Ray Gordy
Encyclopedia
Terry Ray Gordy, Jr. is an American
professional wrestler
best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) appearing on its SmackDown brand
under the ring names Jesse and Slam Master J. He is the son of the late wrestler Terry Gordy
, best known for his time in the Fabulous Freebirds
and the Miracle Violence Connection
.
and North American Wrestling Association (NAWA). He had some success winning several titles for both promotions.
In 2001, Gordy went to Japan to wrestle for Pro Wrestling Noah
. There he stayed and wrestled until 2002 where he joined NAWA:Ring Champions based out of Rome, Georgia. There he formed a brief team with Nick Rampage and Jayson Phoenix known as The New Varsity Club. Early 2003 saw Gordy form a new union with Iceberg Slim and Tank Norton known as the Extreme Freebirds. During this time he a had string of matches against his former partners Phoenix and Rampage, along with matches against A.J. Styles
.
(WWE) and debuted for Deep South Wrestling (DSW) in early 2006 as "Ray Geezy", a white rapper gimmick. He teamed with Damian Steele, who was preppy and well-spoken. In November 2006, he began teaming with Henry Godwinn
at WWE SmackDown house show
s and changed his name to "Cousin Ray", dropping his gangsta gimmick to reform The Godwinns
with Henry.
as Justice Dalton. It was reported on June 2, 2007 that the "Dalton Boys" gimmick was being changed by WWE. Jesse and Festus were put in traditional wrestling gear and transformed their gimmick to be a little less country. On the June 29, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, vignettes hyping the team of "Jesse and Festus
" began to air.
Jesse and Festus made their official televised in-ring debut on the October 5, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, defeating Mike Tolar and Chad Collyer
. Their secondary gimmick was that when the opening bell rang, Festus's persona changed into a very focused, aggressive competitor as compared to the aloof, absent-minded character he had been portrayed as. When the bell rang signifying the end of the match, Festus returned to his "normal" self.
On the October 16, 2007 edition of ECW, Jesse and Festus made their debut for the ECW brand in conjunction with a "Talent Exchange" discussed between ECW General Manager Armando Estrada and acting SmackDown! General Manager Vickie Guerrero
. Jesse and Festus defeated their first notable opponents, the team of Elijah Burke
and Nunzio
, with a modified Rocket Launcher-esque maneuver.
On the November 8 episode of SmackDown, Jesse and Festus suffered their first WWE loss in a 10-Man Tag Team Battle Royal WWE Tag Team Championship Contender's match, against Deuce 'n Domino
, The Major Brothers
, Shannon Moore
and Jimmy Wang Yang
, and William Regal and Dave Taylor. Jesse and Festus suffered their second loss in the WWE when they were defeated by WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz
on the November 27 edition of ECW, and lost to them again on the December 7 episode of SmackDown.
After a brief hiatus, more vignettes aired, this time featuring Jesse, who explained Festus' condition and spoke of a cure for it. The team returned on February 8, 2008, on SmackDown, defeating Deuce 'n Domino. Festus appeared to be unchanged, aside from perhaps being more aggressive than ever. This success continued as they once again defeated Morrison and Miz in another non-title match on the February 29 airing of SmackDown. When they received a title match on the March 21 episode, however, they failed to win.
They continued in a sporadic feud with Miz and Morrison for the rest of 2008, but also underwent a gimmick change which began on the September 12 airing of SmackDown. Jesse and Festus made their way to the ring, dressed in moving attire, and with a hand truck, large cardboard box and moving supplies. After an attack from Kenny Dykstra the duo proceeded to package Dykstra up and roll him away. The next week they did the same thing to Ryan Braddock
and later the set of Carlito's Cabana
. The gimmick highlighted SmackDown's move to MyNetworkTV
, complete with overalls bearing the parodic company title of "MyMoving Company". After the show's move, however, they reverted to their previous gimmick.
