Terry Gordy
Terry Gordy | |
---|---|
Birth name | Terry Ray Gordy |
Born | Rossville, Georgia,[1] U.S. | April 23, 1961
Died | July 16, 2001 Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 40)
Cause of death | Heart attack |
Spouse(s) |
Connie Gordy (m. 1979) |
Children | 3; including Ray Gordy |
Family | Richard Slinger (nephew) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | The Executioner/Forest Druid Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy Terry Mecca Kane |
Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[2] |
Billed weight | 289 lb (131 kg)[2] |
Billed from | "Badstreet U.S.A." Chattanooga, Tennessee Dark Forest New York City |
Trained by | Archie Gouldie Lou Thesz |
Debut | 1974 |
Terry Ray Gordy Sr.
Gordy held many
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1974–1980)
Gordy was a standout high school football and baseball player at Rossville High School, but dropped out of high school following his freshman year.[4] Trained by Archie Gouldie, he started wrestling at the age of 13 in 1974[5] as "Terry Mecca" for the International Wrestling Association.[3][4]
In early 1979, Gordy began wrestling under his real name and formed the Fabulous Freebirds with Michael Hayes, with Buddy Roberts later added to the group.[6] Gordy and Hayes had met while training in Mississippi the year prior.[5]
Georgia Championship Wrestling (1980–1982)
In 1980, the Freebirds moved to Georgia Championship Wrestling, where they won the territory's tag team championship.[2] The Fabulous Freebirds had feuds while there, including those against Tommy Rich, Junkyard Dog, Kevin Sullivan, Austin Idol, and Ted DiBiase, and became one of the first acts to use entrance music.[5] One match on the Saturday night WTBS Georgia Championship Wrestling show saw the Freebirds take on the Junkyard Dog and Ted DiBiase, where towards the end of the match, Gordy gave DiBiase 4 consecutive piledrivers, which led to DiBiase being taken away in an ambulance.[4]
In 1981, the Freebirds split up when Buddy Roberts left the area. Michael and Terry then had a falling out, which led to a feud against each other. Terry and Michael eventually put their differences aside, and reformed the Freebirds as a duo in 1982 when they feuded with Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen.[7]
World Class Championship Wrestling (1982–1989)
In late-1982, the Freebirds went to the
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1982, 1983–1994)
Gordy's connection with
In 1984, Gordy returned to AJPW with his Fabulous Freebirds teammates Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts. He and Hayes would unsuccessfully challenge for the NWA International Tag Team Championship twice. On his own, he challenged Jumbo Tsuruta for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship, but got disqualified. By the end of 1984, Hayes and Roberts left AJPW, leaving Gordy on his own there. In June 1985, he would get a rematch for the NWA International Heavyweight title against Tsuruta, but got counted out. In March 1986, he got yet another rematch against Tsuruta for the NWA International title, but lost. Two months later, Gordy would got a shot at the PWF Heavyweight title, now held by Riki Choshu, but lost by disqualification. In August 1986, he began teaming with Killer Khan, who taught him the Asiatic Spike a couple years earlier, while in WCCW. He and Khan took part in the 1986 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, where they placed third with eight points.
By November 1987, Gordy reunited with Hansen for the 1987 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, where they placed second in a four-way tie with three different teams. In July 1988, Gordy and Hansen defeated Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu to win the World Tag Team Championship, before losing them back to Tsuruta and Yatsu two days later. It wouldn't be until December 1988, that Gordy and Hansen won the World Tag Team titles for the second time by winning the 1988 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, defeating Genichiro Tenryu and Toshiaki Kawada in the finals. They would lose the titles again to Tsuruta and Yatsu two months later in a rare title change outside Japan, as the match was held in the United States. Gordy and Hansen would continue to team until June 1989. He would take Bill Irwin as his partner for the 1989 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, but the pairing didn't work, as they placed seventh with six points.
In February 1990, Gordy teamed up with Steve Williams as
On July 26, 1990, after returning to Tokyo from a show in Isesaki, where he and Williams defeated Stan Hansen and Terry Taylor, Gordy collapsed while drinking at a bar and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. At one point, he had suffered a cardiac arrest. His condition was so grim that AJPW officials were prepared to announce his death. Thankfully, he regained consciousness the next day and vacated the Triple Crown title. He would return a month later, but would never receive a shot at the Triple Crown again.
A month after his near-death experience, Gordy was back, as he and Williams resumed their path of destruction. In December 1990, they regained the World Tag Team titles by winning the 1990 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, defeating Stan Hansen and
1993 saw Gordy wrestle exclusively for AJPW. In January 1993, he and Williams won their final World Tag Team title together, defeating Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada. They would hold onto the belts until May, when they lost them to Kawada and Akira Taue. His final tour as an active gaijin took place in July 1993, where his last match took place on July 29, as he and Williams defeated Johnny Ace and Kendall Windham.
