Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Lou Klein\Bastien 1916
Bobo Brazil 1924
Michael Lynn Durham 1965
Happy Birthday:
Billy Jack Haynes (72)
Eric Embry (66)
Duane Gill\Gilberg (66)
Isiah Kassidy (28)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Walter Palmer 7-10-1998 at the age of 86
Dr. Jerry Watson 7-10-2019 at the age of 76
The Crusher’s Shocking Coronation: July 9, 1963, and the Night Reggie Lisowski Dethroned Verne Gagne for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
On a humid Minnesota summer evening, inside the Minneapolis Auditorium, more than 8,000 fans packed the building for what appeared to be another defense by the undisputed king of the territory. Verne Gagne, the Olympic-caliber technician, promoter, and face of the American Wrestling Association, stood as the embodiment of Midwestern wrestling respectability. His opponent was everything Gagne was not on paper: a barrel-chested, blonde-haired brawler from the Milwaukee waterfront known as The Crusher (Reggie Lisowski).
What unfolded that night on July 9, 1963, was no ordinary house-show title match. With assistance from his frequent partner and fellow roughneck Dick the Bruiser, The Crusher captured the AWA World Heavyweight Championship in a finish that sent shockwaves through the territory. The reign would last only eleven days, but the moment itself remains a fascinating snapshot of early AWA booking, the power of regional draws, and the eternal tension between scientific wrestling and brawling chaos.
The American Wrestling Association had been born in 1960 when Verne Gagne and key Minneapolis-area promoters broke away from the National Wrestling Alliance. Gagne was immediately positioned as the promotion’s cornerstone. After Pat O’Connor failed to defend the lineage within the agreed window, Gagne was awarded the inaugural AWA World Heavyweight Championship on August 16, 1960.
By 1963, Gagne had already held the title multiple times and established a clear philosophy: the AWA would emphasize athletic, technical wrestling rooted in his amateur background (two-time NCAA champion, Olympic alternate). He used the sleeper hold as his signature finisher and presented himself as the clean-cut, All-American hero that Minnesota and the broader Midwest could rally behind. As both the top star and the booker/promoter, Gagne walked a delicate line—drawing massive houses while protecting his credibility.
The territory was thriving. Strong gates in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Omaha, and surrounding areas supported a roster featuring the scientific Kalmikoff Brothers (Ivan & Karol) as dominant tag team champions, the wild Mad Dog Vachon, and a steady stream of national names. Television helped, but live events and personal appearances remained the lifeblood. Into this environment stepped two larger-than-life figures from neighboring territories: The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser.
Reggie Lisowski, born in 1926 in the Milwaukee area, had carved out a unique niche. Billed as “The Wrestler That Made Milwaukee Famous” (a playful nod to the Schlitz beer slogan), he cultivated one of the most memorable personas in territorial wrestling.
His promos were legendary: boasts about his “100 megaton biceps,” threats to pummel opponents he dismissively called “turkeynecks,” and the ever-present catchphrase “How ’bout dat?” He claimed to train by running along the Milwaukee waterfront carrying full beer barrels on his shoulders (kayfabe note from announcer Rodger Kent: the beer was always gone by the end) and dancing polka all night with Polish barmaids to build stamina. In reality, Lisowski reportedly preferred wine and didn’t drink much beer at all, but the working-class, everyman-tough-guy image resonated powerfully with blue-collar fans.
Crusher had already tasted AWA gold earlier in 1963. On February 15, he had been awarded the Omaha version of the World Heavyweight Championship from Gagne following an injury angle (reports vary slightly on the exact circumstances and location, with some citing a dislocated shoulder).  The July 9 match represented something bigger: a shot at the primary AWA title and a chance to truly shake up Gagne’s regime.
His alliance with Dick the Bruiser (William Afflis) was already well-established. The two “Cussin’ Cousins” (or “saloon goons,” depending on who was telling the story) formed a natural brawling unit—former football player Bruiser from Indiana paired with the Milwaukee strongman. They specialized in chaotic, bloody brawls and steel cage matches. Bruiser’s presence on the July 9 undercard (defeating Doug Gilbert) was no coincidence.
