Verne Gagne's final title defense

May 1981. Verne Gagne receives accolades from Don Rickles, and local Minnesota dignitaries ahead of his final title defense against Nick Bockwinkel.. Pre match interviews with Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan included.

[@80srocknroller]

Thanks to Verne Gagne and Nick Bockwinkle for being the best AWA World Heavyweight Champions and although they're no longer with us; their legacy will never be forgotten

[@jonathanturbide2232]

80srocknroller Crazy to think they passed away only a few months apart. They were truly meant to be associated with each other until the end.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

In Chicago we never had the WWF/ NWA until the middle 80s. The AWA/WWA jointly ruled our ciy for 3 decades. Vern and Nick were mostly our world champions. Most of Vince’s core talent came from the AWA. That’s how good the territory was!

[@bowtieguy377]

I was in the Northeast and then Florida for my growing up years so I followed NWA and WWWF Wrestling. I read about the AWA in the magazines though and you had some great wrestlers and wrestling to be sure. It is funny, but each of the three majors (AWA, NWA, WWWF) put their own, different spin on wrestling in terms of how it was presented.

[@grawakendream8980]

Rickles words are prophetic.
Happy Verne Gagne Day

[@cstomp1399]

Wow. My favorite comedian, Don Rickles, paying tribute to Verne Gagne! How great is that?!

[@gopherstate777]

6:00 That's what a real championship belt and champion are supposed to look like. How we need a Verne Gagne now in wrestling!

[@greedyd5524]

Gee I wonder who was gonna win this one

[@rockinyouallnight]

Don Rickles: Wrestling's Greatest Fan

[@chrisruth7057]

Verne would have bin 55 back then

[@grawakendream8980]

0:38 prescient words by rickles

[@magicbus63]

How Many Retirement Matches Did Verne Gagne Have 67 LMAO

[@tracysimmons3860]

Richard Bain Oh Don,R.I.P. A great one.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

more than Frank Sinatra LOL!

[@utopiakorea9021]

Verne Gagne is a sexy gentleman.
I love him.

[@greengoblinrulz]

If Verne were coming out of the grave & still booking, he'd still give himself the world title

[@gopherstate777]

He would have to. Because you can't trust anybody today with the business.
And you obviously never saw Verne perform in the ring newbie.

[@abrahammitchell5599]

Great Awa Home MPLS st.paul watch on TV

[@andymassingham]

Too bad Rickles isn’t here to take down Vince, Trips, Tony and all of them. I guess that’s why we have Cornette.