On April 15, 2009, Festus was drafted to the Raw
brand as part of the 2009 Supplemental Draft and, as a result, was separated from his tag team partner Jesse who remained on SmackDown.
's Word Up internet show. During this segment, Jesse reprised his thug-wannabe mannerisms from his Ray Geezy gimmick. On Smackdown airing July 24, Jesse was officially renamed Slam Master J; his first match with this moniker was on the August 7, defeating Charlie Haas
on Smackdown. He then formed a tag team with Jimmy Wang Yang and faced The Hart Dynasty
on two occasions and lost. They picked up their first win as a team against Charlie Haas
and Mike Knox
. Gordy was soon unexplainingly out of WWE action until WrestleMania XXVI
, where he took part in the 26-man Battle Royal with his former partner, Luke Gallows, formerly known as Festus, but both came up short and the match was won by Yoshi Tatsu.
Ray Gordy was released from his WWE contract on April 22, 2010 along with several other talents.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
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...
best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment
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...
(WWE) appearing on its SmackDown brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
under the ring names Jesse and Slam Master J. He is the son of the late wrestler Terry 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:...
, best known for his time in the Fabulous Freebirds
Fabulous Freebirds
The Fabulous Freebirds were a professional wrestling tag team that attained fame in the 1980s, performing into the 1990s. The team usually consisted of three wrestlers, although in different situations and points in its history, just two performed under the Freebirds name.-History:The Fabulous...
and the Miracle Violence Connection
Miracle Violence Connection
The Miracle Violence Connection was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
.
Career
Gordy has worked for several promotions before working with WWE. Some of them being NWA GeorgiaNWA Wildside
NWA Wildside was an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cornelia, Georgia, with an office in Atlanta, Georgia, operating between September 1999 and April 2005....
and North American Wrestling Association (NAWA). He had some success winning several titles for both promotions.
In 2001, Gordy went to Japan to wrestle for Pro Wrestling Noah
Pro Wrestling Noah
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
. There he stayed and wrestled until 2002 where he joined NAWA:Ring Champions based out of Rome, Georgia. There he formed a brief team with Nick Rampage and Jayson Phoenix known as The New Varsity Club. Early 2003 saw Gordy form a new union with Iceberg Slim and Tank Norton known as the Extreme Freebirds. During this time he a had string of matches against his former partners Phoenix and Rampage, along with matches against A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
.
Developmental territories (2005–2006)
In August 2005, Gordy signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld 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...
(WWE) and debuted for Deep South Wrestling (DSW) in early 2006 as "Ray Geezy", a white rapper gimmick. He teamed with Damian Steele, who was preppy and well-spoken. In November 2006, he began teaming with Henry Godwinn
Mark Canterbury
Mark Canterbury is an American professional wrestler, best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Henry O. Godwinn.-Career:...
at WWE SmackDown house show
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
s and changed his name to "Cousin Ray", dropping his gangsta gimmick to reform The Godwinns
The Godwinns
The Godwinns was the best known gimmick of the professional wrestling tag team composed of Dennis Knight and Mark Canterbury that they used in the WWF. The team has used other gimmicks before they joined the WWF and had a gimmick change in the WWF shortly before disbanding...
with Henry.
Jesse and Festus (2007–2009)
On the May 11, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, a vignette aired with Gordy as "Jesse Dalton" alongside fellow WWE developmental talent Drew HankinsonDrew Hankinson
Andrew "Drew" Hankinson is an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment , where he appeared under the ring names Festus and Luke Gallows...
as Justice Dalton. It was reported on June 2, 2007 that the "Dalton Boys" gimmick was being changed by WWE. Jesse and Festus were put in traditional wrestling gear and transformed their gimmick to be a little less country. On the June 29, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, vignettes hyping the team of "Jesse and Festus
Jesse and Festus
Jesse and Festus, also once known as The Dalton Boys, were an American professional wrestling tag team made up of Ray Gordy and Drew Hankinson . As of April 22, 2010, Ray Gordy was released by World Wrestling Entertainment...
