Bios
Verne Gagne
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 215 lbs.
From: Minneapolis, MN
Birthday: Feb 26th
Pro Debut: 1949
Feds Worked For: AWA, NWA, TSW, WWWF, International Wrestling Alliance
Finisher: Sleeper Hold
Signature Moves: Flying Dropkick
Career Highlights: -AWA United States Champion
-AWA World Champion (10x)
-AWA World Tag Team Champion (9x; 2 w/ Leo Nomellini; 1 each w/ Bronko Nagurski, Butch Levy, Moose Evans, Crusher Lisowski, Don Leo Jonathan, Billy Robinson, and Mad Dog Vachon)
-IWA Champion
-Nebraska Tag Team Champion (w/ Tex McKenzie)
-NWA (Central States) United States Champion
-NWA (Chicago) United States Champion (2x)
-NWA (Chicago) World Tag Team Champon (w/ Eduoard Carpantier)
-NWA (Minneapolis) World Tag Team Champion (4x; 2x w/ Leo Nomellini; 1 each w/ Bronko Nagurski and Butch Levy)
-NWA Texas Champion (2x)
-NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
-Omaha World Champion (5x)
-(Montreal) Canadian International Champion
Affiliates: Greg Gagne, Moose Evans, Crusher Lisowski, Don Leo Johnathon, Billy Robinson, Mad Dog Vachon, Leo Nomellini, Bronko Nagurski, Butch Levy
Notable Feuds: Ray Stevens, Fritz Von Erich, Billy Robinson, Larry Hennig, Nick Bockwinkel, Kokina Maximus
Other Facts: -Full name was Laverne Clarence Gagne
-Father of professional wrestler Greg Gagne and pro wrestling ring announcer Donna Gagne
-Former father-in-law of professional wrestler Larry Zbyszko
-Grandfather of pro wrestler Tim Zbyszko
-Grew up on a farm and left home at age 14 after his mom passed away.
-Played football and baseball while in high school. He also wrestled and was district, regional and state champion. He was part of the All-State Football team and was recruited to play football at the University of Minnesota in 1943.
-In 1943, he was a member of the All Conference football team, but after 1 year of college, he joined the United States Marine Corps and moved to California, where he played on the Marine football team.
-Big Ten Wrestling Champion (1944, 1947, 1948, 1949)
-NCAA Wrestling Champion in 1948 & 1949.
-In 1948, Verne was a alternate on the United States Olympic Wrestling Team. He later said that he might have wrestled at the Olympics but his coaches had discovered that he had earned money winning a wrestling match at a carnival, thus putting his amateur standing in question.
-AAU Wrestling Champion in 1949
-Briefly played professional football for the Chicago Bears. Team owner George Halas forced Gagne to choose between football and wrestling. Gagne made money as a wrestler and left football/
-Made his professional against Abe "King Kong" Kashey on May 10, 1949, his 23rd birthday. Gagne won the match, which was officiated by former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey.
-After spending time in Oklahoma, he was contacted by promoter Fred Kohl in Chicago. Kohl believed Gagne was too small to be a believable grappler on TV as himself, so he offered Gagne a gimmick where he would be dressed up like a Martian and lowered into the ring from the ceiling. Gagne refused this and offered to take on every member of the roster. If he couldn't beat them, he would quit wrestling.
-Was one of the first athletes to appear on mainstream TV, making appearances on talk shows as well as the Howdy Doody children's show.
-Headlined a wrestling show at Madison Square Garden on February 1953. A riot occurred when 5000 fans were turned away from the event.
-Creidited with training 133 professional wrestlers. Less than 1% of them did not make it to main event status in at least 1 territory.
-Retired on May 10, 1981 (his 55th birthday) by defeating Nick Bockwinkel for his 10th AWA World Title. He was the first person to retire as World Champion. He returned for some special matches later in that decade. This also put him in the record books as the oldest person to ever win a World Heavyweight Title in any organization.
-Principal owner & promoter of the AWA from 1960 until the company filed bankruptcy in 1991.
-Was prominent in the training of Ric Flair, Bob Backlund, Jim Brunzell, Ken Patera, Ricky Steamboat, Buddy Rose and many others.
-According to Hulk Hogan's biography, Verne tried to pay The Iron Sheik to break Hogan's legs when Hogan was leaving AWA for WWF.
-Executive producer of the movie "The Wrestler" (1974)
-Sold the AWA video library to WWE in 2005
-Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1993
-Inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999
-Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2004
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006
-Posthumously inducted into the Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018
-With his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, he became only one of six people to be inducted into the WCW, Pro Wrestling, and WWE Halls of Fame
-Passed away April 28, 2015 at the age of 89. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for many years.
Supplemental Information
Polling Booth
Why didn't you vote in the Oklafan Year End Polls?
Spotlight in History
- 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
- 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
- 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
- 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12
- 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
- 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
- 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
- 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
- 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
- 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
- 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
- 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
- 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
- 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
- 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
- 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- Mike Clancy Sep 9th Today!
- Rancid Sep 9th Today!
- Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th
- Les Mayne Sep 10th
- Owen Sep 10th
- Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th
- Vivian St. John Sep 10th
- Kool Ade Sep 10th
- Vic Nichols Sep 11th
- Summer Thunder Sep 11th
- Adrian Dell Sep 12th
- Montego Seeka Sep 12th
- Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
- Bash Sep 12th
- Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
- Danni Bee Sep 12th
- Animal Sep 12th
- N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
- American Anarchy Sep 12th
- Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
- Bobby Starr Sep 13th
- K. P. Moore Sep 13th
- Poder Oriental Sep 13th
- Angelina Love Sep 13th
- Waddy Young Sep 14th
- Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
- Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
- Bernie D Sep 14th
- Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
- Korvin Sage Sep 15th
- Daniel King Sep 15th
- Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
- L. C. Green Sep 15th
- Haru Sonada Sep 16th
- Jim Cornette Sep 17th
- Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
- Jake Swayze Sep 17th
- Rex Mori Sep 17th
- Dick Brower Sep 17th
- Bill Irwin Sep 17th
- Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
- Titan Yin Sep 18th
- Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
- Billy Robinson Sep 18th
- Angel Reed Sep 18th
- Adam Asher Sep 19th
- Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
- Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
- Justin Lee Sep 20th
- Boz Sep 20th
- Chuck Singer Sep 20th
- Greg Valentine Sep 20th
- Bishop Simon Sep 20th
- Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
- Ethan Page Sep 20th
- Pepper Martin Sep 20th
- Joey Stixx Sep 20th
- Ricky Morton Sep 21st
- Connor Jones Sep 21st
- Jack Brisco Sep 21st
- Doug Somers Sep 22nd
- Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
- Harley D Sep 22nd
- Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
- Satine Sep 22nd
Top Viewed Bios
