Magnum T.A.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1981–1984) Allen started wrestling in 1981 and joined the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he began competing for the Championship Wrestling from Florida and the Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) territories. While in the CWF, Allen won the Global Tag Team Championship on five occasions before then moving to Mid-South Wrestling. Upon debuting in Mid-South, Allen renamed himself "Magnum T. A." and adopted a character known as the "American Heart Throb", based on Allen's slight resemblance to actor Tom Selleck, who at the time was starring in the popular television series Magnum, P.I.. After competing in Mid-South, he won the North American Heavyweight Championship, his first major title, after defeating Mr. Wrestling II on May 13, 1984. On November 22, Magnum lost to Ladd via disqualification in a title rematch. Initially, investigators believed he was speeding, but forensic reports showed he was driving the speed limit and he was left in his car for two hours before a witness called 911. The wreck caused his C-4 and C-5 vertebrae to "explode", and it was doubted at the time whether he would ever walk again. Doctors at Carolinas Medical Center said Allen's physical conditioning saved his life. The right side of his body was paralyzed for months, ending his in-ring career. Losing Allen as a wrestler prompted NWA booker Dusty Rhodes to turn Nikita Koloff, Allen's last rival prior to his wreck, into a babyface. According to the storyline, Koloff gained respect for Magnum from their feud and wanted to take his place. This was memorialized in the spring edition of the Wrestling '87 magazine, with a large photograph of Koloff with the words "I cry for Magnum T. A." beside him. Prior to his wreck, Magnum was to win the U.S. Title for the third time before being groomed to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

Personal life Allen is stepfather to professional wrestler Tessa Blanchard, who moved in with him and her siblings and her mother Courtney Shattuck at age 4. He works as a manager at a network-solutions company and resides in Charlotte.

Championships and accomplishments Magnum T. A. as Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion in 1984.

Championship Wrestling from Florida NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Scott McGhee (3), Dusty Rhodes (1), and Brad Armstrong (1) George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award (2017) Jim Crockett Promotions NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times) Mid-South Wrestling Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jim Duggan (1) and Mr. Wrestling II (1) Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 73 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003 Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Class of 2020