Could've Been a Contender: Wrestlers Quiz

Answer: D Lo Brown

Before pursuing a career in wrestling, Accie Connor earned a degree in Accounting and was a licensed CPA. In late 1996 he began to show up as a background character in Faarooq's "Nation of Domination". In 1998 when Faarooq was ousted The Rock gave him a bigger role and his talents began to get noticed.

In July 1998 Brown upset Triple H to win the WWF European Title and the following year defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the WWF Intercontinental Title. Unfortunately the arrivals of Chris Jericho, Big Show, Eddy Guerrero, Tazz and Chris Benoit resulted in Brown being pushed aside. Brown did return in 2008 where he was nothing more than a jobber, he then spent some time with TNA.

Another man who would have benefited if the territories were still around.

Answer: Chief Jay Strongbow

In his heyday Chief Jay Strongbow was just about as over with the fans as a wrestler could get without being WWF Champion. Strongbow electrified fans at Madison Square Garden month after month with his "Tomahawk Chops" and famous "Wardance". If it had not been for the emergence of Bruno Sammartino and later Bob Backlund, Jay Strongbow probably would have been given a run as WWF Champion.

A multi time WWF Tag Team Champion Strongbow retired in 1985 and worked as a front office official for many years, he died in April 2012 at age 83.

Answer: Magnum T.A.

The Crocketts and their booker Dusty Rhodes had very big plans for the wrestler named Terry Allen. After losing the NWA United States Title in the summer of 1986 to hated Russian Nikita Koloff, Magnum was to start an angle with NWA Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. Allen had already fought Flair numerous times since his arrival and the two had great chemistry.

There was no doubt that he was going to win the NWA Heavyweight Title, possibly as early as "Starrcade'86". Unfortunately bad luck prevented this from ever happening and a great career was over just as it was about to take off.

The absence of Magnum forced Crockett and Rhodes to turn Nikita Koloff face that fall and the following year led to Ron Garvin's brief run as champion

Answer: The Powers of Pain

The Warlord and the Barbarian aka The Powers of Pain were about as physically intimidating as a duo could get. While The Warlord was a little short on ability he could get by and The Barbarian was technically sound with great agility and speed. I have no doubt that these two could have had a run with the WWF Tag Team Titles or the NWA Tag Team Belts but it just wasn't in the cards. Ironically it was the team of Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson who ruled the NWA when The Powers were there and it was that same duo that defeated Demolition for the WWF belts in July 1989. Talk about bad timing, the following year The Powers of Pain were split up for no really good reason.

Answer: Cowboy Bob Orton

Cowboy Bob Orton Junior was one of the most gifted wrestlers of the late 1970s and 1980s. A strong but silent type Orton did not have great interview skills but was able to get by with the right manager or partner in place. Orton formed a great team with Dick Slater in The NWA and later with The Magnificent Muraco in The WWF. Most people remember Bob Orton as the silent but always present bodyguard for "Rowdy" Roddy Piper from 1984-1986. Unfortunately for "Ace" as the decade of 1980s wound down wrestlers had to have more of a personality or a gimmick and he came off as flat. Orton's last run was in Herb Abrams ill fated UWF from 1990-1992.

In 2005 his tremendous skills were rewarded with an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Answer: "Ravishing" Rick Rude

While Lex Luger had the moniker of "The Total Package" the late Rick Rude was really the embodiment of that phrase. The man had the body of a "Greek God", superb wrestling talent, a cocky swagger that made him reviled and always employed an obnoxious manager.

While he did hold the WWF Intercontinental Title in 1989 his career highlight was a 14 month run as WCW United States Champion. I have no doubt had he been healthy he would have been a top contender for the WWF Heavyweight Titles of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Such a shame!

Answer: Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff

In late 1983 Paul Orndorff arrived in the WWF and immediately was the talk of the town as potential managers began to size him up. Orndorff joined forces with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and later Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. After a face turn Orndorff, in one of the greatest angles ever, betrayed Hulk Hogan on television in the summer of 1986.

The following year he again became a face before leaving the WWF and wrestling in general for a few years. In 1993 he resurfaced and won the WCW Television Title and The WCW Tag Team Titles twice in 1994 before retiring in 1995.

He also was honored in 2005 with an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Answer: "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert

The oldest son of Tommy Gilbert, Eddie first became recognized while competing in the WWF in 1982-1984 where he was a protege of sorts to then WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund. In 1986 Gilbert really found his niche while working in Bill Watts UWF as he wrestled and served as the manager of a heel stable called "Hot Stuff Inc".

