Welcome to the second installment of the Summer 2013 Hall Of Fame inductions! Here, you'll get the chance to choose one of wrestling's biggest stars for inclusion into the WZ HOF, where he'll join the likes of Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Lou Thesz, Shawn Michaels, and the recently voted in Bret Hart! Today, I offer you three "old-school" wrestling names to choose from, where you have the opportunity to vote for the one most worthy of induction. As with the last, the polls here will once again be open for one week.
Verne Gagne is one of the most accomplished wrestling figures of all time. Gagne's achievements as a wrestler, trainer, and promoter are unrivaled by few, as he's officially recognized as a 16-time World Champion, including a ten time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, the most prestigious title of his time. Growing up in Minnesota, Gagne was both an accomplished wrestler and football player, winning two National Championships at the University of Minnesota, and despite being drafted by the Chicago Bears of the NFL, Gagne chose wrestling over football. As a member of the WWE, WCW, Pro Wrestling and Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, Gagne looks to add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his resume.
After picking wrestling over football, Gagne joined the NWA, where he established himself as one of the greatest mat wrestlers of his time. Gagne won every single's title the NWA had to offer, until a dispute over the NWA Heavyweight Championship caused him to leave the NWA and form his own promotion, the American Wrestling Association, in 1960.
Upon forming the AWA, Gagne became one of the most well-respected and famous promoters of all-time. Gagne's AWA was in business for 30 years, where he served as trainer, promoter, and the company's top face. Gagne won the AWA World Championship 10 times during the inception of the company, and was one of the top faces of his time. As the company's first champion, he left an indelible mark on the business, as he won his 10th championship 20 years later, defeating Nick Bockwinkel. Other top feuds Gagne engaged in during his time as wrestler were against Gene Kiniski, Bill Miller, The Crusher, Fritz Von Erich, Mad Dog Vachon, Dick the Bruiser, and Dr. X. Gagne eventually retired as a wrestler in 1981 as AWA World Champion, defeating Nick Bockwinkel once again.
While Gagne left his stamp on the business as a wrestler, perhaps his most important role was as a trainer. Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Curt Hennig, Ken Patera, The Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund were all groomed by Gagne, and Gagne was influential in the development of Jesse Ventura, "Mean"Gene Okerlund, and Hulk Hogan as well.
Wrestler, trainer, promoter. Few have worn so many hats so prominently the way Verne Gagne did. Will he add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his resume?
Colorful, charasmatic, and rugged, the original 'Nature Boy', Buddy Rogers is widely known as the first WWWF Champion. Rogers left an indelible mark on the wrestling industry as a wrestler, character, and manager, Rogers was considered the be the first wrestler to be the total package of technique, looks, physique, and charisma. Now, the first wrestler to hold the WWWF and NWA Championships, and a posthumous member of the WWF and Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, Buddy Rogers looks to join the Wrestlezone Hall of Fame as well!
Rogers was born in New Jersey, and was an outstanding athlete, excelling in wrestling, football, track and boxing all. However, it was wrestling that was his first love, and he debuted professionally at age 18, and just six years later, at age 24, Rogers captured the NWA Heavyweight Title at age 24.
Rogers became one of the most influential wrestlers of all-time, both in character development and moveset. It's Rogers "Nature Boy" persona that Ric Flair took on, the cocky, strutting, arrogant persona, adopting his figure four grapevine lock as well. Rogers is well-known as one of the first true "villians" in professional wrestling history, as his arrogant, villanous persona that is commonplace in wrestling today was invented by Rogers. Along with that came Rogers becoming one of the first great "promos" in wrestling, bragging and boasting about his own greatness, all-the-while cutting scathing promos on his opponents and their weaknesses.
Rogers found great success in both the NWA and the WWWF, where he feuded most famously with Lou Thesz and Bruno Sammartino. He found great success not only as a single's wrestler, but was also a well-renowned tag team wrestler as well. Moves previously used sparingly during his time such as body slams, dropkicks and piledivers were commonplace in Rogers repertoire, and he truly was influential in ushering in a new age of wrestling. His colorful character, promo-style and wrestling maneuvers have had a heavy influence on some of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, including the aforementioned Ric Flair, who borrowed heavily from Rogers in establishing his persona. After retiring, Rogers then furthered his legacy when he returned to the NWA and became a manager for such wrestlers as Ken Patera, Jimmy Snuka, and Big John Studd.
