Tommy Rogers (wrestler)

Thomas R. Couch[1] (May 14, 1961 – June 1, 2015) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tommy Rogers. He was one-half of the tag team The Fantastics with Bobby Fulton.[1]

Tommy Rogers
Birth nameThomas R. Couch
Born(1961-05-14)May 14, 1961
St. Petersburg, Florida
DiedJune 1, 2015(2015-06-01) (aged 54)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Tommy Couch
Tommy Rogers
Billed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight222 lb (101 kg; 15.9 st)
Billed fromLos Angeles, California
Debut1980
Retired2007

Professional wrestling career

Couch started wrestling in 1980 as Tommy Rogers in North Carolina. He made his pro debut (as a replacement for Charlie Cook) in a match with Eddy Mansfield with no formal training. Tommy then headed to Florida for a brief stay before heading to Portland, then Memphis where he met his future tag team partner Bobby Fulton.

In a talent trade agreement between Memphis (Jarrett) and Mid South (Watts) the newly formed Fantastics (Rogers and Fulton) headed to Mid South. There they had their first major program with the Midnight Express (Condrey and Eaton). In late 1984, Rogers went to World Class Championship Wrestling where he and Bobby Fulton continued their legendary feud with the Midnight Express. In 1986, Rogers and Fulton went to the Universal Wrestling Federation where they had a long series of violent matches against The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams).[2] They went back to WCCW in 1987 and feuded with Mike Davis & Tommy Lane, The Rock 'N Roll RPMs. The feud ended after The Fantastics won a scaffold match at "The Parade of Champions". In 1988, they went to the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions to renew their feud with the Midnight Express.[2] They left in 1989 and had been wrestling in the independents ever since.

The Fantastics spent several tours in Japan during the '90s working with such names as Dean and Joe Malenko.[2] In 1997, Rogers and Fulton both wrestled in the WWF's Light Heavyweight Division.[1] They were pitted against each other once on an episode of Raw.[1] Rogers defeated Fulton with the Tomakaze, a finishing maneuver of Tommy's invention later adopted by Christian Cage. In 1987 The Fantastics made an appearance at the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. Rogers wrestled in ECW from 1997 to 1998, where he briefly teamed with Jerry Lynn.[1] Rogers also worked behind the scenes helping the ECW product as an agent. In 2005, the Fantastics reformed on the indie circuit. They won the SCW Tag Team Titles by defeating the Midnight Express in a steel cage match.[1] In 2006, Tommy moved to Honolulu, Hawaii.

After undergoing hip replacement surgery in January 2007, he retired from the ring.[3]

Death

On June 1, 2015, Couch was found dead in his Honolulu home by his roommate. The cause of death was not released.[4]

Championships and accomplishments
  • January 3rd Korakuen Hall Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal (1990)
  • IWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • PWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobby Fulton
  • NWA Southeast United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • UWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Bobby Fulton
  • World Class Championship Wrestling / World Class Wrestling Association
  • PWI ranked him # 63 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" with Bobby Fulton and # 269 of the Top 500 in 2003.
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
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References
  1. "Tommy Rogers' Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  2. Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
  3. "World Class Memories: FAQ: Current Whereabouts and Final Resting Places". Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  4. Meltzer, Dave (June 1, 2015). ""Fantastic" Tommy Rogers passes away". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  5. Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006) [2000.]. "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, Ontario: Archeus Communications. pp. 185–189. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  6. "Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  7. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [Fritz Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
  8. "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
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