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List of American Wrestling Association attendance records

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This is a list of American Wrestling Association attendance records. Established as the Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club by Tony Stecher in 1933, it was among the first professional wrestling promotions in the United States. A founding member of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1948, Stecher controlled the NWA's "Minneapolis wrestling territory" which included much of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwestern United States. In 1959, Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo took control of the company and left the NWA the following year. The company was subsequently renamed the American Wrestling Association. With Gagne promoted as a legitimate rival to the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, the AWA closely matched the NWA in terms of attendances. In its heyday, the AWA was able to hold "stadium show" supercards at Comiskey Park, the International Amphitheater, Rosemont Horizon, Soldier Field and other major venues.

WrestleRock '86, held at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on April 20, 1986, was attended by 23,000 fans. It is the AWA's top gate attendance and among the biggest shows of the 1980s wrestling boom.

The AWA was considered one of the "Big Three", along with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Wide Wrestling Federation, during the "Territory-era" (1940s–1980s). Although its success continued into the early part of the 1980s wrestling boom, peaking with 23,000 fans at WrestleRock '86, the promotion was unable to compete against the national expansion of Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation, and eventually went bankrupt in 1991.

Events and attendances

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Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
AWA WrestleRock '86
April 20, 1986 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 23,000 The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) in a Steel Cage match [1][2]
AWA Verne Gagne vs. Baron Von Raschke
August 14, 1970 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 21,000 Verne Gagne (c) vs. Baron Von Raschke in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [3]
AWA SuperClash
September 28, 1985 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 20,347 Rick Martel (c) vs. Stan Hansen for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [4]
AWA 20-Man Battle Royal
October 23, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 19,120 20-man Battle Royal match [5]
AWA The Crusher & Greg Gagne vs. Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey & Jerry Blackwell
March 25, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 19,000 The Crusher and Greg Gagne vs. Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey and Jerry Blackwell in a Steel Cage match [6]
AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Hulk Hogan
April 18, 1982 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 18,969 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Hulk Hogan for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA Hulk Hogan & The High Flyers vs. Crusher Blackwell, Ken Patera & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey
November 4, 1983 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon 18,500 Hulk Hogan and The High Flyers (Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell) vs. Crusher Blackwell, Ken Patera and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey [7]
AWA Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Blackjack Lanza
March 4, 1984 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon 18,000 Jumbo Tsuruta (c) vs. Blackjack Lanza for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [7]
AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Mad Dog Vachon
December 25, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 17,857 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Mad Dog Vachon for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [8]
AWA The Crusher vs. Jerry Blackwell
August 17, 1980 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 17,000 The Crusher vs. Jerry Blackwell in a Lights Out match
AWA Baron Von Raschke, Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher vs. Masa Saito, Jesse Ventura & Jerry Blackwell
April 29, 1984 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon Baron Von Raschke, Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher vs. Masa Saito, Jesse Ventura and Jerry Blackwell in a Steel Cage match [7]
AWA Tony Atlas vs. Masa Saito
October 21, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center Tony Atlas vs. Masa Saito
AWA Rick Martel vs. Billy Robinson
November 22, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 16,000 Rick Martel (c) vs. Billy Robinson for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [9]
AWA Verne Gagne Retirement Show (Day 1)
May 10, 1981 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 15,780 Verne Gagne (c) vs. Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [10]
AWA Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum vs. Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher
August 27, 1976 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 15,000 Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher in a Steel Cage match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Hulk Hogan
June 20, 1982 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 15,000 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Hulk Hogan for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Brad Rheingans
September 25, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 15,000 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Brad Rheingans for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA Dick the Bruiser & The Blackjacks vs. Ken Patera, Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey
April 1, 1984 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon 14,250 Dick the Bruiser and The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza) vs. Ken Patera, Jerry Blackwell and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey
AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Wahoo McDaniel
June 26, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 14,000 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Wahoo McDaniel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA The Crusher vs. Jerry Blackwell
February 26, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 14,000 The Crusher vs. Jerry Blackwell in a No Disqualification match
AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Mad Dog Vachon
November 24, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 13,163 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Mad Dog Vachon for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA Rick Martel vs. Jim Garvin
December 25, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 13,000 Rick Martel (c) vs. Jim Garvin for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA Jerry Blackwell & The Road Warriors vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
January 10, 1986 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon 13,000 Jerry Blackwell and The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts) in a Steel Cage match [7]
AWA André the Giant and Ray Stevens vs. The Heenan Family
October 21, 1982 		Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Arena 12,512 André the Giant and Ray Stevens defeated The Heenan Family (Ken Patera and Bobby Heenan)
AWA / JCP Rick Martel vs. Kamala
November 24, 1985 		Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Civic Center 12,500 Rick Martel vs. Kamala for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA The Crusher vs. Angelo Mosca
April 1, 1978 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin MECCA Arena 12,308 The Crusher vs. Angelo Mosca in a Steel Cage match

