Old School Rasslin

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Verne Gagne, the legendary wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer whose career spanned more than 35 years, died Monday after suffering from Alzheimer's disease since 2009. He was 89.

Gagne was a two-time NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Minnesota and an alternate for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team in 1948 before transitioning to professional wrestling, the Star Tribune reported.

"He was a pioneer in modern day era wrestling," Gene Okerlund, a friend of Gagne and announcer for Gagne's All Star Wrestling show, told the newspaper. "He was the one of the first guys who became a television star. He was one of the first good-looking young guys. And I mean he was a real baby face. The gals loved him, the guys respected him because he was also one of the tough-nosed guys."



Gagne was a 10-time world heavyweight champion in the American Wrestling Association and earned inductions into both the WWE and WCW Halls of Fame in addition to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The WWE recognized Gagne with a Twitter post Tuesday.


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