On August 18, 1993, while traveling from the United States to Japan to take part in another AJPW tour, Gordy took an overdose (from which he almost died of three years earlier)[5] of pain medication and slipped into a five-day coma, ultimately suffering permanent brain damage.[11] As a result, he had to relearn how to talk, walk, and wrestle,[4] but he never possessed the skills he once had.[5][9] He returned to AJPW for a single tour in July 1994, before leaving the company after over a decade.
World Wrestling Federation (1984)
The Freebirds spent a brief time in the World Wrestling Federation in 1984,[5] but were fired after missing a show and showing up late and drunk.[12]
Universal Wrestling Federation (1986)
In 1986, when the Freebirds were in Universal Wrestling Federation, the former Mid South Wrestling, Gordy became the first person to win the UWF Heavyweight Championship[3] and held it for six months,[13] before losing it via forfeit to the One Man Gang,[3][9] after an angle the same night in which Gordy was injured in an auto accident by "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, whom he feuded with.[3][6] During this time, Gordy and the Freebirds had an ongoing feud with Hacksaw Jim Duggan, in which Duggan and Gordy squared off, usually ending in a disqualification because of outside interference.[6]
Jim Crockett Promotions/NWA World Championship Wrestling (1987, 1989, 1992)
The Freebirds spent some time in the National Wrestling Alliance's Jim Crockett Promotions where they split to feud briefly, but later reunited.[14] In 1989, Gordy helped Hayes to reform the Freebirds, with Jimmy Garvin, in the NWA, which became World Championship Wrestling in 1991.[4][6][15] Later, he and Steve Williams defeated the Steiners to become World Tag Team Champions.[16]
Gordy and Williams returned to
Various promotions (1989–1994)
After World Class folded in 1989, Gordy wrestled in various promotions. He started working for United States Wrestling Association (USWA). In 1991, he worked for Universal Wrestling Federation where he feuded with Don Muraco. In 1994, he reunited with The Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) for Global Wrestling Federation in Texas where they feuded with Bill Irwin, Black Bart and Moadib and won the Tag Team Championship with Garvin.[4]
Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1992, 1994, 1995)
In February 1992, Gordy debuted for Smoky Mountain Wrestling, defeating Tommy Angel, but by the time the match aired, he had left for WCW. He would not come back until August 1994 at the Night of the Legends, where he unsuccessfully challenged Tony Anthony for the SMW Heavyweight Championship by getting himself disqualified. By June 1995, Gordy was back wrestling full-time for SMW, this time under Jim Cornette's Militia stable. While in the Militia, he regularly teamed up with Tommy Rich. After a brief feud with Boo Bradley over the summer, Gordy set his sights on the SMW Heavyweight Championship, now held by Brad Armstrong. Gordy won the SMW Heavyweight Championship by defeating Armstrong when he teamed with Thrasher to defeat Armstrong and the Wolfman on October 27.[2] A month later on November 23, he dropped the title back to Armstrong in a Country whipping match. Three days later, SMW folded.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996)
In 1996, Gordy appeared in
Return to World Wrestling Federation (1996–1997)
Gordy had a brief run in the WWF as The Executioner a gimmick of an ex-druid in 1996 and 1997, where he teamed up with Mankind, both managed by Paul Bearer, and feuded with The Undertaker.[2][8] The Executioner came to the ring under a mask and carrying an axe as Bearer's "hired assassin".[17] He made his TV debut at the In Your House pay-per-view Buried Alive on October 20, 1996, where he interfered in The Undertaker's Buried Alive match with Mankind, hitting Undertaker with a shovel and burying him with the help of Mankind and several other wrestlers.[17] However, at In Your House 12: It's Time on December 15, The Undertaker defeated The Executioner in an Armageddon Rules match, and Gordy left the promotion in January 1997.[18]
On an episode of
Later career (1997–2001)
After leaving the WWF and Japan, Gordy worked in the
Personal life
Gordy had two daughters and a son,[3] Ray Gordy, who wrestled for WWE as "Jesse" and "Slam Master J" before being released in 2010.[20] His nephew is Richard Aslinger, who competed for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Richard Slinger.[3][21] His daughter Miranda currently wrestles on the independent circuit and has also competed in Japan.[22] He was known for his "high octane, southern lifestyle" outside of the ring.[3]
Death and legacy
Gordy was found dead by his girlfriend at his home in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee on July 16, 2001, after suffering a heart attack caused by a blood clot.[23][9] He was 40 years old.[4]
Following his death, the Terry Gordy Memorial Show was held in his honor on August 11 in Birmingham, Alabama.[5] Various wrestlers including Fabulous Freebirds cohort Michael Hayes and former tag team partner Stan Hansen praised Gordy for being one of the best workers they ever worked with.[5][9] In 2014, he was posthumously inducted into the Southern Wrestling Hall of Fame.[24] A year later, he was also posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. On April 2, 2016, Gordy was posthumously inducted by his son into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Fabulous Freebirds.[25]
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[26]
- Steve Williams (5)[27]
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1988, 1990, 1991) – with Stan Hansen (1988) and Steve Williams (1990 and 1991)
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fighting Spirit Award (1989) – with Bill Irwin[28]
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Michael Hayes[29][2]
- NWA National Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Michael Hayes (3) and Jimmy Snuka (1)[2]
- Global Wrestling Federation
- International Championship Wrestling
