Jim Cornette & Greg Gagne shoot Hulk Hogan jumping To WWF

[@stephengorney5613]

Mike Graham: he never drew a dime Greg Gagne: I invented dimes

[@ronmailloux8655]

haha good one

[@scoonman]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@pasqualevella3174]

Hahaha

[@fjccommish]

Hilarious. However, Verne and Greg were responsible for many of the stars of the 80's and 90's.

[@joeysimpson4020]

@@fjccommishthey helped develop them and get them good in the ring but ultimately when they went elsewhere they Got Vince’s marketing and character development to make them bigger than life superstars

[@mlbowen6476]

So I met this guy named Columbus. I told him his gimmick should be that he's a sailor. "I said Chris! Get three ships go that way in the ocean." "You'll be huge in the history books." After he came back from the new world I told the people in Ohio to name a city after him. They did but they never thanked me. And Neither did Chris! And I bought and paid for all three of his ships too. -Greg Gagne

[@jayb1812]

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone he had 3 missed calls from Greg 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@mrperfectedkelly]

😂😂😂

[@horacesolomon2342]

That’s a lie! Alex STOLE the patent from Greg…..and stuck it to Greg and Verne.

[@jayb1812]

@@horacesolomon2342 😂😂😂

[@nichhodge8503]

Your being silly now it was only 2 missed calls

[@TheNYJets15]

😂😂😂

[@SupraRy]

Greg Gagne literally gave birth to Terry Bollea.

[@ii9714]

Well he has transitioned pal

[@opryman1]

I saw an interview with Hulk and he said Greg tore his shirt off and that is how it started.

[@FatMenace]

Should have put the belt on Hogan. Twice they had him win it only to reverse the decision. It was stupid and I don't blame Hulk for leaving at all.

[@SirManfly]

Ya they show themselves in the foot with Hogan!!

[@chrisortiz8072]

Clearly the best decision Hogan ever made anyway

[@maxxdahl6062]

Nah he was going to leave no matter if he had the belt or not. Because vince could afford it.

[@alatna2]

The reason they didn't give Hogan the belt is because Hogan wouldn't date Greg's sister. But then again that is a story Hogan has given, but Hogan has told just as many lies as Gagne did here so who knows the REAL story.

[@maxxdahl6062]

@@alatna2 Sounds like bullshit, I seem to remember her already being married at that time.

[@edhitchins5521]

Man, how many things did Greg Gagne create in wrestling history?

[@GlorifiedTruth]

Short answer: all of them.

[@wills689]

I bet xpac was there and could tell us more

[@MondoMiami]

Fun fact: Wrestling rings were round until Greg made them square.

[@jd9119]

The Rock n Wrestling was pretty much all of Gagne's talent jumping ship to Vince.

[@ii9714]

NWO Attitude era he saved the industry

[@Silky4ever]

He failed to mention how Verne wanted a percentage of his Japan money and from his merchandise.

[@frankbonini9128]

Bill Eadie Told a Similar Story of Verne Wanting to Put the Belt on Masked Superstar, as a Way to Screw Over Rick Martel ... But. Verne Wanted a Percentage of Superstar's/Bill's Japan Deal. Bill Refused on Both Principle (Rick Was a Friend) & Not Wanting to Give Verne the Percentage of the Japan Deal

[@honestcomment862]

Maybe so but Vince Sr. booked Andre, you think he didn't get any money as his booking agent? Doesn't the WWF also get money/percentages from all merchandising sales? I guess Verne could have worked with Hogan and presented it differently but it's the same thing more or less.

[@joeysimpson4020]

@@honestcomment862erne wanted too much and wouldn’t budge. Had he started at 40% and maybe settled a little less and not demand the Japan money Hogan would have stayed and be loyal. Also Verne fucked up not leaving the belt on Hulk. But I think Verne did that cause Hogan wouldn’t commit to Verne’s money demands

[@UCKABAH]

@@joeysimpson4020 Verne didn't have the belt on Hulk for the very logical reason that Hulk was doing numerous Japan tours and the belt would have to be inactive for weeks at a time. If he had put the belt on him, he just would have left with it when he went to Vince. It's not like Hogan had principles. It would have made no difference.

[@Jim-Tuner]

And then Hogan signed a deal with Vince McMahon where Japan bookings would have to be done under the total control of the WWF and Hogan would get a percentage (a small one) of the his merchandise. Hogan didn't leave the AWA because of merchandise rights or Japan tours. He went to the WWF because of money.

[@CharizardMaster69]

“Only me and dad knew, that God would create the earth” -Greg Gagne, probably.

[@alwaysamysteryyes2021]

This wins.

[@chrisdrury5939]

Now THAT is funny!

[@Chris_34]

"In 22 AD I bumped into Jesus Christ backstage at MSG. I said "what's up big guy?" Jesus told me "Greg, I can't get over with the Romans. I'm thinking of giving up". I said "don't do that, come to the AWA". Vern got Jesus to change his whole gimmick up. He got him to grow his hair out and start wearing white robes and the rest is history." - Greg Gagne

[@aceloco817]

When did Jesus jump ship tho & for how many sheckles?

[@JDnFL]

​​@@aceloco817Actually Judas sold Jesus' contract for 30 pieces of silver to Greg Gagne. Jesus had a "loser leaves town" match with the Romans. Jesus left 3 days later for another promotion.

