Jeff Gaylord
Encyclopedia
Jeff Gaylord is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional and independent promotions including Bill Watts
' Universal Wrestling Federation
, World Class Championship Wrestling
and the United States Wrestling Association
during the late 1980s and 1990s, most notably as a frequent tag team partner of Jeff Jarrett
. During the late 1990s, he was a member of "Psycho" Sid Vicious
' The Psychos and, as Akeem Hassain, the USWA-faction of the Nation of Domination
.
He also made a one time appearance in the World Wrestling Federation
as The Black Knight at the 1993 Survivor Series
.
, Gaylord played as a defensive lineman for the Missouri Tigers
while attending the University of Missouri
and eventually became an All-American in 1981.
Making his professional debut in 1985, he began wrestling in the Mid-South area for the Universal Wrestling Federation facing Timothy Flowers, Tarzan Goto
and Kevin the Magnificent
in February 1986. During the summer, he also feuded with the Russian Team
facing Ivan & Nikita Koloff
and Korstia Korchenko in a 6-man tag team match with Ken Massey and Perry Jackson
as well as with Perry Jackson and Brett Wayne Sawyer
against Korchenko & The Blade Runners on June 8. He also teamed with Ken Massey against Rick Steiner
& Jack Victory
at the Tulsa Convention Center
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
on August 17, 1987.
Facing Buddy Landell and The Angel of Death
during the next few months, he later appeared on the UWF's Superdome Extravaganza supercard defeating Art Crews
at The Superdome
in New Orleans, Louisiana
on November 27, 1986. He would later lose to One Man Gang in the opening rounds of the UWF/PWI Tournament the following month. During the next year, he would face Eli the Eliminator and, with Jeff Raitz, against Sting
& Rick Steiner
. He would later lose to Rick Steiner in a singles match at the Sam Houston Coliseum
on January 23, 1987.
During 1989, Gaylord would also appear on WWF Wrestling Challenge
teaming with Tim Horner
against The Fabulous Rougeaus
on April 16, before returning to World Class Championship Wrestling facing veterans such as Jimmy Jack Funk and Kerry Von Erich
.
as the masked wrestler The Hood during the late 1980s, he would become a mainstay in the area and briefly feuded with Jeff Jarrett
and Bill Dundee
later teaming with "Stunning" Steve Austin
, Gary Young and Skandor Akbar in an 8-man Texas Tornado match losing to Jeff Jarrett, Bill Dundee, Eric Embry
and Percy Pringle
in early 1990.
However, he would soon begin teaming his former rival and defeated Brian Lee
and Chuck Casey for the USWA Tag Team Championship on September 3, 1990. Feuding with Brian Lee and Don Harris over the titles, they would trade the tag team titles twice with Lee & Harris before finally losing the titles to Tony Anthony
and Doug Gilbert
on October 6. Participating in the USWA Heavyweight Championship Tournament two days later, he defeated Doug Gilbert in the opening rounds before losing to "Dirty" Dick Slater
in the semi-finals on October 8.
Defeating Matt Borne and King Cobra
in January 1991, Gaylord briefly appearing in the Global Wrestling Federation
. He participated in the GWF World Television Championship Tournament losing to Rasta the Voodoo Man
in June 1991. During the next two months, he would team with the Blue Avenger in the GWF World Tag Team Championship Tournament being eliminated by Bill Irwin
& Johnny Ace
and, during the GWF North American Championship Tournament, lost to John Tatum
in the opening rounds.
During this time, he was involved in an altercation with Eddie Gilbert at a Dallas wrestling event in which Gaylord allegedly "sucker-punched" Gilbert during an argument in Gilbert's dressing room at the Dallas Sportatorium
. The two began fighting, until it was broken up by Doug Gilbert who assaulted Gaylord with a Coke bottle. Although Gaylord had been speaking to Gilbert regarding the possibility of being booked in Gilbert's promotion, Gilbert claimed in a later shoot interview that Gaylord was paid $1,000 by a Northeastern promoter to assault him after Gilbert had failed to show up for an event.
fighting to a double disqualification against Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee on November 11. After losing to Bill Dundee and The Spirit of America
on November 18, Gaylord was absent from the promotion for several weeks before returning to face Jerry Lawler, fighting him several times during an event on December 28, 1991.
