NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Verne Gagne

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Verne Gagne (born February 26, 1926) is a former professional wrestler, trainer and wrestling promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association (AWA) based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout the Midwest and Manitoba, Canada for many years. He remained in this position until 1991, when the company folded. He has a son, Greg, who also wrestled. is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Robbinsdale is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... â€œMinneapolisâ€ redirects here. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) BC AB SK MB ON QC NB PE NS NL YT NT NU Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard - Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation... Greg Gagne (GON-ya) born July 27, 1948 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota) is a former professional wrestler and is the son of the legendary Verne Gagne. ...

Pre-AWA career

Verne Gagne grew up on a farm in Minnesota, he left home at the age of 14 after his mother died. Verne went to Robbinsdale High School and excelled in football, baseball and wrestling, winning district, regional and state championships in high school wrestling, as well as being named to the All-State Football Team. In 1943, Verne was recruited to play football at the University of Minnesota, where he was named to the All-Conference Team. After one year of college, he joined the Marines. Gagne chose to return to the University of Minnesota, where he enjoyed a successful amateur wrestling career that saw him capture two NCAA titles, as well as being an alternate for the U.S freestyle wrestling team at the 1948 Olympic Games. Verne joined the NFL soon after by being drafted in the 16 round (145 pick) of the 1947 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. In 1949, Verne decided to wrestle professionally, starting his career in Texas. In his debut, he defeated Abe Kashey, with former World Heavyweight boxing Champion, Jack Dempsey, as the referee. In 1950, Gagne captured the NWA Junior Heavyweight title. In 1953, Gagne won the Chicago version of the NWA United States Championship. Verne became one of the most well-known stars in wrestling during the golden age of television, thanks to his exposure on the Dumont Network, where he wowed audiences with his technical prowess. He was rumored to be one of the highest paid wrestlers during the 1950's, reportedly earning a hundred thousand dollars a year. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. ... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue, Orange and White Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman Michael McCaskey General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919) National... William Harrison Jack Dempsey (June 24, 1895 â€“ May 31, 1983) was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title between 1919 and 1926. ... National Wrestling Alliance logo The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the largest governing body for a group of independent professional wrestling promotions and sanctions various NWA championships. ... The DuMont Television Network was the worlds first commercial television network, beginning operation in the United States in 1946. ...

AWA

In 1960, Gagne formed his own promotion, the AWA, instantly becoming its top star. That same year, Gagne was awarded the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, after Pat O'Connor failed to defend the title against the number one contender, Gagne. O'Connor was the reigning NWA World champion and advised by the new AWA to grant Gagne a title match within 90 days or else the AWA would declare Gagne the new AWA World champion. Verne would go on to become a ten-time AWA World Champion, a record for the promotion. He also had one of the longest World Title reigns in wrestling history, holding the AWA Title from August 31, 1968 until November 8, 1975, a total of 7 years, when he finally lost the belt to Nick Bockwinkel. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The AWA World Heavyweight Championship belt. ... Pat OConnor was a Formula One driver (Indy 500 only) from the United States. ... Nick Bockwinkel (born December 6, 1934) is a former American professional wrestler, mainly competing in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the United States. ...