[@kurtwpg]

Whenever Greg says "Only Vern and I knew about" I do a People's Eyebrow.

[@BOBBYSOX86]

Greg Gagne created Verne Gagne

[@jordandupe398]

🤣🤣🤣 TRUE DAMM TRUE ! !

[@citizenbeeswax7985]

What does that mean? The son created the father? How so?

[@BOBBYSOX86]

@@citizenbeeswax7985 Yes in Greg Gagne's delusional mind that's exactly what happened

[@jordand5616]

@@citizenbeeswax7985 GooD Question. Let ME Explain. OL’ UNCLE GREG as he’s known affectionately in pro wrestling circles...WeLL...UNCLE GREG has a tendency, weLL MORE Like a Disease inside oF his souL that WE like to CaLL: “unbelievable delusions” in what HE has contributed to OuR GREAT Industry... GREG has an ISSUE w/the TRUTH, as in they’ve never met, not once.. FuLL of BS#it is what many old timers would call HIM. A LIAR. GREG GAGNE has taken credit for creating HULKAMANIA right on down to how HULK used to tear his shirt. GREG has lied multiple times about the reaL importance, or UNIMPORTANCE oF his role in WCW under BISHOFF. Until ERIC had to fire him foR insubordination after giving him a gravy job to begin with BC VERNE gave ERIC his start in the AWA. Everything/Every Story that GREG Tells is a HUGE Exaggeration that HE somehow ties back into the success having something to do with HIS Contributions.. ALL Stories END however with GREG being the Babyface who’s a tragic figure in each one of his ‘tales’... That’s WHY dude commented on GREG creating his own DAD, because in UNCLE GREGS Story HE Booked and Created EVERYTHING in the Business!!! GooD OL UNCLE GREG🤦🏼 NOW... Next time you watch a GREG GAGNE Shoot remember these facts. You’ll Be guaranteed hrs oF Classic GAGNE Tales as HE weaves his tales to make himself feel more important than HE IS...TRUST US.. HE AINT...

[@jordand5616]

@@BOBBYSOX86 GooD Question. Let ME Explain. OL’ UNCLE GREG as he’s known affectionately in pro wrestling circles...WeLL...UNCLE GREG has a tendency, weLL MORE Like a Disease inside oF his souL that WE like to CaLL: “unbelievable delusions” in what HE has contributed to OuR GREAT Industry... GREG has an ISSUE w/the TRUTH, as in they’ve never met, not once.. FuLL of BS#it is what many old timers would call HIM. A LIAR. GREG GAGNE has taken credit for creating HULKAMANIA right on down to how HULK used to tear his shirt. GREG has lied multiple times about the reaL importance, or UNIMPORTANCE oF his role in WCW under BISHOFF. Until ERIC had to fire him foR insubordination after giving him a gravy job to begin with BC VERNE gave ERIC his start in the AWA. Everything/Every Story that GREG Tells is a HUGE Exaggeration that HE somehow ties back into the success having something to do with HIS Contributions.. ALL Stories END however with GREG being the Babyface who’s a tragic figure in each one of his ‘tales’... That’s WHY dude commented on GREG creating his own DAD, because in UNCLE GREGS Story HE Booked and Created EVERYTHING in the Business!!! GooD OL UNCLE GREG🤦🏼 NOW... Next time you watch a GREG GAGNE Shoot remember these facts. You’ll Be guaranteed hrs oF Classic GAGNE Tales as HE weaves his tales to make himself feel more important than HE IS...TRUST US.. HE AINT...

[@Johnniethesportsguy]

In the beginning Greg Gagne created the heavens and earth.

[@jdionio]

You forgot Verne had to make Greg first.

[@Johnniethesportsguy]

@@jdionio good point.

[@carolynbuckley8733]

Greg was responsible for the success of the rock and austin as well. And he taught Eddie the art bar frog splash

[@msoileau83]

God you're a dick.

[@RockandrollNegro]

In the beginning, Gagne invented the heavens and the earth. Mike Graham looked upon his work, and said "Let it not draw a dime." And Xpac was there.

[@datacipher]

Lol. The telegram wasn’t “unsigned”. Even by Greg’s version they knew who it was from - they just chose not to believe it.

[@dingdong7610]

Lol trying his best to make out like Hogan blindsided them. People were already going; soon there was nothing left but the kitchen sink. If AWA had lasted long enough, Bischoff would have been their champion.

[@CatsClaw44]

​@@dingdong7610Yep, and this was shortly after Verne tried to take all of Hogan's merchandise money.

[@GD-eh3mj]

The Mike Love of Professional Wrestling.

[@datacipher]

So hogan was crying that he’d never make it after wrestling Andre in front of 30,000 people? He’d already had an nwa regional belt at that point and wrestled in msg for wwf…. McMahon Sr. had already started giving him advice…. He wrestled Bruno for the title lol! By the time he went to AWA he’d already been in Japan and done Rocky 3… lol.

[@ivanvalentin3898]

Yea. None of these stories make any sense it's like these guys are making this shit up. I think something bigger is at play behind the scenes that none wants to speak about

[@edwardclement102]

Stan Hansen's run in AWA was wild and crazy and fun to watch.

