Magnum TA

[JNance]

I met and talked with one of my childhood heroes, Magnum TA, at the Fayetteville Fanfest. He was incredible! Such a nice guy, and very giving of his time for photos. I just purchased a Magnum TA's " Greatest Matches" DVD, and while watching it, I was thinking... Had Magnum not had the accident, how soon would he have defeated Flair for the NWA title? Could you imagine the matches and feuds he could have had - Luger, Koloff, Sting, Windham....... A great heel turn; maybe a stint in WWE...... Magnum was a great talent, a solid worker, and was very over with the fans. He's one of the reasons I started watching wrestling so many years ago. I wish Magnum TA the very best in the future, and hope to see him again at the next FanFest.

[GarvinStomp]

I agree, Magnum could've been a very huge superstar in wrestling if that accident had not occurred. He was already a big star but I think he could've been on the level of a Sting or Brett Hart, someone that big. If Magnum had not been in the wreck I think it would've been him beating Ric Flair for the world title in 1987 instead of Ron Garvin, or maybe even Magnum vs. Flair at Bash '88 instead of Lex Luger.

[ssteward]

I think Magnum vs Flair was the plan for Starrcade 86. I imagine he would've won the strap in 87 or sooner.

[lobo]

I just watched the Magnum TA vs. Tully Blanchard I quit cage match the other week again and it still holds up and stands the test of time - so dramatic - both guys were awesome

[Baltimore Jack]

Magnum getting the US belt back from Nikita was the plan for Starrcade 86, but there is little doubt that Dusty was heading toward Magnum as at least a short term champion in 1987 or 1988.

IMHO, Dusty was on such a roll with his booking in 1986, that the Flair/Magnum program in 1987 was bound to have been good i.e.; well planned, slow developing, etc. Sort of like Magnum/Nikita began in Jan/Feb 1986 when Nikita wanted a shot at the US belt and refused to wrestle on TV until he got the shot. Then the confrontations in the spring with the press conference and the stripping of the title from Magnum, then the best-of-seven throughout the summer, with Nikita finally winning in late August. This was leading to Magnum getting the belt back at Starrcade 86, the angle and stipulations of which we'll never know because of the auto accident. It was to last the entire year.

If you think about it, all three of Magnum's main singles programs since he came to Crockett in Dec 1984 (Wahoo, Blanchard, Nikita) were well thought out and lasted for months. I just feel like we would have gotten the same treatment with Magnum and Flair in 1987. Heck, the mini-program with Flair on TBS in the spring of 1985 (documented week-by-week on the Glory Days was the same way.)

The accident happened, and Dusty's booking spiraled down hill after that, as he started turning people left and right (Nikita, Ole Anderson, Jimmy Garvin, Murdoch, Luger, Windham, Ron Garvin, others I'm probably forgetting) as Dusty began to hot-shot his booking in hopes of regaining some sort of steady ground. And for awhile it worked, business was huge in 1987, but he just never seemed to really stay on steady course after Magnum's accident. (My opinion here, I'm certain others may see it differently.)

[phinney]

Baltimore said:

Magnum getting the US belt back from Nikita was the plan for Starrcade 86, but there is little doubt that Dusty was heading toward Magnum as at least a short term champion in 1987 or 1988.

IMHO, Dusty was on such a roll with his booking in 1986, that the Flair/Magnum program in 1987 was bound to have been good i.e.; well planned, slow developing, etc. Sort of like Magnum/Nikita began in Jan/Feb 1986 when Nikita wanted a shot at the US belt and refused to wrestle on TV until he got the shot. Then the confrontations in the spring with the press conference and the stripping of the title from Magnum, then the best-of-seven throughout the summer, with Nikita finally winning in late August. This was leading to Magnum getting the belt back at Starrcade 86, the angle and stipulations of which we'll never know because of the auto accident. It was to last the entire year.

If you think about it, all three of Magnum's main singles programs since he came to Crockett in Dec 1984 (Wahoo, Blanchard, Nikita) were well thought out and lasted for months. I just feel like we would have gotten the same treatment with Magnum and Flair in 1987. Heck, the mini-program with Flair on TBS in the spring of 1985 (documented week-by-week on the Glory Days was the same way.)

The accident happened, and Dusty's booking spiraled down hill after that, as he started turning people left and right (Nikita, Ole Anderson, Jimmy Garvin, Murdoch, Luger, Windham, Ron Garvin, others I'm probably forgetting) as Dusty began to hot-shot his booking in hopes of regaining some sort of steady ground. And for awhile it worked, business was huge in 1987, but he just never seemed to really stay on steady course after Magnum's accident. (My opinion here, I'm certain others may see it differently.)

A Ric Flair vs. Magnum TA would of been great for Starrcade 1987, if they program was to last the entire year. It would of been a GREAT feud.

[acezappa]

Watching Magnum TA and Nikita Koloff wrestle are some of my fondest memories of my childhood. I was devastated when he had his accident. I'm glad he makes the rounds periodically to the fan stuff and hopefully I will get to meet him sometime. Him and Nikita are two I would definitely love to meet and chat with.