3. WWF Champion vs. AWA Champion – 25 March 1979
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The American Wrestling Association was very popular during the 70s and the 80s, having split from the National Wrestling Alliance in 1960. Verne Gagne built the company around technical wrestlers such as himself and was the face of the company during its initial days.
The AWA would unearth talents like Jesse Ventura, Scott Hall, Shawn Michaels, Marty Jannetty, Vader, Madusa, Curt Hennig and most famously, Hulk Hogan. Despite Hogan’s popularity and drawing power, Gagne refused to make him AWA Champion unless Hogan gave him the bulk of his merchandising revenue. Hogan refused and decided to join Vince McMahon’s WWF, dealing a major blow to the AWA.
Nick Bockwinkel was Gagne’s chosen successor, and the technical wrestler would have a Champion vs. Champion match with the WWF (then WWWF) Champion Bob Backlund on 25 March 1979 with both titles on the line, Unsurprisingly, the match ended in a double count-out, meaning both wrestlers kept their titles.
AWA’s fortunes declined in the late 80s which saw wrestlers jump ship to rival promotions, mainly the WWE. Curt Hennig – whom Gagne wanted to build the AWA around – jumped to Vince McMahon’s company along with Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels. AWA would then fold in 1991.
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