[@greyskywarren6028]

Greg Gagne created Stan Hansen, too!😂

[@deadpilled2942]

Stan Hansen could drive a golf cart around the AWA ring, and it would've fkn awesome

[@russblack443]

@@deadpilled2942 I was about 8-10 years old during Hansen's run in AWA and I enjoyed the hell out of it. Never will forget seeing him get the belt from Rick Martell. Running his back. Into the post a.bunch.of times then putting him in the.Brazos valley backbreaker. I was glad Martell lost,still was pissed that he Had beaten Bockwinkel

[@curthennig9448]

@@greyskywarren6028 Greg put a new transmission in Hansen's truck and then Stan drove over the AWA belt!

[@MovieEnvy]

Is there anything Gagne didn’t think of first? What an ego.

[@horacesolomon2342]

Greg Gagne and Mike Graham came up with EVERYTHING.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Greg created oxygen, if we're all breathing right now it's because of Greg Gagne.

[@AshleySmith19912]

@@jonathanturbide2232 Greg also invented shoes, and orange juice, and giving each other gifts on December 25th, and told Jesus to no-sell the crucifix, all that was Greg’s idea, didn’t you know that?

[@curthennig9448]

@@jonathanturbide2232 Did Greg build the pyramids too?

[@patrickperalta59]

Vince was doing the Million Dollar Man gimmick before Ted Debiase showing "Everybody has a price for the Million Dollar Man."

[@jackbauer4186]

But where did Vince get all the money at that age?

[@bigrigjoe5130]

@@jackbauer4186 Sponsors, TV Deals, PPV (well closed circuit at that point) , Merch (T-shirts/toys) He was decades ahead of every other promoter in terms of how to run a company. Like him or not. Other promotions still had the mentality of "Gate Sales at the door is our bread and butter!"

[@shawnschaitel838]

@@bigrigjoe5130 Vince was losing money on everything he did UNTIL WrestleMania I in fact when younger McMahon bought Capitol from his father in 1982, effectively seizing control of the company. The actual date of sale is still unknown but the generally accepted date is June 6, 1982; however this was likely the date the deal was struck. On WWF television, Capitol Wrestling Corporation maintained copyrights and ownership past the June 1982 date. The World Wrestling Federation was not solely owned by Vince Sr but also by Gorilla Monsoon, Arnold Skaaland and Phil Zacko. The deal between the two McMahons was a monthly payment basis where if a single payment was missed, ownership would revert to McMahon Sr. and his business partners. Looking to seal the deal quickly, McMahon Jr. took several loans and deals with other promoters and the business partners (including the promise of a job for life) in order to take full ownership by May or June 1983 for an estimated total of roughly $1 million with the three business partners receiving roughly $815,000 among them and Vincent J. McMahon receiving roughly $185,000.Seeking to make the WWF the premier wrestling promotion in the country, and eventually, the world, he began an expansion process that fundamentally changed the wrestling business At the annual meeting of the NWA in 1983, the McMahons and former Capitol employee Jim Barnett all withdrew from the organization. McMahon also worked to get WWF programming on syndicated television all across the United States. This angered other promoters and disrupted the well-established boundaries of the different wrestling promotions, eventually ending the territory system, which was in use since the founding of the NWA in the 1940s. In addition, the company used income generated by advertising, television deals, and tape sales to secure talent from rival promoters. McMahon gained significant traction when he hired American Wrestling Association (AWA) talent Hulk Hogan, who had achieved popularity outside of wrestling, notably for his appearance in the film Rocky III.McMahon signed Roddy Piper as Hogan's rival, and then shortly afterward Jesse Ventura as an announcer. Other wrestlers joined the roster, such as Jimmy Snuka, Don Muraco, The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, Junkyard Dog, Paul Orndorff, Greg Valentine, and Ricky Steamboat. Many of the wrestlers who would later join the WWF were former AWA or NWA talent. The WWF would tour nationally in a venture that would require a huge capital investment, one that placed the WWF on the verge of financial collapse. The future of McMahon's experiment came down to the success or failure of McMahon's groundbreaking concept, WrestleMania. WrestleMania was a major success and was (and still is) marketed as the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. The concept of a wrestling supercard was nothing new in North America; the NWA had begun running Starrcade a few years prior. In McMahon's eyes, however, what separated WrestleMania from other supercards was that it was intended to be accessible to those who did not watch wrestling. He invited celebrities such as Mr. T, Muhammad Ali, and Cyndi Lauper to participate in the event, as well as securing a deal with MTV to provide coverage. The event and hype surrounding it led to the term Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection, due to the cross-promotion of popular culture and professional wrestling. The WWF business expanded significantly on the shoulders of McMahon and his babyface hero Hulk Hogan for the next several years. The introduction of Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC in 1985 marked the first time that professional wrestling had been broadcast on network television since the 1950s when the now-defunct DuMont Television Network broadcast matches of Vince McMahon Sr.'s Capitol Wrestling Corporation. The 1980s "Wrestling Boom" peaked with the WrestleMania III pay-per-view at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1987, which set an attendance record of 93,173, a record that stood for 29 years until WrestleMania 32. A rematch of the WrestleMania III main event between WWF champion Hulk Hogan and André the Giant took place on The Main Event I in 1988 and was seen by 33 million people, the most-watched wrestling match in North American television history. In 1985, Titan moved its offices to Stamford, Connecticut, though the current building was built in 1981. Subsequently, a new Titan Sports, Inc. (originally WWF, Inc.) was established in Delaware in 1987 and was consolidated with the Massachusetts entity in February 1988

[@ThorMaximus]

