Toni Adams
| Toni Adams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Toni Leah Collins |
| Born | August 19, 1964 Freer, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 24, 2010 (aged 45) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Toni Adams Toni the Tigress Miss Simpson Nanny Simpson |
| Billed from | Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Trained by | Chris Adams |
| Debut | 1985 |
| Retired | 1995 |
Toni Leah Adams (
Among those she managed were
Career
Early career
Toni Lea Collins was born in Freer, Texas, and began working in Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling as an assistant to the production staff in 1984. Meeting Chris Adams while working in the promotion, the two were married in Hawaii. Adams's appearances on World Class television were sporadic, however she made one memorable appearance in a 1986 interview where she was helping husband Chris (with his eyes bandaged selling his blinding injury) into his Corvette to drive to the airport en route to England. Adams again appeared in another interview between Chris and announcer Bill Mercer two months later, as he continued selling his eye injury (with vision restored to his right eye, but not to his left). Following her husband to the Mid-South area, she soon appeared in an on-camera role for Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation interviewing wrestlers and fans. Upon Chris' return to World Class in late-1987 she appeared as one of the ringside ladies.
Adams eventually made her managerial debut appearing with Chris in World Class Championship Wrestling in 1989. Soon after, she along with ring announcer
Feud with Steve Austin & Jeanie Clarke
Returning with Chris to the United States Wrestling Association in May 1990, she would become involved in a storyline in which Chris began feuding with former protege Steve Austin. The feud, which Chris created and developed, would later involve her and Chris's former girlfriend Jeanie Clarke (billed as Chris' "ex-wife"), who eventually married Steve Austin,[3] and faced each other in mixed tag team matches for much of the year in one of the most memorable feuds in the region.[4][5][6] As Chris's drinking problem became out of control, particularly one incident in which he had assaulted Adams in February 1989 for which he was sentenced to one year's probation, Adams would divorce Chris soon after the feud, which occurred sometime around 1991.[7][8] The couple shared one son, Christopher Adams Jr., born in late 1988.
Later career
In late 1993, she returned to the USWA, losing to
Death
Adams, known as Toni Gant, was hospitalized in June 2010 due to an abscess in her abdomen. She was hospitalized again in full cardiac arrest in late June, and died on June 24, 2010, at age 45. At the time of her death she was engaged to Leonard Donahoo.[13]
Championships and accomplishments
- PWI ranked her # 14 of the 100 Hottest Women in Wrestling in 2002
See also
References
- ^ "The Misdeeds of Billy Joe Travis". YouTube. February 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
- ^ "Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler?' Not at the TV Programmers' Convention!". Associated Press. January 20, 1990
- ^ Scott Keith; Paul Nemer; Luke Michael (2002). "Pro Wrestling FAQ: Steve Austin". WrestleView.com.
- ^ Jeanie & Toni Adams: Can The USWA Stop These Savage Wildcats ?. Inside Wrestling. Nov. 1990
- ^ Burkholder, Denny (October 24, 2000). "Circa Interview: Chris Adams discusses career, Gino Hernandez, rift with Steve Austin & future". WrestleLine.com.
- ^ Eck, Kevin (December 2003). "Coupling: we take a look at wrestling's 10 greatest romantic twosomes". Wrestling Digest. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (October 13, 2001). "The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham: Chris Adams Latest Casualty of World Class Era". Archived from the original on October 19, 2007.
- ^ Eiserer, Tanya (October 6, 1997). "The New WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) Papers No. 82-2001". WrestlingClassics.com.
- ^ "Mid-South Coliseum 1993 (Jarrett)". ProWrestlingHistory.com.
- ^ Dills, Tim S. "Wrestlers: Eddie Gilbert, Part 3". KayfabeMemories.com.
- ^ Smith, Bob (December 1992). "The Steel Cage: The Women of Professional Wrestling, A Look Back at the Female Valets, Managers, and Wrestlers Who Made Their Mark in the Sport". Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
- ^ Speed, Steve. "Regional Territories: GWF #3, Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
- ^ Brian Hoops (June 30, 2010). "Toni Adams, former valet for Chris Adams, passes away". Retrieved July 6, 2010.