Larry Stephens (wrestler)

Last updated
Larry Stephens
Born Salisbury, North Carolina, United States [1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Larry Stephens
L.A. Stephens
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [1]
Billed weight224 lb (102 kg) [1]
Trained by Gene Anderson [1]
Nelson Royal [1]
Debut1986 [1]

Larry Stephens is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation in the late-1980s and early-1990s.

Professional wrestling entertainment form that mimics contact sports

Professional wrestling is a form of performance art and entertainment that combines athletics with theatrical performance. It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, that mimic a title-match combat sport. The unique form of sport portrayed is fundamentally based on classical and "catch" wrestling, with modern additions of striking attacks, strength-based holds and throws and acrobatic maneuvers. Much of these derive from the influence of various international martial arts. An additional aspect of combat with improvised weaponry is sometimes included to varying degrees.

Jim Crockett Promotions Professional wrestling promotion

Jim Crockett Promotions Inc. was a family-owned professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1931, the promotion emerged as a cornerstone of the National Wrestling Alliance. By the 1980s, Jim Crockett Promotions was, along with the World Wrestling Federation, one of the two largest promotions in the United States. The Crockett family sold a majority interest in the promotion to Turner Broadcasting System in 1988, resulting in the creation of World Championship Wrestling.

WWE Professional wrestling and entertainment company

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a WWE, is an American integrated media and entertainment company that is primarily known for professional wrestling. WWE has also branched out into other fields, including movies, real estate, and various other business ventures.

Contents

Professional wrestling career

Stephens was trained by Gene Anderson and Nelson Royal in Mooresville, North Carolina. [1] He made his debut against The Midnight Express on TBS in late 1986 at 19 years old.

Gene Anderson American professional wrestler and manager

Eugene Avon Anderson was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. He is best known as one-half of the tag team The Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Lars Anderson and Ole Anderson. He was a marquee performer for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from the late 1960s, appearing with promotions including the American Wrestling Association (AWA), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (ACW). The Minnesota Wrecking Crew were named "Tag Team of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1975 and 1977.

Nelson Combs was an American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, better known by his ring name, Nelson Royal. He held the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship on six occasions along with numerous regional championships.

Mooresville, North Carolina City in North Carolina, United States

Mooresville is a large town located in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, United States and is a part of the fast-growing Charlotte Metro. The population was 32,711 at the 2010 United States Census. In 2016, the population had increased to 36,543, making it the largest municipality in Iredell County. It is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of Charlotte.

He worked for Jim Crockett Promotions and did guest shots with Vince McMahon in the World Wrestling Federation rising to midcard in both promotions before leaving to join Nelson Royal's Atlantic Coast Wrestling as "L.A. Stephens". He was partners with Doug Somers and was making a bid for the ACW tag titles when the promotion folded. He also worked in the booking office with Grizzly Smith and Colt Steel.

Vince McMahon American professional wrestling promoter

Vincent Kennedy McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter and executive, American football executive, and businessman. Since taking over the company from his father in 1982, he has worked in the corporate area of the WWE and behind the scenes. He currently serves as the majority owner, chairman and CEO of WWE as well as founder of Alpha Entertainment, which is the holding company of the American football league the XFL.

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After taking some time to pursue a coaching career and working the Independent circuit, he booked a spot on David Baucom's NWA Mid Atlantic troop and toured the world during the early 2000s. While he was teaming with Big Bubba Bane, they defeated the Rock 'N Roll Express team of Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. [2]

In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indie circuit is the collective name of independent professional wrestling promotions which are smaller than major televised promotions. It is roughly analogous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.

Ricky Morton American professional wrestler

Richard Wendell Morton is an American professional wrestler who has worked for such wrestling organizations as Jim Crockett Promotions, the American Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

NWA World Tag Team Championship National Wrestling Alliance professional wrestling tag team championship

The NWA World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship created by the National Wrestling Alliance. From 1948 to 1982, the NWA allowed member promotions to create their own territorial version of the "NWA World Tag Team Championship" without oversight from the board of directors. The first of these NWA World Tag Team Championships was created in 1950 in the San Francisco territory, which while billed as a "World" title was essentially restricted to the specific NWA territory. In 1957 as many as 13 versions of the NWA World Tag Team Championship were confirmed to be in existence. In 1982 Big Time Wrestling, based in Los Angeles, closed and abandoned their version of the championship. This meant that only the Jim Crockett Promotions' NWA World Tag Team Championship was active, but still being controlled by JCP, not the NWA board of directors. In 1991 that championship was renamed the WCW World Tag Team Championship.

Championships and accomplishments

National Wrestling Alliance Professional wrestling organization

The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling organization. Formed in 1948, it was for a time the most-recognized brand and largest governing body in professional wrestling. Under the control of the NWA Board of Directors, the organization acted as a governing body for the NWA's national territory system which recognized one world champion, participated in talent exchanges and collectively protected the territorial integrity of member promotions.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "LA Stephens". Cagematch.de. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "NWA World Tag Team Title". National Wrestling Alliance. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2010.