It was that success that led to Minnesota producing a ton of talent that has continued to enrich, sometimes enrage, and keep wrestling popular in the state today. As is well known, the AWA’s success led to many wrestlers, particularly ones that attended Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, pursuing careers. There was Gagne himself, his son Greg, and then a who’s who of names who graduated from the classes of 1976 and 1977, including Jim Crockett Promotions star Nikita Koloff, and future WWE Hall of Famers Curt Hennig and “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Then there’s those that found their way to pro wrestling through the University of Minnesota. The likes of Brock Lesnar, AEW’s Shelton Benjamin, and Gable Steveson all began wrestling for the Golden Gophers team, which later led to WWE deals, and varying levels of success.

Even outside of the ring, Minnesota proved to be influential with future wrestling executives. Though born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Pennsylvania, Eric Bischoff eventually found himself in Minnesota, leading to a job with AWA where he worked as a broadcaster, and even an executive, during the promotion’s twilight years. It was from that Bischoff learned the ropes of the wrestling business, eventually working his way up to the top of WCW. And it was likely that love for Minnesota that contributed to Bischoff choosing Minnesota’s Mall of America as the host for the first ever episode of “WCW Monday Nitro” in September 1995. Featuring the debut of Lex Luger, the Mall of America “Nitro” laid the groundwork for what WCW would be over the next few years, and singlehandedly kicked off the Monday Night Wars.