Brian Blair
Encyclopedia
Brian Leslie Blair is a local politician in Florida
, who gained fame as a professional wrestler especially as a part of the Killer Bees
.
and even prayed that he might somehow become a superhero. Blair moved out of his house at age 16 and held several odd jobs to pay his share of the rent. Blair loved professional wrestling
and wrestled and played football
in high school so he could be tough enough to do it when he graduated. Blair attended the University of Louisville
on a football scholarship where he majored in both business and political science.
’s Florida Championship Wrestling where he usually worked as a "face"
(good guy). Blair made his professional debut in a tag-team facing Pat Patterson and Ivan Koloff in a losing effort.One of Blair’s early opponents was another Matsuda student who had just begun working as "The Super Destroyer" (Hulk Hogan
).
After Florida Blair moved on to Bob Geigel
’s NWA Central States promotion out of Kansas City
around 1978 where he’d finally start to make a name of himself as he feuded with Jesse Ventura
in 1979. He also appeared regularly for Leroy McGuirk’s Tri-State promotion, here he met and married Leroy McGuirk's daughter Michelle, aka Mike McGuirk
in 1980. The marriage did not last long and ended on a bad note when Blair found out that Mike was having an affair with wrestler Doug Somers while they were estranged. He was even shot at by Leroy when he tried to talk to Mike before leaving town. While in the “Tri-State" promotion Blair won the Junior Heavyweight Title from Ron Starr but only held it for about a week before losing it back to Starr. The one week reign was Blair’s first professional wrestling title reign.
After leaving the Tri-State promotion Blair joined up with Fritz Von Erich
’s World Class Championship Wrestling
promotion in Texas. In WCCW quickly gained victories over Killer Tim Brooks
and former WWWF World Champion Stan Stasiak
. During his time in Texas he was asked by Al Madril
to be his partner in a tournament to crown new American tag-team Champions. Madril and Blair were successful kicking off a three month run with the title. Their run with the gold was cut short by Killer Tim Brooks & Armand Hussein in September, 1981
to wrestle for the World Wrestling Federation
most notably on their tours of Japan through New Japan Pro Wrestling
where Blair faced Japanese icons Antonio Inoki
and Tatsumi Fujinami
. After gaining experience in all over the world Blair returned to his roots, Florida Championship Wrestling. On July 11, 1982 Blair beat Jimmy Garvin
for the NWA Florida Championship
and defended it successfully against such legends such as Stan Hansen
and Bruiser Brody
. After a wild match against Brody in August the title was held up and Blair soon left the promotion.
In 1983 Blair joined the WWF once again as they began to expand to a national promotion. During his first stint with the WWF his self-proclaimed highlight was a match with Paul Orndorff
in St. Louis. After the short run with the WWF Blair moved on to Georgia Championship Wrestling
as well as a return to Florida Championship Wrestling. In Florida Blair picked up another Florida Title run as well as unseating "Ravishing" Rick Rude
as the Florida Southern Champion
.
When Blair signed with the WWF for a third time he was not just used as “enhancement talent" any more, instead he was teamed up with Jim Brunzell
to form The Killer Bees. The teaming of Blair and Brunzell was suggested by Hulk Hogan. The team had a special gimmick referred to as "Masked Confusion" where both wrestlers pulled out identical masks during the match to confuse their opponents and usually win their matches that way. The “Masked Confusion" idea was given to Blair by Billy Red Lyons
who had used it in Maple Leaf Wrestling
. They constantly challenged for the WWF World Tag Team Title but never did win it, although the fans were thoroughly behind them. Their biggest feud in the WWF was against The Hart Foundation
, Bret Hart
and Jim Neidhart
who they wrestled somewhere between “300 and 600" times according to Blair himself. The Bees also had a running feud with the Funks (Hoss
, Terry
and Jimmy Jack). They faced Hoss and Jimmy Jack Funk in front of 70.000 people at The Big Event
in Toronto (A card headlined by Hulk Hogan Vs Paul Orndorff). In the fall of 1988 Brian Blair left the WWF, he was unhappy that the team had been promised the WWF tag team title three times but never won them.
had a near fatal para-sailing accident, in fact Blair was the person to pull Brutus out of the water after being struck in the face by the knees of a novice parasailer.
