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Doug Somers on how AWA COLLAPSED due to Verne Gagne stealing money

Title Match Wrestling

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"Pretty Boy" Doug Somers discusses the downfall of AWA and blames Verne Gagne for stealing money.

Plus we hear about the legendary Wrestlerock shows, Doug's former partner Buddy Rose, Greg Gagne & more on the American Wrestling Association.

Originally produced by RF Video Inc in 2008. Licensed for exclusive distribution by Title Match Network.

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RIP to Mr. Somers, a classic heel known for his work in AWA (American Wrestling Alliance) and teaming with Buddy Rose. Hear about his battles against names like the Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels, Marty Jannetty), Curt Hennig and more legends from wrestling's golden era.

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20 Comments

@garyrossetti2443 1 year ago

Doug Somers & Buddy Rose was one of my favorite teams back in 86, great matches against The Midnight Rockers❤😊

@Desertson67 1 year ago

Buddy Rose and Doug Somers did not sell out buildings. They invited a lot of empty seats that all showed up.

@theredwriggler 1 year ago

It’s crazy. I’ve heard from Greg Gagne in a shoot, he blamed Jerry Jarrett, it sounds like all the promoters pointing to the other promoters and said they are paying out.

Verne got greedy as hell. It started with Hogan leaving. He wanted the Japanese royalties. He was out of his mind during this time with an out of control ego.

I feel bad for Greg Gagne. He probably knew what his father was doing wasn’t right, but being a good son, he never turned on his family. And it sounds like he was propositioned to, at least according to Greg 🤷‍♂️

@EVGriffinJr 1 year ago

Not surprised to hear it is. This echoed a lot of what other talents said. From Bobby Heenan, Jesse Ventura, and even Hulk Hogan to name a few.

@johnglover-yh1zo 1 year ago

Read a road story where dory funk wrote about traveling with Harley race .dory wanted to get a sandwich from this BBQ joint nearby and Harley said I wouldn't eat at that place for all the money under Verne gagnes mattess

@rosario508 1 year ago

The AWA was hardly a hot territory when buddy rose and Doug Somers were there

@landinmycourt75 7 months ago

“Everybody says that” is Rob’s go to phrase when someone answers a question.

@michaelrood2751 1 year ago

Another example of an ex wrestler claiming they sold out every arena lol. Laughable.

@70qq 1 year ago

theres been lots of guys say that they'd do a show for Verne and get a decent payoff , then be back in the same town a few weeks later and draw an even bigger crowd and get a smaller payoff ... guys may not know their value all the time , but they can tell when its a bigger house and better draw at the same location and they get paid less , they're def getting screwed

@hezamachine 1 year ago

Verne Gagne never paid Jerry Lawler for SuperClash III. That's why Lawler kept the AWA Championship.

@ricksaint2000 1 year ago

Thank you TMW

@ithinkaboutthings9052 1 year ago

I enjoyed watching Somers work. But I’m old enough to have seen it live, firsthand. He and many others are playing to interviewers and audiences who believe a “shoot interview” is an honest, real interview. Granted, Somers made more money from the business than me and many others. But he was never the draw on any marquee or poster in ANY territory ever. Very good floater who was a good talent for the midcard, especially in a team. He’s the only guy I’ve seen who called Verne a thief and accused him of stealing. Gagne was a cheap boss. Those are not limited to the territory days or pro wrestling. Cheap is not synonymous with stealing.

@Desertson67 1 year ago

Doug Somers never drew a dime in his life. There was NEVER 20,000 people in the seats to see Rose and Somers. Maybe 1,000 people tops.

@Jim-Tuner 10 months ago

Verne didn't "steal" money. It was his promotion and his money. He decided what he could pay people. If they didn't like what they were paid, they could always leave. Doug Somers and Buddy Rose were good workers in the AWA. But the only reason they were in the AWA was that the WWF didn't want either of them at the time.
The AWA eventually failed because WCW and WWE were signing almost anyone with a pulse. It was just about impossible for any other promotion to survive. Just about every other smaller promotion went out of business for the same reasons around the same time.