Professional Wrestler. WW2 Veteran. Collegiate athlete. Amateur wrestler. Best known for his longevity as a wrestler, promoter, trainer & booker for his American Wrestling Association (AWA). Before becoming a wrestler he was a highly successful sportsman in college excelling in baseball, (American) football & in amateur wrestling. In the 1940's he won the NCAA Wrestling Champion at the University of Minnesota in 1948 & again in 1949. His professional wrestling career begun in 1949 after graduating from the University of Minnesota wrestling in Dory Funk Sr's Amarillo territory. The year after his pro debut he won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. In 1960 he formed his own promotion the American Wrestling Association (AWA) where he was a respected booker, promoter, wrestler & trainer to the (then) upcoming stars such as Ricky Steamboat, Iron Sheik, his son Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell & Ric Flair who went on to have successful careers. He captured the AWA World Heavyweight Champion 10 times & fought the likes of Nick Bockwinkel, The Crusher & Mad Dog Vachon over the title. In one of his final matches of his fulltime career as a wrestler, he battled Giant Baba in 1981 which was awarded by Tokyo Sports the best bout of the year. In his wrestling career he was a multiple time world champion, a 1993 WCW Hall of Fame inductee & a 2006 WWE Hall of Fame inductee. He was also the main protagonist in Ed Asner movie, The Wrestler (1974) playing the role of "Mike Bullard".
Professional Wrestler. WW2 Veteran. Collegiate athlete. Amateur wrestler. Best known for his longevity as a wrestler, promoter, trainer & booker for his American Wrestling Association (AWA). Before becoming a wrestler he was a highly successful sportsman in college excelling in baseball, (American) football & in amateur wrestling. In the 1940's he won the NCAA Wrestling Champion at the University of Minnesota in 1948 & again in 1949. His professional wrestling career begun in 1949 after graduating from the University of Minnesota wrestling in Dory Funk Sr's Amarillo territory. The year after his pro debut he won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. In 1960 he formed his own promotion the American Wrestling Association (AWA) where he was a respected booker, promoter, wrestler & trainer to the (then) upcoming stars such as Ricky Steamboat, Iron Sheik, his son Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell & Ric Flair who went on to have successful careers. He captured the AWA World Heavyweight Champion 10 times & fought the likes of Nick Bockwinkel, The Crusher & Mad Dog Vachon over the title. In one of his final matches of his fulltime career as a wrestler, he battled Giant Baba in 1981 which was awarded by Tokyo Sports the best bout of the year. In his wrestling career he was a multiple time world champion, a 1993 WCW Hall of Fame inductee & a 2006 WWE Hall of Fame inductee. He was also the main protagonist in Ed Asner movie, The Wrestler (1974) playing the role of "Mike Bullard".
Bio by: RJLee2022
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