The Fabulous Freebirds vs The High Flyers part 2

[oldschoolbrad]

i grew up in winnipeg..and watching Greg i believed ANYBODY could be a wrestler,.....lol

[McRat1968]

Back then I had no concept of wrestlers (Verne Gagne) having the entire organization (and the so-called AWA "President" Stanley Blackburn), in their hip pocket: which is why the old geezer was handed the title, what was it, 12 or 14 times before he finally retired...?) He and Bockwinkel passed that stupid belt to one another, like two kids passing the ball to each other on a school court: allthewhile supressing the younger wrestlers who later defected to the WWF/E and elsewhere as a result.

[AAV1961]

Amen, Gagne and son ruined the AWA.

[DotDotkins]

The AWA was a good promotion before the Gagnes took it over.

[AAV1961]

Yes it was, I agree. Later on though... too much Greg Gagne, Jon Paul, Mike Enos, Wayne Bloom, D.J. Peterson, Alan west, Mitch Snow, Ricky Rice, Derrick Dukes pushed as headliners, when in reality mid card wrestlers at best I remember a time The AWA had 8 wrestlers traveling from city to city, each wrestlers would wrestle a different man each night in a different city. as for Big names their would be one or two fueds for a certain period and then both wrestlers would move on

[DotDotkins]

All the guys you just mentioned were the only wrestlers left in the AWA at the time, there was no one else left to push because everyone else went to the WWF or WCW.

[AAV1961]

Yes again I agree.... the result is Gagne fault. The AWA was great.

[astronato]

@DotDotkins - There was no AWA before the Gagnes. The Gagnes were the AWA. And while it suffered at the end it was one of the greatest promotions in the history of pro wrestling.

[astronato]

@AAV1961 - No they didn't. Things change, one day even the Wwe will falter and go out of business. Verne was one of the all time great wrestlers and promoters. And Greg while not the most charismatic guy was an outstanding in ring talent and was over with the crowds.

[7Boogiewoogie]

@astronato It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, let's face it by the time the sport had passed him by he had been a VERY SUCCESSFUL business man since the 50's. He didn't have to prove anything. I will say this though it would have been nice for him to transition enough so he could pass on the family business to his son. I talk to Greg every now and again and he misses the business terribly. It's what he was raised in. Good guy for sure, I'm sad for him and for fans of the old school.

[astronato]

@7Boogiewoogie Well, the wrestling business has passed me by (as a fan) as well. I've sinced moved on to boxing and mixed martial arts both of which resemble old school wrestling to me more than modern era wrestling does. The Gagnes gave the world great wrestling for decades. I will always admire and appreciate them. Please tell Greg he has fans in New York City. thanks

[oldschoolbrad]

so true...Hogan, blackwell, ventura, all would have been great awa champs and as far as greg even in the same ring as brody....only because daddy owned awa