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{{Short description|Professional wrestling tag team}}
{{for|the sketch comedy troupe|The Minnesota Wrecking Crew}}
{{For|the sketch comedy troupe|The Minnesota Wrecking Crew}}{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox Wrestling team
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}{{Infobox Wrestling team
|article_name=The Minnesota Wrecking Crew
|article_name=Minnesota Wrecking Crew
|type=T
|type=T
|image=Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson, circa 1970s.png
|image=
|caption=[[Gene Anderson (wrestler)|Gene]] (left) and [[Ole Anderson]] as tag team champions, {{Circa|1982}}
|caption=
|members=[[Gene Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook>{{cite book | author=Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson | title= The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams | publisher=ECW Press | year=2005| chapter= Top 20: #6 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew | isbn=978-1-55022-683-6}}</ref><br>[[Lars Anderson (wrestler)|Lars Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook/><br>[[Ole Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook/><br>[[Arn Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook/>
|members=[[Gene Anderson (wrestler)|Gene Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook>{{cite book | author=Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson | title= The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams | publisher=ECW Press | year=2005| chapter= Top 20: #6 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew | isbn=978-1-55022-683-6}}</ref><br />[[Lars Anderson (wrestler)|Lars Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook/><br />[[Ole Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook/><br />[[Arn Anderson]]<ref name=CrewBook/>
⚫
|heights=Gene:<br />{{height|ft=6|in=0}}<br />Lars:<br />{{height|ft=6|in=1}}<br />Ole:<br />{{height|ft=6|in=1}}<br />Arn:<br />{{height|ft=6|in=1}}
|names=
⚫
|billed= [[Minnesota]]
⚫
|heights=Gene:<br>{{height|ft=6|in=0}}<br>Lars:<br>??<br>Ole:<br>{{height|ft=6|in=1}}<br>Arn:<br>{{height|ft=6|in=1}}
|weights=
⚫
|billed= Minnesota
|former_members=
|debut=1966
|debut=1966
|disbanded=1990
|disbanded=1990
|years_active=1986-1990
|years_active=1966-1990
⚫
|names=Andersons<br />Minnesota Wrecking Crew
|promotions=[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]]<br>[[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]]<br>[[Independent circuit|Indies]]
}}
}}
'''The Minnesota Wrecking Crew''' was originally a [[professional wrestling]] tag team that was formed by [[Gene Anderson|Gene]] and [[Lawrence Heinemi|Lars Anderson]] but since then has featured a number of wrestlers who wrestled under the [[Anderson family]] name despite not being blood related.
The '''Minnesota Wrecking Crew''', also known simply as the '''Andersons''', was originally a [[professional wrestling]] tag team who was formed by [[Gene Anderson (wrestler)|Gene]] and [[Lawrence Heinemi|Lars Anderson]], but since then has comprised a number of wrestlers. All members wrestled were presented as members of the [[Anderson family]] despite not being blood related.


==History==
==History==
[[Gene Anderson]] formed the original ''Minnesota Wrecking Crew'' with [[Lawrence Heinemi|Lars Anderson]] in 1966. They wrestled throughout the country in the late 60s until Lars left to live in Hawaii. In 1969 Gene then brought in Alan Rogowski, and renamed him [[Ole Anderson]]. They dominated tag team wrestling in the 1970s, winning the [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] World Tag Team Titles 8 times. Over those years, [[Lars Anderson (wrestler)|Lars Anderson]] was on occasion brought back in as part of this team.<ref name=CrewBook/>
[[Gene Anderson (wrestler)|Gene Anderson]] formed the original ''Minnesota Wrecking Crew'' with his [[kayfabe]] brother [[Lawrence Heinemi|Lars Anderson]] in 1966. They wrestled throughout the country in the late 60s until Lars left to live in Hawaii. In 1969 Gene then brought in Alan Rogowski, and renamed him [[Ole Anderson]]. They dominated tag team wrestling in the 1970s, winning the [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] World Tag Team Titles 8 times. Over those years, [[Lars Anderson (wrestler)|Lars Anderson]] was on occasion brought back in as part of this team.<ref name=CrewBook/>

A young [[Ric Flair]] was promoted in the mid 1970s as being the cousin of the Andersons who fell out with them resulting in a family feud over the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship]] - with Flair enlisting [[Greg Valentine]] as his partner - throughout the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lastwordonsports.com/2016/04/30/story-of-the-anderson-family/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906103733/https://lastwordonsports.com/2016/04/30/story-of-the-anderson-family/ |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |title=Genetically Superior: The Story of the Anderson Family |last=Greer |first=Jamie |work=Last Word On Sports |date=April 30, 2016 |access-date=August 20, 2024}}</ref>


