The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Minnesota Pro Wrestling Sceneby Ray Whebbe Jr.
Pulse of the Twin Cities
"The boys are the biggest marks of all"
- Tom Zenk
The day to day world of pro wrestling is very weird to say the least. I've been involved in the sport as a writer, announcer, booker, broadcaster, promoter, agent, TV producer, commissioner, coach, mentor and referee and sold hot dogs at matches. I've promoted huge fundraisers (Wrestle for Shelter I - VIII) and flops (at First Avenue when the wrestling ring crew never showed up). Through all that, I've learned a few things about wrestling that are best summed up by a few quotes from others involved in wrestling. Wrestler Tom Zenk - "The wrestlers .... the boys are the biggest marks of all. They hate the fans for liking them because everything about them is fake. Even the muscles, thanks to steroids." Ricky Rice - "There's a whole lot more to life than wrestling." Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie - "anyone can be a wrestler. Few can wrestle." Ed Sharkey - "Never try to fool the fans."
Wrestling has a long history , probably as long as human history, but here in the United States, it wasn't until the turn of the last century that boxing and wrestling both became legal, organized and promoted sports. Exactly when wrestling shifted from 'real' to 'worked' is arguable. Some wrestlers want folks to believe everything they see on TV is real, while others openly admit to being involved in 'athletic contests' that do, in fact, have predetermined outcomes. For much of the 20th century, the fans and public battled over that point.
Throughout the '20s, '30s and '40s, almost every major city had a wrestling office that recognized one major world champion. Lou Thesz bridged the gap of the bygone era where bets could be made on honest outcomes to the '50s and '60s , when wrestling was on TV and the outcomes were less important than the show - or, to say it differently, the outcomes were part of the show, a smaller part of the show than the characters and plots.
Thesz was known as a 'shooter (one wo could stretch a match out if needed) and drew big crowds wherever he battled. He is most noted for being one of the National Wrestling Alliance's most successful champions. Wherever he performed - New York, Chicago, L.A. - an appearance by him guaranteed huge crowds.
"Every office had a wrestling cowboy, Indian, German whacko"
When pro wrestling met with the modern era - and TV - it was a marriage made in heaven. Technology in the '50s was primitive by today's standards, but the pro wrestling ring was an ideal setting for TV. Pro wrestling (and boxing) were easy to produce and became a favorite of programmers everywhere. Almost seven days a week viewers could watch action in the ring.
But it was no longer just wrestling. TV wanted a little more - some theatrics. Said Bruce Hart, a wrestler and promoter and son of the legendary Stu Hart (who once battled a tiger on TV), "It was a grand time to be a wrestler. Every city had an office and the boys were paid quite well. With TV things went from back alley 'shoots' (real fights) of the early 1900s to showmanship. Every office had a wrestling cowboy, Indian, German whacko, and so on. Every city ran their own territory built around a local hero."
The Twin Cities was fortunate to have its own Verne Gagne as its hero. Gagne was a player on the Golden Gophers football and wrestling teams of the '40s. He was a great athlete and was also a 'shooter.' The 190 pound All-American campaigned throughout the United States in the '50s and put together a win-loss record as good as anyone else's. He was the main event at Soldiers Field, Madison Square Garden, St. Louis' Kiel Auditorium, Frisco's Cow Palace and wherever he competed. By the late '50s, he thought he deserved to be the world champion, but the NWA powers were happy with Thesz. Thus, Gagne and Wally Karbo did the next best thing: they bought the Upper Midwest territory from the Stecher family, hooked up with local television, and Gagne made himself the new world champion. At about the same time, there was a major uprising on the East Coast, where promoters were high on Buddy Rogers.
Wars began, territories were divided and promoters chose their sides. By the '60s, Gagne's American Wrestling Association ruled mid-America: the World Wide Wrestling Federation, which was partly led by Vince McMahon Sr., took over the prosperous East Coast region: and the National Wrestling Association had the rest. There were three organizations, three world champions and from that time on, rarely would wrestlers from different organizations interact. Over-exposure and the bickering led to wrestling losing national TV programming but local stations seemed to love the fun. Local wrestling programs were everywhere.
By the mid-60s, the three champs - Thesz (NWA), Gagne (AWA) and Bruno Sammartino (WWWF) - established themselves as major stars. Each territory had a core of fan favorites, but when a wrestler no longer drew in one territory, he simply packed up and moved to another, Wrestlers could stay "fresh" by not competing on national TV, so these local circuits found more wrestlers making more money than at any other time. "The '60s and '70s were very good times for the boys," recalls former wrestler turned trainer/promoter Eddie Sharkey. "Work was plentiful and the pay was good. I was blessed. I started wrestling in the carnivals, wrestling tough guys out of the crowds who bet they could last 10 minutes with you. Eventually, I got to be a main-eventer in my own home town. In those days, it was rare that any guy could work regularly at home and the AWA really was the place to be."
Gorgeous George Wagner has been credited with pushing wrestling's showmanship to a new level back in the '50s. His routine was to fuss over his recently permed golden locks, hand out golden bobby pins and roses to adoring (?) fans. Through this shtick, he became one of the sports true villains. Muhammed Ali once appeared on a TV program (when he was Cassius Clay) with Gorgeous George in the late '50s. He said as a teenager he was overwhelmed with Wagner's tricks and from that day forward vowed never to be silenced. The talented Ali learned early the importance of such showmanship.
Wagner's gimmicks and bravado were tame by the '70s, and he has long been forgotten. Needless to say, by today's standards of size, athleticism, power and improvisational skills, the Gagnes, Theszs and Wagners would not be too successful in the sport. Now, as Vince McMahon Jr., of the World Wrestling federation says, to be a wrestler today, you have to be a "live adventure/action series hero or villain."
Yet the Gopher alum carried championships in the AWA throughout the '70s and used most of the '80s for a comeback and retirement and comeback tour.
Many midwesterners relish memories of the Gagnes, Baron Von Raschke, the Sheik, Superstar Billy Graham, Mad Dog Vachon, Bobby 'The Brain" Heenan, The High Fliers (Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne) and countless other AWA wrestlers and announcers. Marty O'Neil was the dean of local announcers and former Minnesota Twins slugger Kent Hrbek honors the late O'Neil with an annual bowling tournament/fundraiser named after him.
From 1960-1985, Gagne's AWA ruled the Midwest. It carried most of the sport's biggest names at one time or another and had a core of locals - Nick Bockwinkel, Sheik Kassie, the Baron, Buck Zumhofe, Mad Dog, etc. - whose bodies never seemed to wear out and could always put on a great show. During the weekdays, they performed before sellouts in high school gyms throughout the area, and on weekends they would sell out major arenas from California to Winnipeg.
Things were good for everyone in the AWA and Gagne brought home the area's first major world title. TV ratings were solid, the money was good and Midwest wrestling fans were able to see the best wrestling in the sport's history. Then when Sylvester Stallone produced Rocky, he hit a home run. And when struggling grappler Terry Bollea, now better known as Hulk Hogan, appeared in Rocky III, he hit a grand slam. As Rocky III was being released, the Twin Cities was the first market to be infected with Hulkamania. After that, crowds didn't walk but ran to see the Hulk. The St. paul Civic Center became "the house that Hulk built" to wrestling fans. At times, televised closed-circuit matches featuring Hogan were shown in the adjoining St. Paul Auditorium.
Then in a flash it was over.
