 geosch |
February 01st, 2008 01:25 GMT |
 
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Topics: 167
Replies: 8373
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Post: #451014
PT: #1/19
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We all know that Verne Gagne basically declared himself World Champion (the first AWA champ) after the fictional chanllenge to Pat O'Connor (NWA champ) not being accepted.
But, say YOU were the head promoter of the newly formed AWA in 1960, would you have went with Gagne as your first champion, or someone else? Could Verne have been in the challengers role, being avoided by the first AWA champ (and other AWA champs too)?
What if? Tell me how you'd have started off the AWA, and with who, if not Gagne as your first champion.
Me? I always liked heel champions better than babyfaces. I would have went with Hard Boiled Haggerty as my first champion. Reason being....his long feud with Gagne, and it would have made for great matches to have Gagne chasing the Hag for the belt.
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Topics: 882
Replies: 7817
Member
Post: #451026
PT: #2/19
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If I was the head promoter of the newly formed AWA then I'd have myself as the champion. Who knows how to carry the belt in your vision better than yourself? Sure others guys are probably quite capable of doing fine with it, but I'd trust myself to do my vision more than I'd trust someone else to do my vision.
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Topics: 572
Replies: 4558
Member
Post: #451037
PT: #3/19
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I know he eventually won the belt in '62 but I woulda made Bill Miller my first champion...
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| Bill Savage went over to the (Stu Hart) house and one of the Hart kids was running around with his hair wet. Savage asked why his hair was wet. Stu said, "the little bast--d broke a vase this morning, so I stuck his head in the toilet. Want me to show you again?"
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| GJL |
February 01st, 2008 01:54 GMT |
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Topics: 98
Replies: 3151
Member
Post: #451040
PT: #4/19
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Crusher Lisowski. He was quickly gaining a huge rep as "Crusher" and would've been a draw.
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Topics: 177
Replies: 2387
Member
Post: #451086
PT: #5/19
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Well, I think Verne Gagne would have been my first choice. He was one of the biigest stars at that time. But if not Verne. Then I would have tried to talk Leo Nomellini into skipping football for a year. If that didn't work, then I would have made Wilbur Snyder champ.
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Topics: 572
Replies: 4558
Member
Post: #451119
PT: #7/19
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Yes I woulda been there often had I been alive then as I live 90 mins from Omaha
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| Bill Savage went over to the (Stu Hart) house and one of the Hart kids was running around with his hair wet. Savage asked why his hair was wet. Stu said, "the little bast--d broke a vase this morning, so I stuck his head in the toilet. Want me to show you again?"
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Topics: 247
Replies: 13709
Member
Post: #451133
PT: #8/19
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I dunno, my perception is, it was a babyface champ territory. I would have gone with Snyder.
So long from the Sunshine State!
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Topics: 225
Replies: 10684
Member
Post: #451649
PT: #9/19
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If people actually want to look at justahamandegger's Minnesota research for 1959 and 1960 to know what the territory was like pre AWA, click the following links.
1959
1960
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| Heh, if we counted all the held up titles in particular AWA areas and cities, Nick Bockwinkel is a 50+ time Champion--khawk20
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Topics: 225
Replies: 10684
Member
Post: #451650
PT: #10/19
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Wilbur Snyder for instance wasn't even active in Minnesota during 1959 and didn't make an appearance until five months after the AWA was officially formed. Here's his first appearance in the AWA.