Defeating The Candyman on January 6, he spent several months in the Puerto Rico
-based Americas Wrestling Federation winning the AWF International Tag Team titles with Sunny Beach before returning later that year teaming with Mr. Hughes to defeat Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett on September 21 and against Tony Williams & Robert Gibson on October 5. Returning to singles competition, he also defeated Tony Falk and Randy Rhodes before losing to Bill Dundee on October 26, 1992.
After he defeated Tony Williams in a rematch on November 2, he wrestled two matches in one night defeating Bart Sawyer and later teamed with USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Brian Christopher
losing to The American Eagles (Bill Dundee & Danny Davis) on November 9, 1992.
Suffering several losses to The American Eagles during the next few weeks, Gaylord teamed with Brian Christopher and The Masters of Terror (Ken Wayne
and Ken Raper) in an 8-man tag-team match defeating The American Eagles, Danny Davis and Bill Dundee and later the USWA Tag Team Champions The Moondogs (Moondog Spot & Moondog Spike
) by disqualification on November 30. Losing to The Moondogs in a tag team match with The Star Rider, he also lost to Tony DeNucci by disqualification on December 14.
In January 1993, he lost singles matches to Tony DeNucci, Danny Davis and Scott Campione. Although defeating Danny Davis in a rematch on February 1, he later teamed with Doink the Clown
in a losing effort against USWA Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler and USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett on February 8. He would appear on several house shows for the World Wrestling Federation wrestling Jerry Lawler at several house shows in early 1993.
Losing to Tom Prichard
later that month, he later feuded with The Rock-N-Roll Phantom
defeating him and The Nightstalker
several times in April. Defeating Johnny Polo on May 10, he and Jarrett reunited to defeat Well Dunn (Timothy Well
& Steven Dunn) by disqualification during the same event.
Feuding with C.W. Bergstrom
during the next three months, Gaylord defeated Bergstrom in a "Strap On A Pole Match" on May 24 and again in a rematch on June 7 before losing to him on June 14. Losing to Bo Alexander and Tony Falk during the next several weeks, he was again defeated by C.W. Bergstrom on July 5, 1993.
Defeating Johnny Polo, The Hawk and Colin Scott during the summer, he later defeated Tony Falk in a rematch and, later during the event, teamed with Miss Texas
& Ken Wayne
in a mixed 6-man tag team match defeating to PG-13
& The Black Pussycat on September 6, 1993.
Defeating Wolfie D on September 13, although suffering a loss to Colin Scott on September 20, he also defeated Leon Downs and Jim Dodson before teaming with Mike Anthony to lose to The Moondogs
(Moondog Spike
& Moondog Cujo) on October 18. Entering the USWA Tag Team Championship Tournament several days later, he and Anthony again lost to The Moondogs on October 25.
Defeating Paul Neighbors by disqualification, he later teamed with Mike Anthony & Del Rios
in a 6-man tag team match defeating Paul Neighbors, Reggie B. Fine and Doomsday on November 8, 1993. He and Anthony would also defeat Phi Delta Slam
and PG-13 several times later that month.
On November 24, he would also make a PPV appearance at the WWF's 1993 Survivor Series as The Black Knight along with The Red Knight
& The Blue Knight
against the Hart family and was later pinned by Owen Hart
, becoming the first man eliminated. Although originally scheduled to be captained by Jerry Lawler, Shawn Michaels
was named as a last minute replacement due to Lawler's legal problems preventing him from appearing with the WWF.
Returning to the USWA, he and Mike Anthony defeated PG-13 for the USWA Tag Team Championship on November 29 although they would lose the titles a week later to The War Machines on December 6, 1993.
Losing to Doug Gilbert on January 3, he managed to defeat Del Rios however he later lost to Skull Von Crush on January 24 and fought to a time limit draw with Reggie B. Fine on January 31.
After a loss to Koko B. Ware on February 7, he teamed with Spellbinder
and King Cobra defeating Skull Von Crush & The Nightmares at the supercard Memphis Memories on March 7 and later defeated Skull Von Crush on March 14. Teaming with Robert Gibson, Gaylord lost to Well Dunn on March 21 and, defeating Ken Wayne by disqualification on March 28, he teamed with Ricky Morton
and Spellbinder to defeat Ken Wayne, Skull Von Crush and Leon Downs in a 6-man tag team match later that night.