Some of Gagne's biggest feuds were against Gene Kiniski, Dr. Bill Miller (under a mask both as Dr. X and then Mr. M), Fritz Von Erich, Dr. X (Dick Beyer), The Crusher (Reggie Lisowski), Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel. He always wrestled as a face, and utilized the sleeper hold as his finisher. Despite already wrestling full-time and running one of the biggest promotions in North America, Gagne operated a training school that produced such stars as Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Curt Hennig, Gene Anderson, Larry Heiniemi (Lars Anderson), Alan "Rock" Rogowski (Ole Anderson), Ken Patera, Chris Taylor, Baron Von Raschke, Black Jack Lanza, "Bulldog" Bob Brown, Jim Brunzell, his son Greg Gagne, John Nord(The Barbarian), and more. Verne retired from in ring competition in 1981 as the AWA World Champion, becoming one of the few wrestlers to retire as a World titlist. Gene Kiniski was a professional wrestler. ... Fritz Von Erich Jack Barton Adkisson was a professional wrestler under the name Fritz Von Erich, better known today as a wrestling promoter and the patriarch of the tragically famous Von Erich wrestling family. ... Dick Beyer is a retired professional wrestler who is best known by his ring names, The Destroyer or Doctor X who wore a wrestling mask. ... Reginald Lisowski was a professional wrestler better known as The Crusher. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Nick Bockwinkel (born December 6, 1934) is a former American professional wrestler, mainly competing in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the United States. ... In professional wrestling, a face or babyface is a character who is portrayed as heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analagous to villains. ... Ric Flair (born February 25, 1949 [1] and named Richard Morgan Fliehr upon his adoption several weeks later), is an iconic American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment on its RAW brand. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ... Gene & Ole Anderson Gene Anderson (born 1933 in Minneapolis, Minnesota; died October 31, 1991) was a professional wrestler famous for his days of teaming with his brother Ole Anderson. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Chris Taylor or Christopher Taylor may refer to: Chris The Glove Taylor, American DJ, one of the pioneers on the West Coast Chris Taylor (comedian), comedian, best known from CNNNN and Triple J Christopher Taylor (cricketer), English cricketer, who has played for Gloucestershire Chris Taylor (cricketer, born 1981), English cricketer... Baron Von Raschke James Donald Raschke (born 1940- in Omaha, Nebraska) was a professional wrestler best known as Baron Von Raschke. ... Blackjack Lanza was a professional wrestler whose real name is Jack Lanza. ... Dr. Robert James Brown (born December 27, 1944), is an Australian Senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia. ... December 28, 1972 - Moorhead: Dennis Stamp beat Jim Brunzell (AWA debut). ... Greg Gagne can refer to either of the following: Greg Gagne â€” a former major-league baseball player, most notably with the Minnesota Twins Greg Gagne â€” a former professional wrestler best-known for his work in the American Wrestling Association in the 1970s and 1980s This is a disambiguation page, a... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

As promoter of the AWA, Gagne was known for putting on an "old school" show. He sought out wrestlers with amateur backgrounds over the hulking brutes that dominated wrestling in the 1980's. This led to a problem with his biggest draw, Hulk Hogan, who Gagne felt was not championship material. Eventually Gagne settled with making Hogan his champion, but only under the condition that he receive a percentage of Hogan's earnings from Japan; Hogan refused. Terrence Gene Bollea (born on August 11, 1953) is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan. ...

In late 1983, Hogan accepted an offer from Vincent K. McMahon to go to the WWF. Allegedly, Gagne offered The Iron Sheik $100,000 to break Hogan's leg during their World Title Match, with the intention that he return to the AWA with the belt. Supposedly Sheik refused the offer and informed Hogan, the McMahons, and Pat Patterson about the planned double cross, and Hulkamania was born. What followed was a purge of stars from various territories and promotions, including Gagne's AWA, by Vince McMahon, who wished to take his WWF "national", and do away with the traditional territorial system that dominated the North American Pro Wrestling landscape for years. The AWA suffered perhaps the most damage, losing top stars like Rick Martel, Jesse Ventura, Adrian Adonis, Sheri Martel, Kerry Von Erich, Jerry Lawler, Boris Zuchov and Curt Hennig. By 1991, the damage had been done, and the AWA shut down after 30 years. Vince McMahon Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 24, 1945 in Pinehurst, North Carolina), is an American professional wrestling promoter. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri (born on March 15, 1943) is a retired Iranian professional wrestler better known by his stage name The Iron Sheik. ... Pierre Clemont (born January 19, 1941 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Pat Patterson. ... Terrence Gene Bollea, best known as Hulk Hogan and Hollywood Hogan (born August 11, 1953 in Augusta, Georgia), is an American professional wrestler and actor. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Richard Vigneault (born March 18, 1956) is a QuÃ©bÃ©cois former professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel. ... Jesse Ventura (born James George Janos on July 15, 1951), also known as The Body, The Star, The Mind, and Governor Body, is an American politician, former professional wrestler, Navy UDT veteran, actor, and former radio and television talk show host. ... Keith Franke (September 12, 1954 â€“ July 4, 1988 [1]) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Adorable Adrian Adonis. ... Sherri Martel (born Sherri Russell)[1] (February 8, 1958 â€“ June 15, 2007) was an American professional wrestler and valet, better known by her ring name, Sensational Sherri. ... Kerry Gene Adkisson (February 3, 1960 â€“ February 18, 1993) was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich and The Texas Tornado (World Wrestling Federation or WWF) and part of the famous Von Erich family. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ...