" began to air.
Jesse and Festus made their official televised in-ring debut on the October 5, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, defeating Mike Tolar and Chad Collyer
Chad Collyer
Chad Collyer is an American professional wrestler. A Heartland Wrestling Association mainstay, Collyer is perhaps best known for his appearances with Ring of Honor and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Career:...
. Their secondary gimmick was that when the opening bell rang, Festus's persona changed into a very focused, aggressive competitor as compared to the aloof, absent-minded character he had been portrayed as. When the bell rang signifying the end of the match, Festus returned to his "normal" self.
On the October 16, 2007 edition of ECW, Jesse and Festus made their debut for the ECW brand in conjunction with a "Talent Exchange" discussed between ECW General Manager Armando Estrada and acting SmackDown! General Manager Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Lynn Guerrero is an American professional wrestling personality, manager, shifting authority figure and occasional wrestler. She is the widow of professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand...
. Jesse and Festus defeated their first notable opponents, the team of Elijah Burke
Elijah Burke
Elijah Samuel Burke is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name of "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero; a gimmick in which he portrays a Harlem street preacher...
and Nunzio
James Maritato
James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...
, with a modified Rocket Launcher-esque maneuver.
On the November 8 episode of SmackDown, Jesse and Festus suffered their first WWE loss in a 10-Man Tag Team Battle Royal WWE Tag Team Championship Contender's match, against Deuce 'n Domino
Deuce 'n Domino
Deuce 'n Domino was the name of a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Deuce Shade and Dice Domino, who were managed for the majority of their run by Cherry Pie and briefly by Maryse. The pair teamed together in World Wrestling Entertainment and Ohio Valley Wrestling from 2006 through 2008...
, The Major Brothers
Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder were a American professional wrestling tag team who appeared on the independent circuit and WWE under a variety of evolving names....
, Shannon Moore
Shannon Moore
Shannon Moore is an American professional wrestler, who is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . He is best known for his work with World Championship Wrestling between 1999 and 2001 and with World Wrestling Entertainment for several years in the 2000s.Moore befriended Matt and Jeff Hardy...
and Jimmy Wang Yang
James Yun
James Carson Yun is an American professional wrestler and actor, best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Jimmy Wang Yang, in World Championship Wrestling as one-third of the Jung Dragons as Yang, and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and the independent circuit...
, and William Regal and Dave Taylor. Jesse and Festus suffered their second loss in the WWE when they were defeated by WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz
John Morrison and The Miz
John Morrison and The Miz were a professional wrestling tag team and former WWE Tough Enough contestants. The team worked for World Wrestling Entertainment on its ECW brand, but also appeared on the SmackDown and Raw brands due to ECW's talent exchanges with those brands during their tenure as a team...
on the November 27 edition of ECW, and lost to them again on the December 7 episode of SmackDown.
After a brief hiatus, more vignettes aired, this time featuring Jesse, who explained Festus' condition and spoke of a cure for it. The team returned on February 8, 2008, on SmackDown, defeating Deuce 'n Domino. Festus appeared to be unchanged, aside from perhaps being more aggressive than ever. This success continued as they once again defeated Morrison and Miz in another non-title match on the February 29 airing of SmackDown. When they received a title match on the March 21 episode, however, they failed to win.
They continued in a sporadic feud with Miz and Morrison for the rest of 2008, but also underwent a gimmick change which began on the September 12 airing of SmackDown. Jesse and Festus made their way to the ring, dressed in moving attire, and with a hand truck, large cardboard box and moving supplies. After an attack from Kenny Dykstra the duo proceeded to package Dykstra up and roll him away. The next week they did the same thing to Ryan Braddock
Brad Bradley
Brad Bradley is an American professional wrestler, best known for working for World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Ryan Braddock.-Early career:...
and later the set of Carlito's Cabana
Carly Colon
Carlos Edwin "Carly" Colón, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler better known internationally by his ring name Carlito. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Entertainment , but was released from his contract on May 21, 2010. In his native Puerto Rico, he is known as both...
