AWA Verne Gagne(c) vs Jerry Blackwell 1982

1982 StPaul Civic Center AWA Verne Gagne(c) vs Jerry Blackwell

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• AWA
• NWA
• WCW
• WWE
• WWF
• Mat
• Classic

[gusmahler]

To be more specific, Gagne actually owned the AWA. This is why he, at age 55, was still champion over people like the 32 year old Blackwell.

[Eldenaims]

...BUT, I must say, booking yourself as the champ is always shady. :(

[DDDowney]

i remember when jerry blackwell worked for NWA georgia championship wrestling he lost every week on tv then moved up to the mid-west and began working for AWA,changed his name to crusher blackwell and became a headliner.

[muta157]

@csaver lol, I was thinking the same thing. Verne didn't beat Blackwell, Blackwell beat Blackwell.

[FerretJohn]

@JonathanVonErich Actually he retired from the ring in 81, so I'm guessing the announcers claim that this was from 82 was a mistake. Personally I'm not gonna hate on the owners making themselves champions, it was a common practice back in the day and most of the greatest legends of the ring were also at least part-owners of the company, just like all other champs the having of the belt is all, how you got it not so much.

[csaver]

Good grielf! Jerry Blackwell beats HIMSELF up for half the match!

[norseleague]

verne gagne is a great classic wrestling greats of all time.

[JonathanVonErich]

Verne was the champ even in 1982 !!? I'm not surprised....Sad but true...

[thunderbare]

Jerry Blackwell was always one of those under apreciated big men that could actually work and wrestle when he had too

[McRat1968]

Yes:

Jumbo Tsuruta, for a little while.

[rattlinurcage3]

I forgot about Otto wanz....Yes a very short stint in the AWA...Im trying to remember if any japanese held the title ? Giant Baba

[McRat1968]

...And Otto Wanz, for a very brief period.

PS: That guy actually was famous not for his very short stint in wrestling but, rather, for his "talent" of tearing phone books in half with his bare hands back in his native Austria.