Greg Gagne, the son of legendary wrestling promoter Verne Gagne, reminisces about his time with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and the significant role he played in bringing Hulk Hogan into the wrestling scenario. AWA, a powerful force in the territorial wrestling era, witnessed numerous wrestling talents before the landscape of wrestling changed due to Vince McMahon’s expansion. Gagne recounted his experience on “Busted Open Radio,” revealing how he pushed for Hogan to be part of AWA despite Hogan’s underwhelming performance in a New York match.
Initially portrayed as a villain in AWA, Hogan quickly won over the fans, prompting a switch to a hero character. However, Hogan’s departure from AWA ensued after he missed a crucial Christmas show in 1983 and moved to Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation. Subsequently, AWA faced challenges and grappled with financial difficulties before eventually shutting down in 1991.
