Part 6/8:
Vern Gagne, the man behind the AWA, was recognized for his brilliance as a promoter. Even at the age of 63, he commanded respect and maintained a strong presence in the ring. Gagne was notorious for protecting the integrity of the wrestling business, promoting kayfabe ethics, and ensuring that wrestlers upheld characters outside the ring.
Despite his influence, there was a sentiment that Gagne's business practices may have been outdated as the landscape of wrestling began to change. His rigid adherence to tradition contrasted with the more modern, boundary-pushing ideas propagated by Vince McMahon, who emerged as a transformative force in the industry.