Sylvester Terkay

Sylvester Matthew Terkay^[2] (born December 4, 1970) is a retired American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist best known for his run in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He has held NWA Zero-One's United States Championship twice and Ultimate Pro Wrestling's first Heavyweight Champion. Terkay was known at his time as one of the top gaijin (non-Japanese wrestler) in Japan.

Early life

While attending North Carolina State University, he finished second in the 1992 NCAA Division I Heavyweight tournament, losing to future Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle by points, 2-1, and later became champion in 1993. According to Angle's autobiography It's True, It's True, Terkay had 78 pins during his college career.

Professional wrestling career

After training under Rick Bassman's Ultimate Pro Wrestling school in California, Terkay was signed to a WWE developmental contract, but later released. He joined Japanese pro wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1 in 2001 under the ring name The Predator, patterned after Bruiser Brody's character.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2006–2007)

Terkay (left) with Elijah Burke at December to Dismember.

After more training with WWE's Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) developmental territory, Terkay was brought up to the main roster of SmackDown! on July 28, 2006 working an MMA gimmick with Elijah Burke, who acted as his cornerman.^[1] Terkay defeated Matt Hardy in his debut match on SmackDown!. In the following weeks, Terkay dominated jobbers as well as later interfering in Burke's matches. On the October 20 episode of SmackDown!, Terkay helped Burke defeat Vito, breaking his 4-month undefeated streak. On the November 7, 2006 edition of WWE's ECW on Sci Fi, Terkay and his associate Elijah Burke debuted in ECW by doing a backstage promo. Their undefeated streak as a tag team was ended when The Hardys defeated them on ECW. At ECW's December To Dismember Terkay and Burke defeated The F.B.I. (Little Guido Maritato and Tony Mamaluke). In a backstage ECW promo Burke and Terkay dubbed themselves as the "Knock-out Tap-out Connection", a reference to Terkay's MMA and kickboxing background and Burke's amateur boxing background. He accompanied Burke to his matches in a bodyguard-type role for the next several weeks. Terkay remained undefeated in TV singles competition. On January 18, 2007, Terkay was released from his WWE contract.^[3]

Japan (2010–2012)

After leaving the WWE, Terkay returned to wrestling for the Japanese promotions of Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) and Pro Wrestling Zero1 and wrestled under his alter ego The Predator.

In March 31, 2012 Terkay worked his last match which took place in Georgetown, Guyana for the WrestleRama event.^[4]

Mixed martial arts career

During his time in Zero1, Terkay also fought in several mixed martial arts (MMA) matches for K-1. He made his debut by knocking his opponent Mauricio da Silva out in 13 seconds as part of the annual K-1 New Year’s Eve spectacular, K-1 Dynamite. He returned at the Romanex event in 2004, facing Ultimate Fighting Championship and PRIDE Fighting Championships veteran Gary Goodridge.^[5] Despite Terkay's size advantage, experience played in Goodridge's favor and he finished Sylvester in 1:22.

Also in 2004, however, Terkay defeated K-1 veteran Kristof Midoux, former trainer of Georges St-Pierre and Choi Mu-Bae, submitting him with a wrestling neck crank. This attracted a revenge match against Mu-Bae, which was won again by Terkay by unanimous decision in his last MMA venture. It was reported he had trouble getting fight contracts, as his lack of name value mixed with his good performances were seen as dangerous to established stars.^[6]

Kickboxing career

In December 2005, Terkay made his kickboxing debut against Remy Bonjasky in K-1 Premium 2005. He lost to Bonjasky by unanimous decision. Feeling Terkay was the true winner, the audience booed heavily at this outcome, and the controversy reached such level that K-1 chairman Sadaharu Tanigawa acknowledged it and apologized for the decision in the post-event press conference.^[7]

Terkay had his second and last kickboxing fight at K-1 Las Vegas, facing fellow superheavyweight Choi Hong-man, who came similarly from losing to Remy Bonjasky. Hong-man controlled the first round and scored two knockouts while Terkay started dominating from the second onward and ended the match pressing against a tired Hong-man. The decision, however, was given to Choi thanks to the knockouts in his favor.

Other media

Terkay has appeared in multiple films and TV shows over the years. He appeared in the 2001 movie Slammed along with former wrestling personality Zeus. He appeared on an episode of In the House as a Santa Imposter, and also appeared on the game show Distraction and bodyslammed contestants while they tried to answer questions. He made an appearance in the 2006 movie Evil Bong as a nightclub bouncer. He appeared in the 2010 movie True Legend as a fighter named Elder Scot Brother. He also appeared in the movie/documentary "101 Reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler", where he talked about his views on the wrestling business. In the 2014 film Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies, Terkay makes a cameo appearance as a zombie wrestler who fights Kurt Angle.^[8]

Filmography

Film

Television

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • As Sylvester Terkay
    • Big Bear Lock (Overhead keylock)^[9][10]
    • Face Paver (Reverse chokeslam facebuster)^[10]
    • Muscle buster^[9]
  • As The Predator
    • Muscle buster^[10]
    • Running jumping knee drop^[10]
• Signature moves
  • Buffalo sleeper^[9]
  • Cross armbar
  • Forearm smash to a grounded opponent
  • Inverted sitout side powerslam
  • Leg drop^[10]
  • Multiple punches to face and abdomen of grounded opponent
  • Multiple suplex variations
    • Belly-to-belly^[9]
    • Gutwrench
    • High-angle fisherman
  • Roundhouse kick
  • Spinning backfist
  • Triangle choke^[9]
• Managers
  • Elijah Burke^[1]
  • Kenny Bolin
• Nicknames
  • "The Man Bear"^[1]

Mixed martial arts record

K-1 record

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling

• National Collegiate Athletic Association

• 3 time All American-NC State Champion
• 1993 NCAA Champion-NC State
• 4 time National Heavyweight Champion
• 3 time AAU Wrestling Champion
• 1 time JUCO National Champion
• 2 time Big East Champion

Boxing

• National Collegiate Athletic Association

• 5 time Boxing Champion
• 2 time NAC Boxing Champion

Professional wrestling

• Pro Wrestling Zero1
  • Zero-One United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
• Ultimate Pro Wrestling
  • UPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Hardcore Wrestling Association
  • HWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sylvester Terkay.

• Profile at onlineworldofwrestling.com
• Professional MMA record for Sylvester Terkay from Sherdog
  
• Sylvester Terkay on IMDb
• Sylvester Terkay at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame