Tony Schiavone recalls how Magnum TA's accident changed everything

[@nielgregory108]

My Uncle Gene was a first responder and he went to the scene. He said he almost lost it when he found out who it was but he pulled himself together and remained professional. He was a huge rasslin fan.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

WOW!!😳 No kidding, Mr. Gregory?!?! Damn, that must've been tough for your uncle😔 My mom was bawling when she found out it was her pro wrestling heartthrob, Magnum T.A.💕

[@jasonnaugle1600]

I can see the pain in his face, be it great memories, but still i see it and it saddens me. Tony's a great guy and a legend in the business! God bless you man!

[@Atomykpimp]

I was 15 years old when Magnum had his accident and they announced it on Saturday Night. I was just in shock and in tears at the same time.

[@zt1053]

It is definately in the top 5 events that changed wrestling forever.

[@Xnannersxx]

I remember when his accident was announced we had seen him days before wrestle. I cried like a baby he was MY guy! Truly a super star in many ways. I always have said had he been able to wrestle he would have been better than Flair.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

It was a terrible tragedy, Miss Deanna😔 I remember it vividly when it occurred back in October of' '86. I picked up a copy of PWI Magazine the following weekend at a 7-11 and read the front page, ma'am. I was a high school junior at the time coming home from a football game with my folks. I couldn't believe it😮 I might've been in brief shock over it

[@michaelriverajr8891]

It's mind blowing he actually survived that accident after looking at what his car looked like after the accident.

[@nicholasterzick7140]

I remember getting to finally see him wrestle in person at AWA Super Clash 85 vs Ric Flair in Chicago! He was super over as a babyface

[@michaelvaughn8864]

My cousin, Philip, who was a cop living in the Evanston suburb at the time, got a ticket from a detective pal (who was a HUGE pro wrestling fan) and they went to the show together there, Mr. T. You might've even crossed paths with them there 😂 lol

[@michaelvaughn8864]

They were both Slick Ric fans....BTW 😂😂

[@benshapiro5474]

No star is incapable of falling - but no star is SO BRIGHT that it falling, leaves the WHOLE SKY black…

[@ericathewwfwcwdivastraight8906]

It pains me that Magnum TA accident ended his wrestling career too painful to bear he was an amazing wrestler. Too much pain.

[@josephjohnroe3735]

Magnum was on his way to being the MAN. Such a talent.

[@bclautz]

Him and Flair would have had some epic matches

[@stankormy5717]

Magnum TA had huge potential!

[@zt1053]

Jim Cornette said on a podcast Barry Windham was brought back in late 86 to fill in the void left by Magnum. I was a big Barry Windham fan at the time wondering what happened to him when he left the WWF but looking back he wasn't able to fill the void left by Magnum

[@jamesrussell6123]

Magnum TA got hurt in the accident in 1986, a few months before my grandmother passed away

[@ronniejdio9411]

He was on track to be the South's Hogan. Everyone loved Magnum.

[@bclautz]

He was better than Hogan. Expressly in-ring

[@Houndini]

Hogan would been a undercard match. He'll my grandma could do his only move The Leg Drop better. I never could understand Hogan fans. Guy not that believable. Now it Hogan's world class lying he is caught up in now.

[@bclautz]

@@Houndini only thing he could do is cut a promo and he knew back stage politics

[@jrtjonathanwinchell3955]

I remember the 1986 angle when Nikita and Dusty came out to be with Magnum TA and supported him.

[@joedyer5486]

Man i was in 8th grade and i wanted to be just like old TA

[@studbourbon798]

He and Lex really showed how strong they were

[@matthewJ142]

Magnum would have been WCW champion for sure

[@chriswillis1585]

Enjoyed Magnum "Terry Allen'' in Mid South.

[@shawnbrock1545]

I remember being at the Lansing Civic Center the next day setting up the ring and the head of the ring crew/referee getting the call at the boxoffice. When he came back into the arena he was white as a ghost. It was the first time that he OPENLY broke kayfabe in front of me.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

Jeez, Mr. Brock😕

[@chrisf2471]

1986 was a great year and tragic too

[@harshtruth5003]

Not only magnum gino too.

[@delbertprince5302]

I am glad,I was able to see him wrestle prior to his accident……

[@jackson5781]

I was a huge Jim Cornette fan and still am

[@ADVikes28]

He most definitely would’ve been a multiple time world champion.

[@CarlosSanchez-bg4wf]

Tony do you ever age damn

[@gary6754]

Magnum was my guy in 86 The accident was devastating

[@therealjd4life]

With Schiavone's connection AEW should bring him in as a special guest timekeeper to honor Magnum one last time

[@josephmiller9424]

I was surprised that they never tried bringing in a young big scott hall to take Magnum TA spot they looked a like

[@vanealmorrow6024]

Just 27 years old at the time of the accident.