Defeating The Moondogs by disqualification in a tag team match with Don Bass
on April 4, he and Spellbinder later lost to Bad Breed
(Ian Rotten & Axl Rotten) on April 11 and to The Eliminators
during the USWA Tag Team Championship Tournament on April 23. Losing to Moondog Rex on May 2, he and the Spellbinder began feuding after losing to The Eliminators on June 6 and faced each other in several singles matches during the month. Defeating Bull Pain
, Leon Downs and Tony Falk in early July, he won a battle royal on July 25 before losing to Sid Vicious
later that night. He would later team with King Kong Bundy
losing to Sid Vicious and Spike Huber on August 1, 1994.
Continuing his feud with Spellbinder as well as Spike Huber during the next several weeks, he eventually lost to Spellbinder on September 19. After being eliminated by Perry Saturn in the USWA Heavyweight Championship Tournament on October 3, he would also defeat Tony Williams before losing to Spellbinder on October 17, 1994.
Feuding with The Phantoms during late 1994, he defeated Phantom Sorrow on November 14 and, with King Cobra & Miss Texas, defeated Fantasia
& The Phantoms in a mixed 6-man tag team match on November 21.
Remaining with the promotion during its last years, he lost to The Gambler by disqualification in his last appearance on May 15, 1995.
and later teamed with The Warlord
fighting to a double disqualification with Hercules Hernandez & Mr. Hughes. This would later allow several other teams to advance to the second round including "Wildfire" Tommy Rich
& Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
eventually going on to defeat Koko B. Ware & "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas
in the tournament finals.
In October 2001, Gaylord robbed a bank in Aurora
, Colorado
of five thousand dollars and was able to get away. Then, in February, he robbed the same bank branch; this time his license plate number was written down and a high-speed chase resulted. The officer who pursued him ended up breaking his foot during the chase. Gaylord eventually lost control of his vehicle and was taken into custody. He pled guilty to two counts of bank robbery and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of seventy-eight months. Gaylord was released into supervised probation in 2008.
In January 2009, Gaylord, was arrested in connection with the bank robbery at a US Bank in Monument, Colorado
as well as a robbery and attempted robbery at a branch in Castle Rock
. In 2009, he was sentenced to six years in prison, after which he will be required to serve three years of supervised probation.
Joel Gaylord 1989-2011
Bill Watts
William F. "Bill" Watts is a former American professional wrestler and promoter. Watts was famous under his "Cowboy" gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a tough, no-nonsense promoter in the Mid-South area of the United States, which grew to become the UWF.In 1992, he was the Executive...
' Universal Wrestling Federation
Universal Wrestling Federation
The name Universal Wrestling Federation may refer to:*Universal Wrestling Federation , an American professional wrestling promotion owned by Bill Watts...
, World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
and the United States Wrestling Association
United States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
during the late 1980s and 1990s, most notably as a frequent tag team partner of Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett
Jeffrey Leonard Jarrett is an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , an organization he co-founded along with his father and in which he holds some stock but not total control...
. During the late 1990s, he was a member of "Psycho" Sid Vicious
Sid Eudy
Sidney Raymond "Sid" Eudy is an American professional wrestler, best known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation...
' The Psychos and, as Akeem Hassain, the USWA-faction of the Nation of Domination
Nation of Domination
The Nation of Domination was a professional wrestling stable in World Wrestling Federation from November 18, 1996 to November 28, 1998. The Rock was a 1 time Intercontinental Champion and D'Lo Brown was a 2 time European Champion while in the group.-United States Wrestling Association :The...
.
He also made a one time appearance in the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
as The Black Knight at the 1993 Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1993)
Survivor Series was the seventh annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on Thanksgiving Eve, November 24, 1993 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts...
.
Early life and career
Born in Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Gaylord played as a defensive lineman for the Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
while attending the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
and eventually became an All-American in 1981.