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling

- The Amateur Athletic Union, widely known as the AAU, was formed in United States. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... The Big Ten Conference is the United States oldest Division I college athletic conference. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association of public and private schools with a history of service to Minnesotas high school youth since 1916. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area Ranked 12th - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 kmÂ²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 400 miles (645 km) - % water 8. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. ...

Professional wrestling

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The AWA World Heavyweight Championship belt. ... AWA World Title Belt 1987-1990 The AWA World Heavyweight Championship, the most prestigious championship in the American Wrestling Association, was established in May 1960, after the first champion, Pat OConnor, was crowned on January 9, 1959. ... The Omaha version of the World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by promoters in and around Omaha, Nebraska who chose to recognize Edouard Carpentier as world heavyweight champion, following his win over NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz on June 14, 1957, in Chicago due to a... The Omaha version of the World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by promoters in and around Omaha, Nebraska who chose to recognize Edouard Carpentier as world heavyweight champion, following his win over NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz on June 14, 1957, in Chicago due to a... The American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Tag Team Championship was the tag team title for the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991. ... This is the title history of the AWA World Tag Team Championship See also American Wrestling Association Categories: Professional wrestling championships | Lists of sportspersons ... International Pro-Wrestling (å›½éš›ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹èˆˆè¡Œ;, Kokusai Puroresu Kogyo, International Wrestling Enterprise) was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1967 to 1981. ... The International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship was the main title of the Japanese professional wrestling promotion known as International Pro Wrestling (Kokusai Puroresu). ... The International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship was the main title of the Japanese professional wrestling promotion known as International Pro Wrestling (Kokusai Puroresu). ... The AWA United States Championship was a short-lived title in the early days of the American Wrestling Association. ... The AWA United States Championship was a short-lived title in the early days of the American Wrestling Association. ... The Chicago, Illinois version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1953 until 1960, when the Chicago promotion became part of the American Wrestling Association. ... The Chicago, Illinois version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1953 until 1960, when the Chicago promotion became part of the American Wrestling Association. ... Edouard Carpentier was a Canadian professional wrestler who garnered several world championships in a career that spanned the 1950s into the 1970s. ... The Minneapolis, Minnesota version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 until August 1960, when the American Wrestling Association came into existence. ... The Minneapolis, Minnesota version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 until August 1960, when the American Wrestling Association came into existence. ... Bronislau Bronko Nagurski (November 3, 1908 - January 7, 1990) was an American football player. ... Leo Joseph Nomellini (June 19, 1924, in Lucca, Italy â€“ October 17, 2000) was a Hall of Fame American football player with the San Francisco 49ers. ... The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers. ... The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers. ... Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is a professional wrestling magazine. ... The PWI Stanley Weston Award, given yearly since 1981 by professional wrestling magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated, recognizes lifetime achievement by a professional wrestling personality as decided by the editors of the magazine. ... 1. ... The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is located in Amsterdam, New York and was previously located in Schenectady, New York. ... The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is located in Amsterdam, New York and was previously located in Schenectady, New York. ... World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), also called the World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA), was a popular regional professional wrestling promotion run out of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. ... The NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a title that has existed since the 1930s and has had several different names. ... The NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a title that has existed since the 1930s and has had several different names. ... The Texas version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 to 1968, and from 1981 to 1982. ... The Texas version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 to 1968, and from 1981 to 1982. ... World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. ... The WCW Hall of Fame was established in 1993 to honour some of the greats of the past (most of them appearing in the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions before WCW existed). ... The WCW Hall of Fame was established in 1993 to honour some of the greats of the past (most of them appearing in the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions before WCW existed). ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... WWE Hall of Fame logo, 2004-present. ... WWE Hall of Fame logo, 2004-present. ... Dave Herbert Meltzer (born October 24, 1961 in San Jose, California) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, an insider newsletter for the world of professional wrestling. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ...

