Grilling JR - Terry Taylor [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today we’re talking about someone who’s been around the block more than once...it’s Terry Taylor! This is surprisingly enough one of our most requested episodes Jim. Why do you think that is?

Paul Worden Taylor III was born on March 12, 1955 in Greenville, South Carolina. He debuts in 1979 for Championship Wrestling from Florida and right off the bat he’s working with names such as Bugsy McGraw, Terry Funk, and Bill Irwin. When did you first hear of Terry Taylor?

He’s working in Florida before moving onto GCW where he wins the vacated NWA National Television Title after defeating Ken Patera & Bob Armstrong in a round robin tournament. He holds it for 51 days before dropping it to Terry Funk. It’s obvious there was a thought that Taylor had a future very early on in the business for this type of push right?

When did you first see a clip or video or whatever the format is of Terry Taylor?

The rumor and innuendo is that he was originally supposed to be part of the Fabulous Ones with Stan Lane but Steve Kerin ended up getting the spot. Did you ever hear that story?

Taylor ends up teaming up with Bobby Fulton to form the Fantastic Ones. They split up and Fulton joins up with Tommy Rogers to form the Fantastics. That’s some legendary tag teams right there.

Terry starts to tour the territories between St. Louis, Kansas City, and then over to and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling where he trades the Junior Heavyweight Title with Les Thornton. Tell the listeners who don’t know who Les Thornton is.

Taylor finds his way to Mid-South Wrestling. How does Terry get in touch with Mid-South and who makes the decision to bring him in?

Was he recommended and by who?

Terry debuts on Mid-South Wrestling on January 4th, 1984 and defeats Doug Vines. He immediately is put into a program against Crusher (Barry) Darsow & Nikolai Volkoff and teams up within a month with JYD in tag matches against them. This is a big push and a big deal is it not?

What did Cowboy think of Taylor?

Taylor is working with Butch Reed, teaming with Magnum TA, and enters the Mid South’s tournament to crown the first TV Champion where he goes to the finals before losing to Darsow. What was the reaction Taylor was getting from the crowd and in the back?

Did you see top guy potential in Taylor?

He eventually captures the TV title and defends the title against “Dr. Death” Steve Williams a lot. What did you think of those matches and what did Doc think of Taylor?

Taylor drops the title to Adrian Street in Shreveport, LA in September of 1984 but later on sends Street out of the terrority in Loser Leaves Town matches. Who is Adrian Street to our listeners who don’t know?

Taylor eventually regains the Television Title from the champion “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel and they have a string of matches. What did you think of Taylor vs. Landel in the ring?

Taylor eventually sends Landel packing as well out of Mid South. Why was Landel leaving in 1985?

Taylor gets the win over Ted DiBiase who was the North American champion in a title vs. title match. This is a big push up as the North American title was the WWF’s equivalent of the World Title is that correct?

In a one-week stretch between April 28th and May 3rd Taylor works Ric Flair...the NWA World Heavyweight Champion...in 4 at least 30 minute matches between Mid South and Houston wrestling. Did you see any of these matches and how gigantic a deal is it for Taylor to be working with Flair in 30 minute matches?

On June 1st he even gets to do 40 minutes with Flair at the Superdome in New Orleans. Tell us what you remember of that match.

The Nightmare defeats Taylor for the North American Title and Taylor finds himself over in Mid-Atlantic again. Why did Taylor make the move at this time?

Taylor defeats Black Bart for the NWA National Title and holds it until Starrcade 1985 when his old foe Buddy Landel defeats him for it. Was this when it seemed like Taylor was destined to be on top?

You’ve known Terry for a couple years at this point. Has his attitude changed?

He returns back to Mid-South...or should I say the UWF after Starrcade and he becomes Television champion again by defeating Buzz Sawyer. Is Taylor firmly slotted as a mid card guy by Cowboy?

Cowboy even teams with Taylor to face off against the Fabulous Freebirds at various live events. What do you remember of those matches?

He drops the TV title to Buddy Roberts in late September of 1986 and he’s teaming with various guys in a fued with the Freebirds until the end of 1986. We always hear about how sometimes guys need to go away to learn a new hold...what was Taylor’s destiny in the UWF at the time?

