Terry Gordy Memorial Show
Encyclopedia
The Terry Gordy Memorial Show was a professional wrestling
memorial event produced by the Legends of Pro Wrestling (LPW) promotion
, which took place on August 11, 2001 at the Boutwell Auditorium
in Birmingham, Alabama
. The event was held in honor of Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
who had died of a heart attack at his home outside Chattanooga, Tennessee
the previous month. Promoter Linda Marx Keebles promised that 20% of the proceeds would be donated to Gordy's family to help cover funeral costs and guaranteed at least a $1,000 donation. Nine professional wrestling matches
were featured on the event's card
, with two including championships.
The main event was a standard wrestling match between Gordy's Fabulous Freebirds
teammate P.S. Michael Hayes
and Ray Gordy
, and the challengers, "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony
and "Nightmare" Ken Wayne, both among the top "heels"
in the Continental Championship Wrestling
during the 1980s. Ray Gordy had originally been scheduled to wrestle with his father and Hayes, who had been in retirement since 1995, offered to fill in after Terry's death. Another featured match was "Wildfire" Tommy Rich
versus "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel
, which Rich won. Robert Gibson defeated "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
, and Jimmy Golden
defeated The Honky Tonk Man
, with outside interference from Robert Fuller
and Robert Gibson, to win the LPW United States Championship. In a 6-man "Southern Street Fight", Robert Fuller, Jimmy Golden
and Jerry Stubbs
defeated "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, Scott Armstrong and Chad Fuller. Chad Fuller was accompanied to the ring by his father Ron Fuller
, who was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury, both father and son later turned on the Armstrong's and costing them the match.
The event featured many wrestlers with whom he worked with throughout his career, mostly from the National Wrestling Alliance
, as well as from the World Wrestling Federation and local independent wrestlers
. Also during the event, Mr. Wrestling II
gave an in-ring interview with his memories of Gordy and Triple H
, who was in Birmingham undergoing rehabilitation with Dr. James Andrews
for a knee injury, made a surprise appearance at the end of the main event. The show, and the backstage goings-on, was later covered by the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter
.
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...
memorial event produced by the Legends of Pro Wrestling (LPW) promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
, which took place on August 11, 2001 at the Boutwell Auditorium
Boutwell Memorial Auditorium
The Boutwell Memorial Auditorium is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. It was built in 1924, as Birmingham's Municipal Auditorium, on a site near City Hall, facing Capitol Park ....
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The event was held in honor of 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:...
who had died of a heart attack at his home outside Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
the previous month. Promoter Linda Marx Keebles promised that 20% of the proceeds would be donated to Gordy's family to help cover funeral costs and guaranteed at least a $1,000 donation. Nine professional wrestling matches
Mock combat
Mock combat involves the execution of combative actions without intent to harm. Participants can engage in such sparring for ritual, training, recreational or performance reasons...
were featured on the event's card
Card (sports)
In sports, a card comprises a listing of the matches taking place in a title-match combat-sport event. Organizers divide overall cards into a main-event match and the undercard, which encompasses the rest of the matches. One can also further subdivide the undercard into midcard and lower card,...
, with two including championships.
The main event was a standard wrestling match between Gordy's 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...
teammate P.S. Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes (wrestler)
Michael Seitz is a retired American professional wrestler and former musician. Seitz is best known for leading The Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." Hayes and for his role as the announcer Dok Hendrix in the World Wrestling Federation...
and Ray Gordy
Ray Gordy
Terry Ray Gordy, Jr. is an American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment appearing on its SmackDown brand under the ring names Jesse and Slam Master J...
, and the challengers, "Dirty White Boy" 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 "Nightmare" Ken Wayne, both among the top "heels"
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
in the Continental Championship Wrestling
Continental Championship Wrestling
Continental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
during the 1980s. Ray Gordy had originally been scheduled to wrestle with his father and Hayes, who had been in retirement since 1995, offered to fill in after Terry's death. Another featured match was "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:...
versus "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel
Buddy Landel
William Ansor is a professional wrestler better knownas "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel.-Career:Buddy Landel started his career in 1979 as a young talented athlete in ICW. He left high school even though he had received letters of intent to play baseball and football at the University of Tennessee...
, which Rich won. Robert Gibson defeated "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
Bobby Eaton
Robert Lee "Bobby" Eaton is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, who made his debut in 1976. Eaton is most famous for his work in tag teams, especially his days as one-half of the team the Midnight Express. Under the management of Jim Cornette, Eaton originally teamed with Dennis...
