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Greg Gagne (wrestler)

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Greg Gagne (GON-ya) born July 27, 1948 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota) is a former professional wrestler and is the son of the legendary Verne Gagne. The pushes he received while working for his father often led to claims of nepotism. Gagne was a decent worker in the ring, but given his slight build (roughly 180 lbs.) wasn't considered believable or credible as a competitor especially in the 1980's where bigger was considered better. Some felt that Gagne's wrestling ability and charisma failed to justify the attention given to him by the AWA.

Career

Greg Gagne started wrestling in 1972 in his father's promotion, the AWA.

In the late 1970's and early 1980's, he achieved his biggest success as one half of the tag team, "The High Flyers", with Jim Brunzell. They won the AWA World Tag Team Championship twice during that time.

From 1984 to 1986, Gagne was involved in a feud with Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie's army, which at the time included Bruiser Brody. The feud also saw Greg's retired father Verne return briefly for a number of matches. The David vs. Goliath feel to the Brody/Gagne feud boosted attendance at the time, a trend that might have continued, giving the AWA a much needed shot in the arm, had Brody not abruptly left the promotion and no-showed many events on which he was advertised to appear.

In 1985, he began an ill-fated and short-lived metamorphosis, becoming a member of Sgt. Slaughter's "Cobra Corps". The idea saw a fatigues-clad Gagne teaming with Slaughter. The ring attire looked hardly fitting on Gagne and in many ways hindered his flexibility and athleticism.

In the later 1980s, Gagne feuded with Curt Hennig, Ron Garvin, and Larry Zbyszko and briefly resurrected his feud with Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie. His feud with Hennig over the AWA title only heated up when both fathers, Verne and Larry Hennig, became embroiled in the feud interfering on behalf of their sons during many of their matches. Gagne apparently won the title on several occasions onlt to have the belt returned to Hennig on technicality.

It was during this time that the AWA created the International Television Title. The AWA hadn't had a secondary championship since the Americas Title, worn by Zbyszko and Slaughter, which was deactivated in 1986. Gagne defeated Adrian Adonis in a tornament to be crowned the first TV champion. Many fans believed that this was a consolation prize. Hennig had a year long run as champion and was headed for the WWF along with the Midnight Rockers and other top AWA talent. It was rumored that Verne Gagne wanted Greg to be the next World Champion, but he received a great deal of heat from his close associates not to pursue the idea. Verne acquiesced and the TV title was created. Hennig would eventually lose the belt to Jerry Lawler instead.

Former NWA World Champion Ron Garvin left the NWA in mid-1988 and was splitting his time between the AWA and WWC in Puerto Rico. He defeated Gagne for the TV title in controversial fashion and the belt was held up until a showdown at SuperClash 3. Gagne would win the belt back at the event, as the result of a count out.

After Superclash 3, the AWA would strip Jerry Lawler of the World Title. It was then decided that the new champion would be determined in a battle royal in February 1989. Many fans expected either Gagne or Slaughter to win the title that night and the crowd reacted with shock when both were eliminated from the match. The crowd was even more stunned when Larry Zbyszko became the new champion by eliminating Tom Zenk to end the match.

Gagne challenged Zbyszko for the belt at War in the Windy City, but was unsuccessful (television time had expired). It was also around this time the Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie attacked Verne Gagne during an interview. As a result, Gagne turned his attention to Adnan in a feud that would eventually involved Mike George and a young Kokina Maximus.

Gagne's wrestling career ended during a match for the vacated AWA World Tag Team Titles. Gagne and Paul Diamond were facing the The Destruction Crew when Adnan and Kokina came to the ring and confronted Gagne. Kokina slammed Gagne on the cement floor outside the ring and then splashed his leg, apparently doing damage to Gagne's knee. Gagne retired due to the injury and began to work in the broadcast booth and in production. Publicly, he enlisted the help of Jerry Blackwell to exact revenge on Adnan and Kokina. Despite the build up, the match never occurred.

Following an ongoing exodus of talent and the disastrous Team Challenge Series, the AWA became inactive in late 1990. The Gagne's made an attempt to revive the AWA in May 1991, but were unsuccessful. Gagne teamed with Wahoo McDaniel to face the Destruction Crew in the main event of the last AWA show promoted by Verne Gagne in May 1991. When it was apparent the AWA couldn't continue, Gagne became a road agent for World Championship Wrestling.

Gagne never returned to the ring and when his run with WCW was over, he worked in local business in Minnesota, namely selling automobiles.

On April 30, 2006, it was announced that Gagne would be working for World Wrestling Entertainment full-time as a Road Agent, starting at the WWE Backlash 2006 Pay Per View. He has also been sent to help with the booking of Ohio Valley Wrestling. In September 2006, it was announced he was released from the WWE from his OVW position. The WWE front office believed Gagne's views of wrestling were "antiquated" and simply not in touch with their vision of sports entertainment.

Profile

Trivia

  • Gagne appeared in the 1973 movie, The Wrestler.
  • Greg's son, J.P., is a baseball pitcher who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies.
  • Greg inducted his father, Verne Gagne, into the WWE Hall Of Fame on April 1, 2006.

Championships and accomplishments

American Wrestling Association

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

  • PWI ranked him # 168 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
  • PWI ranked him # 49 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Jim Brunzell
  • PWI Tag Team of the Year Award in 1982 with Jim Brunzell.
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