Historical

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Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1930s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. MBWC Jim Londos vs. Ray Steele
March 19, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 10,000 Jim Londos (c) vs. Ray Steele for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [11]
MBWC Jim Londos vs. Ray Steele
April 30, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Jim Londos (c) vs. Ray Steele for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [12]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Dick Raines
April 20, 1937 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Dick Raines [13]
2. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Hans Kaempfer
June 7, 1938 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,041 Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Hans Kaempfer for the World Heavyweight Championship [14]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Gino Vagnone
July 12, 1938 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Gino Vagnone for the World Heavyweight Championship
3. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Otto Kuss
July 11, 1937 		Waterloo, Iowa Electric Park Arena 9,000 Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Otto Kuss for the World Heavyweight Championship [15]
4. MBWC Jim Londos vs. Abe Kashey
March 6, 1934 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 8,500 Jim Londos (c) vs. Abe Kashey for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [16]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Farmer Tobin
June 30, 1936 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Farmer Tobin [17]
5. MBWC Pat O'Shocker vs. Abe Kashey
January 29, 1934 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 8,000 Pat O'Shocker vs. Abe Kashey [18]
MBWC Abe Kashey vs. Charley Retzlaff
October 9, 1934 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Abe Kashey vs. Charley Retzlaff in a Boxer vs. Wrestler match with special referee Jack Dempsey [19]
MBWC Jim Londos vs. Abe Coleman
January 22, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Jim Londos (c) vs. Abe Coleman for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [20]
MBWC Dean Detton vs. Bronko Nagurski
June 29, 1937 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Dean Detton (c) vs. Bronko Nagurski for the World Heavyweight Championship [21]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Dick Raines
September 7, 1937 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Dick Raines [22]
6. MBWC Ray Steele vs. Ed Lewis
April 2, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 7,000 Ray Steele vs. Ed "Strangler" Lewis [23]
MBWC Danno O'Mahoney vs. Ray Steele
September 17, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Danno O'Mahoney (c) vs. Ray Steele for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [24]
MBWC Hans Kaempfer vs. Dick Raines
June 8, 1937 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Hans Kaempfer vs. Dick Raines [25]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Paul Jones
February 1, 1938 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Paul Jones for the World Heavyweight Championship [26]
7. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Abe Coleman
March 5, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 6,500 Bronko Nagurski vs. Abe Coleman [27]
8. MBWC Danno O'Mahoney vs. Paul Jones
November 11, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 6,000 Danno O'Mahoney (c) vs. Paul Jones for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [28]
MBWC Lou Plummer vs. Frank Speer
January 13, 1936 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Lou Plummer vs. Frank Speer [29]
MBWC Lou Plummer vs. Farmer Tobin
March 3, 1936 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Lou Plummer vs. Farmer Tobin [30]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Ray Steele
January 4, 1938 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Ray Steele for the World Heavyweight Championship [31]
MBWC Jim Londos vs. Ray Steele
March 22, 1938 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Jim Londos vs. Ray Steele [32]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Ali Baba
May 9, 1939 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Ali Baba [33]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Chief Saunooke
October 10, 1939 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Chief Saunooke for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [34]
9. FKE / MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Fritz Von Schacht
February 8, 1938 		Chicago, Illinois Chicago Stadium 5,081 Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Fritz Von Schacht for the World Heavyweight Championship [35]
10. MBWC Jim Londos vs. Joe Cox
June 13, 1933 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 5,000 Jim Londos vs. Joe Cox [36]
MBWC Milo Steinborn vs. George Koverly
July 22, 1934 		Waterloo, Iowa Electric Park Arena Milo Steinborn vs. George Koverly [37]
MBWC Abe Coleman vs. Abe Kashey
January 8, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Abe Coleman vs. Abe Kashey [38]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Lou Plummer
June 18, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Lou Plummer [39]
MBWC Danno O'Mahoney vs. Lou Plummer
July 16, 1935 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Danno O'Mahoney (c) vs. Lou Plummer for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [40]
MBWC Lou Plummer vs. Otto Kuss
January 7, 1936 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Lou Plummer vs. Otto Kuss [41]
MBWC Jim Londos vs. Cliff Olson
February 18, 1936 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Jim Londos vs. Cliff Olson [42]
MBWC Farmer Tobin vs. Dick Raines
February 9, 1937 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Farmer Tobin vs. Dick Raines [43]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Ed Lewis
May 25, 1937 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Ed "Strangler" Lewis [44]
MBWC Hans Kaempfer vs. Chief Little Wolf
April 26, 1938 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Hans Kaempfer vs. Chief Little Wolf [45]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Hans Kaempfer
November 29, 1938 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Hans Kaempfer [46]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Dick Raines
June 28, 1939 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Dick Raines for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [47]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1940s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. MBWC Ray Steele vs. Bronko Nagurski
March 11, 1941 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 8,000 Ray Steele (c) vs. Bronko Nagurski for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [48]
2. MBWC Sandor Szabo vs. Cliff Gustafson
July 1, 1941 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 7,000 Sandor Szabo (c) vs. Cliff Gustafson for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [49]
3. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Cliff Gustafson
January 27, 1942 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 6,500 Bronko Nagurski vs. Cliff Gustafson [50]
4. MBWC Cliff Gustafson vs. Abe Kashey
May 29, 1945 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 6,000 Cliff Gustafson vs. Abe Kashey [51]
5. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Bob Wagner
November 29, 1949 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 5,326 Bronko Nagurski vs. Bob Wagner [52]
6. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Ernie Dusek
January 9, 1940 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 5,000 Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Ernie Dusek for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Danno O'Mahoney
February 6, 1940 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski (c) vs. Danno O'Mahoney for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Ed Virag
April 30, 1940 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Ed Virag
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Lou Thesz
May 7, 1940 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Lou Thesz
MBWC The French Angel vs. Alf Johnson
June 7, 1940 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium The French Angel vs. Alf Johnson
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Sandor Szabo
May 26, 1942 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Sandor Szabo [53]
MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Steve Casey
January 20, 1948 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Bronko Nagurski vs. Steve Casey [54]
MBWC George Gordienko vs. Mike Browning
February 3, 1948 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium George Gordienko vs. Mike Browning [55]
MBWC Orville Brown vs. Bronko Nagurski
June 14, 1949 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Orville Brown (c) vs. Bronko Nagurski for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [56]
7. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Bill Longson
December 27, 1949 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 4,623 Bronko Nagurski vs. Bill Longson [57]
8. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Ray Steele
June 5, 1945 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 4,500 Bronko Nagurski vs. Ray Steele [58]
9. MBWC Midwest Wrestling tournament
February 20, 1940 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 4,000 16-man Midwest Wrestling tournament [59]
MBWC Sandor Szabo vs. Billy Bartush
April 28, 1942 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Sandor Szabo vs. Billy Bartush [60]
MBWC George Gordienko vs. Dave Levin
January 6, 1948 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium George Gordienko vs. Dave Levin [61]
10. MBWC Steve Kozak vs. Joe Pazandak
November 21, 1946 		Winnipeg, Manitoba Civic Auditorium 3,800 Steve Kozak vs. Joe Pazandak
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1950s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. MBWC Abe Kashey vs. Dick Raines
March 23, 1954 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,990 Abe Kashey vs. Dick Raines with special referee Joe Louis [62]
2. MBWC Yukon Eric vs. Hard Boiled Haggerty
July 14, 1953 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,641 Yukon Eric vs. Hard Boiled Haggerty [63]
3. MBWC Tiny Mills vs. Hard Boiled Haggerty
October 28, 1952 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,400 Tiny Mills vs. Hard Boiled Haggerty [64]
MBWC Yukon Eric vs. Ski Hi Lee
May 5, 1953 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium Yukon Eric vs. Ski Hi Lee [65]
4. MBWC The Kalmikoffs vs. Lord Layton & Bobby Managoff
March 6, 1956 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,250 The Kalmikoffs (Ivan Kalmikoff and Karol Kalmikoff) vs. Lord Layton and Bobby Managoff [66]
5. MBWC Ike Eakins vs Hard Boiled Haggerty
March 17, 1953 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Armory 9,238 Ike Eakins vs Hard Boiled Haggerty [67]
6. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Lou Thesz
June 26, 1951 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,146 Bronko Nagurski vs. Lou Thesz [68]
7. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Hard Boiled Haggerty
August 19, 1952 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,120 Bronko Nagurski vs. Hard Boiled Haggerty [69]
8. MBWC Verne Gagne & Paul Baillargeon vs. Tiny Mills & Dick Raines
July 22, 1952 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,000 Verne Gagne and Paul Baillargeon vs. Tiny Mills and Dick Raines in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [70]
9. MBWC Butch Levy vs. Dick Raines
January 31, 1950 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 8,934 Butch Levy vs. Dick Raines with special referee Jack Dempsey [71]
10. MBWC Bronko Nagurski vs. Wladek Kowalski
May 2, 1950 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 8,917 Bronko Nagurski vs. Wladek Kowalski [72]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1960s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. AWA Verne Gagne vs. Blackjack Lanza
July 27, 1968 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater 12,108 Verne Gagne (c) vs. Blackjack Lanza for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [73]
2. AWA Larry Hennig & Harley Race vs. Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher
April 15, 1967 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater 11,425 Larry Hennig and Harley Race (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher for the AWA World Tag Team Championship [74]
3. AWA Lars Anderson vs. Bill Watts
April 10, 1969 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Arena 11,308 Lars Anderson vs. Bill Watts
4. AWA Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher vs. Larry Hennig & Harley Race
January 17, 1965 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Auditorium 10,993 Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher (c) vs. Larry Hennig and Harley Race in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [75]
5. AWA The Crusher vs. Verne Gagne
February 15, 1963 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Auditorium 10,802 The Crusher vs. Verne Gagne in a Death match [76]
6. AWA Verne Gagne vs. Gene Kiniski
November 24, 1960 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Auditorium 10,661 Verne Gagne (c) vs. Gene Kiniski for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [9][77]
7. AWA Dick the Bruiser & Bobby Heenan vs. The Chain Gang
June 21, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater 10,000 Dick the Bruiser and Bobby Heenan vs. The Chain Gang (Frank Dillinger and Jack Dillinger) in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
AWA Verne Gagne vs. Bill Watts
July 26, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater Verne Gagne (c) vs. Bill Watts in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [78]
AWA Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher vs. The Vachons
August 30, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher (c) vs. The Vachons (Mad Dog Vachon and Butcher Vachon) in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
AWA The Vachons vs. Pat O'Connor & Wilbur Snyder
September 13, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheatre The Vachons (Mad Dog Vachon and Butcher Vachon) vs. Pat O'Connor and Wilbur Snyder in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [79]
AWA The Vachons vs. Edouard Carpentier & Wilbur Snyder
September 27, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheatre The Vachons (Butcher Vachon and Mad Dog Vachon) (c) vs. Edouard Carpentier and Wilbur Snyder in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship [80]
AWA The Vachons vs. Red Bastien & Billy Red Lyons
October 11, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater The Vachons (Mad Dog Vachon and Butcher Vachon) (c) vs. Red Bastien and Billy Red Lyons in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship [81]
AWA The Vachons vs. Red Bastien & Billy Red Lyons
November 8, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater The Vachons (Mad Dog Vachon and Butcher Vachon) (c) vs. Red Bastien and Billy Red Lyons in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship [82]
AWA 12-man Battle Royal
November 22, 1969 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater 12-man Battle Royal [83]
8. AWA Larry Hennig & Harley Race vs. Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher
March 11, 1967 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater 9,812 Larry Hennig and Harley Race (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
9. AWA Mad Dog Vachon vs. Verne Gagne
June 26, 1965 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 9,713 Mad Dog Vachon (c) vs. Verne Gagne in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [84]
10. AWA Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher vs. The Vachons
July 12, 1969 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Arena 9,512 Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher (c) vs. The Vachons (Mad Dog Vachon and Butcher Vachon) in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1970s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. AWA Verne Gagne vs. Baron Von Raschke
August 14, 1970 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 21,000 Verne Gagne (c) vs. Baron Von Raschke in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [3][85]
2. AWA Verne Gagne vs. Billy Robinson
September 7, 1974 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 18,000 Verne Gagne (c) vs. Billy Robinson for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [3]
3. AWA Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum vs. Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher
August 27, 1976 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 15,000 Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher in a Steel Cage match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
4. AWA The Crusher vs. Angelo Mosca
April 1, 1978 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin MECCA Arena 12,308 The Crusher vs. Angelo Mosca in a Steel Cage match
5. AWA The Crusher vs. Nick Bockwinkel
October 9, 1971 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Arena 12,300 The Crusher vs. Nick Bockwinkel
AWA The Crusher & Mad Dog Vachon vs. Billy Graham & Ivan Koloff
September 29, 1973 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Arena The Crusher and Mad Dog Vachon vs. Billy Graham and Ivan Koloff in a Steel Cage match
6. AWA The Crusher vs. Mad Dog Vachon
June 13, 1970 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Arena 12,076 The Crusher vs. Mad Dog Vachon in a Steel Cage match
7. AWA The Crusher vs. Dusty Rhodes
June 17, 1972 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Arena 12,062 The Crusher vs. Dusty Rhodes in a Saloon match
8. AWA Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher vs. The Chain Gang
June 2, 1970 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater 12,000 Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher vs. The Chain Gang (Jim Dillinger and Jack Dillinger) in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
AWA Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher vs. The Blackjacks
September 1, 1972 		Chicago, Illinois Soldier Field Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher vs. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza) in a Steel Cage match with special referee Jersey Joe Walcott
AWA Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens vs. Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher
August 16, 1975 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Verne Gagne
December 3, 1977 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Verne Gagne for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
9. AWA Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens vs. Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher
August 19, 1972 		Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Arena 11,951 Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
10. AWA André the Giant & The High Flyers vs. The Heenan Family
March 18, 1976 		Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Arena 11,500 André the Giant and The High Flyers (Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell) vs. The Heenan Family (Nick Bockwinkel, Bobby Duncum and Bobby Heenan)
AWA Dick the Bruiser vs. Ernie Ladd
March 11, 1978 		Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheater Dick the Bruiser vs. Ernie Ladd in a Texas Death match
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1980s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. AWA WrestleRock 86
April 20, 1986 		Minneapolis, Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 23,000 The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) in a Steel Cage match [1][2]
2. AWA SuperClash
September 28, 1985 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 20,347 Rick Martel (c) vs. Stan Hansen for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [4]
3. AWA The Road Warriors vs. The Crusher & Stan Lane
August 30, 1984 		Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 20,000[Note 1] The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal) (c) vs. The Crusher and Stan Lane for the AWA World Tag Team Championship
AWA AWA Super Sunday
April 24, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 20,000 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Hulk Hogan for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [86]
3. AWA 20-Man Battle Royal
October 23, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 19,120 20-man Battle Royal match [5]
4. AWA The Crusher & Greg Gagne vs. Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey & Jerry Blackwell
March 25, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 19,000 The Crusher and Greg Gagne vs. Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey and Jerry Blackwell in a Steel Cage match [6]
5. AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Hulk Hogan
April 18, 1982 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 18,969 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Hulk Hogan for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
6. AWA Hulk Hogan & The High Flyers vs. Crusher Blackwell, Ken Patera & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey
November 4, 1983 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon 18,500 Hulk Hogan and The High Flyers (Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell) vs. Crusher Blackwell, Ken Patera and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey [7]
7. AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Rick Martel
November 25, 1982 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 18,000 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Rick Martel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [9]
AWA Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Blackjack Lanza
March 4, 1984 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon Jumbo Tsuruta (c) vs. Blackjack Lanza for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [7]
AWA The Crusher & Baron Von Raschke vs Mr. Saito & Jesse Ventura
April 1, 1984 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon The Crusher and Baron Von Raschke vs Mr. Saito and Jesse Ventura [7]
8. AWA Nick Bockwinkel vs. Mad Dog Vachon
December 25, 1983 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 17,857 Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Mad Dog Vachon for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [8]
9. AWA The Crusher vs. Jerry Blackwell
August 17, 1980 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 17,000 The Crusher vs. Jerry Blackwell in a Lights Out match
AWA Baron Von Raschke, Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher vs. Masa Saito, Jesse Ventura & Jerry Blackwell
April 29, 1984 		Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon Baron Von Raschke, Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher vs. Masa Saito, Jesse Ventura and Jerry Blackwell in a Steel Cage match [7]
AWA Tony Atlas vs. Masa Saito
October 21, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center Tony Atlas vs. Masa Saito
10. AWA Rick Martel vs. Billy Robinson
November 22, 1984 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 16,000 Rick Martel (c) vs. Billy Robinson for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [9]
Top 5 most-attended shows in the 1990s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. AWA / NWA Twin Wars '90
May 5, 1990 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 4,000 Larry Zbyszko vs. Nikita Koloff for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship with special guest referee Nick Bockwinkel [87]
2. AWA SuperClash IV
April 8, 1990 		St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 2,000 Mr. Saito (c) vs. Larry Zbyszko for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship with special guest referee Nick Bockwinkel [88]
3. AWA All Star Wrestling
January 22, 1994 		Red Wing, Minnesota Treasure Island Resort & Casino 700 Larry Zbyszko vs. Repo Man [89]
4. AWA Wahoo McDaniel & Greg Gagne vs. The Destruction Crew
May 3, 1991 		Bloomington, Minnesota Bloomington Kennedy High School 650 Wahoo McDaniel and Greg Gagne vs. The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom)
5. AWA Wahoo McDaniel & Baron Von Raschke vs. The Destruction Crew
May 2, 1991 		Bemidji, Minnesota 450 Wahoo McDaniel and Baron Von Raschke vs. The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom)

Footnotes

edit
  1. ^ The event took place after a Chicago White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays baseball game.

References

edit

General

  • Freedman, Lew (2018). "Attendance at Wrestling Matches". Pro Wrestling: A Comprehensive Reference Guide. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, LLC. ISBN 978-1-4408-5350-0.
  • Hornbaker, Tim (2018). Death of the Territories: Expansion, Betrayal and the War that Changed Pro Wrestling Forever. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 1773052322.</ref>

Specific

  1. ^ a b Brashear, David (August 13, 2008). "Great-ing Gimmicks of the Past: The Wrestlerock Rumble". InsidePulse.com.
  2. ^ a b Laurinaitis, Joe; Wright, Andrew William (2011). "10. Snacking On Danger And Dining On Death". The Road Warriors: Danger, Death and the Rush of Wrestling. St. Charles, Illinois: Medallion Press. ISBN 1605421421.
  3. ^ a b c Farmer, Matt (November 9, 2011). "Top 10 Biggest Cards of the Year 70's". WrestlingClassics.com.
  4. ^ a b Hoops, Brian (September 28, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (9/28): first-ever AWA SuperClash, first-ever NWA U.S. tag champions crowned". F4Wonline.com. Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Online.
  5. ^ a b "Mad Dog wins 20-man battle royal". Star Tribune. October 24, 1983. p. 43. Mad Dog Vachon won the 20-man battle royal Sunday night in a professional wrestling card at the St. Paul Civic Center before a standing-room crowd of 19,120. Several thousand fans were turned away.
  6. ^ a b "Gagne, Crusher win cage match before 19,000". Star Tribune. March 26, 1984. p. 36. Greg Gagne and the Crusher defeated Jerry Blackwell and Sheik Adnann el Kaissey Sunday night in the main event of a pro wrestling card at the St. Paul Civic Center before more than 19,000 fans.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Cawthon, Graham. "Arena histories: Rosemont Horizon - 1985-1989". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  8. ^ a b "Bockwinkel loses match, keeps title". Star Tribune. December 26, 1983. p. 48. Mad Dog Vachon defeated Nick Bockwinkel in the heavyweight championship bout Sunday night at the St. Paul Civic Center before a crowd of 17,857.
  9. ^ a b c d Meltzer, Dave (November 25, 2021). "Dave Meltzer's History of Pro Wrestling on Thanksgiving". F4Wonline.com. Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Online.
  10. ^ "Gagne retains title". The Minneapolis Star. May 11, 1981. p. 35. Verne Gagne ended a 32-year wrestling career by retaining his American Wrestling Alliance heavyweight title Sunday night in the St. Paul Civic Center. Gagne, 55, pinned former champion Nick Bockwinkel before 15,780 fans.
  11. ^ Barton, George A. (March 20, 1935). "Steele Wrestles Jim Londos to Draw in Furious Match. Steele, Londos Trade Punishment in Gruelling Battle; Has Edge on Champ Most of Way as Record Crowd of 10,000 Watches". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 15. Ten thousand spectators, the largest crowd that ever witnessed a wrestling match in Minneapolis, looked on enthralled as Steele, after having considerably the better of the contest for more than 50 minutes, was badly injured by being hurled out of the ring, but courageously continued the struggle to gain an even break with the Glorious Greek.
  12. ^ "10,000 See Jim Londos Defeat Ray Steele; Champion Pins Foe in 1 Hour and 11 Minutes". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. May 1, 1935. p. 19. A crowd of nearly 10,000 sports fans, a record throng for a wrestling show in the northwest, looked on enthralled as Londos turned back the challenge of his California rival in a furious encounter in which both principals gave and took punishment with equal fortitude.
  13. ^ Rudick, Irvin (April 21, 1937). "Nagurski, Raines Both Kayoed; It's Draw. 10,000 Watch Rough Match. Both Outside Ring at Finish; Texan Gains Edge in Wild Action". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 17. Ten thousand spectators, the largest crowd to pack the Minneapolis auditorium for an athletic event since the recent Joe Louis boxing exhibition here, watched Bronko Nagurski and Dick Raines wrestle to a draw in 34 minutes and 47 seconds.
  14. ^ Rudick, Irvin (June 8, 1938). "Nagurski Pins Kaempfer. 9,041 Watch Title Match. German Gives the Bronk His Toughest Mix in Year; Time 32 Minutes". Star Tribune. p. 15. Before an overflow crowd of 9,041 spectators, one of the largest crowds ever to witness a wrestling bout in this man's town, Bronko Nagurski successfully defended his world's heavyweight mat crown against the challenge of Hans Kaempfer, 229-pound strong man from Dresden, Germany, at the Minneapolis auditorium Tuesday night.
  15. ^ "Nagurski Pins Kuss Before 9,000 Spectators". The Des Moines Register. July 12, 1937. p. 6. Bronko Nagurski showed 9,000 fans why he is world's wrestling champion by pinning Otto Kuss, Pine City, Minn., in 15 minutes at the Electric Park here Sunday night.
  16. ^ Barton, George A. (March 7, 1934). "8,500 Fans Watch Jimmie Londos Defeat Abe Kashey; Champion Uses Airplane Spin to Gain Fall. Nagurski Defeats Nolan - Brendel-O'Shocker and Olson-Moen Bouts Draws". Star Tribune. p. 13. Eighty-five hundred spectators, the largest crowd ever to witness a wrestling match in the northwest, saw Jimmie Londos of St. Louis successfully defend his title of world's heavyweight champion by defeating Abe Kashey of New York in a struggle lasting 38 minutes and 25 seconds Tuesday night at the Minneapolis auditorium.
  17. ^ "8,500 Cheer Great Struggle as Nagurski Outlasts Tobin. Flying Block Prevails Over Piledriver Hold. Kashey Applauded as He Battles Marvin to Draw". Star Tribune. July 1, 1936. p. 19. A crowd of more than 8,500 fans, one of the largest ever to gaze upon a wrestling match in Minneapolis, cheered wildly as Bronko Nagurski of International Falls pinned Farmer Tobin, the bearded 248-pound giant from Presque Isle, Maine, after 39 minutes and 19 seconds of fast and hard grappling Tuesday night at the auditorium.
  18. ^ Barton, George A. (January 30, 1934). "8,000 Wrestling Fans Watch Pat O'Shocker Pin Kashey; THRILLING MIX IS BROUGHT TO DRAMATIC END. Roughhouse Rivals Both Are Woozy in Final Stages of Struggle". Star Tribune. p. 16. Approximately 8,000 spectators, the largest crowd that has witnessed a professional sports event in the Minneapolis auditorium since the Dick Daniels-Art Lasky fight in January 1932, watched O'Shocker emerge the victor in a bout that abounded with thrills.
  19. ^ Barton, George A. (October 10, 1934). "Kashey Pins Retzlaff in Fourth Round of Mixed Match. Udell Kayoes Maier in Sixth Round of Bout; 8,000 Fans See Jack Dempsey Referee Boxing-Wrestling Bout". Star Tribune. p. 19. Kashey's victory wasn't popular with a crowd of 8,000 persons, but it was decisive nevertheless for the Scowling Syrian sprawled Retzlaff flat on his back and held him there for three seconds before there Referee Dempsey, in accordance with the rules of the mixed match, patted Abe of the back in token of triumph.
  20. ^ Barton, George A. (January 23, 1935). "Londos Pins Coleman to Retain Heavyweight Mat Title. Officers Stop Kashey's Bout with Freberg; Champion Disposes of N. Y. Rival in 28 Minutes - 8,000 Fans Watch Program". Star Tribune. p. 15. A capacity crowd of 8,000 wildly enthusiastic wrestling fans saw Jimmy Londos defend his title of world's heavyweight champion against the challenge of Abe Coleman of New York at the Minneapolis auditorium Tuesday night, the Greek Adonis pinning the New York Hebrew's shoulders to the mat after a struggle lasting 28 minutes and 51 seconds.
  21. ^ Rudick, Irvin (June 30, 1937). "Nagurski Wins World Wrestling Title. Bronk Throws Dean Detton in 46 Minutes; 8,000 Fans Go Wild as Former Gopher Star Beats Champion". Star Tribune. p. 18. The 8,000 spectators who jammed the auditorium hardly believed what they saw when Nagurski pinned Detton's shoulders and Referee Billy B. Hoke awarded him the match, announcing him as the new champion.
  22. ^ "Back-Breaker Rebounds, And Nag Defeats Raines; Fans Shower Plummer in Win Over Johnny Marrs". Star Tribune. September 8, 1937. p. 18. He got his chance at the Minneapolis auditorium Tuesday night before a capacity crowd of more than 8,000 spectators and nearly made the most of it.
  23. ^ Barton, George A. (April 3, 1935). "Lewis Stages 'Free-for-All' After Losing Match to Steele. Floors Rival, Promoters in Wild Brawl; Bronko Nagurski Defeats John Freberg in 30-Minute Time Limit Match". Star Tribune. p. 15. Some 7,000 spectators looked on pop-eyed with excitement as Lewis turned what had been a stubborn and rather cleanly contested wrestling match into the wildest brawl witnessed in the Minneapolis auditorium since the grapplers began introducing modern mat methods there three years ago.
  24. ^ "O'Mahony Defeats Ray Steele and Retains Wrestling Title; Cheers and Jeers Greet Decision of Referee Pat McGill". Star Tribune. September 18, 1935. p. 20. The decision of Referee Pat McGill in favor of O'Mahoney was received with mingled cheers and jeers from a throng of 7,000, many of whom believed the worst Steele should have received was a draw.
  25. ^ "Kaempfer Given Victory Over Raines on Foul as 7,000 Cheer". Star Tribune. June 9, 1937. p. 15. And when the referee raised the fallen Kaempfer's right arm aloft in victory at 33:27, disqualifying Raines for the staggering blow, the crowd of nearly 7,000 spectators rose and cheered the conqueror.
  26. ^ Rudick, Irvin (February 2, 1938). "Nagurski, Thrice Near Defeat, Pins Texas Paul Jones". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 16. Seven thousand spectators sat tense and unbelieving as Jones clamped his bone-crushing scissors on Bronko and began rolling him from side to side.
  27. ^ Rudick, Irvin (March 6, 1935). "Nagurski Overpowers Coleman to Throw Him in 21 Minutes; Bronk Thrills 6,500 With Display of Strength in Mat Victory". Star Tribune. p. 14. Bronko Nagurski, pride of International Falls, Minn., gave a crowd of 6,500 spectators a glimpse of his tremendous strength Tuesday night when he tossed Abe Coleman at the Minneapolis auditorium in 21 minutes and 47 seconds.
  28. ^ Rudick, Irvin (November 12, 1935). "O'Mahony Wins Unpopular Fall; Retains Title in Match With Jones. Sudden Ending of Match Greeted With Boos, Jeers from Crowd". Star Tribune. p. 15. The ending came abruptly and amid jeers and boos crowd of more than 6,000 spectators.
  29. ^ Rudick, Irvin (January 14, 1936). "Plummer Cheered in Victory Over Speer; Kashey Battles Referee Shires After Losing to Tobin - 6,000 See Show". Star Tribune. p. 17. Lou Plummer, the despised wrestler, the man the fans come to see whipped and whipped soundly, was actually cheered in his match with Frank Speer of Atlanta, Ga., at the Minneapolis auditorium Monday night before capacity crowd of 6,000. Nearly 1,000 were turned away.
  30. ^ Rudick, Irvin (March 4, 1936). "Tobin Hurls Plummer Out of Ring to Win Rough-House Match Packed With Thrills; Leering Lou Injured Arm in Fall to Floor - Johnson Upsets Thiede". Star Tribune. p. 15. And even as Tobin took his bow amid the cheers of some 6,000 spectators, Plummer writhed in pain on the floor with a crowd gathering around him.
  31. ^ "Bronko Nagurski And Ray Steele in 60-Minute Draw; World's Champion Fails to Gain Victory for First Time Since Mounting Throne - Crown Totters Twice as Ray Nears Victory". Star Tribune. January 5, 1938. p. 15. Twice more the champion repeated these tactics and the crowd of more than 6,000 wildly enthusiastic spectators started puttiing on their coats to leave.
  32. ^ "Londos Decisions Ray Steele In Hour of Close Wrestling; Jimmy Shows Old Skill in Defeating Rival Before 6,000 Fans in Match at Auditorium". Star Tribune. March 23, 1938. p. 17. The struggle went the limit before 6,000 fans, the majority of them pulling for a Steele victory.
  33. ^ Rudick, Irvin (May 10, 1939). "Nagurski Loses to Baba on Foul; 6,000 Amazed as Referee Disqualifies Former Champ After Quarter-Hour of Wrestling". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 19. And when the crowd of some 6,000 fans - largest of the current wrestling season - became fully cognizant of what actually had happened in the ring, they were incensed over the decision of the referee who appeared hasty in his disqualification of Nagurski.
  34. ^ "Nagurski Keeps Mat Title By Pinning Huge Saunooke". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 11, 1939. p. 19. A crowd of nearly 6,000 watched Nagurski wear down the huge Indian with a series of flying tackles and shoulder blocks before pinning Saunooke's shoulders to the mat after a struggle lasting 22 minutes and 23 seconds.
  35. ^ "Nagurski Wins Coliseum Bout in 15 Minutes". Chicago Tribune. February 9, 1938. p. 23. Nagurski impressed the 5,081 present with his strength and skill. Gross receipts were $4,752.
  36. ^ Barton, George A. (June 14, 1933). "Jim Londos Scores Thrilling Mat Victory Over Joe Cox; Greek Pins Ohionan with Airplane Spin in 30 Minutes, 27 Seconds". Star Tribune. p. 14. A crowd of fully 5,000 watched the show indicating that wrestling has been restored to popular favor in Minneapolis.
  37. ^ "Koverly Knocked Out When Flying Tackle Misses; Steinborn Victor. Brendel Flops Topas; Buresh, Cosnick Go Half Hour to Draw". The Courier. Waterloo, Iowa. July 23, 1934. p. 10. A crowd of some 5,000 fans witnessed the show.
  38. ^ Rudick, Irvin (January 9, 1935). "Coleman Scores Surprising Victory Over Abe Kashey; New Yorker Pins Rival in 41 Minutes Before 5,000 Fans". Star Tribune. p. 18. Abe Coleman, the New York atom of the wrestling ring, surprised Abe Kashey and a cheering throng of some 5,000 spectators Tuesday night at the Minneapolis auditorium where he pinned the boasting Syrian and knocked him out of a championship match with Jim Londos the world's champion.
