Terry Gordy

At 40 years old, Terry Gordy has this physical status:

Terry Ray Gordy (April 23, 1961 – July 16, 2001) was an American professional wrestler.

Gordy is best known for his appearances in the United States with World Class Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling, and the Universal Wrestling Federation as a member of The Fabulous Freebirds, as well as his appearances in Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling as one half of The Miracle Violence Federation. The Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, the AJP World Tag Team Championship, WCW World Tag Team Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship, UWF Heavyweight Championship, and the SMW Heavyweight Championship were among Gordy's championships during his career. He has been inducted into the Wrestling Observer, Professional Wrestling, and WWE Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Gordy's two daughters and a son, Ray Gordy, wrestled for WWE as "Jesse" and "Slam Master J" before being released in 2010. Richard Aslinger, Richard Aslinger, who competed for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Richard Slinger, is his nephew. Miranda's daughter Miranda is now on the independent circuit and has also competed in Japan.

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Professional wrestling career

Gordy, a standout high school football and baseball player at Rossville High School, dropped out of high school following his freshman year and began wrestling in 1975 as Terry Mecca for the International Wrestling Association. He began wrestling under his real name and formed The Fabulous Freebirds with Michael Hayes in early 1979, with Buddy Roberts later joining the club. The Freebirds won the Georgia Championship Wrestling Championship in 1980, where they also captured the territory's tag team championship. Whilst they were together, the Fabulous Freebirds had feuds, including those against Tommy Rich, Junkyard Dog, Kevin Sullivan, Austin Idol, and Ted DiBiase. The Freebirds defeated the Junkyard Dog and Ted DiBiase in one match on Saturday night at the WTBS Georgia Championship Wrestling Championship Wrestling tournament. Terry Gordy donated DiBiase four straight piledrivers, resulting in DiBiase being taken away in an ambulance. When Buddy Roberts left the area in 1981, the Freebirds broke up. Michael and Terry then began to fall out, resulting in a feud between the two families. Terry and Michael grew up with the Freebirds as a pair in 1982, where they clashed with Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen.

The Freebirds went to Memphis for the first time in 1979, mainly because Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. Bill Watts suggested The Fabulous Freebirds with Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts when he arrived in mid-Wrestling. They returned to fight with Lawler & Austin Idol in 1984 and later with Lawler & Phil Hickerson.

The Freebirds went to World Class Championship Wrestling in 1982, where they feud with the Von Erichs (David, Kevin, Kerry, and Mike) was kicked off after Gordy slammed the Cage door on Kerry during their Cage Match against Ric Flair, where Michael Hayes was the special guest Referee, sparking a riot among fans attending the game. Over the years, they have traded the six man title back and forth a few times. Gordy was also one of the WCCW's American Tag Team champions at one point. Killer Khan taught Gordy how to do the Oriental Spike while on WCCW.

Gordy first worked with Stan Hansen in 1983 in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Gordy and Steve Williams became The Miracle Violence Connection later in life. He also competed in the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship twice before returning to the United Kingdom on two occasions.

In 1984, the Freebirds spent a brief period in the World Wrestling Federation, but they were fired for missing a show and being late and inebriated.

Gordy won the UWF Heavyweight Championship and held it for six months before losing it by forfeit to The One Man Gang in 1986, when Gordy was injured by "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. Gordy and the Freebirds feuded with the Hacksaw Jim Duggan, which culminated in Duggan's disqualification due to outside interference.

The Freebirds spent time in Jim Crockett Promotions, where they briefly feuded for a short time before reuniting. Gordy and Jimmy Garvin joined Hayes in 1989 to rebuild the Freebirds in the NWA, which later became World Championship Wrestling. Dr. Death Steve Williams and others defeated the Steiners later in becoming World Tag Team Champions.