. The gimmick highlighted SmackDown's move to MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
, complete with overalls bearing the parodic company title of "MyMoving Company". After the show's move, however, they reverted to their previous gimmick.
On April 15, 2009, Festus was drafted to the Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
brand as part of the 2009 Supplemental Draft and, as a result, was separated from his tag team partner Jesse who remained on SmackDown.
Slam Master J (2009–2010)
Jesse appeared on the June 26 edition of SmackDown, during the first televised edition of Cryme TymeCryme Tyme
For animated series named Crime Time, visit Crime TimeCryme Tyme was a professional wrestling tag team that was signed to WWE.The team consisted of JTG and Shad , an over-the-top parody of stereotypical street thugs.-Early lives:Of Haitian and...
's Word Up internet show. During this segment, Jesse reprised his thug-wannabe mannerisms from his Ray Geezy gimmick. On Smackdown airing July 24, Jesse was officially renamed Slam Master J; his first match with this moniker was on the August 7, defeating Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
Charles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin...
on Smackdown. He then formed a tag team with Jimmy Wang Yang and faced The Hart Dynasty
The Hart Dynasty
The Hart Dynasty was a professional wrestling stable that appeared in World Wrestling Entertainment. The unit consisted of the tag team of Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith, and WWE Diva Natalya...
on two occasions and lost. They picked up their first win as a team against Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
Charles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin...
and Mike Knox
Mike Knox
Michael Shawn Hettinga is a American professional wrestler. He is best known for wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment as Mike Knox. He is also an avid fisherman, and fishes in his spare time.-Independent circuit :...
. Gordy was soon unexplainingly out of WWE action until WrestleMania XXVI
WrestleMania XXVI
WrestleMania XXVI was the twenty-sixth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on March 28, 2010 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona. This was the fourth WrestleMania to...
, where he took part in the 26-man Battle Royal with his former partner, Luke Gallows, formerly known as Festus, but both came up short and the match was won by Yoshi Tatsu.
Ray Gordy was released from his WWE contract on April 22, 2010 along with several other talents.
Other Media
Ray Gordy has appeared in the video games WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 and WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 under the name "Jesse".In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Asiatic Driver (Pumphandle inverted scoop slam piledriver)
- Diving leg drop, sometimes to the back of the opponent's head
- Bridging German suplex
- Signature moves:
- DropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
- Monkey flip
- Multiple suplexSuplexA suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
variations- High-angle belly to back
- Swinging fisherman
- Tiger
- Sunset flip
- Senton bomb
- Dropkick
- With FestusDrew HankinsonAndrew "Drew" Hankinson is an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment , where he appeared under the ring names Festus and Luke Gallows...
- Rocket Launcher (Aided shoulder block)
- With Henry O. GodwinnMark CanterburyMark Canterbury is an American professional wrestler, best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Henry O. Godwinn.-Career:...
- Country Thunder (Pumphandle slam by Godwinn followed by a diving splash by Ray)
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "Biscuits & Gravy" by Jim JohnstonJim Johnston (composer)James Alan "Jim" Johnston is an American music composer who has been working for WWE since 1985. His work is often accredited to the names Jim Johnston, James A...
(2007–2009; as Jesse) (WWE) - "Thug Bug" by Darcus Knight & Otis Joy (as Slam Master J) (WWE)
- "Biscuits & Gravy" by Jim Johnston
Championships and accomplishments
- Georgia Championship WrestlingGeorgia Championship WrestlingGeorgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
- NWA Georgia Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Georgia Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Georgia Junior Heavyweight Championship was a championship in the NWA's Georgia Championship Wrestling promotion. It was strictly for the junior heavyweight wrestlers.-Title history:-External links:*...
(1 time)
- NWA Georgia Junior Heavyweight Championship
- 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 #147 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2008