, and Jimmy Golden
Jimmy Golden
James "Jimmy" Golden is an American professional wrestler, who is better known as Bunkhouse Buck.Golden has many relatives in wrestling: his cousins are Robert & Ron Fuller, his father is Billy Golden and his uncle is Buddy Fuller and his nephew is Eddie Golden. His grandfather is Roy Welch...
defeated The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
, with outside interference from Robert Fuller
Robert Fuller
Robert Welch is a professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring names Robert Fuller and Col. Robert Parker. Robert and his brother Ron co-owned Continental Championship Wrestling for a time.-Career:...
and Robert Gibson, to win the LPW United States Championship. In a 6-man "Southern Street Fight", Robert Fuller, Jimmy Golden
Jimmy Golden
James "Jimmy" Golden is an American professional wrestler, who is better known as Bunkhouse Buck.Golden has many relatives in wrestling: his cousins are Robert & Ron Fuller, his father is Billy Golden and his uncle is Buddy Fuller and his nephew is Eddie Golden. His grandfather is Roy Welch...
and Jerry Stubbs
Jerry Stubbs
Jerry Stubbs is a retired professional wrestler. Stubbs wrestled as Mr. Olympia in Bill Watts's Mid-South wrestling area and as the villainous Jerry “Mr. Perfect” Stubbs in Southeast/Continental wrestling promotions...
defeated "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, Scott Armstrong and Chad Fuller. Chad Fuller was accompanied to the ring by his father Ron Fuller
Ron Fuller (wrestler)
Ronald Welch is a retired professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring names Ron Fuller and Tennessee Stud. He is the elder brother of Robert Fuller...
, who was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury, both father and son later turned on the Armstrong's and costing them the match.
The event featured many wrestlers with whom he worked with throughout his career, mostly from the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, as well as from the World Wrestling Federation and local independent wrestlers
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
. Also during the event, Mr. Wrestling II
Mr. Wrestling II
John "Johnny" Walker , better known as Mr. Wrestling II, is a retired American professional wrestler. As Mr...
gave an in-ring interview with his memories of Gordy and Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
, who was in Birmingham undergoing rehabilitation with Dr. James Andrews
James Andrews (physician)
James Rheuben Andrews, M.D., born 1942 in Homer, Louisiana, is an orthopedic surgeon who practices at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He also practices in Birmingham, Alabama at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center located at St....
for a knee injury, made a surprise appearance at the end of the main event. The show, and the backstage goings-on, was later covered by the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter
Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter
Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly is a wrestling newsletter. It was founded in 1987 by Wade Keller. It has been a primary source for insider information, commentaries, and interviews for 20 years....
.
Results
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Steele defeated River DeAngelo via disqualification | Singles match | n/a |
| 2 | Demon Master defeated Buzz the Rodeo Clown | Singles match | n/a |
| 3 | Candi Devine defeated Robbie Rage (c) | Singles match for the UWA Women's Championship | n/a |
| 4 | Robert Gibson defeated Bobby Eaton Bobby Eaton Robert Lee "Bobby" Eaton is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, who made his debut in 1976. Eaton is most famous for his work in tag teams, especially his days as one-half of the team the Midnight Express. Under the management of Jim Cornette, Eaton originally teamed with Dennis... |
Singles match | n/a |
| 5 | Jimmy Golden Jimmy Golden James "Jimmy" Golden is an American professional wrestler, who is better known as Bunkhouse Buck.Golden has many relatives in wrestling: his cousins are Robert & Ron Fuller, his father is Billy Golden and his uncle is Buddy Fuller and his nephew is Eddie Golden. His grandfather is Roy Welch... defeated The Honky Tonk Man The Honky Tonk Man Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee... (c) |
Singles match for the UWA United States Championship | n/a |
| 6 | 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:... defeated Buddy Landel Buddy Landel William Ansor is a professional wrestler better knownas "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel.-Career:Buddy Landel started his career in 1979 as a young talented athlete in ICW. He left high school even though he had received letters of intent to play baseball and football at the University of Tennessee... via disqualification |
Singles match | n/a |
| 7 | Bull Buchanan defeated "Hot Stuff" Eric Brown | Singles match | n/a |
| 8 | Robert Fuller Robert Fuller Robert Welch is a professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring names Robert Fuller and Col. Robert Parker. Robert and his brother Ron co-owned Continental Championship Wrestling for a time.-Career:... , Jimmy Golden Jimmy Golden James "Jimmy" Golden is an American professional wrestler, who is better known as Bunkhouse Buck.Golden has many relatives in wrestling: his cousins are Robert & Ron Fuller, his father is Billy Golden and his uncle is Buddy Fuller and his nephew is Eddie Golden. His grandfather is Roy Welch... and Jerry Stubbs Jerry Stubbs Jerry Stubbs is a retired professional wrestler. Stubbs wrestled as Mr. Olympia in Bill Watts's Mid-South wrestling area and as the villainous Jerry “Mr. Perfect” Stubbs in Southeast/Continental wrestling promotions... defeated "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, Scott Armstrong and Chad Fuller |
6-man Southern Street Fight tag team match | n/a |
| 9 | P.S. Michael Hayes Michael Hayes (wrestler) Michael Seitz is a retired American professional wrestler and former musician. Seitz is best known for leading The Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." Hayes and for his role as the announcer Dok Hendrix in the World Wrestling Federation... and Ray Gordy Ray Gordy Terry Ray Gordy, Jr. is an American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment appearing on its SmackDown brand under the ring names Jesse and Slam Master J... defeated 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 "Nightmare" Ken Wayne |
Tag team match 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... |
n/a |