Embedded Files
Verne Gagne was one of the premier superstars of the 1950s due to being Fred Kohler's top star on his TV shows. After wearing the NWA Junior Heavyweight title, Kohler's United States title and then laying a claim to a world title, Gagne partnered with Wally Karbo and broke away from the NWA. The American Wrestling Association was one of the major pro-wrestling companies in the United States for three decades. Based out of Minneapolis, the AWA's territory grew to include Miluwakee, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois as its major cities. Other regular stops included Green Bay, Wisconsin; Salt Lake City, Utah; Winnipeg, Manitoba; San Francisco, California and Las Vegas, Nevada over the years. Gagne may have stepped on the NWA's toes in his early years, but eventually he too respected the boundaries and came to work with promoters throughout the Midwest to maximize his group's success. In the 1960s and 1970s, the AWA was one of the biggest and best companies in the world. They had great wrestlers, big draws and colorful characters as well as great TV coverage. Gagne had a great vision of the big picture and set up big shows in the big cities as well as anyone. By the 1980s, Gagne's roster was deteriorated by the WWF's expansion and his remained talent looked old and his production looked dated. The times passed the company by and after hanging on for several years and trying to make alliances with other territories to keep themselves alive, the AWA folded.
Abdullah the Butcher
Adrian Adonis
Skandar Akbar
Andre the Giant
Mitsu Arakawa
Tony Atlas
Giant Baba
Bob Backlund
Ox Baker
Red Bastien
The Beast
Bam Bam Bigelow
Jerry Blackwell
Brian Blair
Tully Blanchard
Richard Blood (Ricky Steamboat)
Pork Chop Cash
Tony Condello
Bill Dromo
The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn)
The Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts)
Mike George
Mr. Go (Ryuma Go)
Billy Graham
The Great Kimura (Rusher Kimura)
Blackie Guzman
Lord Alfred Hayes
Lee Henning
Hans Hermann
Leroy Hirsch (Al Tomko)
Don Jardine (The Spoiler)
Lani Keoloha (Jimmy Snuka)
King Tonga (Haku/Meng)
Kokina Maximus (Yokozuna)
The Mercenary (Ron Fuller)
Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey)
Bill Miller
Mister M (Bill Miller)
Dr. Moto (Tor Kamata)
The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs)
Claude Patterson (Thunderbolt Patterson)
Paul Pershmann (Buddy Rose)
Angelo Poffo
Rob Rechsteiner (Rick Steiner)
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
Dale Roberts (Buddy Roberts)
Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Rip Rogers
Rock Rogowski (Ole Anderson)
Akio Sato
Sgt. Slaughter (Sgt. Slaughter)
Alexis Smirnoff
Super Ninja (Shunji Takano)
Super Destroyer (Don Jardine)
Super Destroyer Mark II (Sgt. Slaughter)
The Terrorist (Brian Knobbs)
Art Thomas
Al Tomko
Tarzan Tyler
Johnny Valentine Jr. (Greg Valentine)
Khosrow Vaziri (Iron Sheik)
Jim Wehba (Skandor Akbar)
Leon White (Vader)
Bob Windham (Blackjack Mulligan)
Dr. X (The Destroyer)
I'd like to thank Tim Hornbaker and his wonderful "National Wrestling Alliance" book. I'd also like to thank Steve Yohe, J. Michael Kenyon, Doc Silverkat, and James Zordani specifically for their various contributions via the internet. And, of course Royal Duncun and Gary Will's contributions to wrestling-titles.com
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse