Toni Adams
Encyclopedia
Toni Leah Adams was an American professional wrestling manager and valet who appeared in several North American regional promotions during the 1980s including the Universal Wrestling Federation and the United States Wrestling Association
, although she was best known as the manager of her late ex-husband Chris Adams while in World Class Championship Wrestling
and the Global Wrestling Federation
.
Among those she has managed include Brian Christopher
, Scotty Flamingo, Koko B. Ware, Tony Falk, Rod Price
and Iceman Parsons.
, Toni began working in Fritz Von Erich
's World Class Championship Wrestling as an assistant to the production staff in 1984. Meeting Chris Adams while working in the promotion, the two were married in Hawaii
shortly after his divorce from his ex-wife Jeanie Clarke
.
Toni's appearances on World Class television were sporadic, however she did make one memorable appearance in a 1986 interview where she was helping husband Chris (with his eyes bandaged selling his blinding injury) into his Corvette to drive to the airport en route to England. Toni again appeared in another interview between Adams and announcer Bill Mercer two months later, as he continued selling his eye injury (with vision restored to his right eye, but not to his left).
Following her husband to the Mid-South area, she soon appeared in an on-camera role for Bill Watts
' Universal Wrestling Federation interviewing wrestlers and fans. Upon Chris' return to World Class in late-1987 she appeared as one of the ringside ladies.
Toni eventually made her managerial debut appearing with her husband Chris Adams in World Class Championship Wrestling in 1989. Soon after, she along with ring announcer Frank Dusek were attacked by Tojo Yamamoto
& Phil Hickerson, billed as P.Y. Chu-Hi. While held by Chu-Hi, Yamamoto ripped open her blouse before Chris Adams came out from the locker room to chase them off.
As the feud continued for several weeks, Toni Adams began carrying kendo sticks
to the ring and used them against Yamamoto & Hickerson during matches against Chris Adams. After the conclusion of this feud, she and Chris Adams would become involved in another feud with Billy Travis and, at one point, was spanked by Travis in the middle of the Dallas Sportatorium
while Chris Adams was handcuffed to the ring rope.
During this time, she would run a summer camp as well as co-manage Chris Adams' wrestling school during the late 1980s (under the brand name Chris Adams Promotions). The two would also be in attendance at the National Association of Television Progamming Executives at the New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
in January 1990 along with other television celebrities such as Vanna White
, Alex Trebek
, Geraldo Riviera, Oprah Winfrey
, Sally Jessy Raphael
and Donald Trump
.
in May 1990, she would become involved in a storyline in which Chris Adams began feuding with former protege Steve Austin
. The feud, which Adams created and developed, would later involve her and Chris's ex-wife Jeannie Clark
, who eventually married Steve Austin, and faced each other in mixed tag team matches for much of the year in one of the most memorable feuds in the region.
As Chris Adams' drinking problem became out of control, particularly one incident in which he had assaulted Toni in February 1989 for which he was sentenced to one year's probation, Toni Adams would eventually divorce Chris Adams soon after the feud, which occurred sometime around 1991.
The couple shared one son, Christopher Adams Jr., born in late-1988.
as Nanny Simpson, she participated in several mixed tag team matches with him against Koko B. Ware and Miss Texas
during the next several weeks eventually pinning Miss Texas on October 18. However, she lost to Miss Texas and Sweet Georgia Brown
in a tag team match with Vicious Viki on November 1 and, a week later, lost to Miss Texas in a "chain match" by disqualification on November 8.
The following month she feuded with Dirty White Girl losing to her at the November Blast supercard by disqualification on November 18 and in a "street fight" match several days later. During that same event, she was forced to eat dog food
as a result of a stipulation in which Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher defeated Rex Hargrove & Koko B. Ware.
Briefly managing Eddie Gilbert before his feud with Jerry Lawler, she later resurfaced in the Global Wrestling Federation
as part of Skandar Akbar's Devastation, Inc. and later as the valet of Iceman King Parsons during his feud with Chris Adams until the promotion's close.