Training career

Ric Flair (born February 25, 1949 [1] and named Richard Morgan Fliehr upon his adoption several weeks later), is an iconic American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment on its RAW brand. ... Gene & Ole Anderson Gene Anderson (born 1933 in Minneapolis, Minnesota; died October 31, 1991) was a professional wrestler famous for his days of teaming with his brother Ole Anderson. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Lars Anderson Lawrence Heinemi was a professional wrestler better known by the name of Lars Anderson. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ... Robert Louis Backlund (b. ... Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri (ØØ³ÛŒÙ† Ø®Ø³Ø±Ùˆ ÙˆØ²ÛŒØ±ÛŒ), (born March 15, 1943 in Tehran, Iran) is a retired Iranian professional wrestler better known by his ring name The Iron Sheik. ... Paul Ellering with the Legion of Doom Paul Ellering is a well-known professional wrestling manager known for managing the Legion of Doom when they were known as The Road Warriors. ... December 28, 1972 - Moorhead: Dennis Stamp beat Jim Brunzell (AWA debut). ... Greg Gagne (GON-ya) born July 27, 1948 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota) is a former professional wrestler and is the son of the legendary Verne Gagne. ... Blackjack Mulligan with the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship Blackjack Mulligan (Born Robert Joseph Windham on November 26, 1942 in Toiletwater, Texas) was a professional wrestler and a former football player. ... Brian Knobbs Brian Yandrisovitz, better known as Brian Knobbs, is an American former professional wrestler, best known as one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys. ... Jerome Saganovich, better known as Jerry Saggs, is an American former professional wrestler, best known as one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys. ... Scott Michael Norton (born June 15, 1961[1]) is an American professional wrestler who is best known for working for New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Larry The Axe Hennig is a retired professional wrestler and owner of Larry Hennig Realty & Auction Co. ... James Valen was a professional wrestler better known as Jimmy Valiant. ... Baron Von Raschke James Donald Raschke (born 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska) was a professional wrestler best known as Baron Von Raschke. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Playboy Buddy Rose (real name - Paul Perschmann) is an American professional wrestler // Trained by Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson in the mid 70s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... James Reiher (born May 18, 1943) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name of Jimmy Superfly Snuka. ... Bill Irwin Barney Irwin was a professional wrestler best known as Bill Irwin. ... Scott Irwin was a professional wrestler and the brother of Bill Irwin. ...

Personal life

Gagne has two children: Kathy and Greg. Kathy was once married to Larry Zbyszko. In 2006, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Greg. Lawrence (Larry) Whistler (born December 5, 1953) is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Larry Zbyszko. ... WWE Hall of Fame logo, 2004-present. ...

Verne was the star of the 1974 movie, The Wrestler. The Wrestler is a 1974 independent film produced by Verne Gagne and starred Ed Asner as Frank Bass a wrestling promoter. ...

References

Categories: Articles needing additional references from July 2007 | American professional wrestlers | American sport wrestlers | Professional wrestling executives | American Wrestling Association alumni | World Champion professional wrestlers | Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame | WWE Hall of Fame | Wrestlers at the 1948 Summer Olympics | Olympic athletes who wrestled professionally | People from Minnesota | American Roman Catholics | 1923 births | Living people David Allen Meltzer (born October 24, 1961) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), a newsletter for the world of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. ...

Contents

Pre-AWA career GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

AWA