From John Johnson: Last week, after Flowers was released and being shared, I got a text message from Steve Stussey letting me know Todd Wilm...
Last week, after Flowers was released and being shared, I got a text message from Steve
Stussey letting me know Todd Wilmbleton had passed away. Todd was part of the last two
Flowers I wrote because he was woven within the fabric of those stories. I don’t think enough
could ever be written about Todd because he was an amazing guy. His influence was
far-reaching and those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him are better today
because of him. Godspeed Todd Wimbleton.
I discussed with some friends the other day about the lost history of Georgia wrestling. There
seems to be a forgotten segment of Georgia wrestling that very few ever discuss. If you listen to
some folks it seems wrestling in Georgia jumps from Georgia Championship Wrestling to
Wildside. There is a 20-year gap there that was filled with lots of promotions and stars. There
were some of the bigger local promotions like Deep South, North Georgia Wrestling, Georgia
All-Star, and Southern Championship Wrestling that were running hot and created a generation
of stars. One guy who was around for a huge chunk of this forgotten history, Terry Lawler.
I first became aware of Terry Lawler back in 1990 when he was wrestling under the name Steve
Young for Georgia All-Star Wrestling. The first time I saw him in person was at an outdoor show
at the Aarons Rent-to-Own store on Memorial Drive in Decatur. He wrestled The Intruder that
afternoon. I talked to him after the show and he was such a kind and humble guy. A few months
later, he would become The Jailhouse Rocker because of his resemblance to a young Elvis
Pressley. Terry would continue to impress throughout the state, gaining a huge following from
the fans.
While Terry found himself one of the top babyfaces in the state, many fans were unaware that
he was the younger brother of one of the top heels, Steve Lawler. Steve was one of the
toughest and most feared men in the state of Georgia. The two men appeared in several
promotions in Georgia. Terry got his start in pro wrestling like so many greats do. He was a
photographer. He captured some of the greatest wrestling moments of the mid to late 80’s and
of some of the most well-known stars. He was trained by his brother Steve Lawler and his
career was off to a roaring start.
I would meet up with Terry a couple of times once I got into the business. Perhaps one of the
most memorable meetings did not involve wrestling at all. As a teen, I worked at the Wendy’s on
Jimmy Carter Blvd in Norcross, Georgia. One day, while working the drive-thru, Terry came
through. Excited I was seeing him, I decided this was as good a time as any to let him know I
was training to be a wrestler. We proceeded to have a conversation that in my mind lasted 30
minutes but in reality, was more like 3 minutes. 3 minutes in a drive-thru is like 30 minutes on
paper and I ended up getting a slight amount of trouble for holding up the line. Knowing Terry as
I do now, he probably would have sat there and talked wrestling with me till closing time. That is
just the kind of guy he is.
It would be a few years before I ran into Terry again. This time it would be at the International
Ballroom for War Zone Wrestling. Terry was pulling double duty in War Zone. He was one-half of
El Banditos, a masked luchador tag team, with a very young, Air Paris. El Banditos were used to
help draw the heavy Hispanic population around the Ballroom. Terry was also wrestling as Terry
“The Rocker” Lawler. He began teaming with David Young to form The Team Extreme Army. I
always loved David and Terry as a tag team. They were popular in WZW and everywhere they
went. One night at an event at South Forsyth High School, I thought Terry’s career was over.
First, let’s rewind just a moment. This event at South Forsyth High was a comedy of errors from
the beginning. About an hour before bell time and around the time the doors were opening it
was very apparent that we did not have the canvas for the ring. Billy Black was on his way with
the canvas but was stuck in traffic. During the first match, Black showed up. So just before Team
Extreme is to go out, there is a fresh new mat on the ring. The memory is a bit fuzzy here, but I
believe Terry and David are working The Infernos. At some point close to the finish, Terry injures
his hip and back. He finishes the match but barely makes it to the dressing room, where he is
lying on the floor in incredible pain. Lucky this wasn’t Terry’s last match as I had feared it was.
Just before WZW ended, Terry, David Young, and I arrived at the new WZW building in Atlanta
around the same time. We had gotten there very early and Ruckus wasn’t there yet, so Terry
and David invited me out to grab a bite to eat at The Varsity. I was a little short on cash because
I had just paid rent and my car payment so I politely declined. Terry and David both refused to
go without me and Terry paid for my lunch. I offered a few times to pay him back, and he always
refused. While sitting there eating lunch I heard some pretty funny stories from both guys. One
of the things lost in today’s version of wrestling is the way the young guys learned the business.
It wasn’t always the training in the ring, it was the car rides, sitting in the lockerroom and
listening to the stories, and breaking bread at a diner after a show or in this case before the
show. It is a vital piece of the business I wish there was more of today.
When WZW came to an end I would only see Terry sparingly around shows. It was around 2003
that our paths would cross again this time it would be in Rome, Georgia at the legendary
Dillards Music Park. Terry would come in from time to time and every time he did, it was
something special. In 2004 Terry and his brother Steve engaged in one of the bloodiest brawls
in the history of Dillards Music Park. It is worth looking up on YouTube.
Terry has had a resurgence of sorts over the past few years. He was a part of the early days of
Southern Fried Championship Wrestling. When NCW was revived in 2017 he was a huge part of
the promotion, winning the NCW Heavyweight Championship. In 2021, tragedy befell the Lawler
family as Terry’s brother Steve passed away due to complications from Covid 19. Terry took part
in many tributes that were held for Steve throughout the state.
Terry recently got to accomplish something that when you think about it is a crazy
accomplishment. After nearly 35 years of wrestling throughout Georgia, Terry finally wrestled in
his hometown of Buford, Georgia. He is showing no signs of slowing down. He currently holds
the GCW Heavyweight Championship. He is going throughout the state of Georgia and appears
in many of the places he got his start, like Dillard's Music Park in Rome.
It is a breath of fresh air to see Terry still in our industry. As a teenager he was around a lot of
hall of famers and legends. Through his lens he captured these greats as they came through
the Peach State. Then he stepped in the ring to battle many of these same legends. He carved
out a name for himself and gave so much of himself to the industry. A couple years back at an
NCW show I got to talk to Terry. We discussed some of the stuff he got to see up close and
personal. He has some stories let me tell you. When Steve passed away, Terry and Steve’s
daughter and others came to a Southern Fried event as we paid tribute to Steve. After the show,
they ended up at Applebees as did I. I was going to sit by myself, but Terry motioned me over to
sit with the family. It was a very fun evening, reflecting on days gone by and the life of Steve.
Terry again told some amazing stories and we all had a great laugh. Even after the meal, the
conversation hit the parking lot and it seemed as if none of us wanted to leave.
Terry is one of a kind in an industry full of amazing characters.He is kind, funny, and one of the
most unselfish people I have ever met. The word legend gets thrown around a lot, but in the
case of Terry Lawler I feel it doesn’t get thrown around enough. I have seen him talk to the
young guys and give them advice. Perhaps one of the disheartening things I have seen is when
Terry is telling stories in the lockerrooms, is the guys who don’t come over to listen to him. Don’t
get me wrong, when Terry holds court, there are more sitting under the learning tree than are
not. But those who do not take the advantage to sit under Terry’s Tree of Educational
Excellence are missing out on a missing piece of Georgia Wrestling History and an opportunity
to take away nuggets of info to use to better yourself and the industry you chose. I will always
be ready for a Terry Lawler story. In fact I try to prod as many out as I can whenever I am lucky
enough to work with him. Terry will always be a thread that joins a forgotten time to today and
for that we should be thankful. Terry Lawler, thank you for all that you have given us, I hope you
enjoy your Flowers.
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