Making his professional debut in 1985, he began wrestling in the Mid-South area for the Universal Wrestling Federation facing Timothy Flowers, Tarzan Goto
Tarzan Goto
, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler who has wrestled on the independent circuit most of his career. He is best known for his exploding steel cage matches againest Atsushi Onita and Pat Tanaka in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling ....
and Kevin the Magnificent
Kevin Wacholz
Kevin Wacholz is a former professional wrestler who once worked for the World Wrestling Federation in 1992 as Nailz. He was also known as "Mr...
in February 1986. During the summer, he also feuded with the Russian Team
Russian Team
The Russian Team was a professional wrestling team in the 1980s that attempted to prove their Soviet dominance over their opponents.-History:The Russian Team was formed in December 1984 in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions...
facing Ivan & Nikita Koloff
Nikita Koloff
Nikita Koloff is a retired American professional wrestler,. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he wrestled as "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff, which was a play on the nickname of fan favorite "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes .Nikita was brought into the National...
and Korstia Korchenko in a 6-man tag team match with Ken Massey and Perry Jackson
Perry Jackson
J. Parnel Jackson was a professional football player who spent three seasons in the National Football League with the Providence Steam Roller in 1928, 1929 and 1930. Jackson won an NFL championship in 1928 with Providence.-Right name, wrong player?:...
as well as with Perry Jackson and Brett Wayne Sawyer
Brett Woyan
Brett Woyan was a professional wrestler and is the brother of wrestler Buzz Sawyer.-Career:Brett Sawyer started wrestling in 1981...
against Korchenko & The Blade Runners on June 8. He also teamed with Ken Massey against Rick Steiner
Rick Steiner
Robert Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler, better known under his ring name Rick Steiner.Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling, where he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion...
& Jack Victory
Jack Victory
Kenneth "Ken" Rinehurst is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Jack Victory. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998 and 2001.-Career:Rinehurst debuted in 1985 in the Universal Wrestling Federation...
at the Tulsa Convention Center
Tulsa Convention Center
The Maxwell Convention Center or Tulsa Convention Center is a 7,111-seat multi-purpose arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The civic arena was constructed in 1964 and named for Tulsa Mayor James L. Maxwell who was the driving force behind the planning and start of the venue...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
on August 17, 1987.
Facing Buddy Landell and The Angel of Death
David Sheldon
Later in 1980's Russian assassin #1 was portrayed by Joe Piermatteo, another masked wrestler out of Johnny Rodz StableDavid Sheldon was a professional wrestler, known by his ring name the Angel of Death, who wrestled in North American regional promotions during the 1980s and early 1990s including...
during the next few months, he later appeared on the UWF's Superdome Extravaganza supercard defeating Art Crews
Art Crews
Art Crews is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, particularly the Central States, Mid-South and Pacific Northwest territories, during the 1980s....
at The Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
on November 27, 1986. He would later lose to One Man Gang in the opening rounds of the UWF/PWI Tournament the following month. During the next year, he would face Eli the Eliminator and, with Jeff Raitz, against Sting
Sting (wrestler)
Steven James "Steve" Borden , better known by his ring name Sting, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
& Rick Steiner
Rick Steiner
Robert Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler, better known under his ring name Rick Steiner.Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling, where he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion...
. He would later lose to Rick Steiner in a singles match at the Sam Houston Coliseum
Sam Houston Coliseum
Sam Houston Coliseum was an indoor arena, located in Houston, Texas. It was located at 801 Bagby Street near downtown. The arena was opened in November 1937 and had a capacity of 9,200. It was built in conjunction with the Houston Music Hall, which was adjacent to the Coliseum...
on January 23, 1987.
During 1989, Gaylord would also appear on WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Challenge is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was syndicated weekly and aired from 1986 to 1996. The show premiered as WWF Wrestling Challenge and became simply known as WWF Challenge in 1995. The show featured matches, pre-match...
teaming with Tim Horner
Tim Horner
Tim Horner is a professional wrestler best known for his "Lightning Express" tag team with Brad Armstrong.-Career:Tim Horner started wrestling in 1982 in the Alabama territory. He formed a tag team called the "Lightning Express" with Brad Armstrong and they had a lot of success. They won the...
against The Fabulous Rougeaus
The Fabulous Rougeaus
The Fabulous Rougeaus was the professional wrestling tag team of real-life brothers, Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau, best known from their time in the World Wrestling Federation , from 1986 to 1990....
on April 16, before returning to World Class Championship Wrestling facing veterans such as Jimmy Jack Funk and Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Gene Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich, The Modern Day Warrior, and The Texas Tornado and was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers...
.
