Athletes - Greg Gagne

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	Athletes - Greg Gagne

Greg Gagne (GONE-yuh) is a former professional wrestler and is the son of the legendary Verne Gagne. The pushes he received while working for his father often led to claims of nepotism. Most considered Gagne a credible singles and tag team wrestling star throughout most of the late '70s and early '80s, much of that time spent with tag team partner Jim Brunzell as "The High Flyers." Some, however, felt that Gagne's wrestling ability was unimpressive and his charisma was lacking, failing to justify the attention given to him in the mid-'80s American Wrestling Association.

Career

Greg Gagne started wrestling in 1972 in his father's promotion, the AWA.

In the 1970's, he achieved his biggest success as one half of the tag team, "The High Flyers", with Jim Brunzell. They won two World Tag Team Championships.

In 1984 and up through parts of 1986, Gagne was involved in a feud with Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie's army, which at the time included Bruiser Brody. The feud saw Greg's retired father Verne return briefly for a number of tag team matches with his son. The David vs. Goliath feel to the Brody/Gagne feud boosted attendance at the time, a trend that might have continued and given the AWA a much needed shot in the arm, had Brody not abruptly left the AWA and no-showed many events on which he was advertised to appear.

In 1985, he began an ill-fated and short-lived metamorphosis, becoming a member of Sgt. Slaughter's "Cobra Corps". The idea saw a fatigues-clad Gagne teaming with Sgt. Slaughter. The ring attire looked hardly fitting on Gagne and in many ways hindered his flexibility and athleticism.

In the later 1980s, Gagne feuded with Larry Zbyszko, Curt Hennig and Ron Garvin. His feud with Garvin involved the short-lived AWA International Television Title that he won in a tournament by defeating Adrian Adonis in the finals. He traded the title with Garvin before it was ultimately abandoned in late 1989.

When the AWA folded in early 1991, Gagne became a road agent for World Championship Wrestling. He is now retired and selling automobiles in Minnesota.

Profile

Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
Birthday: July 27, 1948
Hometown: Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Trainer: Verne Gagne
Debut: 1969

Trivia

Gagne appeared in the 1973 movie, The Wrestler.
Gagne is not to be confused with the Minnesota Twins second baseman of the same name. The baseball player's last name, although identical, is pronounced "GAG-nee".
Greg's son, J.P., is a baseball pitcher who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies.
Greg will be inducting his father, Verne Gagne, into the WWE Hall Of Fame on April 1, 2006.

Championships and accomplishments

American Wrestling Association

2-time AWA International Television Champion
2-time AWA World Tag Team Champion (with Jim Brunzell)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked him # 168 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
PWI ranked him # 49 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Jim Brunzell
PWI Tag Team of the Year Award in 1982 with Jim Brunzell.

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