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The Terminator (wrestler)

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The Wrecking Crew (Terminator)
Laurinaitis, circa 1988
Birth nameMarcus Laurinaitis
Born (1965-02-21) February 21, 1965 (age 59)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
FamilyJohn Laurinaitis (brother)
Road Warrior Animal (brother)
James Laurinaitis (nephew)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Fury
The Terminator
The Wrecking Crew
Billed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight270 lb (120 kg; 19 st)
Trained byRoad Warrior Animal
John Laurinaitis
Nelson Royal
Gene Anderson
Ric Flair
Dusty Rhodes
[1]
Debut1987
Retired1998

Marcus Laurinaitis (born February 21, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The Wrecking Crew (Fury) & Terminator. He wrestled primarily in Florida (FCW), Japan (All-Japan Pro Wrestling & New Japan Pro Wrestling), and Europe (CWA), as well with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He is the brother of fellow professional wrestlers John Laurinaitis and Road Warrior Animal.

Professional wrestling career

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Marcus made his debut in 1987 after being trained by his brothers Joseph and John, as well as by Gene Anderson and Nelson Royal,[1] and initially worked for Dusty Rhodes in Texas for a new NWA under the name The Terminator. He joined Devastation Incorporated managed by Skandor Akbar and tagged with The Angel of Death and Black Bart. He made a run with The Fabulous Freebirds, Sting, Rick Steiner and the Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner tag team. One of his earliest encounters with the Fabulous Freebirds was at the New Orleans Superdome in a First Blood cage match where The Terminator was one of the last to survive the blood bath until Terry Gordy eventually defeated him. In late 1987 Marcus toured with All Japan Pro Wrestling in November and December. While in Japan he teamed up with Tom Zenk to participate in the 1987 version of the World's Strongest Tag Determination League where he competed against such teams as Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu (the winners), Jimmy Snuka and Bruiser Brody, The Great Kabuki and John Tenta,[2] and Terry and Dory Funk, Jr. The Terminator and Zenk finished in 11th place only ahead of Mark and Chris Youngblood.[3]

After the tour Marcus returned to Florida where he participated in a tournament to crown a new NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, losing in the final to Mike Graham.[4] When Marcus returned he also teamed up with his brother Johnny to challenge for the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship chasing the champions Mike Graham and Steve Keirn until September 20, 1988, where the Laurinaitis brothers won the gold.[4] Marcus and Johnny defended the titles for over 3 months until they came across Florida newcomers The Nasty Boys (Jerry Sags and Brian Knobs) who took the gold from them. The brothers would come back strong only 3 weeks later to regain their gold and hold on to it until March 24, 1989, where the Nasty Boys once again beat them for the gold.[4] During their second run with the gold Marcus and Johnny also toured with All Japan Pro Wrestling as a team.[5] Shortly afterwards Johnny Ace left Florida Championship Wrestling to compete in Jim Crockett Promotions as one of the “Dynamic Dudes” (with Shane Douglas). The team known as the Bounty Hunters won the Florida tag team titles in November, but when one of the Bounty Hunters was injured Marcus stepped in and teamed up with the other Bounty Hunter to defend the tag team titles. The team held the gold until the Nasty Boys beat them on a card in Nassau, Bahamas on January 6, 1990.[4]

