Terry Allen (wrestler)
Terry Wayne Allen was a professional wrestler who became famous under the name of Magnum T.A.
Table of contents |
Profile
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 270 lbs.
- Birthday: June 11, 1959
- Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia
- Other Gimmicks: Jesse James, Magnum T.A.
- Trainer: Buzz Sawyer
- Managers: Tim Woods
- Wrestlers Managed: Dusty Rhodes, Barry Windham, Tully Blanchard
Career
Terry Allen started wrestling in 1977 in Florida Championship Wrestling and the Pacific Northwest territory. He soon moved to Mid-South Wrestling and by 1984, was a major star as Magnum T.A., "America's Heart Throb".
He had lots of female fans due to his looks and his tough guy charisma. He had the look, the mic skills and the wrestling ability to become World Heavyweight Champion someday.
In 1984, the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions saw that in him and signed him. He became one of the top faces in the promotion. He often teamed with Dusty Rhodes as "America's Team".
He feuded with Wahoo McDaniel upon his arrival and defeated him for the United States Championship. He also feuded with Ole & Arn Anderson and NWA Champ, Ric Flair.
His next feud was one of the bloodiest fueds in NWA history. Tully Blanchard with his valet, Baby Doll took the United States Title from Magnum and ignited a long feud that lasted for four months. Blanchard usually cheated to keep his title from Magnum or Baby Doll would interfere.
Magnum got his revenge in an "I Quit" Match at Starrcade '85, on November 28, 1985, when he defeated Blanchard in a very bloody match.
In April 1986, Ivan Koloff started making noise about his "nephew", Nikita Koloff, becoming United States Champion. This started another one of the most talked about feuds in NWA history.
Jim Crockett, Jr. had a contract signing for Magnum to defend his title against Nikita on a TV show in May. Magnum brought his mother, Marion, to the signing and Nikita brought "uncle" Ivan. During the signing, Nikita insulted Magnum's mother and a scuffle broke out. Magnum was stripped of his title and it was put up in a best of seven series between Magnum and Nikita.
Nikita went up 3–0 and Magnum came back to tie it, they even fought to a draw at one of the matches. In the tie-breaking match on August 17, 1986 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nikita defeated Magnum to win the title with help from Ivan and Krusher Khruschev. They had some more matches and then they switched the feuds around.
Magnum ended up feuding with "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin and his wife Precious and Nikita was feuding with Ron Garvin. The plan was for Magnum to eventually regain the title from Nikita and then move on the win the World Heavyweigh Title.
On the last show Magnum appeared on, he spanked Precious in the middle of the ring after dressing up as a police officer and sneaking up on her and Garvin.
The Car Wreck
In October 1986, Allen left a bar and was speeding in his porsche in the rain and lost control of his car, wrapping it around a tree. He was paralyzed on the left side of his body and his in ring career was over. This loss was the reason that Jim Crockett, Jr. decided to turn Nikita Koloff into a face. The story was that Koloff gained respect for Magnum from their feud and wanted to take his place.
Magnum made it back a few times to commentate for the NWA and WCW, but never was able to do much more than that. He also came back briefly to manage Tully Blanchard and Barry Windham to the NWA Tag Team Titles in 1998.
Today
Allen became a born-again Christian and owns a cell phone tower company and has interests in real estate today.
Legacy
One has to wonder what would have become of Allen's wrestling career if not for the accident. He surely would have been one of the top wrestling stars of all-time. NWA fans will never forget him.
Championships/Accomplishments
Mid-South Wrestling
- 2-Time Mid-South North American Champion
- 2-Time Mid-South Tag Team Champion (with Jim Duggan and Tim Woods)
Florida Championship Wrestling
- 4-Time Global Tag Team Champion (with Scott McGhee three times and Brad Armstrong once)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 73 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 76 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Dusty Rhodes.
Categories: Professional wrestlers | Christian people | 1959 births