  39. ^ Rudick, Irvin (June 19, 1935). "Nagurski Ends Plummer's Wrestling 'Reign of Terror'; Right to Chin Finishes Bad Man in Match on the Auditorium Mat". Star Tribune. p. 15. Some 5,000 customers attended the struggle anticipating a rough match and they weren't disappointed.
  40. ^ Rudick, Irvin (July 17, 1935). "O'Mahoney Uses 'Irish Whip' to Triumph Over Plummer; Danno Proves Popular in Pinning Burly Lou in 16 Minutes". Star Tribune. p. 15. The show, one of the best of the current season, attracted a crowd of some 5,000 spectators.
  41. ^ Murphy, Bob (January 8, 1936). "Kashey Parts Tobin's Beard Right onto Monday Program; Abe Reveals Unusual Possibilities in Farmer as Match Steals Show". The Minneapolis Star. p. 16. Promoters Billy B. Hoke and Tony Stecher last night popped a new wrestling star in the faces of 5,000 fans who had not realized he had such possibilities, and Farmer Tobin, the Maine giant with the ample face feathers, will be a feature on next week's wrestling card.
  42. ^ Rudick, Irvin (February 19, 1936). "Londos Uses Famous Airplane Spin to Pin Cliff Olson to Mat; Cliff Olson's Legs Punish Jim Londos in Strangling Hold. Former Champion Fighting Way Back to the Throne Gains Fall in 29:14 - 5,000 Fans Cheer Winner". Star Tribune. p. 15. Despite the cold weather a crowd of 5,000 fans turned out to see the Greek Andonis, bronzed and appearing in as good condition as he ever was for a championship bout, spring another hurdle in his bid to regain the championship he lost to Danno O'Mahony about a year ago.
  43. ^ Rudick, Irvin (February 10, 1937). "Raines' Back-Breaker Brings Another Triumph Over Tobin; Texan Earns Match With Nagurski by Beating Farmer Again". Star Tribune. p. 17. Dick Raines and his back-breaker still prevail. They prevailed over Farmer Tobin, the bewhiskered giant from Presque Isle, Maine, at the Minneapolis auditorium Tuesday night before a crowd of 5,000 enthusiastic spectators, the fall coming after 28 minutes and six seconds of fast action.
  44. ^ Rudick, Irvin (May 26, 1937). "Nagurski Pins Strangler Lewis After Breaking 9 Headlocks". Star Tribune. p. 16. Bronko Nagurski did it. Given only an outside chance, the all-American football hero pinned Strangler Lewis, four times holder of the world's heavyweight wrestling championship, Tuesday night at the Minneapolis auditorium as 5,000 mat addicts cheered wildly.
  45. ^ "Kaempfer Pounds Indian Into Submission in Rough Tilt; Chief Little Wolf Beaten by German Wrestler in 18 Minutes". Star Tribune. April 27, 198. p. 15. At the moment the referee counted the necessary three seconds over the fallen Little Wolf and ovation from the 5,000 fans reverberated through the auditorium for the popular German.
  46. ^ Rudick, Irvin (November 30, 1938). "Kaempfer Forced to Concede Fall to Bronko in Savage Bout; Blow Cripples Leg After German Has Advantage". Star Tribune. p. 16. The crowd of nearly 5,000 wild-eyed spectators who were kept on the edge of their seats throughout the fast and rough preliminaries, were out of them most of the time during the Nagurski-Kaempfer brawl.
  47. ^ "Nagurski Successfully Defends Wrestling Title". The Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. June 29, 1939. p. 18. Bronko Nagurski, of International Falls, Minn., successfully defended his newly acquired National Wrestling association heavyweight wrestling title against Dick Raines, Dallas, Tex., last night before more than 5,000 spectators.
  48. ^ Diamond, Frank (March 12, 1941). "Nagurski Pins Steele to Regain Title. 8,000 Roaring Fans Witness Mat Classic; Bronk Throws Ray in 57 Minutes, 17 Seconds to Mount Throne Again". Star Tribune. p. 15. Some 8,000 wild-eyed fans, the largest crowd to watch a match in the northwest in two years, was on hand to let loose with a roar that could be heard in the loop when Referee Lou Spandle raised Nagurski's hand over the battered and beaten body of Steele and declared him champion of all the world's wrestlers.
  49. ^ Lofstrom, R. A. (July 2, 1941). "SPORTS; Gustafson of Title Calibre?". St. Cloud Times. p. 9. Gustufson, who recently defeated Bronko Nagurski, and Szabo apparently were so evenly matched that the referee's decision drew hardly a protest from the 7,000 fans.
  50. ^ "Gustafson Throws Nagurski". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. January 28, 1942. p. 13. That was the consensus of 6,500 disgusted spectators as they wended their way out of the Minneapolis Auditorium Tuesday night after seeing Cliff Gustafson of Gonvick throw his Minnesota rival from International Falls in 21 minutes and 18 seconds.
  51. ^ "Beaten Abe Leaves Town". The Minneapolis Star. May 30, 1945. p. 15. He always does, and especially so last night as he went down to defeat at the hands of Cliff Gustafson in 29 minutes and 14 seconds before 6,000 screaming spectators at the Auditorium.
  52. ^ "Nagurski Block Subdues Wagner". Star Tribune. November 30, 1949. p. 17. Bronko Nagurski made a good boy out of Bob (Strangler) Wagner Tuesday night at the Auditorium. The Nag's shoulder block took care of the New York bad boy at 21 minutes and 32 seconds of the wrestling main event before 5,326 persons.
  53. ^ Barton, George A. (May 27, 1942). "Nagurski Retires After Drawing With Szabo; Levy and Pesek Win". Star Tribune. p. 15. It was a case of serving both youth and age in the naval relief wrestling show before 5,000 at the Auditorium Tuesday night.
  54. ^ "Rogers to Head Next Mat Card; Casey 'Strikes Out'". The Minneapolis Star. January 21, 1948. p. 30. More than 5,000 fans saw Nagurski and Casey trade headlocks, head scissors and leg splits for 35 minutes and 12 seconds before Nagurski arose the victor.
  55. ^ Cary, Lee (February 4, 1948). "Gordienko Tops Mike Browning". Star Tribune. p. 15. About 5,000 fans watched George turn the trick with nothing more complicated than a flying block and a bodyslam, after which he sat on Browning's face for the fall.
  56. ^ "Brown Wrestles Bronko to Draw". Star Tribune. June 15, 1949. p. 23. Orville Brown is still the NWA heavyweight wrestling champion. The Wallace, Kan., 235-pounder wrestled Bronko Nagurski to a 60-minute draw at the Auditorium Tuesday night before more than 5,000, fans.
  57. ^ "AT 17:46 Nagurski Overcomes Longson". Star Tribune. p. 17. Wild Bill Longson was plain Sweet William after Bronko Nagurski got through with him before 4,623 fans at the Auditorium Tuesday night.
  58. ^ "Nagurski Jeered in Lucky Victory Over Ray Steele". The Minneapolis Star. June 6, 1945. p. 18. The Bronko Nagurski, Ray Steele wrestling series was concluded once and for all last night at the Auditorium to the satisfaction of 4,500 fans when Bronko won in 29 minutes and 31 seconds.
  59. ^ Diamond, Frank (February 21, 1940). "Kashey Puts on One-Man Show as Midwest Mat Tourney Opens". Star Tribune. p. 16. They billed it as the midwest open professional wrestling tournament but to Abe Kashey and the 4,000 fans that attended the show it was a one-man stand by Abe, and old King Kong certainly kicked that old gong around even though he was eliminated in the second round by Ray Eckert of Springfield, Mo.
