Athletes - George Gray

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	Athletes - George Gray

George Gray was a professional wrestler best known as One Man Gang and Akeem.

Career

Gray started his career in the Kentucky/Tennessee independent promotions (most notably International Championship Wrestling, a Louisville, Kentucky-based promotion run by Angelo Poffo) under the name Crusher Broomfield. One of Broomfield's major angles was that his contract was owned by ICW Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and Savage's arch-nemesis (coincidentally at this time nicknamed "One Man Gang") Ron Garvin defeated Savage in a match to set Broomfield free. He later worked for the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling as One Man Gang, billed as being from Chicago's Halstead Street on the South Side. He was managed by Kevin Sullivan and Theodore Long, and Sir Oliver Humperdink. He was a member of Sullivan's Dungeon of Doom and had a brief run as United States Champion.

In the regional territories, he was a member of Skandor Akbar's "Devastation Inc."

World Wrestling Federation

Gray made his debut in the WWF on May 12, 1987, being managed by Slick, in a match against Jesse Cortez. He spent much of his early WWF run defeating enhancement talent in extremely short matches in order to build him up. While the Gang would often defeat jobbers and other lower card wrestlers with ease, he would often be on the end of defeat when main eventing against bigger stars such as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. One Man Gang participated in the first ever Survivor Series Pay Per View as a member of Andre the Giant's team, fighting a team led by Hulk Hogan. In 1988, Gang entered the first Royal Rumble at number 19 out of 20 participants, and was one of the last two men left in the ring, before being eliminated by Jim Duggan. One Man Gang participated in the World Title Tournament at Wrestlemania IV, defeating Bam Bam Bigelow in the opening round, before being disqualified against Randy Savage after Gang hit Savage with his manager's cane.

Following his loss at Wrestlemania, Gang was pushed back down to a lower card talent, feuding with Bam Bam Bigelow, Koko B. Ware, and Don Muraco. In September 1988, One Man Gang's manager, Slick, announced that Gang was actually African, and had plans to re-embrace his roots. An episode of WWF Superstars which aired on September 24, 1988, featured a vignette with Mean Gene Okerlund on-location in "deepest darkest Africa", where he found One Man Gang transforming himself into his new persona. Slick announced from that point on, Gang would be referred to by his new name, Akeem, the African Dream. Akeem was soon chosen by Ted Dibiase to join his team to fight Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage's team at the upcoming Survivor Series match. The match featured Akeem along with teammate Big Bossman handcuffing Hulk Hogan to the ring post, while they dominated the Macho Man, although Hogan eventually overcame the odds and defeated the two men. It was shortly after this that Bossman and Akeem teamed up to form the Twin Towers.

Though the Twin Towers never held the Tag Team Titles, they were strongly involved in the storyline which would eventually cause Randy Savage to turn heel and challenge Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania V. In the 1989 Royal Rumble, Randy Savage was accidentally eliminated by teammate Hulk Hogan, allowing both Akeem and Bossman to double team Hogan and eliminate him. The Main Event show broadcast live on NBC on February 3, 1989 featured Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage vs The Twin Towers in the Main Event. During the match, Savage's valet Elizabeth was injured after being thrown off the apron when Akeem was tossed into the ropes. This led Hulk Hogan to abandon his partner and bring Elizabeth to the back for medical help. Although Hogan later returned to the match to help Savage defeat Akeem and Bossman, Hogan's actions with Elizabeth caused Savage to attack him backstage, setting up the Main Event for Wrestlemania. The Twin Towers would go on to face The Rockers at Wrestlemania V, and defeat them when Bossman pinned Michaels with a powerbomb.

In early 1990, Big Bossman became upset with Slick always trying to take the credit for him, and turned on both his manager, and his partner Akeem. He went on to defeat Akeem at Wrestlemania VI. Although Akeem remained in the WWF until October of 1990, his loss to The Bossman at Wrestlemania was his last high profile match in the company.

Gray had a very brief stint in ECW, as a member of the Full Blooded Italians

Since then he has worked as a prison guard (death row) at Louisiana State Prison in Angola, LA. George Gray made a brief return to the WWF in 2001 for the gimmick battle royal at WrestleMania X-Seven.

Profile

Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight: 457 lb
Birthday: February 12, 1960
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Billed from: Chicago, Illinois
Debut: 1977
Previous identities: Crusher Broomfield (ICW Poffo), Panama Gang, One Man Gang, Akeem The African Dream (WWF)
Previous managers: Sir Oliver Humperdink, Kevin Sullivan, Slick, Theodore Long, Rockin' Robin
, Gary Hart
, Jimmy Hart, Boogaloo Brown, Jim Holliday, Skandor Akbar, Jim Cornette, James J. Dillon
Movie(s): Stayed Tune
Finishing and signature moves: 747 Splash, Front Suplex, Elbow Drop, Chokeslam,

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