@@shawnschaitel838 Accurate in many but not all things. There was an existing relationship with USA Network, so All American Wrestling was not big leap. New York/NE was the most profitable territory, so it’s not like Vince was rolling on nothing. Ventura was not brought in to announce, but to be rival to Hogan. Health issues led to his being an announcer & Piper was every bit as instrumental in drawing crowds The TBS deal for Saturday night really showed how lean the budget was with taped matches of low production value & the selling it back was huge - the oft told story is it financed WM. Call BS on that one. Never bought the narrative that Vince leveraged everything on WMI either. Heck logically the two narratives cancel each other out. WM3 was not the “peak” of 1980s WWF, it was more like the launch that brought ppl back till 1990. It’s no coincidence that PPVs grew by 1 a year next 4 years afterwards. Cuz PPV became available. Hogans star started to fizzle as kids grew older and wise to the predictable schtick. From 90,he was meh until going heel in 96.

[@dachronicalalittlebitofeve6630]

That gimmick was based on vince, at the time vince was never going to get in the ring as a character so decided to create himself as the gimmick he put on teddy who was the perfect choice for the role. He was wwfs arn Anderson, a tremendous carpenter and bump man, he could make people look amazing and hike having great technique and psychological game too

[@travisneal3938]

They didn't have a contract on Hogan so, no, Hogan didn't 'stick it' to them. Hogan didn't want to give up a substantial percentage of his New Japan pay along with Hogan not wanting to settle on 10% of his own merchandise revenue. Sounds like Hulk didn't want the Gagne's to 'stick it' to him the way they had been doing to everyone else.

[@dante040]

Right after hogan wrestled in a stadium against one of the biggest stars in the history of wrestling, he was sitting on the floor crying, saying he couldn't make it in the business......

[@tomh1593]

BS story

[@seanbonella]

Anything with Cornette gets over

[@Evs78101]

Didnt Verne Gagne ask for a cut of Hogans Japan money? I've heard Hogan say it in multiple interviews. Gagne also wanted a part of Hogans merchandise too. Verne ran Hogan out himself with his ego.

[@justinep3675]

Verne also wanted 15% of Flair's money just for training him.

[@justsayin3000]

"I take 90%, 100% of the time." -Verne

[@FerretJohn]

I remember an interview with "The Masked Superstar" Bill Eadie about Verne's habits. Verne wanted to send Bill to Japan to tour with Giant Baba, telling Bill "Baba pays $10,000 and you kick $2000 back to us", Bill listened to that and tells him "I work for Inoki, he pays me $12,000 and I don't have to kick anything back."

[@sese6227]

@@FerretJohn a 20% kickback? Damn....Verne was shark smh

[@FerretJohn]

@@sese6227 sadly he wasn't alone, back in the day quite a few promoters were known for doing everything they could to cheat the talent, and a few were known to expect some "extra performances" from women wrestlers. Detroit promoter Jack Pfefer once made the mistake of short-changing his wrestler a bit too far once. The wrestler allegedly hung him out of his office window (sixth floor) by his ankles until he payed what was owed

[@Piemanthe3rd]

I hear Greg was the doctor who delivered Vince.

[@ReverendBenzo]

Verne didn't know what Earnest P. Worrell meant but Greg did.

[@awesomeFrost]

Hulk Hogan learned his lying from the best who ever did it: The Gagne's.

[@easyriderrider4580]

TRUTH, LOL...

[@dw1985]

Had Verne known how to market, Hogan would not have "stuck it to them"

[@billblaski9523]

"So i pulled him aside and told him hey big man, just shave your head, grow a goatee, wear black trunks and call yourself Stone Cold, that'll get you over. And the rest is history" -Greg Gagne

[@SmilingSynic]

Gagne blaming McMahon for the fall of his family business is like a hamburger restaurant selling burgers that taste like shit but blaming McDonalds for the restaurant's demise

[@edwardfarnsworth5915]

You can tell it's true, because when Hogan left, Greg went to work and made a star out of . . . Um . . . You know . . .

[@MLKloathing]

Scott Hall,and the midnight rockers um Shawn Michaels,and Marty Janetty lol that was in the decline of the AWA shut up.

[@MLKloathing]

The AWA went bankrupt, because of a battle for a large piece of land which became a state park so there is that lol.

[@RemoWilliams1227]

@@MLKloathing forgot Cool Curt

[@dingdong7610]

Lol Del Wilkes

[@dingdong7610]

@@MLKloathing you mean the lie Bischoff keeps telling. Yeah, those packed houses of TNA level crowds was their heyday 😅

[@andystegall7407]

Greg Gagne can believe its not butter, knows where the beef is, and knows exactly where to apply Head-On

[@TheHannibalTV]

AWW blew it there

[@jonathanturbide2232]

As much as you blew your own career, yes..

[@thomastownsend2702]

Glad to know Greg Gagne created Hulkamania 😒

[@Jim-Tuner]

Cocaine created Hullkamania.

[@joespitler3929]

Hogan didn't screw Verne Gagne, Verne Gagne screwed Verne Gagne.

[@garysimard5674]

Unlike Vince McMahon when he said that about Bret, this is very true what you have said. 2 thumbs up.

[@frankbonini7085]

Maybe Verne Should Have Told Hulk, & Sworn Him to Secrecy

[@travisburnett5685]

I can't stand guys like this. The whole business wouldn't exist without Greg Gagne

[@AshleySmith19912]

I was literally flabbergasted in another video when he said that HE gave Bischoff the idea for the nWo. Greg Gagne has no shame when it comes to telling these ridiculous stories that anyone with half a brain knows is bullshit.

