Marcus Laurinaitis

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Marcus Laurinaitis
An image of Marcus Laurinaitis.
Statistics
Ring name(s) The Terminator
Fury
Mike Fury
Billed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight 269 lb (122 kg/19.2 st)
Born Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
December 21
Trained by Gene Anderson
Road Warrior Animal
Johnny Ace
Debut 1987

Marcus "Mark" Laurinaitis (born in Minneapolis, Minnesota) also known by his ring name of The Terminator, is an American professional wrestler who has primarily in Florida, Japan and Europe as well as a stint with World Championship Wrestling . Mark is the brother of WWE agent and former professional wrestler John Laurinaitis, better known as “Johnny Ace” and Joseph Laurinaitis better known as Animal one half of the legendary tag team the Road Warriors.

Contents

[edit] Career

Mark made his debut in 1987 after being trained by his brothers Joe and John as well as tag-team legend and one half of the original Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Gene Anderson. Starting out in Florida Championship Wrestling under the name The Terminator. In Late 1987 Mark 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 Real World Tag 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[1], Terry and Dory Funk, Jr.. The Terminator and Zenk finished in 11th place only ahead of Mark and Chris Youngblood [2]

After the tour Mark returned to Florida where he participated in a tournament to crown a new NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, losing in the final to Mike Graham[3]. When Mark 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[3]. Mark and Johnny defended the titles for over 3 months until they came across Florida newcomers The Nasty Boys (Jerry Sags and Brian Knobbs) 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[3]. During their second run with the gold Mark and Johnny also tourned with All Japan Pro Wrestling as a team[4]. 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 Mark 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[3].

[edit] The Wrecking Crew

While competing in Florida Mike 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 Mike became known as Fury and Al 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)[3].

By late 1992 the Wrecking Crew got signed by World Championship Wrestling, making their debut in January of 1993 [5]. 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[6].

After their success at the clash the team rode on a wave of success defeating Gunn and Zenk repeatedly[7][8] as well as looking impressive against temporary teams such as 2 Cold Scorpio & Johnny B. Badd [9] and Marcus Bagwell & Joey Maggs[10].

By March the team was contesting a series of matches with future WCW World Tag Team Champions 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell[11] as well as feuding with the identical twin duo known as The Cole Twins (Keith and Kent Cole) [12]. The feud with the Cole Twins was soon expanded to also include Bagwell and Scorpio as well as Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pierce [13]. As the feud wore on the Cole Twins got the upper hand in the feud over the two big men[14]. The Wrecking Crew also faced ”Cactus” Jack and The Barbarian in a series of house show matches[15].

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 tournamen to crown new CWA Tag Team Champions after Larry Cameron had died during a match[3]. Fury and Rage held the belts for only 3 weeks before being unseated by CWA regulars August Smisl and Ulf Herman in Vienna, Austria[3].

In 1995 the Wrecking Crew tourned with All Japan Pro Wrestling over the summer being put over young teams like Kentaro Shiga and Mannukea Mossman[16]. The highlight of their summer tour was a clash with multiple time AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champions Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat which the Wrecking Crew lost[17].

[edit] In Wrestling

  • Finishing Moves
  • Managers

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • International Wrestling Federation
  • IWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rage
  • Pro Wrestling Federation
  • PWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with the Bounty Hunter
  • WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rage

[edit] References

  1. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (December 11). AJPW Budokan Show results (1986 – 1990). “The Great Kabuki & John Tenta beat Tom Zenk & The Terminator (9:30) when Tenta pinned Terminator”
  2. ^ Strong Style Spirit (November 21 – December 11). AJPW Real World Tag League results (1987). “11. Tom Zenk & The Terminator [2]”
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  4. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (March 8). AJPW Budokan Show results (1986 – 1990). “Toshiaki Kawada & Samson Fuyuki beat Johnny Ace & The Terminator (15:20) when KAwada pinned Terminator”
  5. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (January). “(shown on WCW World Wide January 16) The Wrecking Crew defeated Joey Maggs & Johnny Rich at 4:24 when Rage pinned Maggs following an overhead backbreaker / elbow off the top double team”
  6. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (January 13). WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XXII).
  7. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (February 2). “(shown on WCW Saturday Night on February 20) The Wrecking Crew defeated Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk”
  8. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (February 19). “The Wrecking Crew defeated Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk”
  9. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (January 24). “2 Cold Scorpio & Johnny B. Badd fought the Wrecking Crew to a draw”
  10. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (January 28). “The Wrecking Crew defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Joey Maggs”
  11. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (March 3). “2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated the Wrecking Crew”
  12. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (March 8). “(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”
  13. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (April 27). “(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”
  14. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (May 2). “Keith & Kent Cole defeated the Wrecking Crew”
  15. ^ WCW Show Results 1993 (April 2). “Cactus Jack & the Barbarian defeated the Wrecking Crew when Cactus pinned Rage”
  16. ^ AJPW Budokan Hall Show Results (1991 – 1995) (March 4). “The Wrecking Crew beat Kentaro Shiga & Maunukea Mossman (7:41)”
  17. ^ AJPW Budokan Hall Show Results (1991 – 1995) (July 24). “Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas beat The Wrecking Crew (10:49)”

[edit] External links

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