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
Rogers, circa 1988
Birth nameThomas R. Couch
Born(1961-05-14)May 14, 1961
St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
DiedJune 1, 2015(2015-06-01) (aged 54)
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Tommy Couch
Tommy Rogers
Billed height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Billed weight222 lb (101 kg)
Billed fromLos Angeles, California, United States
Trained byBuzz Sawyer
Jack Brisco
Jerry Brisco
Debut1980
Retired2007

Professional wrestling career

Couch started wrestling in 1980 as "Tommy Rogers" in North Carolina. He made his 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 and 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 1990s working with such names as Joe and Dean Malenko.[2] In 1994 they returned to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) formerly the Jim Crockett Promotions where they feuded with Pretty Wonderful and Harlem Heat. 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] Also Rogers lost to Brian Christopher on WWF Shotgun. Rogers defeated Fulton with the Tomakaze, a finishing maneuver of Tommy's invention later adopted by Christian Cage. Also in 1997 The Fantastics made an appearance at the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. Rogers wrestled in ECW from 1997 to 1999, where he briefly teamed with Jerry Lynn.[1] Rogers also worked behind the scenes helping the ECW product as an agent. In 2000 he returned to WCW, where he lost to Kid Romeo and Lash LeRoux. In 2005, the Fantastics reformed on the indie circuit. They won the SCW Tag Team Championship 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 room mate. The cause of death was not released.[4] It is believed to be suicide.

Championships and accomplishments

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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