Grilling JR - Magnum TA [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Magnum T.A.

This week on Grilling JR we’re talking about Terry Allen...better known as Magnum T.A.

Terry Allen was born on June 11th, 1959 in Chesapeake, Virginia. Magnum begins his training and career based out of Championship Wrestling from Florida around 1978. When did you hear of Magnum for the first time?

He makes his way to Mid-South Wrestling in 1984 and he is redubbed Magnum T.A. based upon his resemblance to Tom Selleck...then known as Magnum P.I. How does Magnum come to be in Mid South?

The story supposedly is that Andre the Giant suggested he combine the Magnum name with the initials of his real name. Is that how you heard it?

What is Magnum like the first time you meet him?

For the benefit of those who didn’t see him wrestle back then, what were his strengths & weaknesses?

Was he TV ready when he came to Mid-South?

What was Bill Watts’ thoughts on him?

How did Magnum like working in Mid-South?

He wins the North American heavyweight title from Mr. Wrestling II on May 13, 1984 which is Magnum’s first “major” title. Were you at this match?

How big a deal was Magnum’s push and that title victory?

Did he have any issues with anybody during his time in Mid South?

Magnum holds the title for five months before dropping it to Ernie Ladd on October 16th. Ladd defeats him in a title rematch the next month. Was this Magnum’s way of leaving the terrority?

Why Ernie Ladd over Magnum for the title?

Did Mid South miss with Magnum or did you squeeze everything you could’ve out of him?

We’ve all heard stories about how guys left Mid South sometimes with no notice or with heat. How does Magnum handle his departure to go to Jim Crockett Promotions?

Did you ever talk to Magnum about why he made the move and what his expectations were?

Magnum TA is debuted on JCP via a video to the song of “Born to be Wild” and Tully Blanchard is the first to begin to challenge Magnum saying, “Pretty girls and working out in the gym don’t win matches.” Was Tully the perfect person to work with Magnum on his debut?

Magnum finishes up facing Ric Flair at the Fairgrounds Pavilion in Tulsa, OK losing to the NWA World Champion. What could’ve been huh Jim?

Joel Deaton is defeated by Magnum in 15 seconds in his JCP debut on television with the belly-to-belly. Do you think quick squash debuts like this can still be done in wrestling in 2021?

Immediately he’s talking about the United States Title, Dusty Rhodes is talking about him, he’s involved with Tully. Do you think Magnum was ready for this level of push?

Magnum gets married up with Wahoo McDaniel and in late March of 85 defeats him for the United States Title in a Cage Match that later airs on Worldwide. That’s a big deal at this point in his career to win over Wahoo don’t you think?

He’s set on a path to one day face Ric Flair in a big program and he does work a lot of house shows with him to draws. Do you think Flair knew the potential in Magnum and he wasn’t just doing the draws like he would with lower tier guys?

Magnum’s first big title defense is at Great American Bash 1985 in Charlotte, NC in front of 27,000 fans and he retains via DQ over Kamala after Skandar Akbar interferes. This is a cool down moment before the big heat begins against the Horsemen.

On July 21st in Charlotte Tully Blanchard...with the aid of Baby Doll dressed as a police officer...hands Tully a foreign object and as the referee is down strikes Magnum and pins him to take the US title. How perfect for each other were Tully & Magnum?

Magnum is working the loops on a regular basis against Tully and also teaming with Dusty against Nikita Koloff & Krusher Khruschev. Were you watching Magnum and did you see a vast improvement from his time in Mid South to this?

In a rare moment...the NWA World Champion Ric Flair defends his title against Magnum at AWA Superclash from Comiskey Park in Chicago and wins. What is the politics at this time behind something like this?

There’s a weird angle that in 1985 was weird but in 2021 is even worse...Magnum TA forces a kiss on Baby Doll. Do you remember this?

Magnum TA challenges Tully Blanchard to a Steel Cage I Quit match at Starrcade and NWA President Bob Geigel refuses to sanction it. Before we do anything else, what do you remember of Bob Geigel?

The too violent thought process in promoting a match is really genius if you think about it. It takes Jim Crockett making an appearance and announcing that he would go above Geigel and sanction the match.

Blood matches at this time aren’t out of the norm like they are today. Violent matches back then were of a lesser nature but the stories were told better. As someone in another company at the time...was this a match that lands on your radar as a fan and made you want to see it?

The Horsemen vow to take out Magnum ahead of the Starrcade match but are unable to do so which leads us to November 28th, 1985 from Greensboro, NC. Magnum TA vs. Tully Blanchard in an epic Steel Cage I Quit match. Go out of your way to watch it but it’s 15 minutes of drama that ends when Magnum drives a broken piece of wood into Tully’s forehead until he submits. Jim is this something that you remember being excellent?

The next night Magnum TA...now the United States Champion..defeats the television champion, Arn Anderson, to win the title and immediately vacates it and gives it to Jim Crockett. Odd way to declare a title vacant don’t you think?

Magnum cuts a promo early on in 1986 that his goal for 1986 was to take the NWA World Title from Ric Flair. Looking back at it now do you think that was the plan when the year began for JCP?

Before Magnum could get to Flair the Russians...Ivan & Nikita Koloff...come knocking on his door and start asking for US title shots for Nikita. These two were perfect for each other in the ring were they not?

At the Crockett Cup in 1986 from the Superdome with Bruce Prichard as ring announcer and yourself being with Tony Schiavone for commentary...Magnum TA teams with Ron Garvin to defeat Giant Baba & Tiger Mask in the semi-finals.

A lot to unpack from that sentence but let’s start with this...is this the first time you’ve seen Magnum since he left Mid-South Wrestling?

Did you get a chance to catch up with him?

Magnum TA, Ron Garvin, Giant Baba & Tiger Mask in a wrestling ring together is...interesting. What do you remember of that match?

Magnum & Garvin move onto the finals where they lose to the Road Warriors when Animal pins Garvin. What are your memories of the 1986 Crockett Cup?

Dusty & Magnum start wearing masks and calling themselves the James Boys.

The James Boys begin feuding with the Midnight Express over the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Do you think Dusty booked himself too thin with having him involved in a lot and dragged along Magnum for the ride?

World Championship Wrestling on May 31st is a legendary episode in JCP history. We recently covered this on What Happened When with Tony Schiavone. Jim Crockett sets up a contract signing for the match between Nikita & Magnum and since Nikita always has Ivan with him Magnum brings his mother, Marion, with him. Nikita insults Marion by saying Russian women have more class and Magnum attacks. Bob Geigel publicly reprimands Magnum for “conduct unbecoming a champion” and Magnum replies “Reprimand this!” and punches Geigel which gets him stripped of his US Title.

Jim a ton to unpack here. This is very much like the contract signings we see as a staple of every wrestling promotion now but the intensity and execution is very strong. What did you think of it?

Geigel announces the held up US Title will be determined in a best of 7 series between Nikita & Magnum. Magnum loses the first 3 before mounting a come back to even the series at 3-3 making the 7th match obviously the one to determine the champion. None of these matches by the way are taking place on television but on live events. It’s a completely different business back in 1986 isn’t it Jim?

On August 17th at the Coliseum in Charlotte Magnum loses to Nikita after interference from Ivan & Krusher to win the US Title.

Do you think it was the right decision at this time to keep the US title off Magnum to continue to build to Flair?

On October 13th Magnum TA headlines a live event against Jimmy Garvin in a lumberjack match at the Memorial Auditorium in Greenville and wins. It’ll be Magnum’s last match.

The next day Magnum TA is driving his Porsche home in the rain and loses control. He wraps the car around a telephone pole just miles from his home. The accident causes his C-4 & C-5 vertebre to “explode” and his ability to walk again is in severe doubt. His wrestling career is over. Jim...he’s 27. I know you’re not with JCP at this point and in Mid-South...but how do you hear this news?

Do you reach out?

What is Cowboy’s reaction?

He only wrestled for 8 years but his impact on the sport is felt throughout the industry. Is this a reality check for some of the boys?

The hospital was getting over 700 calls a day once the news gets out about the accident through the media and over 70,000 cars were sent. Just how big was Magnum and does all this put it into perspective?

Magnum does recover and has some mobility but is never the same again. It’s been talked about how the plan was for him to become the United States Champion again before being crowned NWA Champion sometime in 1987. Is that what you’ve heard as well or is that rumor and innuendo?

The loss of Magnum forces Dusty to turn Nikita babyface and the storyline reason is that he respects Magnum and wants to honor him.

