10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (May 1)

2. Legendary Wrestler & Promoter Passes On

Forming the AWA in 1960, Verne Gagne was a respected veteran of the pro wrestling industry, and someone greatly admired for the sheer number of wrestlers he had a hand in training. The likes of Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Curt Hennig and even The Iron Sheik all owe a lot to Gagne's guidance during their early years in the industry. This past week, Gagne sadly passed away aged 89, leaving a legacy behind that few will ever be able to match. The AWA was a sad shell of its former self by the time the promotion shuffled into history in 1991, and it's fair to say that Gagne was a victim of Vince McMahon's ruthless signing policy. Unable to compete with the money McMahon was offering his top stars, Verne nonetheless could look back on a storied career both inside and outside of the ring. The man had been living with his daughter in the months prior to his death, and will be sorely missed by a good few generations in the grappling business.