From Dallas to Memphis
Wrestling for World Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
as the masked wrestler The Hood during the late 1980s, he would become a mainstay in the area and briefly feuded with Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett
Jeffrey Leonard Jarrett is an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , an organization he co-founded along with his father and in which he holds some stock but not total control...
and Bill Dundee
Bill Dundee
William "Bill" Cruickshanks is a Scottish born-Australian professional wrestler better known by his stage name Bill Dundee. Cruickshanks is the father of Jamie Dundee and the father-in-law of wrestler Bobby Eaton....
later teaming with "Stunning" Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
, Gary Young and Skandor Akbar in an 8-man Texas Tornado match losing to Jeff Jarrett, Bill Dundee, Eric Embry
Eric Embry
Douglas Eric Embry is a retired professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Class Championship Wrestling and the United States Wrestling Association as The Flamboyant Eric Embry...
and Percy Pringle
Percy Pringle
William Alvin "Bill" Moody , better known by his ring name Paul Bearer, is a professional wrestling manager and former wrestler best known for his time in World Class Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation, later known as the WWE.-Early career:He entered the wrestling business in...
in early 1990.
However, he would soon begin teaming his former rival and defeated Brian Lee
Brian Lee
Brian Lee Harris is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Prime Time" Brian Lee...
and Chuck Casey for the USWA Tag Team Championship on September 3, 1990. Feuding with Brian Lee and Don Harris over the titles, they would trade the tag team titles twice with Lee & Harris before finally losing the titles to Tony Anthony
Tony Anthony
Darrell W. "Tony" Anthony is a semi-retired American professional wrestler best known as Dirty White Boy, who wrestled primarily for independent promotions in the Southeastern United States...
and Doug Gilbert
Doug Gilbert
Doug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert....
on October 6. Participating in the USWA Heavyweight Championship Tournament two days later, he defeated Doug Gilbert in the opening rounds before losing to "Dirty" Dick Slater
Dick Slater
Richard Van Slater , better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, is a retired American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid 1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling .Slater began wrestling with Mike...
in the semi-finals on October 8.
Defeating Matt Borne and King Cobra
King Cobra
The king cobra is the world's longest venomous snake, with a length up to 5.6 m . This species, which preys chiefly on other snakes, is found predominantly in forests from India through Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia...
in January 1991, Gaylord briefly appearing in the Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion based in Dallas, Texas. It started in June 1991 and folded in September 1994. At one time its shows were presented on the ESPN television network. On many weeks, the promotion provided programming five days a week airing at 4 p.m...
. He participated in the GWF World Television Championship Tournament losing to Rasta the Voodoo Man
Lester Speight
Lester Rasta Speight is a former American football player who has had subsequent careers as a professional wrestler and then actor...
in June 1991. During the next two months, he would team with the Blue Avenger in the GWF World Tag Team Championship Tournament being eliminated by Bill Irwin
Bill Irwin
William Mills "Bill" Irwin is an American actor and clown noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts, but has made a number of appearances on film and television and won a Tony Award for a dramatic role on...
& Johnny Ace
Johnny Ace
Johnny Ace , born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, was an American rhythm and blues singer. He scored a string of hit singles in the mid-1950s before dying of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound....
and, during the GWF North American Championship Tournament, lost to John Tatum
John Tatum (wrestler)
John Frankel III , known by his ringname "Hollywood" John Tatum, is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including World Class Championship Wrestling, Universal Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance as well as independent...
in the opening rounds.
During this time, he was involved in an altercation with Eddie Gilbert at a Dallas wrestling event in which Gaylord allegedly "sucker-punched" Gilbert during an argument in Gilbert's dressing room at the Dallas Sportatorium
Dallas Sportatorium
The Sportatorium, located in downtown Dallas, Texas , was a barn-like arena used primarily for professional wrestling events...
. The two began fighting, until it was broken up by Doug Gilbert who assaulted Gaylord with a Coke bottle. Although Gaylord had been speaking to Gilbert regarding the possibility of being booked in Gilbert's promotion, Gilbert claimed in a later shoot interview that Gaylord was paid $1,000 by a Northeastern promoter to assault him after Gilbert had failed to show up for an event.
United States Wrestling Association
Returning to the Memphis area later that year, he lost to USWA Heavyweight Champion Jerry "The King" Lawler by disqualification on November 4 and, the following week, teamed with The Big OThe Big O
is a Japanese animated television series created by director Kazuyoshi Katayama and designer Keiichi Sato for Sunrise Studios. The writing staff was assembled by the series' head writer, Chiaki J. Konaka....
fighting to a double disqualification against Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee on November 11. After losing to Bill Dundee and The Spirit of America
Randy Lewis (wrestler)
Randy Lewis is an American wrestler and olympic champion. He competed at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he received a gold medal in freestyle featherweight. After winning three high school state titles in South Dakota, he was a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion at the...
on November 18, Gaylord was absent from the promotion for several weeks before returning to face Jerry Lawler, fighting him several times during an event on December 28, 1991.
