Verne Gagne
Bockwinkel began 1980 with defences against opponents such as The Crusher, Mad Dog Vachon, Kintaro Ohki, Wahoo McDaniel, and Scott Casey. His reign finally came to an end after 1,716 days when he was defeated by Verne Gagne in a bout in Comiskey Park on July 18, 1980, losing to Gagne's signature sleeper hold.