StaggerLee
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| #2 Posted on 28.4.15 0802.14 Reposted on: 28.4.22 0803.20 | http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/04/27/minnesota-wrestling-icon-verne-gagne-dead-at-89/
I didn't get to see the AWA until way after its glory days, when it ended up on ESPN, but the history of AWA DVD was pretty remarkable. I have wondered if Vince had a special hard on for Verne. He took virtually every viable wrestler from the AWA and did next to nothing with them (except HBK and Ventura and of course Hennig).
Either way, sad day for Wrestling.
| Sec19Row53
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| #3 Posted on 28.4.15 0827.56 Reposted on: 28.4.22 0829.01 | And there was that Terry Bollea guy - wonder whatever happened to him.
Bummer. | StaggerLee
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| #4 Posted on 28.4.15 0844.18 Reposted on: 28.4.22 0859.01 | Well, he had been in WWWF before, and Japan, and Florida, not like he was soley an AWA guy before. The fact that he bounced around so much,and Verne wouldn't put the belt on him shows that Vince knew how to market a guy with a limited skills set. | KJames199
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| #5 Posted on 28.4.15 1110.03 Reposted on: 28.4.22 1114.55 | Originally posted by StaggerLee Verne wouldn't put the belt on (Hogan)
I thought that for a long time too, but Verne couldn't put the belt on him. Hogan was under contract to New Japan.
Originally posted by Meltzer in Meltzerese The Verne giving the title to Hogan story took on a life of its own.
Verne had a contract with Baba where he would send him talent. Hogan came to the AWA with a prior contract to New Japan. Verne could have put the title on Hogan but he'd then have to beat Hogan when it was time to send the AWA champion to Japan. Since Hogan wasn't willing to job to anyone, at any time, due to that same New Japan contract, it was impossible. Verne wanted Hogan to switch sides and make him champion but he wouldn't. There was no decision for Verne to make. People who have theorized about Verne being stubborn or thinking Nick should be champion or that Hogan shouldn't, or whatever, have zero understanding of the situation as it was at the time. The factors were existing contracts made it impossible unless Hogan would have gone to All Japan, and he didn't want to do so, and I'm not sure it would have been in his best interest to be on the side that already had Hansen, Brody, The Funks, Mascaras, etc. Plus, had Verne put the title on Hogan, Hogan still would have bolted, only as the champion, with no notice anyway, who never lost, which would have been worse for Verne.
| Mr Heel II
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| #6 Posted on 28.4.15 1357.40 Reposted on: 28.4.22 1358.59 | It was really sad watching the AWA's decline in the late eighties. A good chunk of my favorite wrestlers came out of, or were largely associated with, the AWA.
Everyone seemed to know Verne's era was going to come to an end, but we didn't really want it to. | HMD
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| #7 Posted on 28.4.15 1536.54 Reposted on: 28.4.22 1537.33 | Originally posted by StaggerLee Well, he had been in WWWF before, and Japan, and Florida, not like he was soley an AWA guy before. The fact that he bounced around so much,and Verne wouldn't put the belt on him shows that Vince knew how to market a guy with a limited skills set.
He'd worked other territories, sure, but Hulk put together the formula that made him the biggest star in the business under the tutelage of Verne. "Hulkamania" was born in the AWA. Verne got plenty of mileage out of him too. It wasn't like tons of people didn't see dollar signs when they looked at Hogan. | LostInUbe
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| #8 Posted on 29.4.15 0504.41 Reposted on: 29.4.22 0506.16 | Originally posted by Sec19Row53
And there was that Terry Bollea guy - wonder whatever happened to him.
Bummer.
That also ignores guys like Okerlund and Heenan. And Yokozuna. Jesse Ventura did fairly well for himself too. | AWArulz
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| #9 Posted on 29.4.15 0543.33 Reposted on: 29.4.22 0551.39 | Besides his skill as a promoter and booker, lets not forget he was a big draw wrestling in the 50s and even into the 60s. He was AAU national champ in 48 and drew the hell out of the world through the 50s, with massive battles against all the greats of the era.
and he trained Dick the Bruiser. All I need to know.
Has anyone seen the original"The Wrestler"? Good Verne stuff. | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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