24/7 Has Made Me A Mark for Magnum TA

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

Seriously.

Had he not been injured in that car crash, he very well would have been NWA's answer to Hulk Hogan. Either that, or he'd have left Crockett promotions (he said as much in a recent interview with an Apter mag) and wound up with Vince as a bland guy in the vain of Barry Windham as the Widowmaker.

The guy oozed charisma and he was booked like a real jackhammer, bowling guys over in under a minute. His feud with Tully Blanchard was class, and his feud with the Russians just further cemented him as a soon-to-be top guy. He was probably one of the few hosses booked as a hoss who could actually WORK. But then, a lot of Crockett hosses could throw down back then.

In the interview with the Apter mag (I forget which one, other than it's the one with two magazines in one), he also mentioned possibly going into movies, becoming an action star, or even race car driving. Turns out he's actually pretty wealthy right now in his own right.

And while I don't understand the whole "America's Heartthrob" persona, I have to commend him for rocking the finest mullet this side of Eddie Guerrero.

Any other Magnum marks? This is a recent markdom for me, just from watching NWA on 24/7. But from all I've seen, he was apparently really effing popular. Anyone a fan back then who could attest to it?

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

I am a mark for Maggie Mae as well. Dude just had that.....it factor that not a lot of guys have. He could have been huge if he hadn't just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Rocky Van Heineken]

TA was big back then, but I can't see him being the answer to Hogan. Only Flair, Sting, or Dusty Rhodes could have been that.

[destrucity]

rockygotfingered said:

TA was big back then, but I can't see him being the answer to Hogan. Only Flair, Sting, or Dusty Rhodes could have been that.

If not for Magnum's accident, I highly doubt that Sting would have had the opportunities he had that led him to become a star. That '88 feud with Flair probably would never have happened and if it didn't happen at that time then Sting would probably have been forced to retire because of financial reasons. He discusses those financial woes in his religious DVD that came out a few years ago.

[General Zod]

I concur. In a way, Magnum's injuries led to Sting's push, which if it hadn't happened, Sting may have been a footnote in wrestling history.

I remember watching Magnum T.A. as a young man, and he was nothing but impressive. Just because most of his matches on WTBS were under a minute didn't mean the guy couldn't go.

Dusty gave him the rub, and working with the Horsemen/Russians didn't hurt either.

Sometimes I still wonder what could have been. Magnum T.A. wouldn't have been the Crocket's answer to Hulk Hogan - not by a longshot.

I think he'd have stood on his own as a great NWA champion. Far better than Ronnie Garvin, IMO.

And I love me some Ronnie Garvin, but he really had no business holding the belt.

Yes, I get off track from time to time. Sue me.

[Arthur Digby Stamp]

darthfaker said:

I concur. In a way, Magnum's injuries led to Sting's push, which if it hadn't happened, Sting may have been a footnote in wrestling history.

I remember watching Magnum T.A. as a young man, and he was nothing but impressive. Just because most of his matches on WTBS were under a minute didn't mean the guy couldn't go.

Dusty gave him the rub, and working with the Horsemen/Russians didn't hurt either.

Sometimes I still wonder what could have been. Magnum T.A. wouldn't have been the Crocket's answer to Hulk Hogan - not by a longshot.

I think he'd have stood on his own as a great NWA champion. Far better than Ronnie Garvin, IMO.

And I love me some Ronnie Garvin, but he really had no business holding the belt.

Yes, I get off track from time to time. Sue me.

Speaking of getting off track...

The match between Terry Funk and Chris Candido that they have in the Shorties section right now is awesome if only for the fact that it features Funk being kicked in the shoulder by a horse.

You can almost see Funk weighing the pros and cons of hitting the horse with a garbage can after it happens, too.

["Nature Boy" Ric Moranis]

Barry Windham and Sting both received Magnum's NWA push between 1986-1989. Magnum would've been bigger than both because he was incredibly established in the JCP/Georgia/Florida/UWF territory...the Windham and Sting pushes were rushed and weren't as cool as they could've been. Ron Garvin winning the NWA World Title? Um yeah, that was supposed to be Magnum...

But of course, Magnum would've had a crap WWE run around 1991, where Vince would've taken the Magnum P.I. gimmick literally, gave him a Hawaiian shirt, a baseball cap, and made him terrible.

And oh yeah, some people on here would remember his six-month WWF run as the most awesome nostalgic thing because he'd win an IC Title from The Mountie (unless Vince gave T.A. a gimmick like "Skunk Man" and made him dye his hair and moustache black and white). If that were the case, people on here would crap on Magnum and how much he sucked until the end of time (like Terry Taylor).

[Squirrel Master]

I agree with just about everything said thus far regarding the great Magnum Terry Allen.

[dsriggs]

aaaaaaaaa said:

Barry Windham and Sting both received Magnum's NWA push between 1986-1989. Magnum would've been bigger than both because he was incredibly established in the JCP/Georgia/Florida/UWF territory...the Windham and Sting pushes were rushed and weren't as cool as they could've been. Ron Garvin winning the NWA World Title? Um yeah, that was supposed to be Magnum...

But of course, Magnum would've had a crap WWE run around 1991, where Vince would've taken the Magnum P.I. gimmick literally, gave him a Hawaiian shirt, a baseball cap, and made him terrible.

And oh yeah, some people on here would remember his six-month WWF run as the most awesome nostalgic thing because he'd win an IC Title from The Mountie (unless Vince gave T.A. a gimmick like "Skunk Man" and made him dye his hair and moustache black and white). If that were the case, people on here would crap on Magnum and how much he sucked until the end of time (like Terry Taylor).