Pictured: The Crusher interviewed by Marty O’Neill
By mid-1963, Crusher had been positioned as a serious threat. Earlier in the year (January 20), Gagne had defeated him in a high-profile No Disqualification match in St. Paul before a sellout crowd of over 10,000 (with 2,000 turned away).  The tension was real. Gagne represented order and technical mastery; Crusher and Bruiser represented blue-collar rebellion and Milwaukee/Indianapolis toughness invading the Minneapolis stronghold.
The July 9 card at the Minneapolis Auditorium reflected the AWA’s mix of styles:
• AWA World Tag Team Champions Ivan & Karol Kalmikoff defeated Tiny Mills & Stan Kowalski.
• Dick the Bruiser defeated Doug Gilbert (16:47).
• Don McClarty defeated Mad Dog Vachon (9:58).
• Eddie Sharkey defeated Joe Tomasso (10:23).
Attendance was reported at 8,065—a solid midweek house for the era. 
The Match and the Controversial Finish
Details of the in-ring action are scarce—typical for a 1963 house show—but the historical record is consistent on one key point: The Crusher defeated Verne Gagne to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship with help from Dick the Bruiser. 
Given Bruiser’s earlier match on the card and his established partnership with Crusher, the interference was almost certainly a classic territorial angle. Bruiser likely provided a distraction, attacked Gagne during a critical moment, or helped set up Crusher’s finishing sequence (often involving his signature bolo punch or raw power). Gagne, the consummate professional and company man, took the loss in a way that protected his long-term positioning while giving the massive Milwaukee draw his moment.
The crowd reaction must have been electric. Many fans loved the charismatic Crusher even when he worked heelish tactics; his everyman appeal transcended strict babyface/heel lines in the Midwest. For Gagne loyalists, it was an outrage—the champion had been ambushed by outside forces. Either way, the building was alive.
The Short Reign and Immediate Aftermath
The Crusher’s first AWA World title reign lasted just eleven days. On July 20, 1963, back in Minneapolis (attendance 7,039), Verne Gagne regained the championship—reportedly with special referee Joe Blanchard involved in some accounts.  Gagne also reclaimed the Omaha version, reasserting control.
The quick reversal was classic territorial booking: give the big challenger his moment to pop the gate and create talk, then restore the established star. It kept Crusher strong (he would win the title again on November 16, 1963, in St. Paul for a longer 28-day reign) while reminding everyone who ran the AWA.
Just a month later, on August 20, 1963, Crusher and Bruiser captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship from the Kalmikoffs, cementing their status as major players.
Historical Significance in the Territorial Era
This title change sits at an interesting crossroads in AWA history. It demonstrated Gagne’s willingness to use short-term title switches to create excitement and reward strong regional draws like Crusher, whose Milwaukee following was undeniable. It highlighted the contrast between Gagne’s scientific, amateur-rooted style and the brawling, charismatic power of the next generation of stars.
In the broader context of pro wrestling’s territorial system, moments like July 9, 1963, kept territories vibrant. They gave fans reasons to buy tickets week after week—hope that the local hero (or anti-hero) could topple the king. The Crusher’s victory, controversial as it was, elevated his legacy and helped pave the way for his later face turn alongside Bruiser in the mid-1960s, when the duo became beloved fan favorites.
For Verne Gagne, it was another reminder of the balancing act required of a wrestler-promoter. He protected his spot overall but understood the value of making challengers look credible. His multiple reigns and long-term dominance speak to how well he executed that balance.
One Thing I Learned About The Original Dutch Mantell
He earned a reputation as a vicious heel wrestler (“The Lon Chaney of Wrestling” in some accounts for his grotesque, makeup-enhanced villainous persona) but was privately a dedicated humanitarian who reportedly gave away millions of dollars to needy families, orphans, and “homeless urchins.” He also performed with trained animals that delighted children at events.
Despite his tough, no-nonsense in-ring style and global travels (including early success in Australia, where he picked up the “Dutch Mantell” name from a Shakespearean actor mentor due to his heavy German/“Deutsch” accent), he poured much of his fortune into charity work in places like Texas. Friends eventually had to manage his finances because of how freely he gave. He passed away from cancer in 1941 at age 59
Thank You for Reading
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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