The Wrecking Crew

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While competing in Florida Marcus ended up teaming with Al Green (who was known as “The Bounty Hunter”), initially as a makeshift team because Green’s other partner got injured but soon the two started teaming regularly first under the name The Terminators then later on as The Wrecking Crew where Laurinaitis became known as "Fury" and Green was renamed “Rage”. The team competed for the International Wrestling Federation based in Florida showing themselves to be a force in the tag team division. On May 28, 1992, the duo beat IWF Tag Team Champions The Long Riders (Brett Colt and Kip Winchester).[4] By late 1992 the Wrecking Crew got signed by World Championship Wrestling, making their debut in January 1993.[6] Shortly after their debut the Wrecking Crew got national exposure by competing at Clash of the Champions XXII on January 13 where they defeated Tom Zenk and Johnny Gunn.[7] After their success at the clash the team rode on a wave of success defeating Gunn and Zenk repeatedly[8][9] as well as looking impressive against temporary teams such as 2 Cold Scorpio & Johnny B. Badd[10] and Marcus Bagwell & Joey Maggs.[11] By March the team was contesting a series of matches with future WCW World Tag Team Champions 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell[12] as well as feuding with the identical twin duo known as The Cole Twins (Keith and Kent Cole).[13] The feud with the Cole Twins was soon expanded to also include Bagwell and Scorpio as well as Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pierce.[14] As the feud wore on the Cole Twins got the upper hand in the feud over the two big men.[15] The Wrecking Crew also faced ”Cactus” Jack and The Barbarian in a series of house show matches.[16] As summer turned to fall, the Wrecking Crew’s time with WCW ended, returning to the independent scene. In 1994 the Wrecking Crew traveled to Europe to work for Otto Wanz’ Catch Wrestling Association. On July 24 they defeated David Finlay and John Hawk in the finals of a tournament to crown new CWA Tag Team Champions after Larry Cameron had died during a match.[4] Rage & Fury held the belts for only 3 weeks before being unseated by CWA regulars August Smisl and Ulf Herman in Vienna, Austria.[4] The Wrecking Crew also worked in South Africa at this time for promoter Paul Lloyd touring through Johannesburg, Durbin and Cape Town. In 1995 the Wrecking Crew toured with All Japan Pro Wrestling over the summer being put over young teams like Kentaro Shiga and Maunakea Mossman.[17] The highlight of their summer tour was a clash with multiple time All Asia Tag Team Champions Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat which the Wrecking Crew lost.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ a b Steve Johnson (2009). "NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes: Nelson Royal". MidAtlanticWrestling.net. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  2. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (December 11, 1987). "AJPW Budokan Show results (1986–1990)". The Great Kabuki & John Tenta beat Tom Zenk & The Terminator (9:30) when Tenta pinned Terminator
  3. ^ Strong Style Spirit (November 21 – December 11, 1987). "AJPW Real World Tag League results (1987)". 11. Tom Zenk & The Terminator [2]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  5. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (March 8, 1989). "AJPW Budokan Show results (1986–1990)". Toshiaki Kawada & Samson Fuyuki beat Johnny Ace & The Terminator (15:20) when KAwada pinned Terminator
  6. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". January 1993. (shown on WCW World Wide January 16) The Wrecking Crew defeated Joey Maggs & Johnny Rich at 4:24 when Rage pinned Maggs following their finishing move the "Wrecking Ball" (Back Breaker over the shoulder with an elbow off the top rope)
  7. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (January 13, 1993). "WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XXII)". Archived from the original on September 26, 2007.
  8. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". February 2, 1993. (shown on WCW Saturday Night on February 20) The Wrecking Crew defeated Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk
  9. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". February 19, 1993. The Wrecking Crew defeated Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk
  10. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". January 24, 1993. 2 Cold Scorpio & Johnny B. Badd fought the Wrecking Crew to a draw
  11. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". January 28, 1993. The Wrecking Crew defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Joey Maggs
  12. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". March 3, 1993. 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated the Wrecking Crew
  13. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". March 8, 1993. (shown on WCW Saturday Night on March 13) Keith & Kent Cole defeated Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce when Pierce was pinned following a double dropkick at around the 3:30 mark; after the bout, the Coles avoided an attack from the Wrecking Crew, Tex & Shanghai
  14. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". April 27, 1993. (shown on WCW Saturday Night on May 1) The Wrecking Crew, Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce defeated 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell, Keith & Kent Cole via disqualification
  15. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". May 2, 1993. Keith & Kent Cole defeated the Wrecking Crew
  16. ^ "WCW Show Results 1993". April 2, 1993. Cactus Jack & the Barbarian defeated the Wrecking Crew when Cactus pinned Rage
  17. ^ "AJPW Budokan Hall Show Results (1991–1995)". March 4, 1995. The Wrecking Crew beat Kentaro Shiga & Maunukea Mossman (7:41)
  18. ^ "AJPW Budokan Hall Show Results (1991–1995)". July 24, 1995. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas beat The Wrecking Crew (10:49)
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