Wow... that's one of the few "What if..." answers that's actually made complete and utter sense!

["Playboy" Don Douglas]

Magnum was indeed awesome, and was on his way to being one of the biggest stars in the business at the time of his accident. I'm glad he's done well for himself outside of wrestling.

When I think about all the potential what-ifs, and all the guys that came through that he could have worked with....

[stevierichardsfan]

magnum rules

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

aaaaaaaaa said:

But of course, Magnum would've had a crap WWE run around 1991, where Vince would've taken the Magnum P.I. gimmick literally, gave him a Hawaiian shirt, a baseball cap, and made him terrible.

Was his gimmick really supposed to be a Magnum PI ripoff? Has he ever had a gimmick (other than that confusing "America's Heartthrob" nonsense)? Because the way some veterans have worded it in interviews, they just took a cool word and put Terry Allen's initials at the end of it.

[SAJ Forth]

Magnum T.A. Was awesome. I Hope that WWE puts one of the matches with Tully Blanchard on DVD.

["Nature Boy" Ric Moranis]

beast147 said:

aaaaaaaaa said:

But of course, Magnum would've had a crap WWE run around 1991, where Vince would've taken the Magnum P.I. gimmick literally, gave him a Hawaiian shirt, a baseball cap, and made him terrible.

Was his gimmick really supposed to be a Magnum PI ripoff? Has he ever had a gimmick (other than that confusing "America's Heartthrob" nonsense)? Because the way some veterans have worded it in interviews, they just took a cool word and put Terry Allen's initials at the end of it.

I read an interview with Magnum where he said back in the Florida territory in 1982 or 1983, Andre The Giant was in the territory for a quick shot, and told Terry Allen he should call himself "Magnum T.A" because he (and his 'stashe) reminded Andre of Tom Selleck, and Andre was a mark for that show.

But no, I kind of misspoke, obviously his gimmick didn't have anything to do with being a laid back P.I., just the name part of it. I was just basically figuring that if he jumped to the WWF in the late 1980s or early 1990s, Vince would've probably taken that single "Magnum" aspect of his name and blown the character up to ridiculous proportions to sell more dolls...

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

johnforth said:

Magnum T.A. Was awesome. I Hope that WWE puts one of the matches with Tully Blanchard on DVD.

Their epic "I Quit" match from Starrcade 85 is on the Bloodbath (Steel Cage Match) DVD. If you haven't seen it, go find the DVD at, like, NOW O'CLOCK. You seriously won't regret it, and Bloodbath is an old enough DVD that it should come cheap.

[Sir Bill of Chainsawberg]

I'll just use this thread to say that Magnum's match with Tully Blanchard (the I quit cage match) is (still) my favorite wrestling match of all time. That finish is so damn sickeningly awesome, and the crowd was white hot throughout.

Magnum was crazy-ass over throughout his NWA days, and, in my opinion, could have been just as big of a superstar as Hogan if not for his accident.

[tarheelfan]

aaaaaaaaa said:

Barry Windham and Sting both received Magnum's NWA push between 1986-1989. Magnum would've been bigger than both because he was incredibly established in the JCP/Georgia/Florida/UWF territory...the Windham and Sting pushes were rushed and weren't as cool as they could've been. Ron Garvin winning the NWA World Title? Um yeah, that was supposed to be Magnum...

But of course, Magnum would've had a crap WWE run around 1991, where Vince would've taken the Magnum P.I. gimmick literally, gave him a Hawaiian shirt, a baseball cap, and made him terrible.

And oh yeah, some people on here would remember his six-month WWF run as the most awesome nostalgic thing because he'd win an IC Title from The Mountie (unless Vince gave T.A. a gimmick like "Skunk Man" and made him dye his hair and moustache black and white). If that were the case, people on here would crap on Magnum and how much he sucked until the end of time (like Terry Taylor).

I agree that Sting was the one who received Magnum's push but if memory serves me correct Barry was already a pretty decent star in his own right before 1986. I'm not saying Barry was a perinniel main eventer by 1986 but Barry was already an established star in the NWA by then. Had Magnum not been injured I doubt Sting would have became a legend. And I do believe that Magnum would have been the Hulk Hogan of the NWA. However, I doubt that Magnum would have taken the NWA into the 1980s WWE level. As over and charasmatic as Magnum was he was not really a huge guy like Hogan. My guess is that Magnum may have caused Flair to maybe have less title reigns.

[SAJ Forth]

beast147 said:

johnforth said:

Magnum T.A. Was awesome. I Hope that WWE puts one of the matches with Tully Blanchard on DVD.

Their epic "I Quit" match from Starrcade 85 is on the Bloodbath (Steel Cage Match) DVD. If you haven't seen it, go find the DVD at, like, NOW O'CLOCK. You seriously won't regret it, and Bloodbath is an old enough DVD that it should come cheap.

Cool, thanks.

[Mac]

Yeah TA/Blanchard I QUIT is pure gold and a must see... especially if you have 24/7 so you can relive how much of a dink Tully was.

[Rockhound]

mikeybadnews said:

Yeah TA/Blanchard I QUIT is pure gold and a must see... especially if you have 24/7 so you can relive how much of a dink Tully was.

I wouldn't exactly call Tully a dink. If someone wee trying to gouge my eye out with a piece of wood I'd quit too.

Seriously though, I was and will always be a Magnum mark and for his entire career I lived in (W)WWF territory so I only got to see his matches on late night NWA matches on the NY Spanish channel(ch. 13).