Wojo and thank you.
Greg went to Whitmer High School. Not Willmer High School
Great article!