Gagne was also with the Chicago Bears was an NCAA wrestling champ and alternate in 1948 Olympics and a Marine , Vachon actually competed in the Olympics in 1948 and won Gold in the British Empire games in 1950, Iron Sheik was a bodyguard for the Shaw and won AAU gold and was an Olympic coach for the US team at the Olympics these dude were legit ..
I was a huge AWA fan, so it came as a shock to me that Flair trained under Verne. Amazing the influence that Gagne had on the wrestling industry. Too bad his promotion doesn't get the recognition it deserved.
We didn't get much AWA in Canada but mid to late 80s was still pretty good. I'd add to my list the Hennig v Bockwinkle matches ...the Martel v Garvin and Hansen matches ...the Midnight Rockers v Rose and Sommers . There was still some good talent in and out of AWA around this time including Brody and the Long Riders. The Kerry v Lawler feud was also good . 👍
These are some older matches that were really great. But you can't see most of them. Verne Gagne vs. Billy Robinson Verne Gagne vs. Nick Bockwinkle Bruiser & Crusher vs. Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes Nick Bockwinkle & Ray Stevens vs. Anyone in the 1970s Larry Hennig & Harley Race vs. Verne Gagne & various partners in the 1960s
@@Jim-Tuner Crusher & Bruiser versus Hennig & Race for Hennig & Race's AWA World Tag titles Verne Gagne versus Eduardo Carpentier for AWA Singles World title
Wooooooooo....I met and shook Ric's hand on Sept. 24th, 1989 at Charlotte International Airport. How do i remember the date? It was 2 days after Hurricane HUGO came through the City and i had just landed.....And yes he was Styling, Profilin in a Green suit, and wearing a ROLEX watch. Wooooooooo.....all facts Baby!!
Billy Robinson also trained Johnny Saint in the UK - his mother knew Saint's mother and he trained Johnny in much the same way as he trained Ric. Billy was a graduate of the Wigan Snake Pit
The Crusher's only athletic background was high school football. He worked out at an athletic club in Milwaukee and broke into pro wrestling through people he knew from there. His bodybuilder look at the time was the big reason he was able to get in. He wrestled his first match in 1949. But he was a natural for pro-wrestling and by 1952 he had his first world title match against Lou Thesz.
I saw matches with Verne Gagne wrestling when I was a little kid. He was a scientist in the ring. Hell of an athlete and a real gentleman in his interviews. I recently watched an old video of him wrestling Lou Thesz. I'd recommend anyone who is a wrestling purist to watch this video. It's on RUclips and a real treat to watch.
Ric has often said there wouldnt have been a Ric Flair without these three men: Ken Patera, Dusty Rhodes and Wahoo McDaniel (Verne Gagne being probably 4th)
I still say thats the best training class ...Flair Patera Slaughter Sheik Gagne and Steamboat and Brunzell floating around that time ...it beats the Cena Lesnar Orton Batista class but not by much .
Beats the hell out of em IMO, having watched both live. These icons had no internet to promote, yet the likes of RF still sold it out everywhere. Their mic work is unparalleled also.
Flair’s stories are so good, so much history and you cant helped but be charmed by his humility…which is not necessary by any means but I personally love the: Half the guys in the biz couldve kicked my ass in real life BUT I was Ric Flair and they didnt get to be…
Check out the video on RUclips about Chris Taylor called the making of a wrestler. It shows the Verne Gagne barn and his training methods that Flair talks about. Excellent and fascinating with a peek behind the curtain while maintaining Kayfabe.
Bill Watts told a hilarious story about Verne wanting to shoot with Watts in a hotel room for control of Mid South. Watts never mentioned about getting knocked out but you could tell Watts respected Verne. Also Verne wanted to fight Hogan over the T shirt merchandise money.
Ric Flair should do a workout video with some younger guys doing the exercises if he needs it. I can see him cutting promos and yelling at people as they workout.
I can see why legit athletes like Gagne and others wanting to run guys through the gauntlet to ensure that they really wanted it and could perform and that they wouldn’t give up ..
I've always thought it was kind of sad that Sheik was such a good amateur wrestler and to play the heel he basically had to do, kick, punch, gouge, before the Camel Clutch.
