Dan Gable to Participate in Hall of Fame weekend
WATERLOO, Iowa—Dan Gable, the
most recognizable name in amateur wrestling, will participate in the George
Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction weekend on July
13-14. He is the namesake of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable
Museum where the pro hall of fame is located.
Gable won an Olympic gold medal at the 1972
Munich Olympics without surrendering a point. During his 21 seasons as the head
wrestling coach at the University of Iowa (1977-1997) the Hawkeyes won 21
consecutive Big Ten titles and 15 NCAA team championships.
Several of the biggest names in professional
wrestling will be on hand for the event. Most have ties to amateur wrestling.
Kurt Angle, one of this year’s inductees
into the Hall of Fame, won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Angle and
Gable are part of an exclusive nine member club: wrestlers who have won an NCAA
title, a World title, and an Olympic title.
Dan Hodge went 46-0 with 36 pins during his
career at the University of Oklahoma. He was also a silver medalist at the 1956
Olympics. Hodge remains the only amateur wrestler to be featured on the cover of
Sports Illustrated.
Dan Severn, Baron Von Raschke, Bob Roop,
Maurice Vachon, and Gerald Brisco had successful amateur wrestling backgrounds
as well. Roop and Vachon each made an Olympic team while Raschke was a medalist
at the World Championships.
“This year’s Hall of Fame weekend includes
an unprecedented line-up of amateur and professional wrestling legends,” said
Kyle Klingman, director of the Dan Gable Museum. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to have them all in the same room.”
Gable will be at the National Wrestling Hall
of Fame Dan Gable Museum on Saturday, July 14 at 1 p.m. for the panel discussion
with Bill Apter and for the autograph signing that follows.
Other professional wrestling legends on hand
for the event include John “Bradshaw” Layfield, Road Warrior Animal, Bill Apter,
Jim Ross, and Larry Hennig.
Contact the National Wrestling
Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745 or
dgmstaff@nwhof.org
for information on purchasing tickets. The Hall of Fame is located at 303
Jefferson St. in Waterloo.
Schedule of events
Friday, July 13
1 p.m. – Professional wrestling tryout with Gerald Brisco at Five
Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
5:30 p.m.
– Doors open to the public for Impact Pro Wrestling show at Five Sullivan
Brothers Convention Center. Autograph signing begins.
7 p.m.
– Impact Pro Wrestling show featuring former WWE and ECW star Perry Saturn and
Colt Cabana.
Saturday, July 14
9 a.m. –
Special live broadcast of
Takedown Wrestling Radio with Scott Casber from the National Wrestling Hall of
Fame Dan Gable Museum.
Noon—Mixed
Martial Arts seminar with Dan Severn in the Dan Gable Teaching Center inside the
National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
1 p.m.—Fan
Fest at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Fan Fest includes
a tribute to the career of Danny Hodge, historic wrestling matches playing in
the theater, and Q & A with Bill Apter and wrestling legends.
2:30—Autograph
signing with professional wrestling legends at the Hall of Fame.
5 p.m.—Hall
of Fame reception at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
6 p.m.—Induction
banquet at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
7 p.m.—Induction
ceremony at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.