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Verne Gagne (born February 26 , 1926 ) is a former Professional Wrestler , Italian-American, 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. 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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 , Sherri 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. In April of 2006 Verne Gagne was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. He was inducted by his son Greg Gagne, the night before Wrestlemania 22. CHAMPIONSHIPS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Amateur wrestling
Professional wrestling
TRAINING CAREER Verne trained or helped train 93 wrestlers, including: 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. Verne was the star of the 1974 movie, '' The Wrestler ''. REFERENCES |
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