[@travisburnett5685]

@@AshleySmith19912 Absolutely 💯... This guy is a goof for sure

[@edwardcorey1071]

@@AshleySmith19912 How do you know were you there you goof

[@gary_stavropoulos]

When a story starts off “everyone that can verify what I am about to say is dead” I question the accuracy of the following statements.

[@MichaelSmith-fq6hz]

You would do well in the history field

[@bigc2626]

Unbelievable how Gagne some 35 years later is still complaining about how wrestlers just left out of nowhere to go work for Vince. Why didn’t AWA sign these guys to contracts? If they would’ve signed them and locked them up in deals, Vince would’ve never been able to take all of them. AWA did it to themselves

[@matthewcollins8602]

Not to mention that Vince offered to outright buy the AWA before hand

[@bigc2626]

@@matthewcollins8602 that’s it, I’m watching my old “Spectacular Legacy of the AWA” DVD tonight

[@matthewcollins8602]

@@bigc2626 I almost watched it last night on Peacock and I think I will tonight as well. Jesse Ventura tells a story of him leaving in his RF Video shoot I believe. According to Ventura the both of the Gagne's go on vacation while everyone is making another town they'd just previously ran as usual and advancing an angle. Ventura said the attendance was up big from the last visit but he got paid less. Suddenly it dawned on him that he was paying for their vacation. You'd think Verne & Greg wouldn't have made it so obvious

[@bigc2626]

@@matthewcollins8602 yeah that’s crazy. I remember from the DVD and Jerry Lawler telling the story of him working Super Clash 3 card and Verne didn’t pay any of the talent that worked on the card. He just kept all the money for himself. I can’t believe that Jerry Lawler would have any reason to make a story like that up. So, assuming it’s true, what a scumbag thing to do to people.

[@bigc2626]

@Chris Smith sure there was. Wasn’t like they were working in front of nobody.

[@shipwreckedpoet3]

A little revisionist history by Greg G here. How would they have gotten Andre to face Hogan on CBS or ESPN when Andre was still under contract with the McMahons. No way WWF would have let Andre do that regardless of what they offered and no way in hell would Andre every betray the McMahons. He was under contract for life and handsomely paid. Great idea by the Gagnes but it never would have come into fluition even if they were able to keep Hogan from leaving. Vince would have never let Andre do that on network TV, remember the “Andre loses to a Midget in Memphis”?? The McMahons almost ghosted poor Bill Apter for life for publishing such an article.

[@KillaKalski]

“And then dad invented the traveling circus and carnivals because he knew a guy. Then I took a trip down to Illinois and hired some kid named Lincoln”

[@TabletopJason]

I wouldn't say Hogan "stuck it to us" like Gagne says. They wouldn't put the belt on him. Vince would.

[@MondoMiami]

… and then Greg Gagne invented the Internet.

[@boscopappas234]

The only person who lies more than Greg is Hulk Hogan.

[@rainbowandin2205]

As Greg gets older he looks more and more like Verne 😆

[@jd9119]

minus the talent.

[@stevejamieson8468]

Vince Jr made Terry too good of an offer for him not to return the then WWF in Dec of 1983.

[@Ty_Ranus]

Greg Gagne discovered quantum mechanics

[@curthennig9448]

He was in the lab with Maxwell Planck back in 1905.

[@TheBhup]

Greg Gagne did the snap to beat Thanos

[@patrickperalta59]

Love him or hate him Vince Jr made WWE a big success true he broke from tradition and took big risks but he succeeded. Vince has mentioned in interviews if his Dad knew of his plans for WWE he never would have sold the company to his son, his Dad as well as other promoters of the time were old school promoters and respected bounderies..and would work together when need be.

[@SonnyBubba]

Here’s the problem: if Vince didn’t expand, someone else would have. The territories depended on tv being local. Cable was going to create competition, and a local promotion couldn’t handle that.

[@patrickperalta59]

@@SonnyBubba that is true if not Vince someone else might have tried...but it would depend on if the person worked alone............look what happen after Vince Expanded and broke all the rules what was left of the territories tried to work together and create a big show like Wrestlemania but they failed because the different promotions could not work together..............Vince only had himself to worry about, create the card , see who goes over and so on....the other promoters couldn't even do something simple as which wrestler goes over both sides wanted their guys to go over which caused a lot of problems.

[@mincemeyers5551]

Greg touches his face after he says Verne was going to drop the belt to Hogan in April, but didn't tell anyone. That's a sign that someone is lying

[@racefan1701]

The truth is they were never dropping the belt to Hogan. Twice he won it, and they used the pathetic reversal from the AWA president storyline. They only say that because they would have looked more dumb not saying they were going to make Hogan the champ at some point. That said, Hogan was wrong not to finish his dates, and he even admits that today that he was wrong.

[@AshleySmith19912]

@@racefan1701 He may have been wrong, and admitted himself that he was wrong, but I honestly don’t blame him. He was off to greener pastures. All Verne and Greg cared about was lining their pockets

[@dingdong7610]

@@racefan1701 absolutely true. I remember Roma saying that when WWF did the same thing to Power and Glory, they won, it got reverse and that Ray said to Roma that they would never get those belts again. It was a tease.

[@herzkine]

I see yiu went to 5 minutes of jcs youtube crine Psych. You see right through everyone now. No need for Nuances.