Blair was one of the first “names" to work regularly for Herb Abrams
Universal Wrestling Federation
when it opened its doors in late 1990 quickly becoming a regular on the federations "Fury Hour" shows. In the UWF Blair reunited with Jim Brunzell but due to the WWF holding the trademark to the name “The Killer Bees" they were billed as "Masked Confusion". They competed on the UWF’s first (and only) PPV Beach Brawl where they beat the Power Twins. The team were also the only UWF Tag Team champions. They won the title at UWF’s last big show known as Blackjack Brawl where they beat the “New Powers of Pain" (The Warlord
& Power Warrior (Not Kensuke Sasaki, but either Larry Powers or David Powers, identical twins who formed a tag team known as the Power Twins on the independent wrestling circuit.).
After the UWF folded Blair continued to compete on the independent circuit, especially around his home state of Florida. In 1998 Blair won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
with Steve Keirn
holding the title from November 13, 1998 to August 15, 2000 where the title was vacated following a match with the Bushwhackers
. Blair and Keirn faced off in a singles match to determine who got to pick a new partner; Blair won and picked local star Cyborg as his partner. The two held the tag team titles until July 10, 2001 where they were forced to forfeit the title due to injuries.
fitness centers in the Tampa Bay area with fellow wrestler, Steve Keirn
.
Brian Blair's first attempt for a seat in the County Commission was against Pat Frank but lost in the 2002 race by a narrow margin. In 2004, Blair ran again and was elected County Commissioner, District 6 (countywide) for Hillsborough County defeating former City Councilman Bob Buckhorn. The race was one the closest county commission races in the history of Hillsborough County with Blair winning with 216,430 votes to Buckhorn’s 214,062 votes. In 2008 Blair ran for re-election winning the Republican primary against Don Kruse on August 26, 2008, then lost to Hillsborough County's first openly gay candidate Kevin Beckner in the November 4, 2008 General election.
On Father's Day in 2009, Blair was arrested on charges of Child Abuse by Hillsborough County Sheriff deputies. Blair had reportedly been drinking and involved in a fight with his 17 year old and 13 year old sons. Charges were later dropped in the case, with the prosecutor's office issuing a memo that stated Blair's sons had inflicted more damage to Blair in the confrontation, and that his sons initiated the contact.
He is also a Christian
and is active in his church, Idlewild Baptist Church.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, who gained fame as a professional wrestler especially as a part of the Killer Bees
The Killer Bees (professional wrestling)
The Killer Bees was a tag team composed of "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair in the World Wrestling Federation from 1985 to 1988 and later on in the independent circuit...
.
Career
As a child, Blair wanted to be SupermanSuperman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and even prayed that he might somehow become a superhero. Blair moved out of his house at age 16 and held several odd jobs to pay his share of the rent. Blair loved professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and wrestled and played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
in high school so he could be tough enough to do it when he graduated. Blair attended the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
on a football scholarship where he majored in both business and political science.
Professional wrestling
In 1977, he started training to be a wrestler with the legendary Hiro Matsuda in Florida. Blair debuted in late 1977 with Eddie GrahamEddie Graham
Edward Gossett was a professional wrestler. He was also the promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida and President of the NWA in the 1970s. His son, Mike Graham, was also a professional wrestler.-Career:Edward F...
’s Florida Championship Wrestling where he usually worked as a "face"
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
(good guy). Blair made his professional debut in a tag-team facing Pat Patterson and Ivan Koloff in a losing effort.One of Blair’s early opponents was another Matsuda student who had just begun working as "The Super Destroyer" (Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
).
After Florida Blair moved on to Bob Geigel
Bob Geigel
Robert "Bob" Geigel is a former American professional wrestling promoter and also a former professional wrestler. Geigel ran the NWA Central States promotion between 1963 and 1986, until it was bought out by Jim Crockett Promotions...
’s NWA Central States promotion out of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
around 1978 where he’d finally start to make a name of himself as he feuded with Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
in 1979. He also appeared regularly for Leroy McGuirk’s Tri-State promotion, here he met and married Leroy McGuirk's daughter Michelle, aka Mike McGuirk
Mike McGuirk
Michelle McGuirk is an American professional wrestling personality, best known as a ring announcer for the World Wrestling Federation from 1987–1994. She is the daughter of Leroy McGuirk.-Professional wrestling career:...
in 1980. The marriage did not last long and ended on a bad note when Blair found out that Mike was having an affair with wrestler Doug Somers while they were estranged. He was even shot at by Leroy when he tried to talk to Mike before leaving town. While in the “Tri-State" promotion Blair won the Junior Heavyweight Title from Ron Starr but only held it for about a week before losing it back to Starr. The one week reign was Blair’s first professional wrestling title reign.