[@WSK9002]

I mean a lot of people have speculated if Magnum T.A. would have never gotten injured would The Stinger have risen as the top Blue Eye as quickly as he did, a lot people say there would not have been a need for Lex Luger and The Stinger to be Blue Eyes, if Magnum never got injured.

[@johnepants]

Sting may have gotten over but probably would have not won his first world title until later

[@jackson5781]

Sting had alot of outs people don't know. He had outs with Warrior and him and Hogan were friends cause Hogan worked out at Stings Gym. Stinger had many outs. Stinger just was at right place right time and dominos happened to fall how they fell. But stinger had alot of outs. And as far as Luger, Luger just got lucky

[@mitchcolburn1216]

The crash was ultimately good for wrestling because it forced NWA/WCW to go with actually charismatic, entertaining stars. Sting, Pillman, The Steiners, Vader, Simmons, Rude, Steamboat, and of course Flair and Arn.

[@bilskie1]

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind Magnum TA would’ve been the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Through the years, and as Conrad mentioned many have said that Magnum’s reign was to begin at Starrcade 86. So many takes on that topic. One episode of WHW recently confirmed my belief/suspicion and made me think even more that maybe Magnum’s reign WAS NOT at Starrcade ‘86…but rather sometime in 1987! Promos by Ron Garvin on WCW and on syndicated shows lead ME to believe that he was going to face Flair in Atlanta at Starrcade. At that same time, Magnum’s promos, although in Late September/early October 1986 talked about Jimmy Garvin, his sights were dead set on regaining the US Heavyweight Title! Which I’ve heard through the years that perhaps the “Cold War” over the US Title in that historic Best of Seven which began in Philadelphia July 1 1986 and culminated after the Bashes in Charlotte which aired here in Philly on 8/23/86….all were leading to an inevitable rematch to end all rematches with Magnum vs. Nikita at Starrcade ‘86…in another “I QUIT” Match for the ages! I’ve actually heard A LOT of chatter about this. And the more the years go by, the more that THAT scenario makes the most sense. Think about it…Magnum FINALLY regains the US Title at Starrcade, Flair escapes Ron Garvin’s challenge of the World Title, and THEN Magnum makes his claim as THEE #1 contender to Flair’s World title as the undisputed US Champ, NOW goes after Flair. Can ANYONE imagine what 1987 COULD have been like had all this played out? The possibilities were there prior to that fateful night October 14, 1986 when Magnum’s in ring career came to an end. Again, there’s no doubt in my mind, Magnum TA was the next in line with a VERY believable promo. A very aggressive, INTENSE, no-nonsense promo. Almost heel-like by comparison to most in that era…no doubt to me this man would be THEE next in line to hold “Big Gold”.

[@joegreen268]

I agree. I don’t think Magnum was slated to dethrone Flair until sometime in 1987. Could be wrong but I know Flair and the other Horsemen went to visit him in the hospital and Flair laid the belt on Magnum and said I was supposed to drop this to you and left it with him. Somehow he got it back but he didn’t say when he was supposed to drop it to him. I’m thinking during the Bash sometime in the summer of 1987. So I agree Magnum would have probably faced someone else at Starcade.

[@staleydu1]

Yeah it changed everything. The NWA wasn't the same and my interest in professional wrestling was never close to the same.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

He was supposed to get a major run with 'Naitch' when it happened, Mr. Crane. I heard Magnum was gonna go over on Ric for the NWA title at that Starrcade in '86

[@michaelvaughn8864]

Ronnie Garvin said in an interview that was the intention, and then he was approached about becoming the champ bc of Magnum's misfortune, Mr. Crane

[@jamesrussell6123]

I agree

[@1983jcheat]

Magnum looking like Enzo's Uncle in that Pic.

[@delbertprince5302]

I had a poster of Magnum TA on my wall as a kid…….

[@michaelvaughn8864]

So did my late cousin, Dani, Mr. Prince. It was the one of him laying poolside wearing a red Speedo. She was a huge Magnum T.A. fan. She thought he was the hottest guy walking Planet Earth🔥😍

[@delbertprince5302]

@@michaelvaughn8864 Well when Magnum TA was young prior to his accident he had the looks,size,mindset,great personality to be a successful wrestler.