The first WWWF Champion. The first prototypical villian with his cocky, arrogant persona. An innovator in the ring, and an influence on some of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. Legendary feuds with greats such as Lou Thesz and Bruno Sammartino. Rogers seemingly did it all during his long career. Can he add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his credits?
'Gorgeous' George Wagner was one of the biggest stars in wrestling during the 1940's and 50's. He is widely known and credited as the first wrestler to create an ultra-flamboyant, gender-bending persona, which influenced both professional wrestling and pop culture alike. But not just a persona, George was a great in-ring performer as well, winning the AWA Championship several times, and moreso, the respect of his peers, even those who showed normal disdain for gimmick wrestling, such as Lou Thesz, whom George famously feuded with.
Gorgeous George perhaps tapped into and understood the pulse of the audience he was in front of more then anyone else before him. His theatrical displays inside the ring, his outlandish outfits, and his fake golden hair truly established him as a larger-then-life wrestler, arguably the first and thus, greatest. George was wrestling's truly first cowardly villian, a cheater who lived by the credo: "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!" As George wrestled during the early days of television deals, George, a heel, was the most famous wrestler of his time.
But George's influence extended beyond the wrestling ring as well. Both Mohammed Ali and James Brown have noted George's influence upon them, and their adoption of their cocky persona's are a credit to Gorgeous George. Bob Dylan credits George with changing his life just through words of encouragement he spoke to him. George's influence and flamboyance extended far beyond the wrestling ring to pop culture, and he's one of the reasons flamboyant characters and television deals themselves exist in pro wrestling today.
George's life was shortened by liver disease, and he passed away at the young age of 48. Yet, he remains one of the most influential and successful wrestlers of all-time. He was a pioneer and responsible for bringing wrestling into mainstream culture. A charter member of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and member of both the Wrestling Observer and WWE Hall of Fame's, George looks to add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his credit as well!
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Verne Gagne. Buddy Rogers. Gorgeous George. All pioneers whose significant influence on the business reach to this day. All three men are deserving and have legitimate cases for induction, but only one will get in? Who will it be?
Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne is one of the most accomplished wrestling figures of all time. Gagne's achievements as a wrestler, trainer, and promoter are unrivaled by few, as he's officially recognized as a 16-time World Champion, including a ten time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, the most prestigious title of his time. Growing up in Minnesota, Gagne was both an accomplished wrestler and football player, winning two National Championships at the University of Minnesota, and despite being drafted by the Chicago Bears of the NFL, Gagne chose wrestling over football. As a member of the WWE, WCW, Pro Wrestling and Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, Gagne looks to add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his resume.
After picking wrestling over football, Gagne joined the NWA, where he established himself as one of the greatest mat wrestlers of his time. Gagne won every single's title the NWA had to offer, until a dispute over the NWA Heavyweight Championship caused him to leave the NWA and form his own promotion, the American Wrestling Association, in 1960.
Upon forming the AWA, Gagne became one of the most well-respected and famous promoters of all-time. Gagne's AWA was in business for 30 years, where he served as trainer, promoter, and the company's top face. Gagne won the AWA World Championship 10 times during the inception of the company, and was one of the top faces of his time. As the company's first champion, he left an indelible mark on the business, as he won his 10th championship 20 years later, defeating Nick Bockwinkel. Other top feuds Gagne engaged in during his time as wrestler were against Gene Kiniski, Bill Miller, The Crusher, Fritz Von Erich, Mad Dog Vachon, Dick the Bruiser, and Dr. X. Gagne eventually retired as a wrestler in 1981 as AWA World Champion, defeating Nick Bockwinkel once again.
While Gagne left his stamp on the business as a wrestler, perhaps his most important role was as a trainer. Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Curt Hennig, Ken Patera, The Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund were all groomed by Gagne, and Gagne was influential in the development of Jesse Ventura, "Mean"Gene Okerlund, and Hulk Hogan as well.
Wrestler, trainer, promoter. Few have worn so many hats so prominently the way Verne Gagne did. Will he add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his resume?