Toni Adams retired around 1995, remaining out of the spotlight permanently. She would eventually marry two more times during the final 15 years of her life.
United States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
, although she was best known as the manager of her late ex-husband Chris Adams while in 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...
and the Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion based in Dallas, Texas. It started in June 1991 and folded in September 1994. At one time its shows were presented on the ESPN television network. On many weeks, the promotion provided programming five days a week airing at 4 p.m...
.
Among those she has managed include Brian Christopher
Brian Lawler
Brian Christopher Lawler is a professional wrestler. He is the son of color commentator and professional wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler and brother of wrestling referee Kevin Christian...
, Scotty Flamingo, Koko B. Ware, Tony Falk, Rod Price
Rod Price
Rod Price was an English guitarist who was best known for his work with the rock band Foghat...
and Iceman Parsons.
Early career
Born Toni Lea Collins on August 19, 1964 Freer, TexasFreer, Texas
Freer is a city in Duval County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,241 at the 2000 census. The city and county are heavily Hispanic in ethnicity and Democratic in voting history. From the 1930s-1960s, the county was dominated by the political boss, called a patron in South Texas, George...
, Toni began working in 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 as an assistant to the production staff in 1984. Meeting Chris Adams while working in the promotion, the two were married in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
shortly after his divorce from his ex-wife Jeanie Clarke
Jeannie Clark
Jeannie Clark is a former professional wrestling manager and the former wife of three professional wrestlers, including Stone Cold Steve Austin...
.
Toni's appearances on World Class television were sporadic, however she did make one memorable appearance in a 1986 interview where she was helping husband Chris (with his eyes bandaged selling his blinding injury) into his Corvette to drive to the airport en route to England. Toni again appeared in another interview between Adams and announcer Bill Mercer two months later, as he continued selling his eye injury (with vision restored to his right eye, but not to his left).
Following her husband to the Mid-South area, she soon appeared in an on-camera role for Bill Watts
Bill Watts
William F. "Bill" Watts is a former American professional wrestler and promoter. Watts was famous under his "Cowboy" gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a tough, no-nonsense promoter in the Mid-South area of the United States, which grew to become the UWF.In 1992, he was the Executive...
' Universal Wrestling Federation interviewing wrestlers and fans. Upon Chris' return to World Class in late-1987 she appeared as one of the ringside ladies.
Toni eventually made her managerial debut appearing with her husband Chris Adams in World Class Championship Wrestling in 1989. Soon after, she along with ring announcer Frank Dusek were attacked by Tojo Yamamoto
Tojo Yamamoto
Harold Watanabe was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tojo Yamamoto. He was born in Hawaii.-In-ring career:...
& Phil Hickerson, billed as P.Y. Chu-Hi. While held by Chu-Hi, Yamamoto ripped open her blouse before Chris Adams came out from the locker room to chase them off.
As the feud continued for several weeks, Toni Adams began carrying kendo sticks
Shinai
is a weapon used for practice and competition in kendo representing a Japanese sword. Shinai are also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently from kendo shinai, and represented with different characters....
to the ring and used them against Yamamoto & Hickerson during matches against Chris Adams. After the conclusion of this feud, she and Chris Adams would become involved in another feud with Billy Travis and, at one point, was spanked by Travis in the middle of the Dallas Sportatorium
Dallas Sportatorium
The Sportatorium, located in downtown Dallas, Texas , was a barn-like arena used primarily for professional wrestling events...
while Chris Adams was handcuffed to the ring rope.
During this time, she would run a summer camp as well as co-manage Chris Adams' wrestling school during the late 1980s (under the brand name Chris Adams Promotions). The two would also be in attendance at the National Association of Television Progamming Executives at the New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in January 1990 along with other television celebrities such as Vanna White
Vanna White
Vanna White is an American television personality and film actress best known as the hostess of Wheel of Fortune since 1982.-Early life:...
, Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek
George Alexander "Alex" Trebek is a Canadian American game show host who has been the host of the game show Jeopardy! since 1984, and prior to that, he hosted game shows such as Pitfall and High Rollers. He has appeared in numerous television series, usually as himself...
, Geraldo Riviera, Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
, Sally Jessy Raphael
Sally Jessy Raphaël
Sally Lowenthal , better known as Sally Jessy Raphael, is an American talk show host, known for the eponymous Sally talk show she hosted for two decades.-Early years:...
and Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
.
Feud with Steve Austin & Jeanie Clark
Returning with Chris Adams to the United States Wrestling AssociationUnited States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
in May 1990, she would become involved in a storyline in which Chris Adams began feuding with former protege Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
. The feud, which Adams created and developed, would later involve her and Chris's ex-wife Jeannie Clark
Jeannie Clark
Jeannie Clark is a former professional wrestling manager and the former wife of three professional wrestlers, including Stone Cold Steve Austin...
, who eventually married Steve Austin, and faced each other in mixed tag team matches for much of the year in one of the most memorable feuds in the region.
As Chris Adams' drinking problem became out of control, particularly one incident in which he had assaulted Toni in February 1989 for which he was sentenced to one year's probation, Toni Adams would eventually divorce Chris Adams soon after the feud, which occurred sometime around 1991.
The couple shared one son, Christopher Adams Jr., born in late-1988.
Later career
In late 1993, she returned to the USWA, losing to Rockin' Robin at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee on September 13, 1993. Managing Brian ChristopherBrian Lawler
Brian Christopher Lawler is a professional wrestler. He is the son of color commentator and professional wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler and brother of wrestling referee Kevin Christian...
as Nanny Simpson, she participated in several mixed tag team matches with him against Koko B. Ware and Miss Texas
Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline DeLois Moore is an inactive American professional wrestler, who was most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
during the next several weeks eventually pinning Miss Texas on October 18. However, she lost to Miss Texas and Sweet Georgia Brown
Sweet Georgia Brown
"Sweet Georgia Brown" is a jazz standard and pop tune written in 1925 by Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard and Kenneth Casey .The tune was first recorded on March 19, 1925 by bandleader Ben Bernie, resulting in a five-week No. 1 for Ben Bernie and his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra...
in a tag team match with Vicious Viki on November 1 and, a week later, lost to Miss Texas in a "chain match" by disqualification on November 8.
The following month she feuded with Dirty White Girl losing to her at the November Blast supercard by disqualification on November 18 and in a "street fight" match several days later. During that same event, she was forced to eat dog food
Dog food
Dog food refers to food specifically intended for consumption by dogs. Though technically omnivorous, dogs exhibit a natural carnivorous bias, have sharp, pointy teeth, and have short gastrointestinal tracts better suited for the consumption of meat...
as a result of a stipulation in which Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher defeated Rex Hargrove & Koko B. Ware.
Briefly managing Eddie Gilbert before his feud with Jerry Lawler, she later resurfaced in the Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion based in Dallas, Texas. It started in June 1991 and folded in September 1994. At one time its shows were presented on the ESPN television network. On many weeks, the promotion provided programming five days a week airing at 4 p.m...
as part of Skandar Akbar's Devastation, Inc. and later as the valet of Iceman King Parsons during his feud with Chris Adams until the promotion's close.
Toni Adams retired around 1995, remaining out of the spotlight permanently. She would eventually marry two more times during the final 15 years of her life.
Death
Toni Adams, now known as Toni Gant, was hospitalized in June 2010 due to an abscess infection in her abdomen. She was hospitalized again in full cardiac arrest in late June, and died on June 24, 2010 at the age of 45. Upon her death, she was engaged to Leonard Donahoo. She is survived by three sisters, son Chris Adams Jr, daughter Tori Gant, and one grandchild.Championships and accomplishments
- 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 her # 14 of the 100 Hottest Women in Wrestling in 2002