Verne Gagne

Laverne Clarence Gagne, known professionally as Verne Gagne (February 26, 1926 – April 27, 2015), was an American amateur and professional wrestler, football player, wrestling trainer, and wrestling promoter. Before turning professional in 1949, Gagne distinguished himself as an amateur competitor, winning two NCAA titles and earning a spot as an alternate for the U.S. freestyle wrestling team at the 1948 Olympic Games. He was trained by Joe Pazandak and Tony Stecher.

Gagne became the owner and promoter of the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association (AWA), which served as the predominant promotion throughout the Midwest and Manitoba for many years. He remained in that role until the company folded in 1991. Over the course of his in-ring career, which stretched from his 1949 debut to his 1986 retirement, Gagne compiled a remarkable championship record, holding the AWA World Heavyweight Championship ten times and the IWA World Heavyweight Championship once, making him an 11-time world champion in major promotions. He holds the record for the longest combined reign as a world champion in North America and ranks third for the longest single world title reign. He is one of only seven men inducted into the WWE, WCW, and Professional Wrestling halls of fame.