In 1988 Gilbert started a bloody rivalry with Jerry Lawler in The Memphis CWA which saw Gilbert slam Lawler through the windshield of a parked car. Gilbert worked mainly for small independents until his untimely demise, he also had developed quite a talent for being a booker. Had he lived he would have fit in perfectly in either "The WWF Attitude Era" or ECW.

Answer: Brad Armstrong

The second of four sons of the legendary "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, the talented Brad often found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not blessed with the microphone skills of brother Brian aka "The Road Dogg", Brad was a very vanilla wrestler.

He would have fit perfectly in The Bob Backlund era of the WWF from 1978-1983 or the AWA. His greatest success came in 1987 when he and Tim Horner won The UWF Tag Team Titles as "The Lightning Express". In 1991 he briefly portrayed a masked Freebird named "Badstreet" and the following year won the WCW Light Heavyweight Title only to suffer an injury and have to vacate it. Sadly Brad died in November 2012 of heart failure at the tender age of 51.

This is another star whose talents were largely unrecognized.

Answer: Terry Taylor

The horrible persona of "The Red Rooster" flushed the promising career of the very talented Terry Taylor completely down the toilet. Before his arrival in mid 1988 Taylor was a very well respected mat wrestler who won numerous singles and tag team titles. Taylor was a big face in Bill Watts Mid South territory and was being considered by The Crocketts for a run as United States Champion before they discovered Terry Allen. Even when he went to WCW in 1990 and later developed a heel persona of Terence Taylor , Head of The York Foundation, the stigma of "The Rooster" followed him.

This is similar to an actor who makes a terrible movie and his career plunges and never comes back up.

Answer: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

When Jimmy Snuka made his face turn in late 1982 the fans not only of the WWF but the wrestling world in general flocked to his corner. "Superfly" quickly became one of the hottest and most popular wrestlers in the WWF in a very short period of time. His feuds against former manager Captain Lou Albano, Ray Stevens, Intercontinental Champion The Magnificent Muraco and later Roddy Piper only solidified his lofty status in fans hearts. Behind the scenes Jimmy was battling a serious substance abuse problem which is why a major title was never put around his waist in the WWF and led to his termination in 1985. Snuka returned in 1989 but never achieved the same popularity he had in 1983.

Answer: The Rougeau Brothers

I said they never had an extensive run as WWF Tag Team Champions because technically they did defeat The Hart Foundation for the belts on August 10, 1987 but the decision was later reversed. This exists only as a footnote in WWF history was not even that until the late 1990s.

In 1993 Jacques was partnered with Pierre Oulette as "The Quebeccers", a duo that did enjoy some lengthy runs as WWF Tag Team Champions.

Answer: Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Hands down, Jake "The Snake" Roberts could deliver a pre-match interview which seemed like a classic author or film maker had written it. His interview with Gene Okerlund prior to his "Wrestlemania VI" match with rival Ted Dibiase is one of the best I've ever heard. Jake's constant battles with drugs and alcohol eventually led to his becoming increasingly unreliable and thus really held back a promising career.

It is a shame as Jake was never even given a run as WWF Intercontinental Champion while The Ultimate Warrior had two.

Answer: Billy Gunn

One of the best tag team wrestlers of all time Billy Gunn competed in three tag teams that wore the WWF Tag Team Championships. First came "The Smokin Gunns", then "The New Age Outlaws" and finally the duo of "Billy & Chuck" in 2002. Gunn did win "The King of The Ring" Tournament in 1999 which usually led to the winner getting a significant singles push, but this never really happened for him. Sometimes a duo such as "The New Age Outlaws" gets so popular the fans will not accept them on their own.

Answer: Tom Zenk

In late 1986 Tom Zenk and veteran Rick Martel came to the WWF as the popular and flashy Can'Am Connection. The duo were set to eventually win the WWF Tag Team Titles when Zenk bolted over money issues in July 1987. Known as "The Z Man" he competed in WCW from 1989-1994 and held the U.S. Tag Team Titles with Brian Pillman for several months in 1990.

In December 1990 he upset Arn Anderson for the WCW Television Title but promptly lost the belt the following month. After retiring in 1995 Zenk has became very outspoken in his dislike for the business, especially for his brief WWF tenure.

This is a wrestler whose skills probably would have thrived in the 1970s or early 1980s atmosphere.