When Gene stopped wrestling in 1981 to manage, the team was disbanded.<ref name=CrewBook/>
When Gene stopped wrestling in 1981 to manage, the team was disbanded.<ref name=CrewBook/>


In 1985, Ole reformed the Crew with [[Arn Anderson]] (his [[kayfabe]] nephew) as his partner.<ref name=WCW8388Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 3:Jim Crockett and the NWA World Title 1983-1989 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2013 ||isbn=149480347X}}</ref> They won the NWA National Tag Team Titles and were members of the original [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]] as the Wrecking Crew. They disbanded in 1987 when Ole was kicked out of the Horsemen.<ref name=WCW8388Book/>
In 1985, Ole reformed the Crew with [[Arn Anderson]] (his [[kayfabe]] nephew) as his partner.<ref name=WCW8388Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 3:Jim Crockett and the NWA World Title 1983-1989 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2013 |isbn=978-1494803476}}</ref> They won the NWA National Tag Team Titles and were members of the original [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]] as the Wrecking Crew, reuniting with their kayfabe cousin Flair. They disbanded in 1987 when Ole was kicked out of the Horsemen.<ref name=WCW8388Book/>


Arn and Ole revived the Wrecking Crew in 1990 but it lasted for only a few months before Ole retired.<ref name=WCW8994Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2014 | isbn=1499656343}}</ref>
Arn and Ole revived the Wrecking Crew in 1990, yet again in alliance with Flair as Horsemen, but it lasted for only a few months before Ole retired.<ref name=WCW8994Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2014 | isbn=978-1499656343}}</ref>


Ole managed the ''[[Beverly Brothers|Minnesota Wrecking Crew 2]]'' in NWA in 1990 while Arn was out injured.<ref name=WCW8994Book/> It was two wrestlers from [[Minnesota]] in masks, [[Mike Enos]] and [[Wayne Bloom]]. They were former [[AWA World Tag Team Championship|AWA World Tag Team Champions]] and they did get beat by NWA World Tag Team Champions [[Rick Steiner|Rick]] and [[Scott Steiner]] in the NWA.<ref name=WCW8994Book/>
Also in 1990, Ole managed the ''[[Beverly Brothers|Minnesota Wrecking Crew 2]]'' in NWA while Arn was out injured.<ref name=WCW8994Book/> This team consisted of [[Mike Enos]] and [[Wayne Bloom]]. Both members were from [[Minnesota]] and wore masks. The two men were the then-current [[AWA World Tag Team Championship|AWA World Tag Team Champions]], but were beaten by NWA World Tag Team Champions [[Rick Steiner|Rick]] and [[Scott Steiner]] in the NWA.<ref name=WCW8994Book/>


===Legacy===
===Legacy===
In 2001 in [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]], [[Brock Lesnar]] and [[Shelton Benjamin]] (once teammates on the [[University of Minnesota]] wrestling team) formed the ''Minnesota Stretching Crew'' in honor of the Wrecking Crew.
In 2001 in [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]], [[Brock Lesnar]] and [[Shelton Benjamin]] (once teammates on the [[University of Minnesota]] wrestling team) formed the ''Minnesota Stretching Crew'' in honor of the Wrecking Crew.
More recently, independent women wrestlers [[Lacey (wrestler)|Lacey]] and [[Bonnie Maxon|Rain]] have started using the name [[The International Home Wrecking Crew|Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew]] in homage to the Andersons' classic tag team.
More recently, independent women wrestlers [[Lacey (wrestler)|Lacey]] and [[Bonnie Maxon|Rain]] have used the name [[The International Home Wrecking Crew|Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew]] in homage to the Andersons' classic tag team.

The Canadian [[sketch comedy]] troupe [[The Minnesota Wrecking Crew]] are also named in honor of the original MWC tag team.


==Championships and accomplishments==
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
:* [[NWA Hall of Fame]] ([[NWA Hall of Fame#Inductees|class of 2010]])

===Lars and Gene===
===Lars and Gene===
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling|Mid-South Sports]]'''
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling|Mid-South Sports]]'''
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:*[[NWA Columbus Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Columbus Tag Team Championship#Title history|11 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA Columbus Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Columbus Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Columbus Tag Team Championship#Title history|11 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA Columbus Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship#Title history|7 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA Georgia Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship#Title history|7 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA Georgia Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Macon Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Macon Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA Macon Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Macon Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Macon Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA Macon Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)]] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)#Title history|1 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA World Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)]] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)#Title history|1 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Georgia: NWA World Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
:*[[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship|NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship#Title history|3 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= North Carolina: NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship|NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship#Title history|3 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= North Carolina: NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= North Carolina: NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship#Title history|6 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= North Carolina: NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-Atlantic version)'']] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|7 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= North Carolina: NWA World Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
:*[[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-Atlantic version)'']] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|7 times]])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= North Carolina: NWA World Tag Team Title | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
Line 57: Line 62:
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
:*Ranked Ole and Arn Anderson No. 79 of the best 100 tag teams during the ''PWI Years'' in 2003
:*Ranked Ole and Arn Anderson No. 79 of the best 100 tag teams during the ''PWI Years'' in 2003