Defeating The Candyman on January 6, he spent several months in the Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
-based Americas Wrestling Federation winning the AWF International Tag Team titles with Sunny Beach before returning later that year teaming with Mr. Hughes to defeat Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett on September 21 and against Tony Williams & Robert Gibson on October 5. Returning to singles competition, he also defeated Tony Falk and Randy Rhodes before losing to Bill Dundee on October 26, 1992.
After he defeated Tony Williams in a rematch on November 2, he wrestled two matches in one night defeating Bart Sawyer and later teamed with USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Brian Christopher
Brian Lawler
Brian Christopher Lawler is a professional wrestler. He is the son of color commentator and professional wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler and brother of wrestling referee Kevin Christian...
losing to The American Eagles (Bill Dundee & Danny Davis) on November 9, 1992.
Suffering several losses to The American Eagles during the next few weeks, Gaylord teamed with Brian Christopher and The Masters of Terror (Ken Wayne
Ken Wayne
Ken Wayne was an Australian actor. He made his film debut in Sons of Matthew and appeared in a number of movies including Dust in the Sun , but was also well known for his work in radio, particularly for playing private eye Larry Kent in the series I Hate Crime...
and Ken Raper) in an 8-man tag-team match defeating The American Eagles, Danny Davis and Bill Dundee and later the USWA Tag Team Champions The Moondogs (Moondog Spot & Moondog Spike
Moondog Spike
Bill Smithson was a professional wrestler who wrestled as Moondog Spike during the early 1990s with Moondog Spot from 1991 to 1992 and Moondog Cujo from 1992 to 1993 as part of the Moondogs.-Career:...
) by disqualification on November 30. Losing to The Moondogs in a tag team match with The Star Rider, he also lost to Tony DeNucci by disqualification on December 14.
In January 1993, he lost singles matches to Tony DeNucci, Danny Davis and Scott Campione. Although defeating Danny Davis in a rematch on February 1, he later teamed with Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special...
in a losing effort against USWA Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler and USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett on February 8. He would appear on several house shows for the World Wrestling Federation wrestling Jerry Lawler at several house shows in early 1993.
Losing to Tom Prichard
Tom Prichard
Thomas Prichard is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, working in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling as a trainer using his ring name Tom Prichard...
later that month, he later feuded with The Rock-N-Roll Phantom
Don Bass
Donald Wayne Bass was a professional American football tight end in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New Orleans Saints . He played college football at the University of Houston...
defeating him and The Nightstalker
Bryan Clark
Bryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
several times in April. Defeating Johnny Polo on May 10, he and Jarrett reunited to defeat Well Dunn (Timothy Well
Timothy Well
Timothy A. Smith is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by the ring names Rex King and Timothy Well. He wrestled in several promotions, including the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling . Much of his career was spent wrestling as a tag team with Steve...
& Steven Dunn) by disqualification during the same event.
Feuding with C.W. Bergstrom
C.W. Bergstrom
C.W. Bergstrom is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who was active in North American regional promotions during the early 1990s including a memorable stint in the United States Wrestling Association as Principal Bergstrom...
during the next three months, Gaylord defeated Bergstrom in a "Strap On A Pole Match" on May 24 and again in a rematch on June 7 before losing to him on June 14. Losing to Bo Alexander and Tony Falk during the next several weeks, he was again defeated by C.W. Bergstrom on July 5, 1993.
Defeating Johnny Polo, The Hawk and Colin Scott during the summer, he later defeated Tony Falk in a rematch and, later during the event, teamed with Miss Texas
Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline DeLois Moore is an inactive American professional wrestler, who was most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
& Ken Wayne
Ken Wayne
Ken Wayne was an Australian actor. He made his film debut in Sons of Matthew and appeared in a number of movies including Dust in the Sun , but was also well known for his work in radio, particularly for playing private eye Larry Kent in the series I Hate Crime...
in a mixed 6-man tag team match defeating to PG-13
PG-13 (professional wrestling)
PG-13 was the tag team of J.C. Ice and Wolfie D who worked for the World Wrestling Federation and United States Wrestling Association . PG-13 briefly competed in Puerto Rico for the World Wrestling Council in 1995 , W*ING in Japan, Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1997 and World Championship...