Gordy and Williams were back to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1992 and claimed the WCW World Tag Team championships. They also won the NWA World Tag Team championship in a tournament at the Great American Bash card in Albany, Georgia, one week later, and unified the titles. In Japan, the Steiners' feud with Rick and Scott Steiner was hyped as a feud between the two top Japanese promotions (the Steiners were competing for rival New Japan Pro-Wrestling at the time). Despite advances made by New Japan, Gordy, and Williams, out of loyalty to the AJPW founder and promoter, Giant Baba, who had business ties with WCW at the time), Gordy's departure from WCW led to Gordy's expulsion from the team following Warrcade. When traveling from the United States to Japan for a tour in 1993, Gordy took an overdose of painkillers and slipped into a coma, resulting in permanent brain damage. He returned to action later this year, but he was denied a shot at the Triple Crown again. Gordy had a small reunion with Hayes and Garvin as the Freebirds in the Global Wrestling Federation in 1994, where he and Garvin dominated the GWF Tag Team titles.

Gordy wrestled in various occupations after World Class was established in 1989. He began working with the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). In 1991, he served with the Universal Wrestling Federation, where he rivald Don Muraco. He reunited with the Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) in Texas, where they rivald with Bill Irwin, Black Bart, and Moadib. Gordy returned to the United States in 1995, where he joined Tracy Smothers.

Gordy served for Smokey Mountain Wrestling with Tommy Rich as the Militia in 1995. Brad Armstrong will compete with him. Gordy defeated Armstrong and Wolfman in the SMW Heavyweight Championship on October 27, teaming with Thrasher to defeat Armstrong and the Wolfman. In a Country whipping match, Armstrong regained the title a month later. Gordy left SMW before it shuts down at the end of the year.

Gordy appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1996 to face Raven for the ECW World Heavyweight championship as the "internationally recognized top contender." He had been working with the International Wrestling Association of Japan in Japan, where he was preparing for the deathmatches. He lost, but went on to work with Tommy Dreamer and then reunite with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams to face The Eliminators later this year. In what was described as the second ever "Battle Of The Bam Bams," he also wrestled Bam Bam Bigelow at Ultimate Jeopardy. (The first took place on a Windy City Wrestling exhibition). Gordy lost the game due to outside interference from The Eliminators.

Gordy was the Executioner team on February 11 and 12, 1995, with Mike Bell losing to the Smoking Guns.

Gordy appeared as The Executioner in 1996 and 1997 in the WWF. He teamed up with Mankind, who were both managed by Paul Bearer, and feuded with The Undertaker. The Executioner appeared in the ring under mask and holding an axe, as well as Paul Bearer's "hired assassination." He made his television debut at Buried Alive, where he appeared in The Undertaker's Buried Alive match with Mankind, battering Undertaker with a shovel and burying him with the support of Mankind and several other wrestlers. However, at In Your House 12: It's Time, The Undertaker defeated The Executioner in an Armageddon Rules match, and Gordy was immediately barred from being promoted. His last televised appearance was on January 12, 1997, when he lost to Goldust after which Paul Bearer turned on him with a urn. He was supposed to be one of the 30 participants in the 1997 Royal Rumble match, but he didn't turn up. He returned to WWF as Executioner for the last time on April 28, 1998, losing to Wellington Wilkins.

Bruce Prichard said that the Executioner gimmick was sent to Gordy because McMahon had doubts that Gordy could still compete and the use of a mask was intended to shield Gordy so that if that were the case, Gordy's legacy would not be tarnished. If Gordy had been able to perform at a high level, it would have been possible for Gordy to unmask later today. Michael Hayes' appointment was mainly motivated by a favor, according to reports.

Gordy returned to Japan and competed in deathmatches for the International Wrestling Association of Japan. I mainly worked in tag teams. In 1997, he left IWA Japan. Gordy returned to Japan for the final time in 1998, where he rivaled with Genichiro Tenryu.

Gordy worked in the civilian circuit after leaving the WWF and Japan. At the Eddie Gilbert Memorial Exhibition for IWA Mid-South on February 21, 1998, Gordy partnered with Dan Severn in a losing bid to Doug Gilbert and Dutch Mantel. Gordy will reunite with Hayes as they defeated Glen Kulka and JR Smooth to a no contest in Power Pro Wrestling on May 28, 1999. Shoichi Ichimiya, Tomohiro Ishiguro, Yukihide Ueno, and Yuji Kito defeated Doug Gilbert, TJ Shinjuku, Ultra Sebun, Takashi Uwano, and Keizo Maeno.

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