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Terry Gordy

Terry Gordy

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 286 lbs.
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Pro debut: 1978
Finishing move: Powerbomb
Other aliases: Terry Mecca, The Executioner, "Bam Bam"
Career highlights: NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Champion, NWA Mid-American Tag Team Champion (2) (w/Michael Hayes), AWA Southern Tag Team Champion (w/Michael Hayes), Mid-South Tag Team Champion (2), Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Champion, NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (w/Michael Hayes), NWA National Tag Team Champion (4), NWA Southeast Heavyweight Champion, NWA Southeast Alabama Heavyweight Champion, WCCW American Tag Team Champion (w/Michael Hayes), WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Champion (6), WCCW American Heavyweight Champion, WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion, UWF Heavyweight Champion, AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champion (7), AJPW Triple Crown Champion (2), WCW World Tag Team Champion (w/Steve Williams), NWA World Tag Team Champion (w/Steve Williams), GWF Tag Team Champion (w/Jimmy Garvin), SMW Heavyweight Champion
Trained by: Afa Anoai

Terry Gordy will always be remembered as a tag-team wrestler, first and foremost. From the Fabulous Freebirds to his great tandam with Steve Williams, Gordy proved to be one of the superstars of wrestling for over 20 years.

Gordy started wrestling in the late '70s, where he was trained for the sport by Afa Anoai, one of the famous members of the Wild Samoans. He began wrestling at a very young age, taking on the name Terry Mecca as he gained experience. After a few years, Gordy switched to his real name, when he joined up with Michael Hayes and Buddy Rogers to form the super group known as the Fabulous Freebirds. The trio of heels immediately became a powerful force in professional wrestling, with Gordy & Hayes holding the NWA Mid-America Tag Titles(twice), the AWA Southern Tag Titles, and the Mid-South Tag Titles, all before the new decade got started.

Going into the '80s, the Freebirds stationed themselves for a while in the NWA Georgia territory, where Gordy held the Mid-South Tag Title again (this time with Roberts), followed by several Tag-Team reigns with the NWA Georgia & NWA National Tag Titles. The Freebirds hit greater prominence as the '80s went on, as they joined World Class Championship Wrestling. It was in late '82 when the Freebirds, who had previously been allies with the Von Erich family, turned on them, with Hayes slamming a cage door on Kerry von Erich to help Ric Flair retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title. This started off one of the greatest feuds of the decade, as the Freebirds frequently had altercations with the entire Von Erich family. Gordy also added a long UWF Heavyweight Title reign in '86, where he first became strongly acquainted with one of the UWF's main stars, "Dr Death" Steve Williams.

In 1988, Gordy, who had already been a regular in All Japan Pro Wrestling, became a major player in the tag-team scene, allying with Stan Hansen. The two won the AJPW World Tag-Team Titles twice together before breaking up, with Gordy switching to form a new team with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, creating the Miracle Violence Connection. With Williams, he won five more AJPW Tag Titles over the next three years. In addition, Gordy, in a running feud with his former partner, Hansen, won the AJPW Unified Triple Crown Heavyweight Title twice in 1990, one of the biggest honors of the wrestler's career. Gordy & Williams also brought their powerful team to the States, where they won first the World Championship Wrestling World Tag-Team Titles, then, shortly thereafter, the NWA World Tag Titles, unifying them.

Unfortunately for Gordy, his personal problems became a factor in '93, coinciding with his 7th reign with the AJPW World Tag-Team Titles. While touring Japan, Gordy passed out, in what was later ruled an overdose on pain medication. He was in a coma for a time, where some brain damage was said to have occurred. Although Gordy later returned to action, he was at a much lower level for AJPW, who were concerned about his habits. Gordy still regularly competed for AJPW for the next year, before leaving in the summer of '94 to come back to the US, joining up with Smokey Mountain Wrestling. Gordy also rejoined Hayes & the new Freebird, Jimmy Garvin, for some time in the Global Wrestling Federation, where Gordy & Garvin held the Tag-Team Titles. Meanwhile, back in SMW, Gordy fought hard for the promotion, even winning the SMW Heavyweight Title in controversial fashion in October '95, when he & Headbanger Thrasher won a Tag-Team match over the champ, Brad Armstrong, & the Wolfman. Due to Gordy making the pin on Armstrong, he won the title, and would reign as champ for the next month before losing the gold back to Armstrong in a "Country Whipping" Match.

In 1996, Gordy made a stop in Extreme Championship Wrestling, having a competitive match at Hardcore Heaven '96 with the ECW Heavyweight Champion, Raven. Gordy would feud with Raven's Nest, especially Brian Lee, for the next few months, while not earning any gold for the growing underground promotion. Gordy then opted to sign with the World Wrestling Federation, doning a mask and becoming the Executioner. He first appeared at WWF Buried Alive after the Undertaker had won a "Buried Alive" Match over Mankind. As the Executioner, he attacked the Undertaker, keeping him from completely burying Mankind. The heels then beat the Undertaker down and put him in the grave instead, covering him with dirt. However, the Undertaker later escaped the tomb, leading to the Executioner joining with Mankind in a feud against him. At It's Time in December '96, the Executioner faced the Undertaker in an "Armageddon Rules" Match. Despite Mankind's help throughout the match (until he was maced and arrested by security), he was Tombstoned and pinned by the Undertaker, and could not answer the 10 count. This was the end of Gordy's run with the WWF, and, other than a few brief appearances, Gordy left wrestling behind.

On July 16th, 2001, Gordy passed away after a massive heart attack at the age of 40. It is assumed that his previous drug use was a factor in his early death. Sadly, Gordy is another name on a long list of wrestlers who had been in World Class who passed away before their time, including most of the Von Erich family. Gordy will be remembered for his amazing skills in the ring, especially in tag-team ranks. He will also be remembered by his son, Ray Gordy, who has followed him into professional wrestling.