  60. ^ "Lady Wrestler's No Lady! Szabo Ends Bartush Spree". The Minneapolis Star. April 29, 1942. p. 25. Mildred Burke, built like a slender rock of Gibraltar, and Mae Weston, who looks more like you-know-who, whirled into action like two tornadoes at the Auditorium last night and the delighted crowd of 4,000 caught only fleeting glimpses of the pair when they slowed down occasionally during their nine minute and 47 second bout.
  61. ^ "Mat Meat: Levin Loses to Gordienko". The Minneapolis Star. January 7, 1948. p. 33. He pulled 4,000 fans out of their seats in the semi-windup when he got mad at Big Ben Morgan because Morgan smacked him during instructions from Referee Bill Kuusisto.
  62. ^ "Louis Steals Mat Show as 9,990 See Raines Win". The Minneapolis Star. March 24, 1954. p. 42. LOUIS STOLE the show from the two "bad" men, much to the delight of 9,900 fans - an all-time record Minneapolis Auditorium crowd.
  63. ^ "Haggerty Ends Yukon Eric Streak; Purse Record Set". Star Tribune. July 15, 1953. p. 18. Hard Boiled Haggerty turned apparent defeat into a 15 minute and 48 second pin over Eric Tuesday night before a turn-away crowd of 9,641 at the Minneapolis auditorium.
  64. ^ "Haggerty Gets Pinned, Fined, Suspended". Star Tribune. October 29, 1952. p. 25. A capacity crowd of 9,400 yelled with delight as Mills and Haggerty exerted their utmost to render one another limb from limb.
  65. ^ "Wrestling's Newest Star". May 6, 1953. p. 58. They packed in 9,400 and then had to lock the doors. How many were turned away is a guess, but the total must have run into the hundreds.
  66. ^ "Kalmikoffs Win Again as 9,256 Fans Watch". Star Tribune. March 7, 1956. p. 16.
  67. ^ "Injured in Haggerty Match; Eakins Wins, But It's Costly". The Minneapolis Star. March 18, 1953. p. 45. But the victory before a record crowd of 9,238 fans jamming the Minneapolis armory to the rafters Tuesday night was a costly one for the 270-pound Eakins.
  68. ^ "9,146 Fans See Thesz Pin Nag". Star Tribune. June 27, 1951. p. 17.
  69. ^ "Bronk Bows to Haggerty Before 9,120". Star Tribune. August 20, 1952. p. 17.
  70. ^ "9,000 SEE HEROES WIN; It's Tag Night and Gagne's 'IT'". The Minneapolis Star. July 23, 1952. p. 33.
  71. ^ "Dempsey Gives Raines 'Spanking'". Star Tribune. February 1, 1950. p. 17. The scowling Manassa Mauler had to slug it out toe-to-toe with Dirty Dick Raines before Raines was subdued in the Auditorium Tuesday night before 8,934 fans, the largest wrestling crowd in two years.
  72. ^ "Blocking Bronk Pins Kowalski". Star Tribune. May 3, 1950. p. 20. The vast experience Bronko Nagurski gained during many years in football and wrestling stood him in excellent stead to return him winner over Wladek Kowalski, giant grappler from Hamtramck, Mich., in a gruelling match lasting 17 minutes and 26 seconds before 8,917 persons at the Auditorium Tuesday night.
  73. ^ Mastro, Frank (July 28, 1968). "Gagne Beats Lanza to Retain Title". Chicago Tribune. p. 54. A record capacity indoor crowd of 12,108 paid $33,400 to witness the six bouts.
  74. ^ "Texas Match to Bruiser, the Crusher". Chicago Tribune. April 16, 1967. p. 90. Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher defeated Pretty Boy Hennig and Handsome Harley Race in a Texas sudden death match in the featured match of the pro wrestling card last night at the International Amphitheater before 11,425.
  75. ^ "Crusher, Bruiser Score Victory in Tag Team Bout". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. January 18, 1965. p. 24. The Crusher and The Bruiser retained their tag team pro wrestling title Sunday by taking two of three falls from Larry Hennig and Harley Race before a capacity crowd of 10,993 at the St. Paul Auditorium.
  76. ^ "Crusher Wins Over Gagne". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. February 16, 1963. p. 15. A crowd of 10,802 witnessed the action.
  77. ^ "Tag Title Up for Decision". The Minneapolis Star. November 25, 1960. p. 33. The crowd was 10,661.
  78. ^ "Cowboy Watts Defeated by Champ Gagne". Chicago Tribune. July 27, 1969. p. 54. Verne Gagne successfully defended his American Wrestling association world heavyweight title yesterday in the International Amphitheatre, defeating Cowboy Watts before about 10,000 fans.
  79. ^ "Vachon Boys Beat Snyder and O'Connor". Chicago Tribune. September 14, 1969. p. 77. Mad Oog [sic] and Butcher Vachon defeated Pat O'Connor and Wilbur Snyder last night in two of three falls match in the International Amphitheater, before 10,000 fans.
  80. ^ "Vachon's Win World Tag Team Match". Chicago Tribune. September 28, 1969. p. 60. More than 10,000 fans attended the matches.
  81. ^ "Vachons Win; Retain World Tag Title". Chicago Tribune. October 12, 1969. p. 59. Mad Dog and Vachon retained their world tag-team title last night before 10,000 wrestling fans in the International Amphitheater, defeating Red Lyons and Red Bastien two out of three falls.
  82. ^ "Bastien, Lyons Beat Vachons for Tag Title". Chicago Tribune. November 9, 1969. p. 71. In other action before more than 10,000 fans, Golden Boy Christy and Bruce Kirk wrestled to a draw.
  83. ^ "Von Raschke Defeats 11 in Amphitheater". Chicago Tribune. November 23, 1969. p. 74. A field of 11 entries were victims of Baron Von Raschke last night in professional wrestling at the International Amphitheater before an estimated 10,000 fans.
  84. ^ "Gagne Winner in Disputed Bout". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. June 27, 1965. p. 41. Attendance: 9,713
  85. ^ Hoops, Brian (August 14, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (August 14): CM Punk beats John Cena to unify WWE title and then loses it, Hulk Hogan "retires" Kevin Nash". F4Wonline.com. Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Online.
  86. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (2018). "Chapter Six: A New Era in Professional Wrestling". Death of the Territories: Expansion, Betrayal and the War that Changed Pro Wrestling Forever. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 1773052322. An estimated 20,000 fans packed the arena, with another 5,000 at a nearby venue watching on closed-circuit television. The total gate was an astronomical $300,000, the largest in AWA history, and the audience wanted nothing more than to see Hogan finally win the belt.
  87. ^ Cawthon, Graham. "Yearly Results: WCW 1990". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  88. ^ Mac, Eddie (April 8, 2016). "This Day in Wrestling History (Apr. 8): Here To Show The World". CagesideSeats.com.
  89. ^ Meltzer, Dave (February 7, 1994). "Hogan to WCW rumors, Mania X line-up, Heenan WCW debut, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. 1/22 Red Wing, MN (Verne Gagne promotion - 700/free show): [...] Larry Zbyszko b Repo Man (Barry Darsow)
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