Miracle Violence Connection
Encyclopedia
The Miracle Violence Connection was a professional wrestling
tag team
consisting of "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
.
in 1990 and quickly became a top tag team for the next several years. The two quickly found success when they defeated Genichiro Tenryu
and Stan Hansen
to win the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
on March 6, 1990. Williams and Gordy would make one successful title defense against Hansen and Dan Spivey
before losing the titles to Jumbo Tsuruta
and the Great Kabuki on July 19, 1990. In the fall of 1990, The MVC entered the World's Strongest Tag Team League
and would win the tournament by finishing in first with 19 Points. By winning the tournament, they also won the vacated World Tag Team Championship.
The Connection would hold the titles for four months, making two successful title defenses against Mitsuharu Misawa
and Toshiaki Kawada
& Jumbo Tsuruta and Akira Taue
. The Connection's second title reign ended on April 18, 1991 at the Nippon Budokan
to Stan Hansen and Dan Spivey. A few months later on July 6, Williams and Gordy rebounded by regaining the titles for the third time. The title reign wouldn't last, three weeks later on July 24, they lost the titles to Misawa and Kawada.
Williams and Gordy entered their second Tag League in the fall of 1991 and would proceed to win the tournament for the second time by finishing in first with 21 Points. Along with the Tag Tounament the MVC also won the vacated World Tag Team Titles for a fourth time. Four months later on March 4, 1992, they lost the titles to Jumbo Tsuruta and Akira Taue. For the remainder of 1992, Williams and Gordy attempted to regain the titles but failed to including a rematch with Tsuruta and Taue on October 7. The two also entered the 1992 World's Strongest Tag League but finished 2nd place with 17 Points.
On January 30, 1993, The Miracle Violence Connection won their fifth and final Unified World Tag Team Title by defeating Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada. After holding the titles for 4 Months, Williams and Gordy would lose the titles to the newly formed: Holy Demon Army
(Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue). After failing to winning the titles on July 26, Williams and Gordy would team one last time on July 29, 1993 defeating Johnny Ace
and Kendall Windham
. After the match, Gordy left All Japan breaking the Miracle Violence Connection up.
by defeating the Steiner Brothers in Atlanta, GA on July 5, 1992. One week later, they won the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship
by defeating Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham
in a tournament final. They held onto both titles until September 2, 1992 when they lost them to Rhodes and Windham.
During their relatively brief stay in WCW, they had a feud with the Steiner Brothers which, in addition to being a major WCW feud, was also seen as a major feud by Japanese fans even though the two teams never faced each other in Japan (as in Japan they were employed by rival promotions). Despite advances by New Japan, Gordy and Williams, out of loyalty to Giant Baba
, refused to compete for the rival promotion.
In October 1992, Gordy left WCW, before Halloween Havoc, while Williams left in December, after Starrcade.
where they lost to The Eliminators
at High Incident on October 26, 1996.
After leaving All Japan, Gordy would wrestle in several promotions including the GWF
, SMW
, USWA
, IWA Japan, & ECW
. In GWF, Gordy was one-half of the last GWF Tag Team Champions
with fellow Freebird Jimmy Garvin
on June 3, 1994 until the promotion closed in September. In SMW, Gordy had a brief reign with the SMW Heavyweight Championship
winning the title from Brad Armstong on October 20, 1995 and eventually lost the title back to Armstrong on November 23, 1995.
Gordy also took part in IWA Japan's King of the Deathmatch, making it to the quarter-finals before losing to Cactus Jack
. In 1996, Gordy wrestled for ECW where he challenged Raven
for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship
on June 22, 1996 and lost to Bam Bam Bigelow in the "Battle of the Bamm Bamms" on October 5, 1996.
Gordy signed with the WWF
in October 1996 and became the Executioner who sided with Paul Bearer and Mankind
in a feud with The Undertaker. Gordy wrestled and lost to the Undertaker at In Your House 12: It's Time
in an Armageddon Match. After the loss, Gordy formed a team with Mankind for a few house shows in January 1997 where they challenged Owen Hart
and The British Bulldog for the WWF Tag Team Championship before leaving the WWF and retiring.
Gordy would pass away on July 16, 2001 due to a heart attack. He was 40 years old.
Williams, meanwhile, would continue to work for All Japan for the next decade forming successful tag teams with Johnny Ace
, Gary Albright
, & Vader, winning the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
with each partner. He also won the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship on July 28, 1994 and held the title until October 22, 1994. He also reunited The Varsity Club
with Mike Rotunda
and the two won the 2000 World's Strongest Tag League. Williams eventually left All Japan in 2003.
Williams also had brief tenures in the WWF from 1998-1999 where he took part in the imfamous Brawl For All and then with World Championship Wrestling
in 1999.
Williams eventually started wrestling in the independent scene with OVW
, MLW
, & IWA Mid South.
In 2004, Williams was diagnosed with Throat Cancer, he would eventually get surgery and was declared cancer-free for five years until 2009 when his cancer returned. He eventually died on December 29, 2009. He was 49 years old.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
consisting of "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
Terry Gordy
Terry Ray 'Bam Bam' Gordy, Sr. was a professional wrestler who was best known in North America for being a member of the Fabulous Freebirds.-Career:...
.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1990-1993)
The team was originally formed in All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
in 1990 and quickly became a top tag team for the next several years. The two quickly found success when they defeated Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
and Stan Hansen
Stan Hansen
John Stanley Hansen, Jr. is an American former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Stan Hansen. As a wrestler, Hansen was well known for his stiff wrestling style, which he attributes to poor eyesight, as he is nearly blind without glasses...
to win the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
on March 6, 1990. Williams and Gordy would make one successful title defense against Hansen and Dan Spivey
Dan Spivey
Daniel Eugene "Dan" Spivey is a retired professional wrestler who worked for World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation, and All Japan Pro Wrestling between 1984 and 1995...
before losing the titles to Jumbo Tsuruta
Jumbo Tsuruta
, better known by his ring name Jumbo Tsuruta, was a professional wrestler who wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling for most of his career, and is well-known for being the first ever AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, having won the PWF Heavyweight Championship, the NWA United National...
and the Great Kabuki on July 19, 1990. In the fall of 1990, The MVC entered the World's Strongest Tag Team League
World's Strongest Tag Team League
The , more commonly known in the West as the Real World Tag League, is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by All Japan Pro Wrestling since 1977, usually run on the first weeks of December...
and would win the tournament by finishing in first with 19 Points. By winning the tournament, they also won the vacated World Tag Team Championship.
The Connection would hold the titles for four months, making two successful title defenses against Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa
was a Japanese professional wrestler. He made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling . From 1984 until 1990, Misawa wrestled as the second generation Tiger Mask, as All Japan Pro Wrestling had purchased the rights of the Tiger Mask gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling...
and Toshiaki Kawada
Toshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
& Jumbo Tsuruta and Akira Taue
Akira Taue
is a Japanese professional wrestler, and the current President of Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former AJPW Triple Crown champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had 14 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter....
. The Connection's second title reign ended on April 18, 1991 at the Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
to Stan Hansen and Dan Spivey. A few months later on July 6, Williams and Gordy rebounded by regaining the titles for the third time. The title reign wouldn't last, three weeks later on July 24, they lost the titles to Misawa and Kawada.
Williams and Gordy entered their second Tag League in the fall of 1991 and would proceed to win the tournament for the second time by finishing in first with 21 Points. Along with the Tag Tounament the MVC also won the vacated World Tag Team Titles for a fourth time. Four months later on March 4, 1992, they lost the titles to Jumbo Tsuruta and Akira Taue. For the remainder of 1992, Williams and Gordy attempted to regain the titles but failed to including a rematch with Tsuruta and Taue on October 7. The two also entered the 1992 World's Strongest Tag League but finished 2nd place with 17 Points.
On January 30, 1993, The Miracle Violence Connection won their fifth and final Unified World Tag Team Title by defeating Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada. After holding the titles for 4 Months, Williams and Gordy would lose the titles to the newly formed: Holy Demon Army
The Holy Demon Army
The Holy Demon Army is a professional wrestling tag team that competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s. The team consisted of Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue...
(Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue). After failing to winning the titles on July 26, Williams and Gordy would team one last time on July 29, 1993 defeating Johnny Ace
John Laurinaitis
John Joseph Laurinaitis is the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations for WWE and appears on WWE's Raw Brand as interim General Manager. He was previously a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Ace, and wrestled for such promotions as the National Wrestling Alliance and All...
and Kendall Windham
Kendall Windham
Kendall Windham is a former professional wrestler. He is the son of Blackjack Mulligan and the brother of Barry Windham.-Florida Championship Wrestling:...
. After the match, Gordy left All Japan breaking the Miracle Violence Connection up.
NWA/WCW (1992)
In 1992, they went to World Championship Wrestling where they won the WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipWCW World Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
by defeating the Steiner Brothers in Atlanta, GA on July 5, 1992. One week later, they won the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
by defeating Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham
Barry Windham
Barry Clinton Windham is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling ....
in a tournament final. They held onto both titles until September 2, 1992 when they lost them to Rhodes and Windham.
During their relatively brief stay in WCW, they had a feud with the Steiner Brothers which, in addition to being a major WCW feud, was also seen as a major feud by Japanese fans even though the two teams never faced each other in Japan (as in Japan they were employed by rival promotions). Despite advances by New Japan, Gordy and Williams, out of loyalty to Giant Baba
Shohei Baba
was a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba. Baba, along with Antonio Inoki, became one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers of his era, with a popularity in Japan comparable to Hulk Hogan's in the United States of America...
, refused to compete for the rival promotion.
In October 1992, Gordy left WCW, before Halloween Havoc, while Williams left in December, after Starrcade.
