Penny Banner
Real Name: Mary Ann Kostecki
Height: 5ft 8in Weight: 160
Born:11th August 1934, St Louis Missouri Career: July 1954 - June 1977
Died: 2008
Titles: 1st AWA Women's World Champion 3x NWA & Canadian Women's World Tag Team Champion (with Betty Watson, Betty Jo Hawkins & Lorraine Johnson) 2nd NWA Texas Women's Champion
Info: Penny Banner started her wrestling career in 1954. In her early years she battled June Byers. June was the then champion and always came out on top. Men and women alike loved Penny Banner first as the pretty young blond ingénue, and even more so when she "turned heel" and maximized her ability to wear down an opponent in a twenty minute war... all the while maintaining a charm and sex appeal that absolutely lit up a crowd.
Penny Banner championed the cause of serious women workers in this business. Her legacy and her gift to the women of today resides in the strength of her conviction and the content of her character. Before her death Penny interacted with fans on the internet, and insisted on holding today's "divas" and "vixens" to the same high standards she set for herself almost fifty years ago, finding the vast majority lacking in their understanding of it.
After her retirement from Professional Wrestling Penny kept herself busy by competing in the Senior Olympics. Penny was also always a regular at the Cauliflower Alley Club convention.
In 2004 Penny featured in the film "Lipstick and Dynamite, Piss and Vinegar", a brand new documentary about the golden age of women's wrestling by director Ruth Leitman. The film debuted at the 2004 Hot Docs International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada on April 29th, and Penny was in attendance.
In her autobiography Penny discusses everything from wrestling to dating Elvis.
Penny Banner in 2005 was diagnosed with cancer. Penny battled the disease with surgery and chemotherapy. Penny Banner passed away in 2008.
Related Links
Back