Tom Burton
Tom Burton | |
---|---|
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
Trained by | Brad Rheingans |
Debut | 1988 |
Retired | 1998 |
Thomas Burton (October 14, 1961 – March 29, 2010) was an
Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Federation and early career
Making his debut in July 1988, Burton first appeared in the
Several weeks later, while in the
During the next year, he made occasional appearances on WWF Superstars facing
Facing Brutus Beefcake, Koko B. Ware and "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka during early 1990, Burton returned to the independent circuit for a time before settling in Memphis.
United States Wrestling Association
While in the USWA, Burton began teaming with
He also appeared in
Global Wrestling Federation
Returning to the WWF for a short time teaming with
Resurfacing in the
Losing to The Patriot and The Handsome Stranger during early August, he and Mike Davis faced Chris Walker and Steve Simpson, the Renegade Warriors, American Breed and Terry Garvin and Ed Robinson during the next several months.
In late September, Burton and Davis began a storyline with Chaz and Terry Garvin, defeating them on September 27 and later in a rematch on October 11. later that month Burton and Mike Davis were hired by
Facing Brian Lee and Terry Garvin in single matches, he and Davis defeated Rick Garren and Larry Green on October 8 and Garren and Ben Jordan on October 15 before facing Tug Taylor and Terry Garvin in several indecisive matches. Losing to them in a steel cage match on November 29, Burton and Davis also lost several matches to Chaz and Tug Taylor defeating them in an elimination match on December 13, 1991. Shortly thereafter, a masked wrestler (who revealed himself to be Chaz making his return to the promotion) defeated Davis. Davis also took part in the first television taping for the American Wrestling Federation in Lowell, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1991. During the event, he faced TNT and teamed with "Iron" Mike Sharpe and Sampson against Bill Wilcox, Freight Train Fulton and Chris Candido.[6]
Losing to John Tatum and Rod Price on January 3, the Davises continued losing matches to Chaz and Tug Taylor including a "strap on a pole" match and, in a 6-man tag team match with Billy Travis, lost to Chaz, Tug Taylor and Jerry Lynn on January 10. Fighting to a draw against Scott Putski and Gary Young, they split up after fighting to a time limit draw against Chaz and Tug Taylor on January 24, 1992.[7]
He and Davis finally settled their feud with Mike Davis facing Chaz in which the winner would choose someone to leave the GWF. When Davis lost to Chaz, Chaz named Burton to leave the promotion.[8]
UWFi
Having previously appeared in the promotion in late 1991 teaming with
On October 23, in one of his earliest matches, he faced
Defeating
On January 10, he and Yoki Anjo lost to Tatsuo Nakano and Gene Lydick and, the following month, fought to a 20 min. time limit draw with Yoshihiro Takayama at Budokan Hall on February 14. Several months later, he teamed with Gene Lydick losing to Yoji Anjo and Masahito Kakihara on May 6 and also lost matches to Hiromitsu Kanehara, Greg Bobchick and Yoshihiro Takayama before defeating Gene Lydick at the Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on December 5, 1993.
World Championship Wrestling and later career
During 1994, he split his time between UWFi and
Defeating Kazushi Sakuraba by
Kennichi Yamamoto at Sedai Heavykyu Senshuken Jiki Chosen Ketteisen on November 30. In early 1995, he lost to Yoshihiro Takayama at Sekai Heavykyu Senshuken Jiai on January 16 and Hiromitsu Kanehara at SAKIGAKE on February 18 before defeating Kenichi Yamamoto at
In mid to late 1995, he began wrestling in World Championship Wrestling appearing on WCW Saturday Night against "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Cobra and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. After a hiatus, he wrestled a handful of matches for IWA Mid-South in 1997, before he retired. He left the business sometime afterwards living with his longtime girlfriend Candi Devine until his death on March 29, 2010.
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 356 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991.
- United States Wrestling Association
- Tony Anthony[12]
References
- ^ "An update on the death of pro wrestler Tom Burton". Powell's POV. Prowrestling.net. March 29, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
- World Wrestling Entertainment, 2007.
- ^ "Mid-South Coliseum 1990 (Jarrett)". ProWrestlingHistory.com.
- Wrestling Observer.
- ^ a b "UWF International Results: 1991-1996" (in German). Purolove.com. 2007.
- ^ "Brent's Wrestling Collection: AWF TV Taping (1991)". Hitman Brent's Dungeon. 2005.
- ^ Dananay, John (2006). "Global Wrestling Federation: 1991-94". World Class Memories. Archived from the original on 2007-11-07.
- ^ Carapola, Stuart (2006-04-22). "That Was Then 4.22.06: The Global Wrestling Federation In 1991". 411mania.com.
- ^ Mancuso, Ryan (July 2007). "UWF-I Commercial Tape: October 23rd, 1992". PuroresuCentral.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11.
- ^ a b Cawthon, Graham (May 2007). "WCW 1994". Graham Cawthon's History of WWE. Archived from the original on 2007-05-17.
- ^ Scott, Richard (2003-12-13). "Brian Pillman's Television History". Quote the Loose Cannon: Brian Pillman.
- ^ "U.S.W.A. World Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
External links
- Tom Burton's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database