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Verne Gagne

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Wrestler

The Resume

    (February 26, 1926-April 27, 2015)
    Wrestled for the NWA
    Owner and promoter and wrestler of the American Wrestling Association (AWA)
    Former NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion, AWA Heavyweight Champion and holder of various NWA regional titles

Why he might be annoying:

    While owner of the AWA, he pushed himself as the top star of the promotion and made himself the AWA Heavyweight Champion ten times over 10 years.
    He gave his son a major push, even though he was nowhere near as talented as other wrestlers in his promotion.
    Many say that Larry Zbyszko became the heavyweight champion of the company only because he was Verne's son-in-law.
    During the WWF's national expansion in the mid-80's, Vince McMahon signed all of Gagne's top stars away from his promotion, including Hulk Hogan, Curt Hennig, the Rockers and even Buddy Rose, leaving the AWA with has-beens and never-beens.
    In order to promote a show called the Wrestle Rock Rumble, he recorded a song that was sung by the wrestlers called 'The Wrestle Rock Rumble' which was a complete rip-off of the Chicago Bears' 'SuperBowl Shuffle.'
    When most fans stopped showing up to events, the AWA told the remaining fans that the action got so hostile, the show had to be moved to an empty arena (which was just a big pink room).
    His promotion hosted one of the worst matches in wrestling history, a 'turkey on a pole match' where the first person to climb a pole and grab an uncooked turkey would win the match.
    Soon after the match, the company folded, becoming another victim of the WWF's expansion.
    He had a physical altercation with another resident of a care facility he was staying at which resulted in the that man's death. He wasn't charged with homicide, due to his dementia (2009).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was an accomplished amateur wrestler in college, winning two NCAA Championships, four Big Ten titles and an AAU title.
    He was an alternate on the 1948 U.S. Olympic wrestling team.
    His vast knowledge of wrestling moves, counter moves and ring psychology made him a huge name in the 40's and 50's. It earned him the nickname 'The Bruno Sammartino of the Midwest.'
    For a while, Minnesota was a huge hotbed for wrestling and Verne was a huge reason for it.
    He trained many wrestlers who turned out to be big stars, including Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Curt Hennig and Bob Backlund.
    As promoter of the AWA, he started the careers of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bobby Heenan, Nick Bockwinkel, Jesse Ventura and the Road Warriors.
    He was the recipient of PWI's Editor's Award in 1986.
    He's a member of the Wrestling-Observer Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and WCW Hall of Fame.

Credit: Reo Rogerz


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 68.42% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 78 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 51 Votes: 72.55% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 41 Votes: 51.22% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 41 Votes: 73.17% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 74 Votes: 74.32% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 139 Votes: 66.19% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 371 Votes: 69.27% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 240 Votes: 61.67% Annoying