AWA #44 Page #2

Why wasn't Verne Gagne ever NWA champion? Lou Thesz insisted for many years Verne's lack of size was the reason Gagne never held the NWA title. Thesz referred to Gagne as a junior heavyweight.  

Since Lou's death a few years ago, Lou's biographer Kit Bauman has released information regarding the relationship between Gagne and Thesz. The following quotes are pieces of an email sent by Kit Bauman to the very knowledgeable Crimson Mask, a moderator on the Wrestling Classics message board:

"One of my disappointments with "Hooker" had to do with the stories where Lou "held back" information and color that would have helped the book. That's not a knock on him. What I learned over the months that we actively worked on the book is that Lou was at his best if my questions were specific and narrow. He was very expansive and, until the last couple of years of his life, had a very good memory and an eye for detail. So, after the book was finished, we'd revisit some of his stories or chat about this or that person, and Lou would go into a level of detail that wasn't in the book. That was frustrating for me, because I'd have liked to have that level of detail in the first place. 

Over the years of our friendship, I came to realize that there were three people Lou was especially hesitant to talk much about -- Sam (Muchnick), Verne (Gagne), and Karl (Gotch). It was like pulling teeth; Lou could be very stubborn, and naturally it only made me more curious, so I'd prod him from time to time -- usually over beer or wine, when he'd be in an expansive mood. Eventually, I came (I believe) to understand what that was all about. 

With Verne, I believe it was a genuine competitiveness; I was with the two of them a couple of times, and it was vivid, even long after they'd quit the ring. I've mentioned before that when I asked Lou about the guys who gave him trouble in the ring (or, especially, in the gym), he would go vague on me, for reasons I had a hard time understanding; I came to believe that it was mostly a matter of Lou being stingy with praise. Over time, he loosened up and would talk it, and he said his feelings toward Verne were colored by the behind-the-scenes activities in the early to mid-'50s to put the title on Verne. "We worked for different people, so there was a lot of pressure on both of us," he once said to me. Lou also said, however, that their matches were among some of the best of his career, in terms of credibility."

Thanks to Kit Bauman and Crimson Mask for allowing me to use that piece.  

So Verne was considered for the NWA title. I'm sure other wrestlers were as well. Buddy Rogers and Edouard Carpentier among them. It was a crowded field. For me to speculate any further on why Verne Gagne was never given the NWA would be guess work on my part. The best piece of information to date on the subject is Kit Bauman's private email to Crimson Mask, the relevant portions of which are listed above.  

What made Verne Gagne such an attractive pro wrestling commodity especially in the Midwest? Gagne who was born on February 26, 1926 starred at Robbinsdale High School as a wrestler under coach Mark Woodward and as a football player under coach Walter "Red" Sochaki. After graduating from Robbinsdale High School, Verne received a scholarship to wrestle and play football at the University of Minnesota. Verne was named to the all conference football team as a freshman in 1943 and won the Big Ten conference wrestling championship at 175 pounds in 1944. After completing his freshman year, Verne entered the Marines for a tour of duty. Verne Gagne was stationed in California and played on the El Toro Marines football team. Gagne also taught hand to hand combat during his stint in the Marines.

Once he finished his tour of duty with the Marine corps, Verne returned to the University of Minnesota to finish his academic studies and to continue his athletic career. Gagne picked up right where he left off by capturing the Big Nine conference (From 1946 to 1949, the Big Ten conference only had nine teams and was known as the Big Nine conference) heavyweight wrestling championship in 1947, the Big Nine conference 191 pound wrestling championship in 1948 and the Big Nine Conference heavyweight wrestling championship in 1949. Verne also won the National AAU wrestling championship at 191 pounds in 1949 and captured the NCAA wrestling championship on two occasions. The first time Verne won the NCAA wrestling championship was in 1948 competing in the 191 pound division. The second time he captured the NCAA wrestling championship was in 1949 when Verne beat future NWA champion Dick Hutton in a double overtime match in the heavyweight division. Gagne lost to future 191 pound gold medalist Henry Wittenburg in the finals at the 1948 Olympic trials but still made the 1948 Olympic freestyle wrestling team as an alternate.  

There are rumors Gagne played in the College Football All Star game held in Chicago and that the Green Bay Packers once offered Verne a football contract. I've been unable to confirm either of these rumors.

Verne's impressive athletic background combined with his good looks and ability to speak very well suited Gagne to be a prototype babyface in professional wrestling. Because Verne was viewed as a legitimate athlete due to his success in wrestling and football, it was much easier for Verne to get media coverage than the average wrestler. People were well aware of Gagne's athletic exploits and this was one of the many reasons why Verne Gagne was a main event wrestler from the first day he stepped into a professional wrestling ring. 

Special thanks to the publisher of the Verne Gagne record book Jim Melby, Kit Bauman, Crimson Mask and the authors of Chokehold Jim Wilson and Weldon Johnson. The research of all these men proved quite valuable for this month's column.  

Comments, questions and corrections can be sent to jcz64@yahoo.com.