Athletes - Magnum T.A.

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	Athletes - Magnum T.A.

Terry Wayne Allen (born June 11, 1959) was a professional wrestler who became famous under the name of Magnum T.A.

Career

Terry Allen started wrestling in 1977 for Florida Championship Wrestling and the Pacific Northwest territory. He soon moved to Mid-South Wrestling and by 1984, was a major star under the name Magnum T.A., "America's Heart Throb". This gimmick was based on Allen's resemblance to actor Tom Selleck, and his TV character, Magnum, P.I.. His good looks and tough-guy charisma led to a large female fan base.

In 1984, the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) signed him. Allen 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. Magnum T.A.'s signature move was the "belly to belly" suplex.

His next feud was one of the bloodiest in NWA history. Tully Blanchard with his valet, Baby Doll, took the United States Title from Magnum and ignited a feud that lasted for four months. Blanchard usually cheated to keep his title from Magnum and Baby Doll often interfered. Magnum got his revenge in an "I Quit" Match at the Starrcade, 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 fight 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 Heavyweight 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 was speeding in his Porsche in the rain and lost control, wrapping the car around a tree. The left side of his body was paralyzed, ending his wrestling career. Losing Allen as a wrestler prompted Jim Crockett, Jr. to turn Nikita Koloff into a face. According to the storyline, Koloff gained respect for Magnum from their feud and wanted to take his place.

Magnum later worked as a commentater for the NWA and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and also served as a manager for Koloff and Dusty. In his last big event in WCW (the TV program later renamed WCW Saturday Night), he was attacked by Blanchard, which prompted Dusty, now the U.S. champion, to come to the aid of his friend and use a baseball bat against Blanchard and Arn. However, NWA President Jim Crockett Jr. also ran into the scene to end the fight and accidentally was also blasted with the bat, which resulted in Dusty being stripped of the title and being suspended. After Magnum's friends left JCP (Dusty signing with the World Wrestling Federation and Koloff signed with the American Wrestling Association), Magnum left JCP as well.

Today

Allen became a born-again Christian, owns a cell phone tower company, and has interests in real estate. He and his wife, Tracey Cedarburg (whom he married in 1989) have a son, Christopher Kyle Allen.

In wrestling

Managers

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Magnum T.A. ]

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