& The Black Pussycat on September 6, 1993.
Defeating Wolfie D on September 13, although suffering a loss to Colin Scott on September 20, he also defeated Leon Downs and Jim Dodson before teaming with Mike Anthony to lose to The Moondogs
Moondogs
The Moondogs were a professional wrestling stable in the World Wrestling Federation and in two Memphis promotions: the Continental Wrestling Association and the United States Wrestling Association...
(Moondog Spike
Moondog Spike
Bill Smithson was a professional wrestler who wrestled as Moondog Spike during the early 1990s with Moondog Spot from 1991 to 1992 and Moondog Cujo from 1992 to 1993 as part of the Moondogs.-Career:...
& Moondog Cujo) on October 18. Entering the USWA Tag Team Championship Tournament several days later, he and Anthony again lost to The Moondogs on October 25.
Defeating Paul Neighbors by disqualification, he later teamed with Mike Anthony & Del Rios
Harry Del Rios
Harry Del Rios is an American professional wrestler. Rios is best known as the Spellbinder, however, he has competed under many other ring names during his career....
in a 6-man tag team match defeating Paul Neighbors, Reggie B. Fine and Doomsday on November 8, 1993. He and Anthony would also defeat Phi Delta Slam
Phi Delta Slam
Phi Delta Slam is a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Big Tilly and Bruno Sassi. They wrestle principally on the Floridian independent circuit.-History:...
and PG-13 several times later that month.
On November 24, he would also make a PPV appearance at the WWF's 1993 Survivor Series as The Black Knight along with The Red Knight
Barry Horowitz
Barry Horowitz is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation.-Career:Horowitz, who is Jewish, attended Florida State University, where he studied sports nutrition and wrestled...
& The Blue Knight
Greg Valentine
John Wisniski, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.-Training:...
against the Hart family and was later pinned by Owen Hart
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
, becoming the first man eliminated. Although originally scheduled to be captained by Jerry Lawler, Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American television host and retired professional wrestler. He presents the Outdoor Channel show MacMillan River Adventures, and is currently signed to WWE, where he has served in an ambassadorial role since December...
was named as a last minute replacement due to Lawler's legal problems preventing him from appearing with the WWF.
Returning to the USWA, he and Mike Anthony defeated PG-13 for the USWA Tag Team Championship on November 29 although they would lose the titles a week later to The War Machines on December 6, 1993.
Losing to Doug Gilbert on January 3, he managed to defeat Del Rios however he later lost to Skull Von Crush on January 24 and fought to a time limit draw with Reggie B. Fine on January 31.
After a loss to Koko B. Ware on February 7, he teamed with Spellbinder
Harry Del Rios
Harry Del Rios is an American professional wrestler. Rios is best known as the Spellbinder, however, he has competed under many other ring names during his career....
and King Cobra defeating Skull Von Crush & The Nightmares at the supercard Memphis Memories on March 7 and later defeated Skull Von Crush on March 14. Teaming with Robert Gibson, Gaylord lost to Well Dunn on March 21 and, defeating Ken Wayne by disqualification on March 28, he teamed with Ricky Morton
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell "Ricky" Morton is an American professional wrestler who has worked for such wrestling organizations as Jim Crockett Promotions, the American Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and Total Nonstop Action...
and Spellbinder to defeat Ken Wayne, Skull Von Crush and Leon Downs in a 6-man tag team match later that night.
Defeating The Moondogs by disqualification in a tag team match with Don Bass
Don Bass
Donald Wayne Bass was a professional American football tight end in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New Orleans Saints . He played college football at the University of Houston...
on April 4, he and Spellbinder later lost to Bad Breed
Bad Breed
The Bad Breed was the professional wrestling tag team of Axl Rotten with his storyline brother/real life protégé Ian Rotten. The team achieved their greatest fame in the Philadelphia wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling but has also competed in the Global Wrestling Federation and...
(Ian Rotten & Axl Rotten) on April 11 and to The Eliminators
The Eliminators
The Eliminators were a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of Perry Saturn and John Kronus who were best known for their time in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 1997.-History:...
during the USWA Tag Team Championship Tournament on April 23. Losing to Moondog Rex on May 2, he and the Spellbinder began feuding after losing to The Eliminators on June 6 and faced each other in several singles matches during the month. Defeating Bull Pain
Bull Pain
Rick Gantner, known by his ring name Bull Pain, is an American independent professional wrestler, currently best known for his work in IWA Mid-South, and for his past career as part of the Texas Hangmen tag team in promotions such as American Wrestling Association, United States Wrestling...