Nov. 12, 1960 St. Paul Armory Att.-2,449
Joe Scarpello and Jim Hady over Hard Boiled Haggerty and Len Montana (c) by dq (ref Roy McClarty)
Gene Kiniski over Nick Roberts
Wilbur Snyder over Buddy Blake :55
Bob Rassmussen pinned John Swenski
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| Heh, if we counted all the held up titles in particular AWA areas and cities, Nick Bockwinkel is a 50+ time Champion--khawk20
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Topics: 225
Replies: 10684
Member
Post: #451651
PT: #11/19
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This message was edited by clawmaster on February 03rd, 2008 08:02 GMT
Hard Boiled Haggerty though very well known from previous stints in Minnesota wasn't active in the Twin Cities during 1959. His first appearance in 1960 was
Sept. 24, 1960 St. Paul Auditorium Att.-7,412
Hard Boiled Haggerty (subbing for Gene Kiniski) and Len Montana took 2/3 over Tiny Mills and Stan Kowalski for the tag titles (titles were returned to Mills and Kowalski due to the substitution)
1st fall Kowalski pinned Montana 11:45
2nd fall Montana pinned Kowalski 5:20
3rd fall Haggerty pinned Kowalski 6:20
Joe Scarpello defeated Blackjack Daniels 19:43
Roy McClarty over Sailor Jim Clark with the sleeper 8:30
Bob Rasmussen and Pepper Martin drew 20:00
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| Heh, if we counted all the held up titles in particular AWA areas and cities, Nick Bockwinkel is a 50+ time Champion--khawk20
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Topics: 225
Replies: 10684
Member
Post: #451652
PT: #12/19
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Reggie Lisowski was quite active in Minnesota during 1959 teaming with his kayfabe brother Stan Lisowski. Reggie didn't appear at all during 1960.
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| Heh, if we counted all the held up titles in particular AWA areas and cities, Nick Bockwinkel is a 50+ time Champion--khawk20
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Topics: 225
Replies: 10684
Member
Post: #451654
PT: #13/19
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For 1959, egger has these stats.
top babyfaces
Verne Gagne 6-0-1
Frank Townsend 10-1-2
Pat O'Connor (c) 6-0-1
Butch Levy 3-1
top heels
Joe Pazandak 16-6-6
Tiny Mills 6-1-1
others
Larry Hennig 6-6-4
teams
Murder Inc. (Tiny Mills and Stan Kowalski) 5-2
Reggie and Stan Lisowski 6-4-2
Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff 8-3-2
feuds
Lisowskis vs Kalmikoffs
Butch Levy vs Kalmikoffs
Frank Townsend vs Joe Pazandak
Murder Inc. vs Frank Townsend, Butch Levy and Verne Gagne
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| Heh, if we counted all the held up titles in particular AWA areas and cities, Nick Bockwinkel is a 50+ time Champion--khawk20
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Topics: 225
Replies: 10684
Member
Post: #451656
PT: #14/19
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For 1960, egger has these notes.
The AWA was born this year (Aug). Verne Gagne was the first AWA world champion
Murder inc. (Tiny Mills and Stan "Krusher" Kowalski) were very big. They seemed to be involved in just about every program. They were in the first feud in AWA history vs Hard Boiled Haggerty, Len Montana and Gene Kiniski
Frank Townsend was the top babyface at the beginning of the year, but slid down the card when Verne Gagne returned and started wrestling regularly. He eventuly left.
Joe Pazandak wrestled his last match in the Twin Cities.
Joe Scarpello and Bill Green made their twin cities debut Green = Bob Brown
Don "Man Mountain" Campbell = Luke Brown
Butch Levy, Bob Geigel, Joe Scarpello, Verne Gagne, Leo Nomellini and Bob Rasmussen were all former Big Ten wrestlers.
Attendance rebounded this year.
top babyfaces
Verne Gagne
Frank Townsend
Wilbur Snyder
Joe Scarpello
top villians
Murder Inc. (Stan Kowalski and Tiny Mills)
Hans Schmidt
Gene Kiniski
Hard Boiled Haggerty
Len Montana
top feuds:
Murder Inc. vs Butch Levy and Frank Townsend
Murder Inc. vs Hans Schmidt and Hans Hermann
Stan Kowalski vs Verne Gagne
Murder Inc vs Hard Boiled Haggerty, Gene Kiniski and Len Montana
Gene Kiniski vs Wilbur Snyder
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| Heh, if we counted all the held up titles in particular AWA areas and cities, Nick Bockwinkel is a 50+ time Champion--khawk20
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Topics: 225
Replies: 10684
Member
Post: #451658
PT: #15/19
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Looking at the data, Hans Schmidt would have been my choice if I wanted a heel champ. He was the top heel prior to Kiniski. In regards to a babyface champ, I think it would have been wise to go with a Minnesota guy whether it was a native of Minnesota or someone that attended the University of Minnesota. I'd have tried to talk Butch Levy or Leo Nomellini into wrestling full time and made one of them the champ.
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| Heh, if we counted all the held up titles in particular AWA areas and cities, Nick Bockwinkel is a 50+ time Champion--khawk20
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