Tommy Rich

From Freepedia

Thomas Richardson, better known as "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a former American professional wrestler.

Contents 1 Profile 2 Career 3 Trivia 4 Championships/Accomplishments 4.1 National Wrestling Alliance 4.2 World Championship Wrestling 4.3 Tennessee Titles 4.4 Other Titles

Profile

• Height: 6'3" (191 cm)
• Weight: 248 lb (112 kg) (Competitive Weight)
• Birthday: July 26, 1956
• Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee
• Trained By: Jerry Jarrett, Jerry Lawler, Dick Steinborn and Tojo Yamamoto
• Professional Debut: 1974
• Previous Identities: Mr. R, Thomas Rich, Tommy Richardson, Tommy Rich, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich,
• Previous Manager(s): Miss Alexandra York, Jimmy Hart, Paul E. Dangerously, Rico Suave, Rockin' Robin, Eddie Gilbert, Robert Fuller, Downtown Business Brown, Billy the P, Paul Adams, Jim Cornette
• Finishing/Signature Move(s): Lou Thesz Press, Piledriver, Flying Fist Drop

Career

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich started wrestling in 1974 in the regional promotions in Tennessee. Throughout the 1980's, he alternated his time between Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and the NWA. He won dozens of regional titles and several NWA Titles during this time.

On April 27, 1980, he became one of the youngest NWA World Heavyweight Champions in pro wrestling history.

He had a memorable and bloody feud in Georgia Championship Wrestling with deceased "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer.

Rich briefly wrestled in the AWA in 1987 and had an unsuccessful feud with Adrian Adonis.

When the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions was bought by Ted Turner and changed to WCW, he was one of the wrestlers to make the transition.

In 1991, he joined Alexandra York's York Foundation and became "Thomas Rich". He teamed with the other members, Terrence Taylor and Richard Morton to win the WCW Six-Man Titles.

When the York Foundation disbanded in early 1992, he became a heel jobber until he left WCW for the independent circuit again. From 1993 to 1996, he wrestled for the USWA and Smoky Mountain Wrestling mostly as a face. He was the last Smoky Mountain Wrestling Champion.

He next went to ECW in 1996 as the "Big Don" Tommy Rich and joined the Full Blooded Italians (FBI), a heel group that included Little Guido and Tracy Smothers. He left ECW sometime in 2000 and has been wrestling in the independents ever since.

Trivia

• Has two cousins that also wrestled, Johnny "Crash" Rich and Davey Rich.

Championships/Accomplishments

National Wrestling Alliance

• 1-Time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
• 3-Time NWA National Heavyweight Champion
• 3-Time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NWA Georgia Television Champion
• 6-Time NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (with Tony Atlas once, Stan Hansen twice, Thunderbolt Patterson once, Wahoo McDaniel once and The Crusher once)
• 1-Time NWA Southeast Continental Heavyweight Champion
• 3-Time NWA Southeast Tag Team Champion (with Bill Dundee, Johnny Rich and Steve Armstrong)
• 1-Time NWA-New Jersey Tag Team Champion (with Doug Gilbert)
• 2-Time NWA Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Tojo Yamamoto & George Gulas)

World Championship Wrestling

• 2-Time WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Ricky Morton & Junkyard Dog and Richard Morton & Terrence Taylor)

Tennessee Titles

• 2-Time Mid-American Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time Mid-American Tag Team Champion (with Ken Lucas)
• 4-Time Mid-Southern Heavyweight Champion
• 4-Time Mid-Southern Tag Team Champion (with Bill Dundee twice, Eddie Gilbert once and Dutch Mantel once)
• 1-Time Mid-Southern International Champion
• 3-Time USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion
• 4-Time USWA Tag Team Champion (with Doug Gilbert)
• 1-Time SMW Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time Tennessee Mountain Wrestling Heavyweight Champion

Other Titles

• 1-Time IWWA Southern Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time SCW Tag Team Champion (with Johnny Rich)
• 1-Time AWF Tag Team Champion (with Greg Valentine)
• 1-Time ICW Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time XICW Heavyweight Champion
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 117 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• Rich has won three PWI Awards over the years. He won Rookie of the Year in 1978, Most Inspirational in 1979 and Most Popular Wrestler in 1981.