Pro Wrasler Fans….61 years ago today….

[joelbc1]

“The Crusher” defeated Verne Gagne to win the AWA World Championship for the SECOND time…. Two weeks later he lost the title back to Gagne.
Back in the days when Men were Men!

 

[tumorboy]

Verne is a really said story. Poor guy mortgaged everything to the max to try and keep AWA going. By the time he tried to expand it was too late though. None of the old territory guys understood what Vince was doing other than the Crocket’s to a lesser extent.
Loaning out there guys for Vince to use only made sure he could lure and promote the ones with value.

 

[joelbc1]

Verne is a really said story. Poor guy mortgaged everything to the max to try and keep AWA going. By the time he tried to expand it was too late though. None of the old territory guys understood what Vince was doing other than the Crocket’s to a lesser extent.
Loaning out there guys for Vince to use only made sure he could lure and promote the ones with value.

Seems to me that Verne had him some Iowa roots, too.

 

[tumorboy]

Seems to me that Verne had him some Iowa roots, too.

Verne produced a crap ton of legendary talent.
Ricky Steamboat
Ric Flair
Sgt. Slaughter
Jerry Lawler
Larry Zbyszko
Bob Backlund
Ken Panera

 

[NoleATL]

“The Crusher” defeated Verne Gagne to win the AWA World Championship for the SECOND time…. Two weeks later he lost the title back to Gagne.
Back in the days when Men were Men!

Championship Wraslin From Florida with Gordon Soley was the superiorest wrasling of the day! I used to FAP to that every Saturday

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

Seems to me that Verne had him some Iowa roots, too.

Played football and wrestled at Minnesota.

 

[Bow.to.the.Narrative]

Hard to believe grown men still watch this garbage.

 

[joelbc1]

Played football and wrestled at Minnesota.

The “new” Iowa part?

 

[SeaPA]

Championship Wraslin From Florida with Gordon Soley was the superiorest wrasling of the day! I used to FAP to that every Saturday

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As a kid in the early 70s I went a few times when they had shows at the armory in my hometown. Saw a bunch of the NWA legends in there...Dusty, Harley Race, Terry & Dory Funk Jr, Brisco Brothers, Pak Song, Bob Roop, Kevin Sullivan; have a few match cards with most all of their autographs.
Dusty used to own some ranch property nearby, ran cattle on it & had a small ranchhouse; I don't think he ever lived in it full-time, but did spend a good bit of time there & it was common to see him at one of the local hardware stores buying supplies.