[@L_Train]

no it's no. you have to establish a baseline of behavior first and look for changes to that baseline. He touches his face throughout the video so it's definitely not a sign of lying.

[@KHLB516]

Gagne may be the most delusional guy I’ve heard in shoot interviews

[@32alltheway]

Was going to say the exact same thing. This fucking guy would have never been in the biz without his last name

[@jonrogersdj]

Gagne says he or his dad rang Vince Snr in late '83 to book Andre. Vince Snr had sold the WWF the year before - Vince Jr was the boss and Snr died the following May.

[@curthennig9448]

Vince Sr. was still involved in the promotion though.

[@downwithputinsaveukraine1313]

Come in, twist the arm, drop the leg, tag out... so Hogan has never changed any?

[@vedder611]

lol Greg Gagne invented Hogan ripping his shirt off - ohh kayyyy

[@curthennig9448]

It was actually Gary DeRusha.

[@StoneThatTheBuilderRefusedKK]

They should've got Zbyszko or Bockwinkel (when he was still alive) to do this DVD.

[@jdionio]

Zbyszko wouldn't have been involved at the time. He was working in the NWA from 81-84, then jumped to AWA in 84.

[@HepCatJack]

By specifying: (when he was still alive) is it your opinion that they wouldn't have been able to get a "weekend at Bernie's" match out of him?

[@jd9119]

One of Verne's biggest problems was pushing his son as much as he did. He wasn't a bad worker, but he looked like garbage, had 0 charisma and the worst promos.

[@jasoncutshaw8401]

Greg talked about running for President and Trump overheard him and stole his idea then became President himself.. Greg also taught Chuck Norris karate

[@azapro911]

I can kind of get why Hogan started to see himself as essential, in the '80s losing him really did make the WWF and kill the AWA.

[@CarbiesChronicles]

Hogan was given an opportunity to work in the wwf for most likely good money, why turn it down?

[@maxxdahl6062]

Nah if it were ONLY losing hogan, they would have survived. It was losing every other critical piece of talent, tv stations, arenas, office employees to even down to third string announcers that Vince didn't even end up using that killed it. EVERY time they got a talent over, Vince would take them.

[@Airsoftcleaner]

@@maxxdahl6062 You're right and I hate to say this but at a certain point The AWA was literally a Farm system for WWE

[@maxxdahl6062]

@@Airsoftcleaner They were still doing pretty good numbers and crowds even with losing hogan until what, late 86, early 87?

[@edwardclement102]

Two all-time greats learned in the AWA Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.

[@irishthump73]

Yeah, they both learned not to trust Verne Gagne!

[@maxxdahl6062]

@@irishthump73 Bobby Heenan would disagree.

[@joeysimpson4020]

Hulk learned some character development and Flair just learned the basics in Verne’s camp

[@datacipher]

@@joeysimpson4020yes and keep in mind, hogan had already headlined in Japan, headlined shea stadium against Andre for the McMahons, and done rocky 3. Lol…. According to Greg he was literally crying in the locker room telling Greg he’d never make it! Lol

[@joeysimpson4020]

@@datacipher I think the shea stadium show was actually Sammartino and Zbyszko who headlined it but still they were the semi-main on that card

[@WhereTheyPlayForPay]

Pretty sure Greg is confusing the “Showdown at Shea” card with April 21, 1980 MSG card. Steamboat wasn’t at Shea, but was at MSG.

[@TroystonB]

Hogan saw the writing on the wall.

[@beakahd590]

Hulkamania started when he was in Rocky 3. The film was huge and he became a world wide star that wrestling had never had before. Ironic if he listened to vince snr it would have never happen. Vince and Verne didn’t make Hogan. Stallone did.

[@samanthabowers2622]

Hulkamania started at Shea Stadium in 1980, when Hogan beat Andre. That was the match Stallone saw and he was impressed by the larger than life 'Hulk Hogan' character played by Terry. Mr Bollea in fact, made Hogan, no one else;p

[@herzkine]

Hogan made Hogan by your definition makes sense. But if Higan made Hogan , did Brett really screw Brett? :-)

[@mlbowen6476]

God created the heavens and the earth. But only because Greg Gagne told him too. Then God wouldn't give Greg a percentage so Greg kicked God out.

[@0089nyyankees]

6:18 idk if Jim's buying his BS lol

[@johnlindsay4310]

The story he told about Hogan jumping back from WWF is partially true, he just didn't explain it right. In the early 90s, WGN, a superstation based out of Chicago, wanted in on the wrestling business after seeing USA and TBS success with WWF and WCW. They approached the Gagnes, who had previously aired special cards (including maybe a SuperClash, I don't recall) with funding and for them to run this new promotion. According to dirt sheets at the time, Hulk Hogan had met with the Gagnes and WGN executives in Chicago. WGN was willing to offer him $6 million dollars, possibly guaranteed. The promotion he was being recruited to would be an entirely new one funded by WGN, not the AWA, which was dead and buried. That's where Gagne messed up the story.

[@russblack443]

Yes this is true but WGN stood for worlds greatest Newspaper and is owned by the tribune or sun times. The newspaper went on strike and they couldn't free up the 6 million because they didn't know how long the strike was going to last

[@rowdycmoore]

Yep. AWA put on THE absolute worst PPV ever in SuperClash III (they still didn't have a finish planned for the main event minutes before it was supposed to be in the ring!) and Greg here tries to make you think the AWA could still have survived had it not been for those greedy Tribune newswriters and their little strike.

