Johnny Valentine
Compared to Thesz, Kiniski was a heel and was very comfortable in his role as a "bad guy" world champion. As world champion, Kiniski wrestled many well-known luminaries. These included Bobo Brazil, Dick the Bruiser, Johnny Valentine, Bill Watts, Édouard Carpentier, Pat O'Connor, and the Funks, Terry and Dory, Jr., respectively.