I think you are correct. For what ever reason, Patera had a poor performance in the Olympics, but did take gold in the Pan-American Games. I loved how he competed in his eye glasses.
Ric here's a good story about Mad Dog when he was in Montreal he was dating my mom, I'm sure they were bumping ugly's , then my moms sister went and told Mad Dog she was only 13, I don't know if that's when he ran out of Montreal or not (just kidding) My mom loved wrestling and wrestlers lol
@@themanwithtwofirstnames2197 as long as u do your Vern Gagme gimmick anytime when needed by the bookers, your name is inconsequential. You’ll rise to the top just like Hogan did for the same treatment, Vern 😉 or Gern for now 😘 Ttys
![Gunna - HIM ALL ALONG [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HiCxoDeo0hc/mqdefault.jpg)
Gagne was also with the Chicago Bears was an NCAA wrestling champ and alternate in 1948 Olympics and a Marine , Vachon actually competed in the Olympics in 1948 and won Gold in the British Empire games in 1950, Iron Sheik was a bodyguard for the Shaw and won AAU gold and was an Olympic coach for the US team at the Olympics these dude were legit ..
I was a huge AWA fan, so it came as a shock to me that Flair trained under Verne. Amazing the influence that Gagne had on the wrestling industry. Too bad his promotion doesn't get the recognition it deserved.
What are your must see matches?
We didn't get much AWA in Canada but mid to late 80s was still pretty good. I'd add to my list the Hennig v Bockwinkle matches ...the Martel v Garvin and Hansen matches ...the Midnight Rockers v Rose and Sommers . There was still some good talent in and out of AWA around this time including Brody and the Long Riders. The Kerry v Lawler feud was also good . 👍
These are some older matches that were really great. But you can't see most of them.
Verne Gagne vs. Billy Robinson
Verne Gagne vs. Nick Bockwinkle
Bruiser & Crusher vs. Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes
Nick Bockwinkle & Ray Stevens vs. Anyone in the 1970s
Larry Hennig & Harley Race vs. Verne Gagne & various partners in the 1960s
@@johngallagher72 The AWA owned the Winnipeg territory for years...
@@Jim-Tuner Crusher & Bruiser versus Hennig & Race for Hennig & Race's AWA World Tag titles
Verne Gagne versus Eduardo Carpentier for AWA Singles World title
Verne Gagne is one of the greatest wrestlers who ever lived. He is way too often forgotten in such conversations.
People feel weird saying his name
Both Gagne and Thez both get forgotten to often by to many people. And that's unfortunate because both could legit go in their day.
he murdered a man.
Saw Charlotte wrestle in Sioux Falls last night. She's such a pro. Great job Rick!
No you didn’t
Speak for yourself
Wooooooooo....I met and shook Ric's hand on Sept. 24th, 1989 at Charlotte International Airport. How do i remember the date? It was 2 days after Hurricane HUGO came through the City and i had just landed.....And yes he was Styling, Profilin in a Green suit, and wearing a ROLEX watch. Wooooooooo.....all facts Baby!!
those were great times! I saw him and sting team up against Terry funk and Muta at the Charlotte coliseum when I was a little kid around that time
No you didn’t
Absolutely LOVED Ric's memories of Verne and the AWA. At one time, they were truly a Hall of Fame crew.
Verne Gagne trained up a lot of wrestlers that became prominent characters on TV.
Wow you really dropped some inside information on us with that one.
Billy Robinson also trained Johnny Saint in the UK - his mother knew Saint's mother and he trained Johnny in much the same way as he trained Ric. Billy was a graduate of the Wigan Snake Pit
I bet 500 bucks Mark Madden will not STFU for 3 straight minutes. Book it bro !
The Crusher's only athletic background was high school football. He worked out at an athletic club in Milwaukee and broke into pro wrestling through people he knew from there. His bodybuilder look at the time was the big reason he was able to get in. He wrestled his first match in 1949. But he was a natural for pro-wrestling and by 1952 he had his first world title match against Lou Thesz.
I saw matches with Verne Gagne wrestling when I was a little kid. He was a scientist in the ring. Hell of an athlete and a real gentleman in his interviews. I recently watched an old video of him wrestling Lou Thesz. I'd recommend anyone who is a wrestling purist to watch this video. It's on RUclips and a real treat to watch.
Great Video Ric Flair
Old rasslers never die they just fade away and do interviews on youtube.
Ric has often said there wouldnt have been a Ric Flair without these three men: Ken Patera, Dusty Rhodes and Wahoo McDaniel (Verne Gagne being probably 4th)
Didn’t hear him say it here
That work ethic was the foundation for RFs longevity in pro wrestling, push to the limit and then some!
no such thing as a dick move, those men were cut from a different cloth and no room for sissies. They werent gonna go easy on them for one minute.
I still say thats the best training class ...Flair Patera Slaughter Sheik Gagne and Steamboat and Brunzell floating around that time ...it beats the Cena Lesnar Orton Batista class but not by much .
Beats the hell out of em IMO, having watched both live. These icons had no internet to promote, yet the likes of RF still sold it out everywhere. Their mic work is unparalleled also.
Flair’s stories are so good, so much history and you cant helped but be charmed by his humility…which is not necessary by any means but I personally love the: Half the guys in the biz couldve kicked my ass in real life BUT I was Ric Flair and they didnt get to be…
Check out the video on RUclips about Chris Taylor called the making of a wrestler. It shows the Verne Gagne barn and his training methods that Flair talks about. Excellent and fascinating with a peek behind the curtain while maintaining Kayfabe.
Bill Watts told a hilarious story about Verne wanting to shoot with Watts in a hotel room for control of Mid South. Watts never mentioned about getting knocked out but you could tell Watts respected Verne. Also Verne wanted to fight Hogan over the T shirt merchandise money.
Wrestlers who really learned the craft with the AWA before "hitting it big": Hulk Hogan, Road Warriors, Kurt Henning, Scott Hall.
Road Warriors were trained by Sharkey.
Ric Flair should do a workout video with some younger guys doing the exercises if he needs it. I can see him cutting promos and yelling at people as they workout.
Why does madden yell when he talks?
The sheik. Was a legit. Tough guy. Guy was a body guard for the sha. Of 🇮🇷 iran
Verne punched Bill Watts?!?! Can we get the full story please!!??
Wow cool
I can see why legit athletes like Gagne and others wanting to run guys through the gauntlet to ensure that they really wanted it and could perform and that they wouldn’t give up ..
On God strength if it wasn't for Verne gange telling ric flair you not quitting wrestling
👑👑
I've always thought it was kind of sad that Sheik was such a good amateur wrestler and to play the heel he basically had to do, kick, punch, gouge, before the Camel Clutch.
That workout sounds like something out of the Marines...
I wish Elon would take over you tube also, he wouldn't have a commercial every 10 seconds
Ken patera did not medal at the 72 Olympics. Maybe flair is confused.
I think you are correct. For what ever reason, Patera had a poor performance in the Olympics, but did take gold in the Pan-American Games. I loved how he competed in his eye glasses.
Listen to the BS at 1:30. Patera did not win the bronze medal at the Olympics. Where does Flair get this nonsense?
Yeah, I think he’s mixing up Olympics and World’s Strongest Man
Patera won 4 gold medals in the Pan-American Games. He didn't win an Olympic medal.
Ric here's a good story about Mad Dog when he was in Montreal he was dating my mom, I'm sure they were bumping ugly's , then my moms sister went and told Mad Dog she was only 13, I don't know if that's when he ran out of Montreal or not (just kidding) My mom loved wrestling and wrestlers lol
I’m Verne Gagne actually
U just gag
@@humanipulationnation I am gern bagne
@@themanwithtwofirstnames2197 as long as u do your Vern Gagme gimmick anytime when needed by the bookers, your name is inconsequential. You’ll rise to the top just like Hogan did for the same treatment, Vern 😉 or Gern for now 😘 Ttys
I’m gay
@@themanwithtwofirstnames2197 awesome, just don’t tell them yet, they like the macho alpha straight man
still an alcoholic