Chris Adams & Terry Taylor would team up in 1987 to win the UWF Tag Team Titles over Hot Stuff & Hyatt International (Rick Steiner & Sting). Who was Hot Stuff & Hyatt International?

The Adams & Taylor team would end when Steiner & Sting defeated them for the tag titles and the break up occurs right after. Do you remember the turn and how well they worked together and against each other?

Taylor is injured in a car accident and has six inches of his small intestine, four inches of his large intestine and his appendix removed. He’s back in the ring only two months later. Does he get the credit he deserves for being a tough son of a bitch?

Terry Taylor regains the Television title for the last time over Shane Douglas before the UWF is sold to Jim Crockett. Do you remember talking to Terry at this point about the sale and his future?

Terry is defending his UWF TV Title on various JCP TV shows and then steals the NWA Television Title from Nikita Koloff to instigate a feud and eventual title unification. How tough was the transition in your mind of merging all this talent together?

Taylor and Koloff would face off at Starrcade 1987. From the Observer:

Do you agree that Taylor was being buried on TV on the way up to this? Do you think there was a level of non-cooperation between the two?

It’s been talked about how the UWF guys (outside of Sting) weren’t really pushed and were wasted. Do you agree with that assessment?

From the Observer… “I guess the biggest surprise is the return of Terry Taylor as a heel opposing Billy Joe Travis. That comes as news to me, and probably to the NWA as well if it’s the case, since they put him over on television on WTBS on Sunday.”

It sounds like out of nowhere Taylor jumps to the Continental Wrestling Association (Memphis) after he was put over on television in a tag team match with Eddie Gilbert. What do you remember of Terry leaving and was it on good terms?

From CWA to World Class Taylor moves over and works against Chris Adams again before the biggest career break he could ever have…

THE RED ROOSTER!

Taylor signs with the WWF and is placed with Bobby Heenan as The Red Rooster. The rumor and innuendo was that both Taylor & Hennig were considered for the Mr. Perfect gimmick and this is what Taylor ended up with. First off...what did you think of the gimmick and did you ever get a chance to talk to Terry about it?

He eventually turns babyface and paints his hair red and yeah...one of the worst all-time gimmicks right Jim?

It’s said that this gimmick ruined Taylor’s career and the negative effect made it very hard for him to ever be pushed again. Do you agree with that?

Is this the worst gimmick of all time?

Did you talk to Terry while he was with the World Wrestling Federation?

Do you think...anyone...could’ve gotten this over?

Terry leaves the WWF and returns to JCP/WCW in 1990. Did he have any heat for how he left and who did he deal with on his return?

Did you think it was going to be hard to rebuild Taylor after the Red Rooster?

His run in WCW begins with a DQ win over “Mean” Mark Callous and fueds with Arn Anderson over the television title. Did any talent voice they didn’t want to work with Terry?

Taylor also begins doing some TV work hosting WCW Pro with Lance Russell. Who made the suggestion for him to either begin the transition or move into that role?

Taylor loses to Michael Wallstreet at Starrcade 1990 in his first pinfall loss since rejoining the company. We covered this in our IRS episode recently so check it out in the archives!

Also covered in our IRS episode is him leaving as Michael Wallstreet and leaving the York Foundation and the man tapped to replace him is Taylor...but this time called Terrence Taylor and he just kind of slides right into his gimmick with Alexandra York (Terri Runnels.) Was this something done out of necessity with Wallstreet leaving or was the plan to always turn Taylor into the group since he was working him a lot and it just got accelerated?

Big Cat is introduced as Taylor’s bodyguard which is Curtis Hughes also known as Mr. Hughes. Curtis’ role seemed to always be a heater for someone. Was it his ring work that held him in that role?

Taylor gets a win over Tom Zenk at WrestleWar 1991. Was this just a lot of mid card guys being thrown together in the hopes that someone would get hot?

Eventually the York Foundation would include Richard (Ricky) Morton, Thomas (Tommy) Rich and Terrence Taylor. This is like the nWo C team wouldn’t you agree?

We just covered Great American Bash 1991 in the archives but it’s hard not to mention Terry teaming with Steve Austin to face PN News & Bobby Eaton in a Scaffold Match. It’s one of the all-time worst matches on pay-per-view. You have 3 of the best workers at that time...and PN News...how is this such a colossal miss?

