Magnum TA

[Grimmas]

Discuss here.

[cubbymark]

Starrcade '85: I QUIT. If that's the only thing you've ever seen of Magnum, that's as good a reason to include him in this conversation.

 

I never got to see him in his prime as I was 2 or 3 by the time he had his accident, but what I have seen of him is pretty f'n amazing. The wrestler showcase podcast on Magnum a few weeks ago with Johnny Sorrow and others on Magnum is as good a place to really hear the case for Magnum outside of I QUIT. He's among the biggest "What Ifs" in wrestling history as he could be a lot higher on people's lists if his body work had a few more years on it.

[Johnny Sorrow]

Here's why "What If?" doesn't matter to me in all this. If there are guys in this whose best shit might be in the future that doesn't exist but is being considered, then Magnum's being robbed of the same nonexistent future shouldn't be part of how people consider him. And Vice/ Versa.

[Matt D]

Johnny Sorrow is the Doc Brown of pro wrestling.

[JazeUSA]

I grew up watching him every Tuesday in the Dorton Arenas in Raleigh,NC, no doubt about it the man would have been Crockets Hulk Hogan, all things considered Magnum will probably go down as one of my top 25 workers off all time, I saw many matches I thought highly of against Flair, Koloff, Blanchard, Arn & Ole Anderson, MR.Wrestling 2, Midnight Express ect., he was in the greatest I quit match of all time IMO

[Lee Casebolt]

The I Quit match is amazing, no question, but what else does he have in the way of standout, must see matches?

[Timbo Slice]

The I Quit match is the best of its kind and I liked the series with Nikita, but I don't see much else for him. Just as he was starting to get good, he got hurt. Don't think he'll be there at the end.

[Matt D]

I like the cage match US title win vs Wahoo too.

[GSR]

I'm in the same boat as several others in that there's the I Quit cage match with Tully but what else? I've enjoyed his interviews and some of the angles he's been involved with (Flair, James Boys), but can't see it for me and I certainly can't see him bring included purely off the back of one match.

[Loss]

There's that Magnum TA vs Ole Anderson match from the 12/30/85 WCWSN that people love. The DiBiase singles matches in Mid South which don't grab me but lots of people really love. The best of 7 series with Nikita. Matches with Flair. His career is incomplete but there are enough high end matches out there to peruse and decide what you think.

[Shining Wiz]

The series with Nikita is really good and heated. All the better when you consider how new Nikita was

[W2BTD]

I am indifferent to Magnum TA as a pro wrestler, with absolutely no strong opinion in either direction whatsoever, but I will say that this man had an elite level mustache.

[GSR]

How much of the Best Of Seven series is in circulation? I know I saw the decider on an old NWA TV comp, but don't know about the other six matches.

[Shining Wiz]

How much of the Best Of Seven series is in circulation? I know I saw the decider on an old NWA TV comp, but don't know about the other six matches.

I'm not sure either, to be honest. I've seen the 7th, and at least one more full match, and I think highlights.

[BillThompson]

He won't make my list, great high points, but not long enough for me to truly consider him.

[Johnny Sorrow]

I am indifferent to Magnum TA as a pro wrestler, with absolutely no strong opinion in either direction whatsoever, but I will say that this man had an elite level mustache.

How the fuck can you be "indifferent to TA as a Pro Wrestler"? And a hacky mustache "joke"? Ugh, that stinks.

[WingedEagle]

I don't think it was a joke. That was a great 'stache and that's a shoot. But outside of a quick sprint or when in with a Tully or Flair, he's not someone who otherwise left much of an impression for me. I Quit also never clicked here the way it did for others, so he really was just a guy who felt like the Horsemen flavor of the month for a bit and not a whole lot more.

[Childs]

How much of the Best Of Seven series is in circulation? I know I saw the decider on an old NWA TV comp, but don't know about the other six matches.

 

I think just 4, 6 and 7.

[JazeUSA]

How much of the Best Of Seven series is in circulation? I know I saw the decider on an old NWA TV comp, but don't know about the other six matches.

I have 3 of the matches I think which is a bummer imo since they actually had like 12 or 13 matches I believe, but it was advertised as a best of 7..his cage match against Wahoo in 85 showed tons of charisma & fire as well

[Karl]

Magnum was a guy who had it all - its such a shame what happened. Given that part of what being a great wrestler is often depends on more than just what happens in the ring, Magnum would have a chance of top 100 for me. He embodied so much of what was great at that time. He may not make top 100 for me, but there is a damn good arguement.

[JerryvonKramer]

Karl, the run is just too short no?

 

Beyond Tully, he has the best of seven series, the matches with Ted DiBiase in Mid-South and the Wahoo match. What else would you say?

[goodhelmet]

The tag run with Wrestling II, the series with Flair that went around the country, the team with Dusty

[shoe]

The Houston footage has really helped in my opinion. He had a great match with Ted that was in circulation. He has 2 really good matches with Ernie Ladd. An Excellent match with Mr. Wrestling 2. Had a really good match with Mr. Wrestling 3 who was Hercules under the hood. For the midget wrestling fans he had a good match with midgets. His feud with the MX was great. We have 3 of those matches from Houston.

 

He might not have had a big move set. He had more important tangibles . He could sell, had charisma , make a fiery comeback, connected with the crowd, understood when to do things, and a great bleeder.