After leaving the Tri-State promotion Blair joined up with Fritz Von Erich
Fritz Von Erich
Jack Barton Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring name Fritz Von Erich, better known today as a wrestling promoter and the patriarch of the Von Erich family...
’s World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
promotion in Texas. In WCCW quickly gained victories over Killer Tim Brooks
Killer Tim Brooks
Timothy Paul Brooks is a retired American professional wrestler, better-known by his ring name "Killer Tim Brooks". He competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Pacific Northwest Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling during the 1970s and...
and former WWWF World Champion Stan Stasiak
Stan Stasiak
George Stipich , better known by his ring name Stan Stasiak, was a Canadian professional wrestler and fifth World Wide Wrestling Federation Champion. He is the father of professional wrestler Shawn Stasiak.-Career:...
. During his time in Texas he was asked by Al Madril
Alberto Madril
Alberto Madril is an American retired professional wrestler who most often wrestled as Al Madril, and used the Indian Deathlock as a finishing move.-Career:...
to be his partner in a tournament to crown new American tag-team Champions. Madril and Blair were successful kicking off a three month run with the title. Their run with the gold was cut short by Killer Tim Brooks & Armand Hussein in September, 1981
World Wrestling Federation
At this point in time Blair was given a golden opportunity as he was booked by Vincent J. McMahonVincent J. McMahon
Vincent James "Vince" McMahon, better known as Vince McMahon, Sr. was an American professional wrestling promoter. He is best known for founding the American promotion, World Wide Wrestling Federation, which is now known as WWE.-Early life:Vincent James McMahon was born on July 6, 1914 in Harlem,...
to wrestle for the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
most notably on their tours of Japan through New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
where Blair faced Japanese icons Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
and Tatsumi Fujinami
Tatsumi Fujinami
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as "The Dragon." He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex...
. After gaining experience in all over the world Blair returned to his roots, Florida Championship Wrestling. On July 11, 1982 Blair beat Jimmy Garvin
Jimmy Garvin
James Williams is a retired American professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name "Gorgeous" Jimmy "Jam" Garvin and as a member of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds....
for the NWA Florida Championship
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling from Florida, USA and is now the major title in NWA Florida. It started in 1937 and was abandoned in 1949. It was picked back up in 1966 by CWF and lasted until 1987 when the company was purchased by Jim Crockett...
and defended it successfully against such legends such as Stan Hansen
Stan Hansen
John Stanley Hansen, Jr. is an American former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Stan Hansen. As a wrestler, Hansen was well known for his stiff wrestling style, which he attributes to poor eyesight, as he is nearly blind without glasses...
and Bruiser Brody
Frank Goodish
Frank Donald Goodish was an American professional wrestler who earned his greatest fame under the name Bruiser Brody. Goodish was an All-State football and basketball player at Warren High School, Michigan, and played football at West Texas A&M University...
. After a wild match against Brody in August the title was held up and Blair soon left the promotion.
In 1983 Blair joined the WWF once again as they began to expand to a national promotion. During his first stint with the WWF his self-proclaimed highlight was a match with Paul Orndorff
Paul Orndorff
Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
in St. Louis. After the short run with the WWF Blair moved on to Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
as well as a return to Florida Championship Wrestling. In Florida Blair picked up another Florida Title run as well as unseating "Ravishing" Rick Rude
Richard Rood
Richard Erwin Rood , better known by his ring name "Ravishing" Rick Rude, was an American professional wrestler who performed for many promotions, including World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation , in the 1980s and 1990s.Among other accolades, Rude was a four-time world...
as the Florida Southern Champion
NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship
The Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship was the major singles professional wrestling championship in the National Wrestling Alliance's Florida territory, Championship Wrestling Florida. It existed from 1962 until 1987, when the title was abandoned. It was revived by NWA...
.
