Shattered: The Magnum TA Story – The episode starts with the eponymous narrator (Chris Jericho) introducing viewers to one of the biggest indie sensations of the 80s, Magnum TA (Terry Wayne Allen). His good looks coupled with superhuman athleticism and natural charisma made for a recipe for success. He would soon become Jim Crockett Promotions’ biggest weapon against the rival competitor, WWF.

Jim Crockett Promotions refused to sit idly by while WWF forced its smaller competitors into bankruptcy. Top talents such as Ric Flair (Richard Fliehr), Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Riley Runnels Jr), the Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal Michael Hegstrand and Joseph Laurinaitis), and the Rock ‘N Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton), it would be hard for any enthusiast to shy away from the footage. Jim Crockett Sr. needed a Hulk Hogan that he found in Magnum TA.

Terry Allen’s humble wrestling career started at Norfolk Collegiate School in Norfolk, Virginia. Having no athletic background, the fresh-faced freshman signed up for the Greco-Roman wrestling team. His drive to be a professional wrestler helped bring the state championship home to Virginia. While attending college, his intimidating size earned him a part-time security guard gig at a local pub in Virginia Beach. With Crockett Promotions based out of the Carolinas, his immense physique would be difficult to ignore. Unfortunately, he attracted the attention of Buzz Sawyer.

Jim Cornette describes Buzz as one of the best professional wrestlers to ever grace the ring. Worming his way into Terry’s life, Buzz promised to help him reach the top of the professional wrestling world. When Terry’s grandfather gave Buzz $10k to cover Terry’s license, it was the last time Terry and the family heard of him. In all truth, a professional wrestling license cost no more than $25. Buzz never repaid the money but Terry partially contributes Terry’s professional wrestling career to him. Jimmy Garvin encouraged Terry to visit Buzz’s apartment in Oregon. The encounter would result in a few hours of hitting the ropes at a local gym and a TV match with Buzz. Terry’s stunning skill set landed him a full schedule of wrestling matches.

Jake “The Snake” Roberts (Aurelian Smith Jr) describes Terry as a “fresh breath of air” at the time. He contributes Terry’s unrelenting drive and natural talent to his rise to fame. Getting wind of Terry’s wrestling brilliance, Eddie Graham, owner of Florida Championship Wrestling, offered him a position. Terry packed his belongings and headed to Florida. FCW’s creative booker, Dusty Rhodes “The American Dream” (Virgil Riley Runnels Jr.) would set Terry up for success. Roberts compared Dusty Rhodes to professional boxing’s Muhammad Ali.

Veteran Bill Apter, a widely popular professional wrestling journalist, compared Terry’s looks to that of Tom Selleck. It was Andre “The Giant” (Andre Rene Roussimoff) who suggested “Magnum TA” from “Magnum PI” starring Tom Selleck. Unsure how to portray his new role, Magnum TA’s persona, and outfit changed from week to week. It would take The American Dream to suggest a change – a new Harley Davidson and matching leather jacket. The suggestion thrust Terry into the limelight and to the top rung. Dusty Rhodes would later introduce the rising star to Jim Crockett. A partnership between Crockett Promotions and TBS “The Superstation” would push Terry even further into the spotlight.

In 1981, Terry married Tamara Howell. The marriage ended after a 7-year run in 1988. It could be said, the promotion’s desire to turn Terry into a sex symbol drove a wedge between him and his wife. Tamara would soon catch on to what the promotion was doing. With his marriage in deterioration mode, Terry would soon meet who would become his biggest rival, Nikita Koloff “The Russian Nightmare (Nelson Scott Simpson). Match 1 would take place on July 1, 1986, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Match 2 would follow a little over a week later on July 9, 1986, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nikita captured the first two wins. It was 2-0 for Nikita at the start of the match on July 11, 1986, in Roanoke, Virginia. Unfortunately, Nikita would once again walk away with the win. It wouldn’t be until July 26th in Greensborough, North Carolina, the 4th meeting, that Terry was claim a win.

Atlanta, Georgia would play host to the 5th meeting on August 2nd, 1986. The series would subsequently be tied on August 10th, 1986 in Asheville, North Carolina. The final match was set for August 17th, 1986 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it would be a huge blow to the American fans when Nikita Koloff walks away victorious. When the long-running feud between Dusty Rhodes and “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair ended, NWA promotion chose Magnum TA to be the next top-billing star. First, he would have to get through Jimmy Garvin. An interview with Bill Apter in 1985 would set the stage for Magnum TA and Ric Flair’s bout for the NWA World Title.

Terry started living like the world champion in advance, starting with a Porsche 911 Turbo. On the stormy night of October 14th, 1986, Terry’s life would change forever. After putting his feud with Jimmy Garvin to bed only five minutes from his childhood home, Terry hopped in his little red sports car. A pothole filled with water in a sharp curve sent the Porsche 911 into a telephone pole. The accident left with a serious C5 vertebrae injury. Heading to the ER, Tamara encountered the tow truck with Terry’s Porsche. Doctors told her that Terry needed emergency surgery. Overwhelmed with calls from concerned fans, the hospital was forced to shutter the switchboard.

Ric Flair arranged a secret meeting with a cop friend to get into the hospital. He gave Terry the NWA World Title as a placeholder until he could win the real one. The entire Crockett Promotions roster would agree to donate parts of their pay to cover Terry’s expenses. Magnum TA’s absence was financially devastating for Crockett Promotions. Dusty Rhodes turned to Nikita Koloff but it wouldn’t be enough to save Crockett Promotions which was acquired by World Championship Wrestling “WCW” in 1988.

It wouldn’t be until April of 1987 that Terry would reach the point where he could walk into the Baltimore Arena. He would do so at what was set to be one of Crockett Promotion’s biggest events. Although indescribable, Nikita tries to convey the feelings he felt as Terry walked down that aisle and embraced his former mentor, Dusty Rhodes. Surreal wouldn’t even begin to express it. Although his in-ring career was over, Terry continued to rely on the industry that so much adored, choosing to become a color commentator. This, however, could have been a major mistake, as it’s hard to be that close to the business and not desire to step back into the limelight. This caused his personal life to fall apart.

 

Dark Side Of The Ring Review

What an incredible story about an incredible man. It’s not quite as dark and harrowing as something I would expect to see from the series, but I can see why it’s essential. It’s certainly a story worth telling. The most surrealist thing about this episode to me was, once again, how genuine of a guy Terry seemed. To come back from an accident like he suffered is astonishing. It’s even more astonishing that he didn’t just come back, but he came back successful, even finding another life partner after his failed marriage. I would defy anyone to watch this and not be inspired. For this, I would have to give the episode a 5.5 out of 10.

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