Taylor vs. Bobby Eaton is voted Match of the Night by the Observer readers for Halloween Havoc 1991. What was it about these two that they were able to just click?

On November 10th (really taped on October 8th) the York Foundation defeat Big Josh, Dustin Rhodes & Tom Zenk to win the WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Titles. The titles would be disbanded about a month later. Speaking of six-man tag team titles, I’m surprised AEW hasn’t added them yet aren’t you?

Is Terry already talking about or thinking about an office job at this time do you know?

The York Foundation breaks up in 1992 and Taylor stays a heel and teams with Greg Valentine to win the WCW US Tag Team Titles. There’s a lot of titles in this company Jim. In your opinion did that hurt or help the product?

They drop the titles to the Freebirds at WrestleWar 92. From the Observer:

“1. The Freebirds won the U.S. tag team titles from Greg Valentine & The Taylor Made Man in 15:59. If I was running the company, I'd drop these useless belts. How special can title belts be if you've got guys like this in the title picture? It would have been super in 1983. The guys all worked hard but the only one of the four who still has it in the ring is Taylor, and his credibility has been totally destroyed. Execution and timing wasn't the greatest, but it had a good storyline with all the apparent finishes and saves by partners. This built up to the finale where Garvin had Taylor hooked for the DDT, Valentine came in for yet another save but Garvin ducked down and backdropped him. Hayes cut off Valentine while Garvin hit the DDT on Taylor for the pin. *¾”

Hard to disagree with Meltzer here. This is just mid card fodder for mid card fodder sakes is it not?

The Freebirds would drop the titles to...get this...Dick Slater & the Barbarian about a month later and Bill Watts mercy kills them a month after that.

From the Observer on 8/10/92: “Terry Taylor is definitely through and is trying to get back with the WWF or indie dates. He was offered a spot to come back under a hood as Mr. Wrestling III, a protege of Mr. Wrestling II, but it isn't going to materialize.”

What led to Taylor’s leaving and did you ever hear of the Mr. Wrestling III idea?

Taylor heads back to the WWF and you wouldn’t see him again until you end up there in April of 93. Had he already transitioned to a broadcaster and backstage interviewer or was that after?

What did you think of Terry in those roles?

Terry’s year long run ends and the rumor and innuendo is he is heading back to WCW as an announcer...or possibly a 4 horseman...tell me this Jim. Is this about when everybody started to whisper that Terry was a Meltzer stooge?

Terry does head back to WCW...again...this time doing commentary & wrestling again. At this point in his career was he better suited as a wrestler or in the booth?

Taylor is there for a year until he leaves again and does the indies before returning to WCW as a road agent and part of the booking committee. Were you in talks with Terry at any point in time during this and do you know if the WWF were interested in him?

Taylor stays with WCW from 96 to late 98 when he quits to help Vince Russo & Ed Ferrera and comes back to the WWF. Did you have anything to do with him returning to the company?

From the Observer … “Taylor was working without an existing contract which made this all possible. Taylor was one of those unfortunate types caught in the middle, having to make sense out of all the egos vetoing everything and then taking the heat because the shows don't make any sense and had at times been Bischoff's whipping boy. It should help WWF, as Russo, who grew up as a fan but has virtually no wrestling background (which has both its pluses and minuses), and Ferrera, who didn't, are writing TV that is drawing ratings but the details of the storylines often don't make sense and often don't build to anything”

Were you in favor of Taylor coming board and on what he could bring to the table?

What were his biggest strengths and weaknesses?

What was Taylor like backstage during this time?

Russo & Ferrera leave for WCW in the dead of the night which we’ve covered but the talk is that Taylor is rumored to be taking on a bigger part of the writing when it happens. Is that how you remember it?

From the Observer 10/25/99: “Terry Taylor, who had headed the group in charge of writing the WWF television shows since Russo's departure, had, as of the weekend, refused to sign the non-compete clause, which spread rumors that he was WCW-bound. He was at the WWF tapings in Columbus, OH and was scheduled for a meeting with McMahon on 10/20, where he was apparently looking for a deal which would give him more long-term security.”

