| The York Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Stable | |
| Members | Alexandra York Michael Wallstreet Terrance Taylor Richard Morton Thomas Rich Mr. Hughes |
| Debut | 1990 |
| Disbanded | 1992 |
| Promotions | WCW |
The York Foundation was a professional wrestling heel stable in that worked in World Championship Wrestling between 1990 and 1992. The stable was led by businesswoman Alexandra York with each member of the stable adopting business suits & attitudes after joining the stable.
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Miss Alexandra York entered WCW near the end of 1990 as the manager / Financial analyst of Mike Rotunda. According to the storyline Rotunda had inherited a lot of money, turned heel and then adopted the name “Michael Wallstreet” (a gimmick patterned after Gordon Gekko from the film Wall Street). Miss York would use her laptop to analyze Wallstreet’s opponents and help him win matches[1]. Wallstreet started off strong by defeating The Starblazer at Clash of the Champions XIII [2] before engaging in a feud with Terry Taylor. Miss York claimed that her computer program predicted that Wallstreet could beat Taylor in less than 9 minutes, so during their Starrcade 1990 match a 9 minute countdown clock was used. Wallstreet won the match within the time limit. Then in early 1991 Rotundo left WCW and signed with the World Wrestling Federation where he became a “ruthless tax collector” known as Irwin R. Schyster (I.R.S.) [1].
With no one to manage Miss York started to scout WCW, looking for her next “project”. At Clash of the Champions XIV Miss York found her man. During a match between Terry Taylor and Ricky Morton Miss York appeared at ringside, distracted Morton and allowed Taylor to win the match[3]. Taylor’s turn did not come as any surprise as he was mistakenly introduced as “the Computerized Man of the 90s” before the match. Taylor joined the York Foundation and insisted on being known as Terrence Taylor from now on and started wearing a Business suit. Miss York also added Mr. Hughes as a bodyguard[1].
Next Miss York set her sights on Dustin Rhodes (her real-life husband) wanting him to join her foundation. When Dustin Rhodes turned her down Taylor attacked him kicking off a long-running feud between Rhodes and the York Foundation. In April and May, she had Taylor team with Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko as potential recruits but they decided to form a tag team called the Enforcers instead of joining the York Foundation. She also gave "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel a few tryouts but did not sign him as he lost those matches.
At Clash of the Champions XV on June 14, 1991 the York Foundation was expanded with Richard Morton as Morton joined in an attack on Dustin Rhodes and also beat up his longtime partner Robert Gibson just as he announced he was ready to return from a serious knee injury[4]. In July Richard Morton defeated Robert Gibson in the first ever 1 on 1 match between the former Rock 'N Roll Express partners at the Great American Bash 1991 [5]. Gibson left WCW shortly after allowing Morton to focus on the York Foundation’s feud with Dustin Rhodes & friends. At GAB 91’ the Foundation lost the services of Mr. Hughes as he joined forces with Harley Race and Lex Luger, instead Miss York brought in Thomas Rich to be the third member of her foundation[1].
Over the summer the foundation would continue their feud with Dustin Rhodes, Tom Zenk and Bobby Eaton all of whom had turned down Miss York’s offer of membership. The Foundation beat Dustin Rhodes, Tom Zenk and Big Josh for the WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Titles on October 8, 1991 and held the titles until they were abandoned in late November, 1991[6]. As fall turned to winter the members of the York Foundation were used more as “Enhancement Talent” to make wrestlers such as Van Hammer or Big Josh. The sole highlight was Richard Morton’s participation in the tournament to crown the first ever WCW Light Heavyweight Championship where he reached the finals before losing to Flyin’ Brian [7]. The York Foundation’s final feud was with the Fabulous Freebirds that was cut short when the Foundation disbanded in January 1992.
Thomas Rich and Richard Morton both became nothing more than Jobbers while Terry Taylor was repackaged as “The Taylor Made Man” and pushed for the first part of 1992