The AWA Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The American Wrestling Association or AWA was founded in 1960 by the legendary Verne Gagne. Gagne had a certain uncanny knack which set him apart from his comtemporaries in the business. What was that talent?

Answer: He recruited and trained the best talent

A world respected amateur wrestler Gagne ran one the most successful but rigorous training camps in his native Minnesota. The list of wrestlers he recruited and trained is almost a whose who list of legends. Ric Flair, The Iron Sheik, Jim Brunzell, Ricky Steamboat, Ken Patera, Ole Anderson, Jimmy Snuka and Blackjack Mulligan all were taught and trained by Verne.

2. When you have your own business you tend to take care of "Number One" better than the rest of the crowd. Verne Gagne was the star of The AWA right up until his retirement in 1981. How many times did he hold The AWA Heavyweight Title?

Answer: Ten Times

From 1960 right until his retirement in May 1981, Verne Gagne was almost constantly in possession of The AWA Heavyweight Title. His longest reign lasted from August 1968 until November 1975, over seven years. His matches with The Crusher, Dick The Bruiser, Nick Bockwinkle, Baron Von Raschke, Billy Robinson, Mad Dog Vachon and Larry Hennig are legendary.

3. Many promoters are very nepotistic and Verne Gagne was no different, taking very good care of his only son Greg. The younger Gagne did not have the singles success of the father but he did form a great duo with Jim Brunzell. What was that team called?

Answer: The High Flyers

From the mid 1970's until the mid 1980's Greg Gagne and "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell formed the highly successful and popular duo called "The High Flyers". The team won the coveted AWA Tag Team Titles twice, their longest run lasting over two years. The duo remained together until Brunzell departed in 1985 for The WWF where he formed "The Killer Bees" with Brian Blair. Gagne and his father took the departure very personal.

4. This Middle Eastern wrestler came to the AWA in 1980 and was instantly reviled by the fans. In 1982 he began a lengthy run as a manager where he became even more despised. Extremely loyal he remained with The AWA right until August 1990, who was he?

Answer: Sheik Adnan Al Kaissey

The notorious Sheik Adnan Al Kaissey was one of the most hated managers during the decade of the 1980's. Adnan constantly drew the ire of fans with his Anti American comments and outrageous stable of proteges. Ken Patera, Jerry Blackwell, Boris Zhukov, The Mongolian Stomper, Bruiser Brody, Soldat Ustinov and even a young Yokozuna aka Kokina Maximus were handled by The Sheik.

When Bobby "The Brain" Heenan departed in 1984, Adnan became the top heel manager in the territory.

5. This talented second generation wrestler talked more like a college professor and dressed like a corporate executive. In the ring he could do it all, winning The AWA Heavyweight Title four times from 1975 through 1986? Who was this star?

Answer: Nick Bockwinkle

The son of the late Warren Bockwinkle, Nick Bockwinkle won the AWA Heavyweight Title four times during his storied career. Bockwinkle was indeed the hand picked successor of Verne Gagne, literally being handed the title twice without even spending a minute in the ring.

A heel Bockwinkle made a surprising face turn in early 1986, spending the last year and half of his career hearing some cheers.

6. Standing six foot six and weighing over 400lbs this star's AWA career was just getting started when health problems forced him to retire in 1977. He died in 1979 at the tender age of 29 of congestive heart failure, who was this often forgotten about wrestler?

Answer: Chris Taylor

The immense Chris Taylor was an Olympian in 1972 before being taken under the wing of Verne Gagne. Despite his immense bulk, Taylor completed Gagne's rigorous training camp and was put on the active roster in 1974. One of Ric Flair's early bouts was against this giant of a man. Taylor was being groomed for big things when his health began to fail. Verne Gagne was deeply saddened when his protege Taylor died in 1979.

7. Speaking of big men, this 385 pound man defeated Nick Bockwinkle in August 1982 for The AWA Heavyweight Title. His reign was very short, lasting only six weeks. Who was this?

Answer: Otto Wanz

The popular Austrian wrestler Otto Wanz defeated Bockwinkle for the belt on August 29, 1982 and held the belt until October 9 of that year when Nick regained it. There was a popular rumor that Wanz literally paid Verne Gagne a substantial sum of cash for a title reign.

8. On August 25, 1984 veterans Baron Von Raschke and The Crusher were defeated for The AWA Tag Team Titles by this groundbreaking tag team. This duo remains the only team ever to have won The AWA, NWA and WWF Tag Team Titles. Who are they?

Answer: The Road Warriors

The incomparable Road Warriors arrived in The AWA in 1984 and won The Tag Team Titles from The Crusher and Baron Von Raschke. Sporting odd haircuts, wearing leather and spikes and literally pulverizing their opponents Hawk and Animal set the tag team scene on fire in 1984. Using "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath as their entrance theme, many of their bouts lasted just mere seconds. Animal and Hawk made a face turn during the summer of 1985, shortly before their run as champions was ended.