[@delbertprince5302]

@@michaelvaughn8864 Rest in Peace to your cousin Dani.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

@@delbertprince5302 Oh, yeah, Mr. Prince, he did have a great look about him☺👌 He had a ruggedly handsome face along with a well toned and muscular athletic body. It's easy why he was dubbed America's Heartthrob in the NWA, sir. He was a hot guy🔥 Hell, I even crushed on him some myself when I was in my high school years before his untimely accident.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

@@delbertprince5302 Thank you for your kind sentiment, too, sir😇 Ironically, Mr. Prince, it was in a car accident in Syracuse 6 years ago. She was fatally hit by a drunk driver

[@johnnydoe6717]

Starrcade 86 he would have took the title from Ric

[@jasonelliott7977]

He was supposed to get the title from Flair. He and Nikita would have had some awesome matches had the accident not happened.

[@connerhuston2613]

Yes, from everything I read & heard (and I believe Ric flair said) the plan was for Magnum T.A. to win the title at that upcoming Starrcade show.

[@johnepants]

@@connerhuston2613 I agree, I think Magnum’s accident really screwed up Crockets long term booking for the next year or so. Magnum would have and the title in 1987, maybe would have had a rematch with Flair or some other storyline. I feel like the NWA lacked a sense of top level direction since they couldn’t take the belt off of Flair after the accident, and wouldn’t get that direction back until 1988 when JCP was on its last legs financially.

[@eddiealivera7423]

❤️

[@tcafan]

I wish we could get these segments without Conrad’s sales pitch. Good with the bad I guess.

[@nick56677]

Conrad is expanding every day. Getting to Yokozuna status minus the athleticism. Meltzers soap boy 🧼🧼🧼🧼

[@chrischar9428]

Minus the charisma

[@bluemeanie9554]

I forget who said it but a former wrestler stated Flair was the recipient of a lot of peoples misfortunes and deeds! Tommy Rich, Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, Buddy Landel, Barry Windham and Magnum TA to name a few. If it wasnt for their vices, misdeeds and/or deaths Flair wouldnt have been anywhere near a 16 time World Champion!

[@ronniejdio9411]

You know if.losers would have quit being stupid they wouldnt have lost their spots constantly. If anything Flair is the guy who kept saving the NWA over and over again after choosing self destructive losers

[@bluemeanie9554]

@@ronniejdio9411 So what exactly did Magnum, Mike Von Erich, and Barry Windham did that was stupid?

[@leonrhodes8700]

@@ronniejdio9411 that's harsh and I dont want to agree with it .... but I do ! Peace man !

[@ronniejdio9411]

@@bluemeanie9554 my bad. My generalizations were wrong. I made a mistake with including mike and barry in that statement. The others had problems. Drug problems. As a kid who grew up on GCW and whose 6'4" cousin and grandad openly wept when they read about magnum's wreck... guy was drunk and pilled up driving his sports car too fast. Kerry's drug abuse just like Gino's has been well documented. Who else did the NWA have ? The Garvins ? Hahaha

[@bluemeanie9554]

@@ronniejdio9411 But that just proves my point they had noone else of Flair's overall ability (besides Dusty) who was also dependable. Ronnie Garvin was spectacular but couldnt talk to save his life, same with Bobby Eaton and Brad Armstrong and they clearly dropped the ball with not putting the belt on Arn Anderson. Point blank my entire point is Flair is only considered the best because he was the most dependable and was the recipient of a lot of luck due to other peoples fuck ups

[@mikebowermaster4250]

They would've eventually jobbed TA to Flair, with Flair doing the same cheats as he did in every match. The referee; as usual, acts as though he never saw those cheats before. Magnum falls into the undercard. Not even Dusty Rhodes teams with him anymore.

[@zt1053]

Almost everyone says Magnum was going to get the Belt for a long period

[@mikebowermaster4250]

You can say a lot of things. Proof is when if happens.

[@airemoutreigns6366]

Mags had the believability 2 beat flair n take the belt...he had the look the talk the in ring ability EVERYTHING...turning nikita good was groundbreaking a russian good guy??? Unheard of in wrestling @ the time...when i 1st heard of magnums accident i thought ok he'll pull through maybe he'll b back in a few months maybe a year but i didnt know the severity of his injuries

[@princebowie9950]

I was 8

[@shep938]

I always think...what could've been with Magnum and Gino

[@ronniejdio9411]

Both were incredible.and made horrific choices

[@DTSWVP]

Sting ened up getting Magnums spot

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Seemed like Magnum was DESTINED to be the MAN until this accident.

[@stevengrvp]

That was dusty's guy

[@lanceparker4796]

This and David Von Erich's death doomed the NWA.

[@ronniejdio9411]

Both of those guys were literaly inntrqck to be huge baby face champions

[@chrischar9428]

Bullshit. He was married to jim Garvin

[@Wridde23]

NWA + WCW = AEW just like UPN + WB = CW.

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

Connrad is so boring

[@wa2k99]

Screw the Braves