Explore the Golden Age of Wrestling in Minnesota with our in-depth review of George Schire’s Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling: from Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors. Dive into the rise of the AWA, legendary feuds, and the unforgettable stars that made Minneapolis a wrestling hotspot from 1933 to the early 1990s. Discover why this book is a must-read for wrestling historians and fans alike, capturing the true essence of Minnesota’s wrestling legacy.
Exploring Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling Legacy
In George Schire’s Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling: from Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors, Schire relives how wrestling became a popular hotspot in Minneapolis, starting in 1933 and ending in the early 1990s. The book starts off covering the local shows in the area and the ones involving the National Wrestling Alliance until Gagne started up the American Wrestling Association (AWA). Most of the book focuses on the AWA and the superstars that wrestled there full-time or occasionally.
A Comprehensive Wrestling Timeline
With what seems to be a lifetime of research and collecting photos or posters, Schire has compiled an in-depth timeline of events in Minnesota. He clearly explains in the introduction how he plans to narrate the history. Each era feels like a series of episodes, with Schire detailing each major feud or upcoming featured attraction, such as the Lou Thesz-Verne Gagne title rematch that is constantly avoided. Using old wrestling newsletter headlines, side notes on almost every page, and photos from each era help give extra insight into matters that can be easily lost in an extensive timeline.
Highlighting AWA Superstars
Following the collapse of the AWA, Schire focuses on individual stars and some of the tag teams that are highly regarded in Minnesota. The book’s greatest strength over McMahon’s The Spectacular Legacy of the American Wrestling Association DVD is how Schire details all AWA stars instead of just selective ones that benefit World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Featuring Stan Mayslack, Hans Schmidt, and Moose Evans are just a few examples of how many more AWA superstars are in the book compared to the WWE DVD.
Realism Versus Storylines
It may seem hard to tell when Schire is going along with storylines or if a real-life situation occurred. However, when The Crusher was out with an injury in 1969, he admits that it was a work, and he acknowledges that the angles were changed due to a random death. His writing style adds to the mystery of some angles and grudges that wrestlers still have to this day.
A Missed Conclusion
The lack of a section for an overall conclusion was the main disappointment. One would believe that there is no future for pro wrestling in Minnesota besides WWE. Although the Road Warriors are mentioned in the title, they are not nearly as featured as Gagne is in the book. One could argue about other tag teams or individuals that could have been mentioned at the end of the book. Still, Schire likely wanted readers to get interested and think about the many superstars that came out of Minnesota.
Essential Reading for Wrestling Historians
This type of wrestling history is truly needed in an age where the Internet is seen as all-knowing yet incomplete. The view from someone who lived through a good portion of Minnesota’s Golden Age and took the time to research it thoroughly makes this book a must-read for wrestling historians and long-time fans of the AWA.
Book Details
- Title: Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling: from Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors
- Author: George Schire
- Publisher: The Minnesota Historical Society Press
- Pages: 256
- Release Date: May 2010
Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling stands out as an essential read for those interested in Minnesota’s rich history of professional wrestling. Schire’s meticulous research and engaging narrative are valuable to any wrestling fan’s collection.
