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He made it into the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s under the name Johnny K-9 as a “heel” or bad guy, and was dubbed the “most dangerous man in wrestling.” He once fought a televised match against Hulk Hogan.

He said he took the nickname when he was arrested and saw “K-9,” the designation for a police dog, painted on the side of the police vehicle he was placed in.

That name stuck.

Kroitoru was a man who could be genial and light-hearted but was also had an easy comfort with violence, inside and outside of the ring.

The youngest of six kids, Kroitoru grew up fast and tough. His long criminal history began early in his life.

He worked as an enforcer and debt collector for the mob, accumulating a rap sheet for assault, extortion and drugs before he got serious in the underworld.

He recently said he rarely had to hit anyone because everyone quickly paid his debt when he came to call just by looking at him.

Kroitoru reveled in the money, notoriety and fame he drew from working with serious gangsters.

He first made a name for himself in organized crime as the president of the Hamilton, Ont., chapter of the Satan’s Choice Motorcycle Club.

He pleaded guilty in the 1990s to conspiring to bomb a strip club in Sudbury after the club asked members of the gang to remove their jackets bearing their gang’s colours. It led to a standoff with Sudbury police.

Kroitoru secured the explosive but, in the end, the bikers moved their ambition up a notch and, in 1996, his bomb was instead used to blow up Sudbury’s police headquarters. It punched a hole in the wall and made an immense statement, but no one was injured.