Aftermath
After breaking up, Williams and Gordy would team up one more time in ECWExtreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
where they lost 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:...
at High Incident on October 26, 1996.
After leaving All Japan, Gordy would wrestle in several promotions including the GWF
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...
, SMW
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Appalachian area of the United States from October 1991 to December 1995, when it was run by Jim Cornette...
, USWA
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:...
, IWA Japan, & ECW
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
. In GWF, Gordy was one-half of the last GWF Tag Team Champions
GWF Tag Team Championship
The GWF Tag Team Championship was the tag team title in the Global Wrestling Federation in Texas. The title existed from 1991 until 1994, when GWF closed. The title was featured on the promotion's show that aired nationally on ESPN...
with fellow Freebird Jimmy Garvin
Jimmy Garvin
James Williams is a retired American professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name "Gorgeous" Jimmy "Jam" Garvin and as a member of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds....
on June 3, 1994 until the promotion closed in September. In SMW, Gordy had a brief reign with the SMW Heavyweight Championship
SMW Heavyweight Championship
The SMW Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. It existed from 1992 until 1996 when SMW folded. "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony held the title the most times with three reigns. The United States Wrestling Association briefly recognized the SMW Heavyweight...
winning the title from Brad Armstong on October 20, 1995 and eventually lost the title back to Armstrong on November 23, 1995.
Gordy also took part in IWA Japan's King of the Deathmatch, making it to the quarter-finals before losing to Cactus Jack
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
. In 1996, Gordy wrestled for ECW where he challenged Raven
Scott Levy
Scott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship
ECW World Heavyweight Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
on June 22, 1996 and lost to Bam Bam Bigelow in the "Battle of the Bamm Bamms" on October 5, 1996.
Gordy signed with the WWF
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...
in October 1996 and became the Executioner who sided with Paul Bearer and Mankind
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
in a feud with The Undertaker. Gordy wrestled and lost to the Undertaker at In Your House 12: It's Time
In Your House 12: It's Time
In Your House 12: It's Time was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on December 15, 1996 at the West Palm Beach Auditorium in West Palm Beach, Florida.-Background:...
in an Armageddon Match. After the loss, Gordy formed a team with Mankind for a few house shows in January 1997 where they challenged 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...
and The British Bulldog for the WWF Tag Team Championship before leaving the WWF and retiring.
Gordy would pass away on July 16, 2001 due to a heart attack. He was 40 years old.
Williams, meanwhile, would continue to work for All Japan for the next decade forming successful tag teams with Johnny Ace
John Laurinaitis
John Joseph Laurinaitis is the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations for WWE and appears on WWE's Raw Brand as interim General Manager. He was previously a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Ace, and wrestled for such promotions as the National Wrestling Alliance and All...
, Gary Albright
Gary Albright
Gary Albright was an American professional wrestler who performed mainly in Stampede Wrestling in Canada and with UWF International and All Japan Pro Wrestling in Japan. Albright was a member through marriage of the famous Anoa'i wrestling family, including Afa and Sika, Yokozuna, Rikishi, and The...
, & Vader, winning the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
with each partner. He also won the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship on July 28, 1994 and held the title until October 22, 1994. He also reunited The Varsity Club
Varsity Club
The Varsity Club was a professional wrestling heel stable in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions and World Championship Wrestling. The stable was formed in 1987 and lasted until 1989...
with Mike Rotunda
Mike Rotunda
Lawrence Michael "Mike" Rotunda is a former American professional wrestler, perhaps best known under the name Irwin R. Schyster or I.R.S. for short. He is currently signed with WWE working as a road agent and making occasional appearances on WWE shows as Irwin R...
and the two won the 2000 World's Strongest Tag League. Williams eventually left All Japan in 2003.
Williams also had brief tenures in the WWF from 1998-1999 where he took part in the imfamous Brawl For All and then with World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
in 1999.
Williams eventually started wrestling in the independent scene with OVW
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
, MLW
Major League Wrestling
Major League Wrestling is a professional wrestling promotion that markets its presentation around hybrid wrestling, which encompasses and showcases many different forms of wrestling. MLW's mission is to present itself as an alternative to sports entertainment...
, & IWA Mid South.
In 2004, Williams was diagnosed with Throat Cancer, he would eventually get surgery and was declared cancer-free for five years until 2009 when his cancer returned. He eventually died on December 29, 2009. He was 49 years old.
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
- AJPW Unified World Tag Team ChampionshipAJPW Unified World Tag Team ChampionshipThe All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
(5 times) - World's Strongest Tag Team LeagueWorld's Strongest Tag Team LeagueThe , more commonly known in the West as the Real World Tag League, is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by All Japan Pro Wrestling since 1977, usually run on the first weeks of December...
(1990, 1991)
- 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 Tag Team of the Year (1992)
- PWI named them #16 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years"
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- NWA World Tag Team ChampionshipNWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
(1 time) - WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipWCW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
(1 time)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Tag Team of the Year (1992)