- ICW Mississippi Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[31]
- Mid-South Wrestling Association | Universal Wrestling Federation
- 1 time)[2]
- Mid-South Mississippi Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
- Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Michael Hayes (1) and Buddy Roberts[2]
- UWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
- UWF Heavyweight Championship Tournament (1986)
- NWA Mid-America
- NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Michael Hayes[3]
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2015 as a member of The Fabulous Freebirds[32]
- Class of 2015 as a member of
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1986)[33]
- Tag Team of the Year (1981) – with Michael Hayes[33]
- Tag Team of the Year (1992) – with Steve Williams[33]
- Ranked No. 31 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992[34]
- Ranked No. 36 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[35]
- Ranked No. 3, 16, and 34 of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Michael Hayes, Steve Williams, and Stan Hansen, respectively, in 2003
- Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- Smoky Mountain Wrestling
- Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2014
- World Championship Wrestling
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Williams[16]
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time, inaugural) – with Steve Williams[2]
- NWA World Tag Team Championship Tournament (1992) – Steve Williams[2]
- World Class Championship Wrestling | World Class Wrestling Association
- NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[3][39][40]
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Michael Hayes[3][41][42]
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (1 time)[2][43][44]
- WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts 2[3]
- WWE
- The Fabulous Freebirds[45]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Brawler(1986)
- on July 4
- Best Three-Man Team(1983) with Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts
- Tag Team of the Year (1980) with Buddy Roberts as The Fabulous Freebirds
- Tag Team of the Year (1981) with Jimmy Snuka
- Tag Team of the Year (1992) with Steve Williams as The Miracle Violence Connection
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2005) – as part of The Fabulous Freebirds
- 1Won while WCW was still affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance and prior to the NWA and WCW World Tag Team Championships being briefly unified.
- 2The Freebirds' 5th reign carried over after the title's name was changed to the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship since they were the champions at the time the title was renamed.
See also
References
- ^ https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8v37vc
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Terry Gordy bio". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-58261-817-3.
- ^ Sun-Sentinel. Tribune Media. Archived from the originalon February 3, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5502-2683-6.
- ^ McAdam, John (June 24, 2022). "Episode 211: Refreshments For The Less Fortunate". Stick To Wrestling (Podcast). Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ a b "The 25 roughest brawlers in wrestling history". WWE. June 19, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5502-2683-6.
- ISBN 0-06-039299-1.
- ISBN 978-1492825975.
- ISBN 978-1-61321-875-4.
- ISBN 978-1494803476.
- ISBN 978-1499656343.
- ^ a b c "Solie's Title Histories: WCW". www.solie.org.
- ^ ASIN B00RWUNSRS.
- ^ "It's Time". Pro Wrestling History. December 15, 1996. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- YouTube.com. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ Gerweck, Steve (April 22, 2010). "WWE releases six talents". WrestleView. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "Miranda Gordy's bio". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (August 6, 2018). "July 23, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Death of Terry Gordy, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Fuller, David (February 15, 2013). "Pioneer 90.1 Rasslin Memories with David Fuller February 15, 2013". Rasslin' Memories (Interview). Interviewed by George Schire and Glen Braget. Minnesota: KSRQ.
- ^ "Exclusive interview: Catching up with former WWE Superstar Ray Gordy". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: AJPW – ALL JAPAN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING". www.solie.org.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: AJPW – ALL JAPAN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING". www.solie.org.
- ^ "PUROLOVE.com". www.purolove.com.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING (NWA)". www.solie.org.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: GWF – GLOBAL WRESTLING FEDERATION". www.solie.org.
- ^ Tanabe, Hisaharu, ed. (November 17, 2018). "ICW Mississippi Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ a b c "PWI Awards". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Kappa Publishing Group. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "The Internet Wrestling Database – PWI Ratings for Terry Gordon". Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE". www.solie.org.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE". www.solie.org.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: SMW". www.solie.org.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (1967-1968/05) - American Heavyweight Title (1968/05-1986/02)". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
- ^ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Texas Brass Knucks Title [East Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ McDonald, Chris (March 1, 2016). "The Fabulous Freebirds to Be Inducted in WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016". Dallas Observer. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
External links
- The Fabulous Freebirds on WWE.com
- Terry Gordy at IMDb
- Terry Gordy's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database