When Blair signed with the WWF for a third time he was not just used as “enhancement talent" any more, instead he was teamed up with Jim Brunzell
James Brunzell
James "Jumping Jim" Brunzell is a retired professional wrestler. Best known for his successful tag teams, Brunzell performed for various wrestling promotions during his 21 year career.-American Wrestling Association:...
to form The Killer Bees. The teaming of Blair and Brunzell was suggested by Hulk Hogan. The team had a special gimmick referred to as "Masked Confusion" where both wrestlers pulled out identical masks during the match to confuse their opponents and usually win their matches that way. The “Masked Confusion" idea was given to Blair by Billy Red Lyons
Billy Red Lyons
William Snip was a Canadian professional wrestler, who used the stage name Billy Red Lyons. He was an active wrestler between 1956 and 1984, and won numerous championship throughout his career. He worked for promotions in both Canada and the United States, particularly in Ontario, California,...
who had used it in Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
. They constantly challenged for the WWF World Tag Team Title but never did win it, although the fans were thoroughly behind them. Their biggest feud in the WWF was against The Hart Foundation
The Hart Foundation
The Hart Foundation referred to several teams or stables in the World Wrestling Federation , usually consisted of members or close friends of the Hart wrestling family from Canada....
, Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
and Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
who they wrestled somewhere between “300 and 600" times according to Blair himself. The Bees also had a running feud with the Funks (Hoss
Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional...
, Terry
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
and Jimmy Jack). They faced Hoss and Jimmy Jack Funk in front of 70.000 people at The Big Event
The Big Event
The Big Event was a major World Wrestling Federation show which took place on August 28, 1986 at the Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The show drew a legitimate crowd of 61,470 fans which was an outdoor attendance record at the time. The event set an attendance record for a...
in Toronto (A card headlined by Hulk Hogan Vs Paul Orndorff). In the fall of 1988 Brian Blair left the WWF, he was unhappy that the team had been promised the WWF tag team title three times but never won them.
Independent circuit
After leaving the WWF Blair then returned to the independent wrestling scene taking bookings all over the United States without being a regular for any one promotion. In the summer of 1990 Blair was present when Brutus BeefcakeEdward Leslie
Edward Harrison "Ed" Leslie is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Brutus The Barber Beefcake. He later worked for World Championship Wrestling under a variety of names, mainly as "The Disciple" of real-life best friend...
had a near fatal para-sailing accident, in fact Blair was the person to pull Brutus out of the water after being struck in the face by the knees of a novice parasailer.
Blair was one of the first “names" to work regularly for Herb Abrams
Herb Abrams
Herb C. Abrams was an American professional wrestling promoter from New York.-Career:Abrams founded the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1990 and remained CEO of the company until his death...
Universal Wrestling Federation
Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)
The Universal Wrestling Federation was an American wrestling promotion based out of Marina del Rey, California.-History:Herb Abrams founded the UWF in 1990 with hopes of returning professional wrestling back to its roots...
when it opened its doors in late 1990 quickly becoming a regular on the federations "Fury Hour" shows. In the UWF Blair reunited with Jim Brunzell but due to the WWF holding the trademark to the name “The Killer Bees" they were billed as "Masked Confusion". They competed on the UWF’s first (and only) PPV Beach Brawl where they beat the Power Twins. The team were also the only UWF Tag Team champions. They won the title at UWF’s last big show known as Blackjack Brawl where they beat the “New Powers of Pain" (The Warlord
Terry Szopinski
Terry Scott Szopinski is an American professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name The Warlord and for his tenures in Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation as one half of the Powers of Pain alongside The Barbarian.-National Wrestling Alliance / Jim Crockett...
& Power Warrior (Not Kensuke Sasaki, but either Larry Powers or David Powers, identical twins who formed a tag team known as the Power Twins on the independent wrestling circuit.).
After the UWF folded Blair continued to compete on the independent circuit, especially around his home state of Florida. In 1998 Blair won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
The NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
with Steve Keirn
Steve Keirn
Stephen "Steve" Paul Keirn is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for being part of the tag team The Fabulous Ones, with Stan Lane, and later for a run in the World Wrestling Federation as Skinner, a gimmick that portrayed him as a tobacco spitting alligator hunter from...
holding the title from November 13, 1998 to August 15, 2000 where the title was vacated following a match with the Bushwhackers
The Bushwhackers
The Bushwhackers were a professional wrestling tag team that also competed as The Sheepherders during their long career. They wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation and Jim Crockett Promotions as well as a nearly 40 year run on the independent wrestling circuit...
