On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Verne Gagne, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Laverne Clarence Gagne was born in Corcoran, Minnesota on February 26, 1926.
He died on April 27, 2015 at the age of 89.
He was the founder of the American Wrestling Association, and co-promoter of Central States Wrestling during the 1980s.
Verne Gagne was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 as an individual, in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 1990 as part of the NJPW Greatest 18 Club wing, in the WCW Hall of Fame in 1993 and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2004 as part of the Television Era wing.
Verne Gagne Profile Index
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Laverne Clarence Gagne
- Ring Names
- Verne Gagne ( May 3, 1949 - May 3, 1991)
- Born February 26, 1926
- Died April 27, 2015 (aged 89)
- Nationality
United States - Birth Place Corcoran, Minnesota
- Billed From
- Corcoran, Minnesota ( May 3, 1949 - June 29, 1986)
- Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
- Weight
- 215 lbs (98 kg) ( May 3, 1949 - June 29, 1986)
- Notes He was the founder of the American Wrestling Association, and co-promoter of Central States Wrestling during the 1980s.
Career History
-
Roles
- Promoter ( May 3, 1960 - May 3, 1991)
- Coach ( January 1, 1956 - May 3, 1991)
- Wrestler ( May 3, 1949 - June 29, 1986)
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
AWAMay 3, 1960 May 3, 1991 Promotion 
CSWJanuary 2, 1982 January 1, 1986 Promotion 
IWENovember 12, 1979 November 16, 1979 Promotion 
NWAFebruary 6, 1971 September 10, 1978 Promotion 
AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
March 8, 1976 March 10, 1976 Promotion 
BTW HAWAIIJuly 25, 1973 July 17, 1974 Promotion BTW HAWAIIFebruary 6, 1971 March 13, 1971 Promotion IWEFebruary 3, 1970 February 3, 1970 Promotion NWANovember 15, 1949 July 1, 1967 Promotion 
WSSMay 30, 1963 December 5, 1963 Promotion 
NWA DETROITMay 2, 1959 October 14, 1961 Promotion 
FKEMay 12, 1950 September 22, 1961 Promotion MBWCMay 3, 1949 May 2, 1960 Promotion 
SMSAJanuary 26, 1951 August 29, 1953 Promotion CSWJanuary 25, 1951 December 19, 1952 Promotion 
MID AMERICAJuly 23, 1951 November 19, 1951 Promotion 
GACDecember 9, 1949 December 20, 1950 -
Images History
Nov 1980
Jan 1964
Apr 1953 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment Details from to Tweener June 29, 1986 May 3, 1991 Face May 3, 1949 June 28, 1986
-
Finishers
- Sleeper hold
Titles & Accomplishments
-
Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2006, Individual
- NJPW Hall of Fame - Year 1990, NJPW Greatest 18 Club
- WCW Hall of Fame - Year 1993, Individual
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2004, Television Era
-
National Wrestling Alliance
American Wrestling Association / NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club
- 10 AWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 4 AWA World Tag Team Championship - 1 with Billy Robinson, 1 with Mad Dog Vachon, 1 with Moose Evans, 1 with the Crusher
- 4 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version) - 1 with Bronko Nagurski, 1 with Butch Levy, 2 with Leo Nomellini
- 5 World Heavyweight Championship (Omaha version)
- 2 AWA United States Heavyweight Championship
Fred Kohler Enterprises
- 2 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version)
International Pro Wrestling
- 1 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Chicago version) - with Édouard Carpentier
International Wrestling Association (Montreal)
- 1 IWA International Heavyweight Championship
International Pro Wrestling
- 1 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Chicago version) - with Édouard Carpentier
Southwest Sports Inc.
- 2 NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship - with Wilbur Snyder
Amateur wrestling
- 1 Northwestern AAU Championship
- 2 NCAA Championship
- 4 Big Ten Conference Championship
- 1 Minnesota State Championship
- 2 NCAA Championship
-
Other Accomplishments
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 1999)
- Robbinsdale High School's Athletic Hall of Fame induction (class of 2013)
- Wresting Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- 158° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
- Cauliflower Alley Club Lou These Award (2006)
- Cauliflower Alley Club Other honoree (1993)
- Member of 1948 United States Olympic Team
- PWI Stanley Weston Award (1986)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year Award (1981 - vs. Giant Baba on 01/18)
Teams & Relations
-
Tag Teams & Stables
- Verne Gagne and Mad Dog Vachon - Mad Dog Vachon ( December 7, 1978 - November 30, 1980)
- Billy Robinson and Verne Gagne - Billy Robinson ( August 6, 1978 - August 24, 1979)
- Billy Robinson and Verne Gagne - Billy Robinson ( December 30, 1972 - January 6, 1973)
- The Crusher and Verne Gagne - The Crusher ( April 9, 1965 - July 10, 1970)
- Verne Gagne and Moose Evans - Moose Evans ( December 28, 1963 - February 23, 1964)
- Leo Nomellini and Verne Gagne - Leo Nomellini ( July 19, 1960 - August 16, 1960)
- Verne Gagne and Butch Levy - Butch Levy ( April 28, 1959 - June 3, 1959)
- Édouard Carpentier and Verne Gagne - Édouard Carpentier ( September 5, 1958 - March 28, 1959)
- Leo Nomellini and Verne Gagne - Leo Nomellini ( May 15, 1958 - July 2, 1958)
- Bronko Nagurski and Verne Gagne - Bronko Nagurski ( February 11, 1957 - March 22, 1958)
- Verne Gagne and Wilbur Snyder - Wilbur Snyder ( July 1, 1958 - August 1, 1958)
- Édouard Carpentier and Verne Gagne - Édouard Carpentier ( March 6, 1957 - February 5, 1958)
- Family
- Larry Zbyszko - Son-in-law