Verne Gagne

Photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Real name: Verne Gagne
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Date of birth: May 10, 1923
Date of birth: April 27, 2015
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Pro debut: 1949
Trained by:
Finishing move: Sleeper Hold

Biography

– Gagne had his first professional match against Abe “King Kong” Kashey — refereed by boxer Jack Dempsey.
– September 16, 1961: Gagne defeated Don Leo Jonathan for the Omaha version of the World title.
– August 14, 1970 – AWA Comiskey Park: Gagne defeated Baron Von Raschke in a best 2/3 Falls match to retain the AWA title. In all, Gagne captured the AWA title ten times.
– April 20, 1986 – AWA Wrestle Rock: Gagne defeated Adnan Al-Kassie in a “Steel Cage” match.
– In 1991, Gagne’s AWA promotion folded.
– On April 1, 2006, Gagne was inducted into the WWE hall of fame.