Verne was never a good businessman. He showed that by keeping the AWA title around his own waist for so many years! Then he made the same mistake by giving the belt to Nick Bockwinkle and allowing him to hold it for so long.
We were so blessed in the early 80s before WWF swallowed everyone whole. McMahon took wrestling to new heights but at the same time killed the variety we had... WWF, NWA, AWA, WCCW,... Gagne's AWA from Minneapolis was my introduction to wrestling growing up in Chicago via Bob Luce Wrestling broadcasts, first on channel 44 WSNS, then channel 26 WCIU. The WWF takeover was likely bound to happen eventually, but Gagne made a lot of bad decisions regarding his talent that took AWA into oblivion. Most of WWF's biggest names upon its nationwide explosion were from AWA- namely Hulk Hogan. I still consider him the biggest superstar of all time (even bigger than The Rock).
@@SillySongs4Everyone2001 The AWA was guilty of hanging onto established stars for too long . Mad Dog Vachon was a phenomenal dynamic wrestler at his peak but into his 50s it was a pale comparison . Putting The Road Warriors in the ring with their 1960s counterpart The Bruiser and The Crusher was a verified train wreck . Yes the old fans still popped for those two but no one under thirty cared .Early 80s AWA was pretty good with the world title changing hands with foreiegners , Otto Wanz , Rick Martel and Jumbo Tsuruta . The AwA World title was truly a world title defended outside of the US and outside of The AWA . I was excited for the AWA for the first abd only time every . Tittle changes did not happen very often and when it did it was almost always an American Challenger winning the NWA world title . ( Giant Baba won it 3 times for a combined 7 days total !) Three people kept trading the title , Race , Rhodes and Flair for the most part
He is such a damn lie. Says his business was going very well but he went back to wrestling in a sinking ship anyway. And laughed. I wouldn't believe anything he says. Why would anyone laugh at a business that's falling under. Sick
I kind of understand you having a problem over someone laughing at someone else losing their business. That said I couldn't feel sorry for Verne Gagne and the AWA because he was notorious for how crappy he treated his people in the way he paid them poorly. Hulk Hogan claims also he tried to get the Iron Shiek to intentionally and really injure Hogan during the January 1984 Madison Square Garden WWF show where Hogan won the belt. Gagne offered Shiek top billing in the AWA if he injured Hogan. Shiek wouldn't do it.
@@frankmaiorana66 At one time the AWA was the best territory to work for. The payoffs were good and they were only working 4 days a week. Things definitely started going down hill when Verne played his stupid games with Hulk Hogan which led Hulk to return to the then WWF in Dec of '83. After that more talent either went to or went back to the WWF, Verne lost his tv slots, and fell behind the times. I would say Verne's failure to pay Jerry Lawler for Superclash 3 was a sign the promotion was dying.
@@SportscardLyle_onIG He doesn't say anything like that here. Besides, wins and losses matter as it represents your standing within the company. If they keep scripting you to lose, then they don't value you and your paycheck will reflect that.
"Ah no it's DEAD." Ken Patera on the AWA final years.
Patera keeps it real, always speaking his mind and never with a filter either!! 😂😂😂
@1:53 “Why call back? They fukking know why!” 😂😂
Patera is the personality Donald Trump would be if he was a wrestler
He is great very entertaining !
Patera was awesome.
Patera shoots are great.
I like Ken Patera
The entire industry is going the way of the AWA now. That's what happens when you let match marks run the show.
I honestly don't see how it lasts long term. How many new young fans is this crap going to create?
*cough* AEW *cough*
@@Bale4Bond They're trash
@@Messiah717 Just like the fans of modern horror and modern (the J.J. Abrams/Kathleeen Kennedy) STAR WARS.
@@stevenmillan9220 wut?
It wasn't really Vince that killed the TV, that was Verne.
Verne was never a good businessman. He showed that by keeping the AWA title around his own waist for so many years! Then he made the same mistake by giving the belt to Nick Bockwinkle and allowing him to hold it for so long.
Ken is hilarious
We were so blessed in the early 80s before WWF swallowed everyone whole. McMahon took wrestling to new heights but at the same time killed the variety we had... WWF, NWA, AWA, WCCW,...
Gagne's AWA from Minneapolis was my introduction to wrestling growing up in Chicago via Bob Luce Wrestling broadcasts, first on channel 44 WSNS, then channel 26 WCIU. The WWF takeover was likely bound to happen eventually, but Gagne made a lot of bad decisions regarding his talent that took AWA into oblivion. Most of WWF's biggest names upon its nationwide explosion were from AWA- namely Hulk Hogan. I still consider him the biggest superstar of all time (even bigger than The Rock).
Was the audio recorded direct to vinyl?
Wow, LESS than part time. Verne should have sold when Vince offered to buy him out, but hindsight is 20/20.
"Fuck it" sums it up pretty well
Gagne had no talent left.... Ricky Rice ,Derrick Dukes , Brad Rheingans , and The Night Stalker ?
They made Patera and Rheingans tag team champions, and it continued on for at least 1-2 years after he left again.
@@SillySongs4Everyone2001 The AWA was guilty of hanging onto established stars for too long . Mad Dog Vachon was a phenomenal dynamic wrestler at his peak but into his 50s it was a pale comparison . Putting The Road Warriors in the ring with their 1960s counterpart The Bruiser and The Crusher was a verified train wreck . Yes the old fans still popped for those two but no one under thirty cared .Early 80s AWA was pretty good with the world title changing hands with foreiegners , Otto Wanz , Rick Martel and Jumbo Tsuruta . The AwA World title was truly a world title defended outside of the US and outside of The AWA . I was excited for the AWA for the first abd only time every . Tittle changes did not happen very often and when it did it was almost always an American Challenger winning the NWA world title . ( Giant Baba won it 3 times for a combined 7 days total !) Three people kept trading the title , Race , Rhodes and Flair for the most part
@@pooddescrewch8718 When I was watching AWA I think it was mostly Martel who was champion, or sometimes Bockwinkel.
Erick Bischoffs first contribution to wrestling, was close the AWA, then the WCW, then TNA.
Gagne should of sold the AWA when he had the chancees
dis make um mad cuz no not AWA having crowd pops for champion wrestler of old time action all star wrestling on weekend tv!!!!!
He is such a damn lie. Says his business was going very well but he went back to wrestling in a sinking ship anyway. And laughed. I wouldn't believe anything he says. Why would anyone laugh at a business that's falling under. Sick
...what the f are you talking about....?
I kind of understand you having a problem over someone laughing at someone else losing their business. That said I couldn't feel sorry for Verne Gagne and the AWA because he was notorious for how crappy he treated his people in the way he paid them poorly. Hulk Hogan claims also he tried to get the Iron Shiek to intentionally and really injure Hogan during the January 1984 Madison Square Garden WWF show where Hogan won the belt. Gagne offered Shiek top billing in the AWA if he injured Hogan. Shiek wouldn't do it.
@@frankmaiorana66 At one time the AWA was the best territory to work for. The payoffs were good and they were only working 4 days a week. Things definitely started going down hill when Verne played his stupid games with Hulk Hogan which led Hulk to return to the then WWF in Dec of '83.
After that more talent either went to or went back to the WWF, Verne lost his tv slots, and fell behind the times. I would say Verne's failure to pay Jerry Lawler for Superclash 3 was a sign the promotion was dying.
So many older men…….and they are all butt hurt over a staged sport
Who's butt-hurt?
@@bossfan49 guys who are mad that they were going to lose a fake fight
@@SportscardLyle_onIG He doesn't say anything like that here. Besides, wins and losses matter as it represents your standing within the company. If they keep scripting you to lose, then they don't value you and your paycheck will reflect that.
Did people in Montana , Dakota's watch Stampede Wrestling ?
I believe Stampede did run shows in Montana up until May 1988. Their last show took place on May 11, 1988 in Great Falls, Montana.