. Blair and Keirn faced off in a singles match to determine who got to pick a new partner; Blair won and picked local star Cyborg as his partner. The two held the tag team titles until July 10, 2001 where they were forced to forfeit the title due to injuries.
Personal life
Blair is now married to Toni Lloyd and they have two sons, Brett and Bradley, Brett is named after Bret Hart. Brian Blair owns and manages four Gold's GymGold's Gym
Gold's Gym International, Inc. is an international chain of co-ed fitness centers originally started in California by Joe Gold. Each gym features a wide array of exercise equipment, group exercise classes and personal trainers to assist clients...
fitness centers in the Tampa Bay area with fellow wrestler, Steve Keirn
Steve Keirn
Stephen "Steve" Paul Keirn is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for being part of the tag team The Fabulous Ones, with Stan Lane, and later for a run in the World Wrestling Federation as Skinner, a gimmick that portrayed him as a tobacco spitting alligator hunter from...
.
Brian Blair's first attempt for a seat in the County Commission was against Pat Frank but lost in the 2002 race by a narrow margin. In 2004, Blair ran again and was elected County Commissioner, District 6 (countywide) for Hillsborough County defeating former City Councilman Bob Buckhorn. The race was one the closest county commission races in the history of Hillsborough County with Blair winning with 216,430 votes to Buckhorn’s 214,062 votes. In 2008 Blair ran for re-election winning the Republican primary against Don Kruse on August 26, 2008, then lost to Hillsborough County's first openly gay candidate Kevin Beckner in the November 4, 2008 General election.
On Father's Day in 2009, Blair was arrested on charges of Child Abuse by Hillsborough County Sheriff deputies. Blair had reportedly been drinking and involved in a fight with his 17 year old and 13 year old sons. Charges were later dropped in the case, with the prosecutor's office issuing a memo that stated Blair's sons had inflicted more damage to Blair in the confrontation, and that his sons initiated the contact.
He is also a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and is active in his church, Idlewild Baptist Church.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Sleeper hold
- Signature moves
- Boston crabBoston crabThe Boston crab is a professional wrestling hold that typically starts with the opponent lying supine on the mat, with the wrestler standing and facing them. It is a type of spinal lock where the wrestler hooks each of the opponent’s legs in one of his arms, and then turns the opponent face-down,...
- Boston crab
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Lou AlbanoLou AlbanoLouis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano was an Italian-American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995....
- Honey
- Mr. TMr. TMr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
- Lou Albano
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Other honoree (2002)
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling from Florida, USA and is now the major title in NWA Florida. It started in 1937 and was abandoned in 1949. It was picked back up in 1966 by CWF and lasted until 1987 when the company was purchased by Jim Crockett...
(2 times) - NWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
(2 times) - with Steve KeirnSteve KeirnStephen "Steve" Paul Keirn is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for being part of the tag team The Fabulous Ones, with Stan Lane, and later for a run in the World Wrestling Federation as Skinner, a gimmick that portrayed him as a tobacco spitting alligator hunter from...
(1) and Cyborg (1) - NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
- NWA Big Time WrestlingWorld Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Al MadrilAlberto MadrilAlberto Madril is an American retired professional wrestler who most often wrestled as Al Madril, and used the Indian Deathlock as a finishing move.-Career:...
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Al Madril
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bulldog Bob Brown
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- World Junior Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
- NWA Tri-StateNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Tri-State Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- National Wrestling League
- NWL Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Paul OrndorffPaul OrndorffPaul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
- NWL Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Paul Orndorff
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 357 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- Universal Wrestling FederationUniversal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)The Universal Wrestling Federation was an American wrestling promotion based out of Marina del Rey, California.-History:Herb Abrams founded the UWF in 1990 with hopes of returning professional wrestling back to its roots...
- UWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jim Brunzell
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Most Underrated Wrestler (1984)
Books
- Listed in Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams by Greg Oliver
- In 2000, Blair wrote Smarten Up! Say It Right (ISBN 0-9707490-0-7), an insider's view of professional wrestling.