Throwback Thursday: Magnum TA

"I coulda been a contenda."

The immortal words of Marlon Brando from On the Waterfront, paraphrased a little could sum up the career of Terry Allen. In 1977 Terry Allen began his wrestling career for the NWA in their Florida and Pacific Northwest territories, before changing his name to Magnum TA (due to his passing resemblance to Tom Selleck) and moving on to the Mid-South Area. He won a few titles, mostly tag team titles, before signing with Jim Crocket Promotions in 1985 and his career taking off.

First feuding with a freshly heeled Wahoo McDaniels, then belly to belly suplexing Kamala, then feuding with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen he would go one to lose the United States Heavyweight title to Tully Blanchard only to regain it in a still talked about "I Quit" match at Starcade. From there is was on to his notorious feud with Nikita Koloff which culminated in the famous best of seven series which ended with Nikita winning the US Title. Magnum then was starting a feud with Ric Flair that would have ending with Magnum winning the NWA World Title, if not for the car accident that ended his career.

With a relatively short time in the big spotlight of professional wrestling Magnum TA is the question that all old-timers like myself always ask; What if Magnum didn't have that car crash? Terry Allen had it all. He was loved by the women at ringside as well as the men. He could move in the ring, he had size and grace. He had charisma. He could talk, by far not the best, but he was up near the top. Another year or two under his belt and he would have lost the hesitation that he sometimes had. A few months into the big time and he was put over by the veteran McDaniel, shown rarely seen in ring strength with a belly to belly on the massive Kamala, stood toe to toe with Ric Flair, and side by side with Dusty Rhodes. He was a star on the rise. His feuds with Blanchard, Nikita and Flair are still talked about.

I was a strange child. I cheered Flair and his Horsemen against Dusty Rhodes through most of their feud, until Magnum showed up. Magnum had Flair's coolness without the expensive suits and limousines. He showed up on a Harley, leather jacket, he was a different kind of cool.

I remember his feud with Flair when Flair gave him a $20,000 suit so that he could dress like a US Champ should. Magnum thanked him then proceeded to rip the suit to shreds. Flair was livid in a way that only Flair can be. I remember the day wrestling started with talk of Magnum's car crash. I was shocked and saddened. Now I just wonder what could have been?

"I coulda been World Champ, I coulda been somebody!"