9. On May 17, 1986 "Playboy" Buddy Rose and "Pretty Boy" Doug Sommers defeated Scott Hall and Curt Hennig for The AWA Tag Team Titles. This outcome was very controversial, why?

Answer: Hall and Hennig lost via count out

The AWA rules for title changes specifically stated that the only way a title belt could change ownership was via pin, submission or forfeit. Unless specifically waived the champions could not lost the straps on a disqualification or count out loss. Late in this match the hated Colonel DeBeers attacked Scott Hall and beat him so severely he was counted out. Even though no waiver was given veteran referee Marty Miller gave Rose and Sommers the win and declared them new champions.

This remains very odd as neither Hennig or Hall was leaving the company and also not in the "doghouse".

10. Every promoter in the 1980's had their signature "Mega Card" which was promoted very heavily. This was mainly due to the emergence of The WWF's annual "Wrestlemania" and The NWA's "Starrcade". What was The AWA's signature event called?

Answer: "Superclash"

Taking place in Chicago on September 28, 1985, "Superclash" featured not only AWA stars but also some NWA wrestlers as well. The event was a success but gradually as the company went downhill so did the quality of the event. The final one, "Superclash IV" in April 1990 drew a pitiful 2,000 fans. The handwriting was on the wall.

11. In the final years of the AWA as fast as Verne Gagne could train new talent, either The NWA or WWF would lure them away with lucrative contracts. Very fearful of this Gagne protected The AWA Heavyweight Title by having Larry Zbyszko win it in February 1989. Why did Gagne trust Zbyszko not to leave?

Answer: He was his Son in Law

In 1988 the infamous heel Larry Zbyszko married Kathy Gagne, the daughter of Verne Gagne. The relationship with Verne was very rocky at first but eventually Larry was welcomed into the clan. Unfortunately his son Greg was never a big enough star to become AWA Heavyweight Champion, so Verne did the next best thing by giving his son in law the title. Zbyszko, with Gagne's permission, left for WCW in December 1990 and The AWA filed bankruptcy the following month.

12. This infamous television personality of the mid and late 1990's actually got his start in advertising with The AWA in 1987. A fluke caused him to be used as an announcer and the rest is history. Who was this?

Answer: Eric Bischoff

Eric Bischoff was hired in 1987 to do some advertising for The AWA, admittedly lying that he was a standout high school and collegiate wrestler. When Verne was left without an announcer one day for his television taping, he asked Eric to fill in. Rough at first Bischoff soon developed a gift for gab and when The AWA folded in 1991 he went to WCW where he would be monumental in their success in the mid 1990's.

13. This former professional boxer was a trouble shooting referee in 1985 and 1986, taking a tough stance with the heels. Eventually he began a feud with the obnoxious Larry Zbyszko, facing him in a boxing match at "Wrestlerock'86". Who was he?

Answer: Scott LeDoux

The late boxer Scott LeDoux became a referee for The AWA in 1985 and instantly rubbed many heels the wrong way. LeDoux's claim to fame in boxing was facing Larry Holmes for The WBC Heavyweight Title in 1980, losing on a TKO. Sadly LeDoux was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in 2008 and succumbed to the illness in 2011 at age 62.

14. Before Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond aka Kato wrestled in The WWF as "The Orient Express", the were known as "Badd Company" in The AWA. They held The AWA Tag Team Titles from March 1988 until March 1989, who was their mouthy manager?

Answer: Diamond Dallas Page

Diamond Dallas Page had always aspired to become a professional wrestler however nagging knee problems derailed his career for many years. To fill the void he became an obnoxious heel manager, first in The AWA and later in WCW. Give credit where it is due as Page persevered and eventually made his professional debut at age 34! Page eventually became one of the most popular WCW stars from 1996 thru 2001.

15. Every promotion has its token jobber, the one star who consistently loses week after week on television and house shows. The WWF had Barry Horowitz, The NWA had Rocky King and WCW had Hector Garza. Who was the perennial loser in The AWA?

Answer: Jake "The Milkman" Milliman

With a nickname like "The Milkman" you know your career is not going too far, in fact Jake Milliman probably should have been a milkman. From 1984 right through their 1991 demise Milliman along with his trademark raccoon hat was the lovable loser. In one final homage to his lengthy years of service Milliman was the winner of the awful "Team Challenge Series" in 1990.

This also could have been a subtle nod to the ridiculous nature of the angle.

Source: Author jperrone

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor linkan before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The AWA was once one of the premiere promotions in the entire wrestling world. Unable or unwilling to keep up with the times, they folded in January 1991. This quiz will test your savvy of that promotion.

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