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 is the AWA Founder.
Verne Gagne was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Laverne Clarence Gagne
- Ring Names
- Verne Gagne ( May 3, 1949 - April 27, 2015)
- 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 is the AWA Founder.
United StatesCareer History
- Roles
- Promoter ( May 3, 1960 - December 31, 1991)
- Coach ( January 1, 1956 - December 31, 1991)
- Wrestler ( May 3, 1949 - June 29, 1986)
- Companies / Promotions
Promotion from to Promotion 
AWAMay 3, 1960 December 31, 1991 Promotion NWANovember 15, 1949 April 14, 1960 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Tweener June 29, 1986 April 27, 2015 Face May 3, 1949 June 28, 1986 - Images
Nov 1980Jan 1964Apr 1953
AWA
NWA
- Finishers
- Sleeper hold
Titles & Accomplishments
- Hall of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2006, Individual
- Titles Won
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
NWA Tri-State
- 1 NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
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)
- NJPW Greatest 18 Club inductee (class of 1990)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (class of 2004)
- Robbinsdale High School's Athletic Hall of Fame (class of 2013)
- WCW Hall of Fame induction (class of 1993)
- WON 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 1/18)
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)