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
*[[Anderson family]]
*[[The Brain Busters]]
*[[The Brain Busters]]
*[[Enforcers|The Enforcers]]
*[[The Enforcers (professional wrestling)|The Enforcers]]
*[[The Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]]


⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}

⚫
{{Anderson Family}}
{{NWA Hall of Fame}}
{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Georgia version)}}
{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Georgia version)}}
{{WCW World Tag Team Championship}}
{{WCW World Tag Team Championship}}

⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota Wrecking Crew, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota Wrecking Crew}}
[[Category:Anderson family]]
[[Category:Anderson family]]
⚫
[[Category:Jim Crockett Promotions teams and stables]]
[[Category:Independent promotions teams and stables]]
[[Category:Independent promotions teams and stables]]
⚫
[[Category:Jim Crockett Promotions teams and stables]]
[[Category:National Wrestling Alliance teams and stables]]

Latest revision as of 01:45, 19 November 2024

For the sketch comedy troupe, see The Minnesota Wrecking Crew.
Minnesota Wrecking Crew
Gene (left) and Ole Anderson as tag team champions, c. 1982
Tag team
MembersGene Anderson[1]
Lars Anderson[1]
Ole Anderson[1]
Arn Anderson[1]
Name(s)Andersons
Minnesota Wrecking Crew
Billed heightsGene:
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Lars:
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Ole:
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Arn:
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed fromMinnesota
Debut1966
Disbanded1990
Years active1966-1990

The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, also known simply as the Andersons, was originally a professional wrestling tag team who was formed by Gene and Lars Anderson, but since then has comprised a number of wrestlers. All members wrestled were presented as members of the Anderson family despite not being blood related.

History

[edit]

Gene Anderson formed the original Minnesota Wrecking Crew with his kayfabe brother Lars Anderson in 1966. They wrestled throughout the country in the late 60s until Lars left to live in Hawaii. In 1969 Gene then brought in Alan Rogowski, and renamed him Ole Anderson. They dominated tag team wrestling in the 1970s, winning the NWA World Tag Team Titles 8 times. Over those years, Lars Anderson was on occasion brought back in as part of this team.[1]

A young Ric Flair was promoted in the mid 1970s as being the cousin of the Andersons who fell out with them resulting in a family feud over the NWA World Tag Team Championship - with Flair enlisting Greg Valentine as his partner - throughout the late 1970s.[2]

When Gene stopped wrestling in 1981 to manage, the team was disbanded.[1]

In 1985, Ole reformed the Crew with Arn Anderson (his kayfabe nephew) as his partner.[3] They won the NWA National Tag Team Titles and were members of the original Four Horsemen as the Wrecking Crew, reuniting with their kayfabe cousin Flair. They disbanded in 1987 when Ole was kicked out of the Horsemen.[3]

Arn and Ole revived the Wrecking Crew in 1990, yet again in alliance with Flair as Horsemen, but it lasted for only a few months before Ole retired.[4]

Also in 1990, Ole managed the Minnesota Wrecking Crew 2 in NWA while Arn was out injured.[4] This team consisted of Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom. Both members were from Minnesota and wore masks. The two men were the then-current AWA World Tag Team Champions, but were beaten by NWA World Tag Team Champions Rick and Scott Steiner in the NWA.[4]

Legacy

[edit]

In 2001 in Ohio Valley Wrestling, Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin (once teammates on the University of Minnesota wrestling team) formed the Minnesota Stretching Crew in honor of the Wrecking Crew. More recently, independent women wrestlers Lacey and Rain have used the name Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew in homage to the Andersons' classic tag team.

The Canadian sketch comedy troupe The Minnesota Wrecking Crew are also named in honor of the original MWC tag team.

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

Lars and Gene

[edit]

Gene and Ole

[edit]

Ole and Arn

[edit]
  • Ranked Ole and Arn Anderson No. 79 of the best 100 tag teams during the PWI Years in 2003

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "Top 20: #6 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
  2. ^ Greer, Jamie (April 30, 2016). "Genetically Superior: The Story of the Anderson Family". Last Word On Sports. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 3:Jim Crockett and the NWA World Title 1983-1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1494803476.
  4. ^ a b c Cawthon, Graham (2014). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1499656343.
  5. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Georgia: NWA Columbus Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  6. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Georgia: NWA Georgia Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Georgia: NWA Macon Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Georgia: NWA World Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "North Carolina: NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  10. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "North Carolina: NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  11. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "North Carolina: NWA World Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  12. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA National Tag Team Title [Crockett]". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
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