Magnum TA

Professionally known as Magnum T.A., but began his career under his real name, Terry Allen. Magnum was a future World Champion before a devastating accident halted his career. During the 1980s, he was one of the most popular wrestlers in National Wrestling Alliance History. As a two-time NWA U.S. Heavyweight Champion, Magnum was always a top contender to the NWA World Title and many agreed that it was just a matter of time. Allen began in 1980 and competed through several territories, including Florida, where he captured the Global Tag Team Title on several different occasions. In ’83, he teamed with Jim Duggan to win the Mid-South Tag Team Title. Magnum ventured to the Mid-Atlantic region and Jim Crockett Promotions. On March 23, 1985, he beat Wahoo McDaniel to capture the U.S. Heavyweight Title in Charlotte. The win came in a special steel cage match. Magnum used a suplex on his experienced opponent and got a clean pin victory. With his eyes firmly set on the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, Magnum knew if he was to eventually win the coveted championship he would have to avoid Flair’s figure-four leg-lock and outside interference from his fellow horsemen. If Magnum could manage to hit Flair with his patented belly-to-belly suplex he would ultimately have his hand raised as the new NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion after losing the U.S. Title to Tully Blanchard on July 21st at the Charlotte Coliseum. Some outside interference from a security guard proved to be what was needed to put the challenger over. He received a shot at the World Title and Flair on September 28, 1985 in Chicago during AWA’s SuperClash. Magnum lost by pinfall after a 28-minute bout. At Starrcade on November 28th in Greensboro, he stopped Blanchard in a rematch to regain the U.S. Title. The bloody bout, a special “I Quit” cage match, was remembered for it’s intensity and controversy. In May 1986, a series of events cost Magnum T.A. the U.S. Title. Initially, he attacked Nikita Koloff during a press conference signing a Untied States Title Match between the two. The NWA President, Bob Geigel lashed out at Magnum for his actions. Magnum decided it was time to punch the president and he did. Geigel stripped him of the title immediately. The belt would be put up in a best-of-seven series during the Great American Bash Tour. The competitors were Magnum and Koloff. The wrestlers battled all over the country and before their August 17th match, each had won three. In their final match in Charlotte, Koloff beat Magnum to win the belt with the help of Krusher Khrushchev. On October 14th, wrestling changed forever. A Porsche Magnum was driving crashed into a utility pole at 2:30 in the morning in Charlotte. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention. His career ended. Once the news got out, everyone in wrestling was shocked. Nikita Koloff, who had previously feuded with Magnum, joined forces with Dusty Rhodes later in October 1986, going against his uncle, Ivan Koloff. For his turn, Koloff became one of the most popular wrestlers in the NWA. Magnum walked out on April 11, 1987 at the Baltimore Arena and received a standing ovation from the audience. The night marked the first time fans got to see him since the accident. He made tremendous strides in his recovery. Fans got to see him in Charlotte during the Ultimate Fighting Championship in April ’95. The NWA World Champion, Dan Severn won. He made a surprise appearance with two former enemies and former Four Horsemen members on September 12, 1998 in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Magnum accompanied Tully Blanchard and Barry Windham to their NWA World Tag Team Tile match against the Border Patrol, Agents Gunn and Maxx. He prevented the Patrol’s manager, Ronnie P. Gossett Jr. from intervening and watched Blanchard and Windham win the straps. To this day, he is still seen at wrestling and sporting events throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. Fans continue to recognize Magnum as a wrestling superstar and he will forever be judged so.