The Unseen AWA Scenario: Hulk Hogan's Missed Shot at Championship Glory!

Pro Wrestling Stories

The chance was at hand. Promoter Verne Gagne had the wrestling industry's most popular star at his disposal. The Incredible Hulk Hogan was locked in a fierce contest for the American Wrestling Association Championship against the face of AWA, Nick Bockwinkel.

Early Years of AWA

A little bit of history is in order here. The AWA was founded in 1960 by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo, having purchased the Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club from Dennis Stecher a year earlier.

Verne Gagne, a long-standing AWA World Heavyweight Champion, held the title for the majority of the promotion's existence.

Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel: The Butterfly Effect

On April 24th, 1983, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul had recently faced a record-breaking April snowstorm, accumulating a total of 13.6 inches just ten days earlier.

It should have been the match that kickstarted one of the greatest runs in wrestling history.  Instead, it was a blunder that night that soon led to the downfall of the AWA!

Nine months later, Hulk Hogan would be defeating the Iron Sheik to capture the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.

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