[@Jim-Tuner]

A deal with Tribune would have kept the AWA or a successor to the AWA running for a few more years. But Hogan would have only used this situation to get a better deal for himself somewhere else.

[@furnitureconsortium]

@@rowdycmoore I think Greg turned on the story machine because he knew that Cornette and Sean Oliver had / have a big audience. For instance, I've heard audio of Greg Gagne doing interviews for shows like In Your Head Wrestling podcast from ten or 15 years ago and Gagne was way more real and thoughtful in his answers in regards to the swansong of the AWA. Hell, Larry Nelson (RIP) basically remembered Greg Gagne and himself being one of a few people who actually tried to modernize the AWA to make it more palatable to the changing landscape of the business and TV viewers at that time. Basically, Verne didn't want to change anything and Nelson (and Greg) were imploring him to change the look of the program and bring (and train) some new talent. Verne would still have had Crusher, Bruiser, Bockwinkel, basically his entire crew from the 1970's if he could have gotten away with it in the late 1980's. On one hand, I can see why......it's the same reason that Vince today keeps bringing back guys like Undertaker, Edge, etc. They're proven talents that made the company a lot of money. Verne made a boatload of money with the guys I mentioned, he never had that next guy to pass the baton to. It was going to be Curt Hennig, but he left to go to Vince. Then it was going to be "Big" Scott Hall, but he too left for greener pastures in WCW. Those last few years, they didn't have the luxury of building anybody new up.....they were just trying to survive. Once the state of Minnesota claimed Verne's property in Chanhassen, that was it. Verne couldn't pull any more money out of it to keep going, which he surely would have. There was talk of moving the entire operation out to Las Vegas, but it never happened. They just ran shows at the Showboat for ESPN in Vegas, but their home base of operations remained in Minneapolis. Funnily enough, an AWA employee who was at those events at the Showboat (Eric Bischoff) would later have that same game plan for a Fuscient Media-led WCW in 2001, had the company not been sold to WWE. The company would have "re-booted" in Vegas in the proposed "Big Bang" PPV to essentially start everything fresh and base the company out of Las Vegas. Would have been an interesting alternate universe had that happened. I don't know if they'd still be in business today, but I'm sure they would have gotten a few years out of the new venture for sure.

[@ferox965]

I'm sorry, but Hogan coming back to the AWA at THAT time? I don't buy it. Like it or not, Hogan follows the money...and that ain't it.

[@Dock76]

Greg Gagne was there when God said "let there be light." That's what he tells everyone.

[@stoozdee]

God: “Greg, what can we do to really turn this thing around?” Greg: “I’ll tell you, but I get a percentage.”

[@MohamedAli-xu3uw]

What about the females?

[@mlbowen6476]

Greg flipped the switch!

[@brooklynnicole9236]

Verne and Vince Sr both held Hogan back.

[@wallyklw5]

Gagne is so full of himself he wonders himself what the truth was

[@robalt1983]

Greg Gagne: I wrote a song about people standing up for their small town. Gave it to this Aldean kid. It became the greatest country tune of all time. He never gave me credit. He never thanked me.

[@knightmare1015]

Back in the territory days, the AWA was awesome. They had the Freebirds going at it with the Legion of Doom. Hulk Hogan was just starting to get over and having some great matches. They really had something for everyone at one point. It started going down hill because of Verne Gagne and Greg Gagne's booking. They pretty much ran off the top talent and Vince McMahon Jr. came in and made it even easier for them to leave. Someone besides Hogan told Greg Gagne that Hogan was making at least 3 times more money in the WWE than he would have made in the AWA.

[@josephtrebes3169]

You're right, in some respects, but your timeline isn't. The Warriors weren't brought in until 1984, after Hogan had left.

[@gtp1172]

Had little to nothing to do with the belt. Verne wanted cuts from his Hollywood $, merch $ and a cut from his pay from japan.

[@StraightEdgeJunkie]

One day, years ago, Greg Gagne walked out of a store with a box of wrestling tapes. Outside the store, he saw a poor kid selling suplexes. He gave him that box of wrestling tapes and said, "Watch these matches I had in the AWA. One day you, too, will grow up to be someone important". Believe it or not, that kid grew up to be Barack Obama.

[@chadk890]

B.S.

[@seanbonella]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 That a Hogan lie???

[@cody1390]

​@@chadk890r/whoosh

[@32alltheway]

Gagne was also the second gunman on the grassy knoll...

[@R2B2YT]

Never seen someone exagerate and come up with things like Greg lol What they fail to say is Verne wanted all Hogans merchandising....how convenient lol

[@HepCatJack]

If Hogan wouldn't settle on sharing a piece of merchandizing Greg Gagne ought to have made a deal where he got a nickel every time Hogan said "Brother".

[@jurn7429]

Verne had the money back then he should’ve paid his talent more

[@Dadmcbeardface]

AWA sounds like it was terrible to work for. Nepotism running wild with Greg having any power and Verne refusing to step back. The fact that guys left so often should be a sign that maybe your company doesn’t smell like roses 🤣.

[@Greenbeans0987]

"What’s a matter big man"

[@WMW011387]

Greg Gagne looks like your friend's dad you talk to at a barbecue.

