Minnesota

Before Hulk Hogan was a pop culture icon, he got his big break in Minnesota

Published

4 months ago

July 24, 2025

Before Hulk Hogan was a pop culture icon, he got his big break in Minnesota

McMahon had kept tabs on Hogan and planned to promote him as the WWF’s star. But Hogan was comfortably finding success in the AWA, where he was close to capturing the AWA championship and beating international stars like Antonio Inoki in Japan.

Top Guy-Reigning WWF Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan, left, sends King Kong Bundy flying during Wrestlemania 2 in Los Angeles in April 1986. Hogan won the match that was part of a three-city wrestling spectacle. (Nick Ut)

Hogan was advertised to wrestle his longtime nemesis, “Dr. D” David Schultz, at a Christmas show at the Civic Center. Shortly before bell time that day, Gagne received a telegraph from Hogan, saying he was jumping to the WWF.

“When (Gagne) asked why, Hogan said, ‘Vince McMahon has paid me to stay away, and I’m not going to come back to work in the AWA,’” Schire said. “That’s the true story.”

Hogan would also take Schultz and Okerlund, the announcer, with him to the WWF. A few weeks later, on Jan. 7, 1984, he defeated the Iron Sheik to capture the WWF championship, beginning his ascent to superstardom.

Hogan would return to Minnesota over the years as the biggest star in the WWF, but he made one more major wrestling impact in Minnesota in the 1990s.

McMahon and the ongoing pressures of TV deals had driven the AWA out of business by the end of 1991, but a new challenger rose to take on the WWF in World Championship Wrestling.

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Minnesota

Obituary for Marcie Moe at Johnson Funeral Service

Published

13 minutes ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

Obituary for Marcie Moe at Johnson Funeral Service

Marcie Lee Moe age 65, of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, formerly of Grygla, MN, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Born on December 10, 1959 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Marcie was the beloved daughter of Adrian Severance Johnson and Edna Irene Christianson Johnson. Marcie was baptized at St.

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Minnesota

5 key takeaways from Minnesota’s loss to Stanford at the Acrisure Invitational

Published

18 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

5 key takeaways from Minnesota’s loss to Stanford at the Acrisure Invitational

Minnesota began its Acrisure Invitational journey with some great energy against Stanford, but an injury to starting point guard Chansey Willis Jr. was too much to overcome in a hard-fought 72-68 loss. Here’s what we learned.

Minnesota has been without North Dakota transfer BJ Omot and Maryland transfer Chance Stephens in every regular-season game, while starting big man Robert Vaihola missed his second straight game on Thursday with a knee injury. Things got even more scarce after two early fouls sent Willis to the bench, and he came out of the locker room with a boot on his right ankle.

The Gophers were already not a very deep team, so taking away four rotational players is a massive issue for Niko Medved and a rebuilding program.

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With Vaihola out for the second straight game due to a knee injury, Minnesota slid Grove into the starting lineup for the first time in his college career. Nehemiah Turner did not see the floor after starting last week’s loss to San Francisco, and it was an eight-man rotation.

The Gophers coughed up 14 turnovers on Thursday night, compared to only eight for Stanford. The biggest difference was that Minnesota’s turnovers resulted in 27 Cardinal points. It’s hard to point to any other stat as the largest factor in Thursday’s result.

Reynolds was the first player off the bench for Minnesota, and he provided some serious energy to begin Thursday night’s game. He had a career-high 16 points in last week’s loss to San Francisco, and it looked like he would remain at that level against Stanford, but he struggled in the second half with six points, six rebounds, four assists and six turnovers on the night.

Asuma generated all the headlines when he opted to stay with the Gophers through the coaching change, but Grove also returned after redshirting last season. The 6-foot-9 big man from Alexandria, Minnesota, got the biggest opportunity of his college career against Stanford. He finished with five points and one rebound in 19 minutes. Medved opted to roll with Durkin in the closing lineup.

The Gophers will face Santa Clara on Friday night in the consolation game of the Acrisure Invitational.

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Minnesota

Stanford Cardinal play the Minnesota Golden Gophers

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Stanford Cardinal play the Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2) vs. Stanford Cardinal (4-1)

Palm Desert, California; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cardinal -1.5; over/under is 142.5

BOTTOM LINE: Stanford takes on Minnesota at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.

The Cardinal have a 4-1 record in non-conference games. Stanford scores 83.8 points while outscoring opponents by 12.2 points per game.

The Golden Gophers have a 4-2 record against non-conference oppponents. Minnesota ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 11.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Jaylen Crocker-Johnson averaging 3.3.

Stanford averages 7.8 made 3-pointers per game, 1.0 more made shot than the 6.8 per game Minnesota gives up. Minnesota averages 74.2 points per game, 2.6 more than the 71.6 Stanford gives up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ebuka Okorie is shooting 52.1% and averaging 23.8 points for the Cardinal. Benny Gealer is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers.

Cade Tyson is scoring 21.8 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Golden Gophers. Crocker-Johnson is averaging 11.7 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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