Buddy Rogers
Colorful, charasmatic, and rugged, the original 'Nature Boy', Buddy Rogers is widely known as the first WWWF Champion. Rogers left an indelible mark on the wrestling industry as a wrestler, character, and manager, Rogers was considered the be the first wrestler to be the total package of technique, looks, physique, and charisma. Now, the first wrestler to hold the WWWF and NWA Championships, and a posthumous member of the WWF and Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, Buddy Rogers looks to join the Wrestlezone Hall of Fame as well!
Rogers was born in New Jersey, and was an outstanding athlete, excelling in wrestling, football, track and boxing all. However, it was wrestling that was his first love, and he debuted professionally at age 18, and just six years later, at age 24, Rogers captured the NWA Heavyweight Title at age 24.
Rogers became one of the most influential wrestlers of all-time, both in character development and moveset. It's Rogers "Nature Boy" persona that Ric Flair took on, the cocky, strutting, arrogant persona, adopting his figure four grapevine lock as well. Rogers is well-known as one of the first true "villians" in professional wrestling history, as his arrogant, villanous persona that is commonplace in wrestling today was invented by Rogers. Along with that came Rogers becoming one of the first great "promos" in wrestling, bragging and boasting about his own greatness, all-the-while cutting scathing promos on his opponents and their weaknesses.
Rogers found great success in both the NWA and the WWWF, where he feuded most famously with Lou Thesz and Bruno Sammartino. He found great success not only as a single's wrestler, but was also a well-renowned tag team wrestler as well. Moves previously used sparingly during his time such as body slams, dropkicks and piledivers were commonplace in Rogers repertoire, and he truly was influential in ushering in a new age of wrestling. His colorful character, promo-style and wrestling maneuvers have had a heavy influence on some of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, including the aforementioned Ric Flair, who borrowed heavily from Rogers in establishing his persona. After retiring, Rogers then furthered his legacy when he returned to the NWA and became a manager for such wrestlers as Ken Patera, Jimmy Snuka, and Big John Studd.
The first WWWF Champion. The first prototypical villian with his cocky, arrogant persona. An innovator in the ring, and an influence on some of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. Legendary feuds with greats such as Lou Thesz and Bruno Sammartino. Rogers seemingly did it all during his long career. Can he add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his credits?
Gorgeous George
'Gorgeous' George Wagner was one of the biggest stars in wrestling during the 1940's and 50's. He is widely known and credited as the first wrestler to create an ultra-flamboyant, gender-bending persona, which influenced both professional wrestling and pop culture alike. But not just a persona, George was a great in-ring performer as well, winning the AWA Championship several times, and moreso, the respect of his peers, even those who showed normal disdain for gimmick wrestling, such as Lou Thesz, whom George famously feuded with.
Gorgeous George perhaps tapped into and understood the pulse of the audience he was in front of more then anyone else before him. His theatrical displays inside the ring, his outlandish outfits, and his fake golden hair truly established him as a larger-then-life wrestler, arguably the first and thus, greatest. George was wrestling's truly first cowardly villian, a cheater who lived by the credo: "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!" As George wrestled during the early days of television deals, George, a heel, was the most famous wrestler of his time.
But George's influence extended beyond the wrestling ring as well. Both Mohammed Ali and James Brown have noted George's influence upon them, and their adoption of their cocky persona's are a credit to Gorgeous George. Bob Dylan credits George with changing his life just through words of encouragement he spoke to him. George's influence and flamboyance extended far beyond the wrestling ring to pop culture, and he's one of the reasons flamboyant characters and television deals themselves exist in pro wrestling today.
George's life was shortened by liver disease, and he passed away at the young age of 48. Yet, he remains one of the most influential and successful wrestlers of all-time. He was a pioneer and responsible for bringing wrestling into mainstream culture. A charter member of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and member of both the Wrestling Observer and WWE Hall of Fame's, George looks to add Wrestlezone Hall of Famer to his credit as well!
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Verne Gagne. Buddy Rogers. Gorgeous George. All pioneers whose significant influence on the business reach to this day. All three men are deserving and have legitimate cases for induction, but only one will get in? Who will it be?