What level of star do you think Magnum could’ve reached had the accident not happened?

There’s always been comparisons during and after the fact of Magnum and Hulk Hogan. What do you say Jim?

Magnum is the godfather to Cody Rhodes. Do you know how close Dusty & Magnum really were?

There are various interviews done by Magnum’s mother to update everyone on Magnum’s condition that is slowly improving.

It’s February before he’s seen on camera again doing an interview with Tony Schivone updating everyone on his progress and the fact that he has taken steps again.

It’s said that he lost his right side mobility and had to teach himself how to write and eat left handed. How fucking tough is Magnum?

Magnum’s first appearance in front of a crowd since the accident is when he comes out before the Finals at the Crockett Cup 1987 to lend his support to Dusty & Nikita who eventually win over Tully Blanchard & Lex Luger as we covered in our Lex Luger in WCW episode.

You announce on UWF TV that Magnum would be on the show in May. How does that deal come together and what do you remember of it?

Magnum is put back into a feud with the Horsemen and Tully Blanchard as he stands along side Dusty. Do you think this is something Magnum wanted to do or he had to do?

Magnum ends up not helping Dusty win the TV Title from Tully and blames himself.

Magnum keeps cutting promos that he plans on returning to the ring one day. Is this something you think Magnum really believed in?

Magnum ends up hosting a couple UWF TV episodes with you. What was it like to work with Magnum and what did you think of his future in doing something like this?

One of the most chaotic angles that really has ever taken place happens on March 23rd from the WTBS studios. Magnum still at this point really wasn’t moving all that much. Magnum is cutting a promo at ringside with a baseball bat about Tully Blanchard and the Horsemen. Tully and JJ Dillon interrupt and Tully cuts a promo on Magnum basically saying if he puts himself in Horsemen business he can get hurt worse than he already is. Barry Windham comes out to separate Tully & Magnum and Tully punches Barry right in the face. Barry drops and Magnum who can obviously barely move is grabbed from JJ Dillon from behind while Tully punches Magnum. JJ grabs Magnum to help control the fall to the floor but still Magnum ends up on the floor turned over. It’s a sad scene to watch him barely be able to move. Tully flips him over and goes to attack when Dusty Rhodes comes out for the save. He grabs Magnum’s baseball bat and just starts swinging, taking out Tully Blanchard with at least 10 shots. Dusty throws David Crockett out of the way and he even takes out Jim Crockett with a baseball bat shot. Barry is tending to Magnum, Dusty is choking Tully out with a bat and you can be seen in the background. Jim what do you remember of this? How awesome is it and also...how sad was it?

What were Magnum’s thoughts on this angle? How worried was everyone for Magnum’s safety?

Dusty Rhodes is suspended from all this and becomes the Midnight Rider. Do you think it was successful in the long run?

Magnum corners Sting & Lex Luger in their Crockett Cup 88 victory over Arn & Tully.

Magnum begins Straight Talk with The Boss on World Wide afterwards with a talk show like format. How do you think Magnum did in this role?

Magnum replaces Tony Schiavone after he leaves for the WWF to host with you on World Championship Wrestling. What a step up for you right Jim?

Magnum is a color guy until Chi-Town Rumble in 1989. Why such a short time for Magnum?

Magnum ends up finishing up on TV with the March 18th edition of WCW after he does interviews with Sting & Ranger Ross. Do you know why that was the end of Magnum at this point?

Magnum returns in 1991 doing his interview segment and color on various shows. Why the return?

It feels like Magnum isn’t involved when Dusty is with the WWF but when Dusty returns he’s brought back. Is that just coincidence?

Was Magnum’s heart still in wrestling at this point?

Magnum is pushed towards the end of 1992 as a father figure for Shane Douglas for a short period of time. What was the story behind this?

Magnum is honored by WCW in a Legends Ceremony in 1993 at Slamboree.

Magnum isn’t seen in wrestling again besides some spot shows on the indies until 2007 when he is honored as a former United States Champion at WWE’s Vengeance: Night of Champions. What was it like to see Magnum at this show and who’s idea was it to spotlight him?

What is Magnum’s legacy to this business?

When was the last time you talked to Magnum? Has he been around any AEW shows since he is Cody’s Godfather?