Who Was ‘Sodbuster’ Kenny Jay? Former AWA Star Dead At 85
Matthew Wilson
Updated on January 05, 2026
His debut match took place for John Hinds at the Southside Armory. Soon, he was performing at Chicago’s Marigold Arena among bigger venues. As a result of his two-year stint in the U.S. Army, his career in wrestling was put on hold.
Later, Jay competed in North Premier Wrestling against his adversary, the Texas Badman, and J.B. Trask, Lenny Lane, Jerry Lynn, and “Mr. Everything” Dan Jesser.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Jay sporadically wrestled for several promotions, mostly in Minnesota. At the age of 75, he competed in his final match in 2012.
Who Was ‘Sodbuster’ Kenny Jay? Former AWA Star Dead At 85
Kenny Benkowski, better known by his ring name Kenny “Sodbuster” Jay, was an American professional wrestler best remembered for his stints with the American Wrestling Association. He was born on March 27, 1937, and died between January and February 2023.
Jay worked largely as a jobber. In tag team fights, he frequently competed alongside fellow AWA jobber Jake “The Milkman” Milliman. He gained a reputation for having a rigid wrestling style during his career.
In Holdingford, Minnesota, on March 27, 1937, Kenny Jay was born. It was revealed that Jay had passed away on February 2, 2023, at the age of 85.
In high school, Kenny was a born athlete who lettered in football and shot put. He came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin after finishing high school in 1955, where he worked as a factory worker.