Were you the one discussing his contract and the non-compete clause? What was Terry’s trepidation in taking the clause knowing this was probably going to be the biggest role he could ever have in a promotion?

From the Observer 11/8/99: “Terry Taylor did come into Connecticut to do some voice-over work on 10/27, but then was sent back home. Apparently he's still refused to sign the non-compete clause and until he signs, they apparently are playing hardball about using him. He has until mid-week to make a decision. At last word, WCW had not made him a bonafide offer, but indications were that he may get one. He's apparently telling people he's leaning toward staying with WWF, although it was made clear to him that Vince McMahon is going to be head writer of the TV shows, a position he was trying to get. There may be a monkey wrench concerning a potential return to WCW, which is that there was a complaint made to Human Resources against Taylor which could get in the way of a re-hiring”

How frantic is the office about getting people signed and how much is Taylor throwing a monkey wrench into this process? Did you ever think he was going to leave?

Taylor and Vince have a meeting on 10/20 and supposedly still no agreement. Is Vince at his end with Taylor? I mean...it’s Terry Taylor. Shouldn’t this be open and shut sign the deal and let’s move the fuck on?

From the Observer on 11/15/99: “Terry Taylor was hired to work in booking. Ultimately, WCW was able to get the complaint at Human Resources against him from when he previously worked there taken care of, and opened the door to them making him a serious offer, which hadn't come until literally the day before he was forced into making the decision. Taylor felt that had he stayed with WWF he really wouldn't have any power. The only reason he left WCW in the first place was because he was Eric Bischoff's whipping boy, which is a moot point now, and because Bischoff blew up at him when rumors surfaced he was about to make a move to WWF. In addition, Taylor hadn't moved from Atlanta, so working in WCW would mean less travel or at least, not having to move. J.J. Dillon got a promotion of sorts and will be working more closely with Russo and Ferrara, so Taylor is getting some of his old duties including being in charge of booking the house show events. In regards to the non-compete clause McMahon wanted all employees to sign, which Taylor never signed, according to lawyers that have contacted us regarding this situation, in almost all cases where these are challenged in court, the court strikes them down.”

So Taylor makes the move. How shocked are you by this?

How angry is Vince?

Did you talk to Terry about this and why he was doing this?

He’s with WCW until the end when the company goes out of business and he’s not picked up by the WWF. But somehow...Mr. Taylor gets another chance with the company this time as a road agent in September of 02. How does he continue to get job after job?

From the Observer 10/7/02: “Terry Taylor situation is this. John Laurinaitis (Ace) went to bat to give Taylor a try-out as an agent last week. Taylor had a lot of heat from his previous tenure in the company and it hadn't dissipated. No decision had been reached as to where things go from this point. Vince yelled at Taylor in San Diego for his part in laying out the Rikishi-Chavo match for coming up with the idea of using the camera because Vince said they are trying to teach the wrestlers to use holds and work a bodypart”

But he still gets hired. How do you think he did in this role?

He’s there until July 2003 when he’s released. From the Observer… ‘Terry Taylor’s departure apparently was not a financial cutback issue. It was a discipline deal, but not believed to have much if anything to do with him offering divergent opinions. Reports are he’s waiting to see if he’s going to be offered a severance package before taking a job with TNA, which would nix such a package. There is no official word he’s even being offered a job in TNA, but he’s got more friends (in particular Scott D’Amore, who is something of his protege) in the company now”

Do you know what happened that led him to another release?

Terry went from being someone who was sure to be a top star at some point to rotating office jobs and backstage interviewer/B or C show announcer. What happened? Can it all be pinpointed to the Red Rooster?

He does end up being picked up by TNA as expected by Meltzer and is there for the longest point of any job in his career from 2003 to 2011.

At WrestleMania XXVIII where you call Triple H vs. The Undertaker, dubbed the End of an Era match, it’s reported in the Observer that Taylor was at that show and was in heavy negotiations for coming back to be a heavy fixture in developmental. NXT is yet to be developed as they were still 2 years away from it but this is supposedly an investment in the building of developmental. How important are people like Terry Taylor to the development of future talent? Do you think he fits that role well?

When was the last time you saw Terry?

What is Terry’s legacy in this business in your opinion?