, Leon Downs and Tony Falk in early July, he won a battle royal on July 25 before losing to Sid Vicious
Sid Eudy
Sidney Raymond "Sid" Eudy is an American professional wrestler, best known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation...
later that night. He would later team with King Kong Bundy
King Kong Bundy
Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:...
losing to Sid Vicious and Spike Huber on August 1, 1994.
Continuing his feud with Spellbinder as well as Spike Huber during the next several weeks, he eventually lost to Spellbinder on September 19. After being eliminated by Perry Saturn in the USWA Heavyweight Championship Tournament on October 3, he would also defeat Tony Williams before losing to Spellbinder on October 17, 1994.
Feuding with The Phantoms during late 1994, he defeated Phantom Sorrow on November 14 and, with King Cobra & Miss Texas, defeated Fantasia
Fantasia (wrestler)
Karen Simpson , better known by her ring name Fantasia, is an American professional wrestler, trainer, promoter, and manager competing throughout North America in independent promotions, custom DVD companies, and the UK....
& The Phantoms in a mixed 6-man tag team match on November 21.
Remaining with the promotion during its last years, he lost to The Gambler by disqualification in his last appearance on May 15, 1995.
Later career
After leaving the USWA, Gaylord began wrestling for the American Wrestling FederationAmerican Wrestling Federation
The American Wrestling Federation was a national professional wrestling federation founded by Paul Alperstein.-History:Alperstein, a promoter from Chicago, founded the AWF in 1994 and was on-air president of the company....
and later teamed with The Warlord
The Warlord
The Warlord can refer to:*The War Lord, a 1965 film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner or the film's theme music composed by Jerome Moross*The War Lord , a 1965 instrumental hit single by the legendary British band "The Shadows" based on the theme music of the film of the same name*Terry Szopinski,...
fighting to a double disqualification with Hercules Hernandez & Mr. Hughes. This would later allow several other teams to advance to the second round including "Wildfire" Tommy Rich
Tommy Rich
Thomas Richardson , better known by his ring name, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a professional wrestler. He is best known for his wrestling career in Georgia and Memphis throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:...
& Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
Greg Valentine
John Wisniski, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.-Training:...
eventually going on to defeat Koko B. Ware & "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas
Tony Atlas
Anthony White better known by his ring name "Tony Atlas" is an American bodybuilder, powerlifter, and professional wrestler who has held multiple titles and championships in each sport. He is also known by his bodybuilding title, "Mr...
in the tournament finals.
Criminal career
In October 2001, Gaylord robbed a bank in Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
of five thousand dollars and was able to get away. Then, in February, he robbed the same bank branch; this time his license plate number was written down and a high-speed chase resulted. The officer who pursued him ended up breaking his foot during the chase. Gaylord eventually lost control of his vehicle and was taken into custody. He pled guilty to two counts of bank robbery and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of seventy-eight months. Gaylord was released into supervised probation in 2008.
In January 2009, Gaylord, was arrested in connection with the bank robbery at a US Bank in Monument, Colorado
Monument, Colorado
Monument is a growing town situated on the Rampart Range in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Monument is bordered by Pike National Forest on the west, Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Academy to the south, foothills and rock outcroppings to the north and rolling plains to...
as well as a robbery and attempted robbery at a branch in Castle Rock
Castle Rock
-Islands:*Castle Rock , an island off the coast of the U.S. state of Alaska*Castle Rock, Hong Kong , an island of Hong Kong, part of the Po Toi Islands*Castle Rock , an island in the U.S...
. In 2009, he was sentenced to six years in prison, after which he will be required to serve three years of supervised probation.
In wrestling
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Downtown Bruno
Joel Gaylord 1989-2011
Championships and accomplishments
- Americas Wrestling Federation
- AWF International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sunny Beach
- United States Wrestling AssociationUnited States Wrestling AssociationThe United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
- USWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jeff JarrettJeff JarrettJeffrey Leonard Jarrett is an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , an organization he co-founded along with his father and in which he holds some stock but not total control...
- USWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jeff Jarrett
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 83 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991.