[@fjccommish]

Verne had two bites at the modern wrestling promotion apple - ESPN and CBS. He didn't execute on either.

[@josereyes1148]

So I said, Listen Bishoff, Heres what you do. You want to draw a rating? Put my Pops up in the rafters. Give him a Minnesota Twins baseball bat. Strap him up to this doo hickey right here so he can come down. He gets in a little scuffle. Let him sock it to Hogan. Tony Shivone can announce Its VEEERRRNNEEE. Let him go over on 9 or 10 people at once. Theres your next 20 weeks of television. Wouldnt ya guess, not two weeks later Sting is up in the rafters and the rest is history.

[@joeysimpson4020]

The moment Jim puts his hand on his head at the telegram story he knows Greg is spoon feeding him some shit

[@jeffreygunn3150]

Greg’s Minnesota accent always makes me laugh, gee golly.

[@zabaleta66]

Verne should have dropped the belt AND stopped wrestling years before he did! Verne should have paid his talent better......his greed killed the AWA. Martell was an awesome heel in Australia/New Zealand! Should have done that with him.

[@hagenator551]

Don't think people realize how big AWA was. It ultimately was mismanaged by Vern simultaneously with the WWE surge.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Yes most fans know how big AWA was, that's why they criticize Verne for not putting the belt on a star like Hogan.

[@DecemberGuy77]

@@jonathanturbide2232 The AWA audience was largely conditioned to appreciate workrate. Vern typically valued legitimate wrestlers over gimmick talents.

[@energyasylum997]

Remember those ‘SNICKERS’ commercials were after an awkward moment a narrator would say “Wanna get away for a while?” ..... Cornette @8:52 lol

[@brianw9497]

I know Greg gets a lot of flack, and the truth is always somewhere in the middle, but I do have to stick up for his story about Hulk/Andre. In the Fall of '83, he mentions the battle royal series and Hogan and Andre bumping into each other in St. Paul. I saw the same angle run at the Rosemont Horizon in November of '83. Andre and Hogan hooked up, and Blackwell and Dr. D dumped them both over the top rope (Brunzell would go on to win the Battle Royal by drop kicking Dr. D over the top). That weekend, Mean Gene did an interview with Hulk and Andre in the lockeroom and basically said, "Regardless of what happened last night, and I know tempers are flaring, can you guys put differences aside to battle the Sheik's Army?" They were definitely setting up an angle where Andre and Hogan would face off in early '84 around the horn,

[@datacipher]

ROFL!! Of course people get excited with hogan and Andre, the McMahons already had hogan and Andre in shea stadium - not to mention matches in Japan. Problem with liar Greg is that he and daddy failed to tell Hogan of these supposed plans lol.

[@dachronicalalittlebitofeve6630]

Imagine havin to go to an arena to see a big screen which bank then was probably about 32” to watch a PPV, you wasn’t getting the rm in your home at this point, you could watch closed circuit television in a building over the street from where the match was lol….. amazing how this worked!

[@gothard5]

Man, I would love to be able to watch some of the older AWA tv stuff instead of the ESPN stuff on the Peacock

[@JohnnyFranchize]

This guy and Mike Graham annoy me to no end. To hear them tell it, theyre these brilliant innovators that changed the business. No, your Dad's did. Get over yourself

[@jd9119]

If Verne paid people like Paul Boesch did, he probably could've kept Hogan.

[@timmutohfan]

yep, hogan left in the middle of the night for no good reason.. no reason at all. it wasn't because verne demanded a large cut of hogan's money from working in japan, or nothing to do with him telling hogan he was going to keep the merch money while hogan was in japan if verne didn't get a cut of hogan japan money.

[@dougpotvin2588]

Verne should of put the belt on Hogan ,instead of all the finishes he had with Bockwinkle,I loved Bockwinkle and Heenan,but it was time for new blood,that’s where Vern messed up in my opinion

[@JGD185]

Rick had tremendous charisma with the model gimmick, maybe if you gave him something to work with like that blockbuster gimmick known as Gagne's Raiders which sold out every arena

[@TheRustedShackleford]

Not enough charisma to fill an arena

[@2ndCavTrooper]

Why does Greg keep referring to his dad as Verne...weird

[@cshaw9083]

Hogan left because Verne kept pushing a ' Dad Bods' gimmick for Arn and Bobby Eaton. He was talking to Vinny Mac on the side, and they were worried ' Dad Bods ' would hurt ' HULKSTER' doll sales...😂

[@tomh1593]

The BS come's out of Greg's ears.

[@jeremyroe5997]

Hulk was not going to become what he did in the AWA that's a fact. Also failed to mention how daddy Verne wanted a percentage of Hogan's Japan money and from his merchandise.

[@ralphiecifaretto8961]

How is that provable? Without Hogan, WWF doesn't take off.

[@thelowesttreeshavetops3541]

I was a fan. I even liked the last few years of the AWA. The Texas Hangmen, and, later, The Trooper. The Col. DeBeers vs Snuka feud was more violent than what the WWF was doing. And the funniest interview segments I've ever seen have got to be Larry's Corner lol

[@marqueswilliams345]

Greg Gagne is the TK Kirkland of wrestling

[@ryanwaslawski6088]

Why do Jim’s hands look so tiny lol? Is it his head is just huge so it’s an optical thing? Wtf lol

[@easyriderrider4580]

holy shit, your're RIGHT, LOL...

[@curthennig9448]

Corny has a disease known as Trumpism!