He was professionally known as Magnum T.A., but originally 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.

 Attempting to combat the NWA World Champion, Ric Flair’s finishing maneuver, Magnum
learned the figure-four leg-lock hoping to eventually win the coveted championship in mid-
1985.  He lost 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.

TITLE HISTORY:
 -A four-time co-holder of the Global Tag Team Title
         w/ Scott McGhee (1983) defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos
         w/ The Midnight Rider (1983) defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos
         w/ Scott McGhee (1983) McGhee replaced Rider
         w/ Scott McGhee (1983) defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos
         w/ Brad Armstrong (1983) defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos
 -Co-holder of the Mid-South Tag Team Title (1983) w/ Jim Duggan
 -A two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
         -Defeated Wahoo McDaniel (1985)
         -Defeated Tully Blanchard (1985)


By Tim Hornbaker
Magnum T.A. Wrestling History
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