Terry Taylor Career
|
|
Terry Taylor was a popular fan favorite for much of his early career in the Mid-South region and other Southern professional wrestling territories in the 1980s. He made his way to the NWA in 1985 and feuded with "Nature Boy" Buddy Landell over the NWA National Heavyweight Championship. Moving on to the UWF in 1986, Taylor became one of that league's biggest stars and eventually defeated Freebird Buddy Roberts for the UWF Television Championship in September. He also won the UWF Tag Team Championship with "Gentleman" Chris Adams in early 1987 before breaking up their "Dream Team" to begin a heated rivalry. After Jim Crockett Promotions took over the UWF later that year, Taylor initiated a dispute with Nikita Koloff over the NWA Television Championship before abruptly leaving the promotion. In early-1988, Taylor debuted in World Class Championship Wrestling, where he and Adams continued their feud, which lasted until early-June. Taylor did win the Texas heavyweight championship from Matt Borne and defended the belt against Adams, Kevin Von Erich and others. Taylor eventually departed WCCW when his feud with Von Erich was about to kick into high gear. In 1988, Taylor signed with the World Wrestling Federation, where he was managed by Bobby Heenan and dubbed the Red Rooster, a gimmick which saw him don red tights and ring coat, and style his hair like a rooster's comb). Early in his Red Rooster stint, the heel Taylor was portrayed as a novice wrestler who could not navigate his way through matches without constant instructions from Bobby Heenan. Eventually, Taylor (who was actually a very talented wrestler) grew tired of Heenan's constant coaching and turned against him, defeating Heenan in a thirty second squash match at WrestleMania V. Taylor became a face as a result, though he retained the Red Rooster gimmick, and even began referring to his fans as "Rooster Boosters." He remained in the WWF until 1990. Taylor received his biggest push in World Championship Wrestling in 1991, where he became Terrence Taylor of The York Foundation. He feuded with Dustin Rhodes and Bobby Eaton, and won the WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championships with Richard Morton and Thomas Rich. Taylor was the senior member of the York Foundation throughout its existence. After the York Foundation disbanded, Taylor formed a tag team with Greg Valentine in 1992 and held the WCW United States Tag Team Championships for three months. Taylor later became a road agent for World Wrestling Entertainment after his wrestling career was cut short by injury. Before his injury, he was often a regional title holder and became a major contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship before leaving for WWE. After leaving WWE due to friction with other employees, namely Johnny Ace, Taylor began working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2003. He is the current head of talent relations, and has worked as a road agent, trainer and interviewer. Terry is a born-again Christian and has appeared on some of the wrestling and religion shows that Ted DiBiase produces. Terry Taylor |
|
View My Stats