Randy Thornton
| Randy Thornton | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Ring name(s) | Swoll[1][2] Randy Thornton |
| Billed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)[1][2] |
| Billed weight | 325 lb (147 kg; 23.2 st)[1][2] |
| Resides | New Orleans, Louisiana[1][2] |
| Trained by | Brad Rheingans[1] |
| Debut | May 3, 1991[3] |
| Retired | 1999[1] |
Randy Thornton[1][2] is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Swoll.
Contents |
[edit] Professional wrestling career
After playing football with the Denver Broncos,[1] Thornton began training under Brad Rheingans in order to become a wrestler.
In 1991, he debuted in the dying days of the American Wrestling Association, losing to Frank Andersson.[4] That same month, he toured New Japan Pro Wrestling. Having an extensive background in martial arts, Thornton infamously fought in a Different Style Fight against Shinya Hashimoto, in which he lost in the second round.[5]
In 1998, Thornton, under the ring name Swoll, debuted in World Championship Wrestling as a member of Master P's No Limit Soldiers.[1] The Soldiers immediately began a feud with the West Texas Rednecks due to the Rednecks hatred of rap music. On June 13, 1999 at The Great American Bash, Swoll assisted fellow Soldiers Konnan and Rey Misterio, Jr. in defeating the Rednecks' Curt Hennig and Bobby Duncum, Jr..[6] On the June 24 episode of Thunder, Swoll made his in-ring debut as he and B.A. defeated Disorderly Conduct (Mean Mike and Tough Tom).[7] At Bash at the Beach, the Soldiers (Swoll, Konnan, B.A. and Misterio, Jr.) defeated the Rednecks (Hennig, Duncum, Jr. Barry Windham and Kendall Windham) in an elimination tag team match.[7][8] After defeating a few other teams over the next few weeks, Swoll and B.A. lost to the Windhams on the August 3 episode of Saturday Night, thus ending both Swoll's undefeated streak and the feud between the Soldiers and the Rednecks.[7] On the August 17 episode of Saturday Night, Swoll competed in his final match as he and B.A. defeated Hugh Morrus and Jerry Flynn via disqualification.[7] Thornton retired immediately afterwards.
[edit] Retirement
After retiring from wrestling, Thornton began for the American Center For Character and Cultural Education.[2] He is a born again Christian[1] and also speaks for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
[edit] In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Signature moves
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Cagematch profile". http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=3719.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Accelerator profile". http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/swoll.html.
- ^ "Genickbruch profile". http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=1410.
- ^ "Genickbruch match history of 1991". http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=bilanzen&wrestler=1410&jahr=1991&monat=5.
- ^ "Shinya Hashimoto vs. Randy Thornton (mistakenly named Randy Johnson) - NJPW, May 31, 1991". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98FuG1_UOJ8.
- ^ "The Great American Bash report on June 13, 1999". http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1999062p.htm.
- ^ a b c d "Cagematch match listings". http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=3719&view=matches#matches.
- ^ a b c "Bash at the Beach report on July 11, 1999". http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1999072p.htm.
- ^ "WCW Thunder report on August 5, 1999". http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1999081t.htm.
- ^ "Lords of Pain coverage of Bash at the Beach". http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/ppv/batb99.html.
