- Ray Gordy
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Ray Gordy Ring name(s) Jesse
Jesse Dalton[1]
Terry Gordy Jr.[1]
Ray Gordy[1]
Ray Geezy[1]
Cousin Ray
T-Ray[2]
Slam Master J[3]Billed height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1] Billed weight 220 lb (100 kg)[3] Born March 23, 1979 [2]
Chattanooga, Tennessee[1]Billed from The A-T-L (as Ray Geezy/Slam Master J)[3]
North Carolina (as Jesse)
Bad street U.S.A., Atlanta, Georgia (as Slam Master J)Trained by Terry Gordy[1]
Pro Wrestling NoahDebut 2000[1] Terry Ray Gordy, Jr.[1][4] (born March 23, 1979)[1][2] is an American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) appearing on its SmackDown brand under the ring names Jesse and Slam Master J.[3] He is the son of the late wrestler Terry Gordy, best known for his time in the Fabulous Freebirds[4] and the Miracle Violence Connection.
Contents
Career
Gordy has worked for several promotions before working with WWE. Some of them being NWA Georgia and North American Wrestling Association (NAWA). He had some success winning several titles for both promotions.
In 2001, Gordy went to Japan to wrestle for Pro Wrestling Noah.[4] There he stayed and wrestled until 2002 where he joined NAWA:Ring Champions based out of Rome, Georgia. There he formed a brief team with Nick Rampage and Jayson Phoenix known as The New Varsity Club. Early 2003 saw Gordy form a new union with Iceberg Slim and Tank Norton known as the Extreme Freebirds. During this time he a had string of matches against his former partners Phoenix and Rampage, along with matches against A.J. Styles.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Developmental territories (2005–2006)
In August 2005, Gordy signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and debuted for Deep South Wrestling (DSW) in early 2006 as "Ray Geezy", a white rapper gimmick. He teamed with Damian Steele, who was preppy and well-spoken. In November 2006, he began teaming with Henry Godwinn at WWE SmackDown house shows and changed his name to "Cousin Ray", dropping his gangsta gimmick to reform The Godwinns with Henry.
Jesse and Festus (2007–2009)
Main article: Jesse and FestusOn the May 11, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, a vignette aired with Gordy as "Jesse Dalton" alongside fellow WWE developmental talent Drew Hankinson as Justice Dalton.[5] It was reported on June 2, 2007 that the "Dalton Boys" gimmick was being changed by WWE. Jesse and Festus were put in traditional wrestling gear and transformed their gimmick to be a little less country. On the June 29, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, vignettes hyping the team of "Jesse and Festus" began to air.
Jesse and Festus made their official televised in-ring debut on the October 5, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, defeating Mike Tolar and Chad Collyer.[6] Their secondary gimmick was that when the opening bell rang, Festus's persona changed into a very focused, aggressive competitor as compared to the aloof, absent-minded character he had been portrayed as. When the bell rang signifying the end of the match, Festus returned to his "normal" self.[7]
On the October 16, 2007 edition of ECW, Jesse and Festus made their debut for the ECW brand in conjunction with a "Talent Exchange" discussed between ECW General Manager Armando Estrada and acting SmackDown! General Manager Vickie Guerrero. Jesse and Festus defeated their first notable opponents, the team of Elijah Burke and Nunzio, with a modified Rocket Launcher-esque maneuver.[8]
On the November 8 episode of SmackDown, Jesse and Festus suffered their first WWE loss in a 10-Man Tag Team Battle Royal WWE Tag Team Championship Contender's match, against Deuce 'n Domino, The Major Brothers, Shannon Moore and Jimmy Wang Yang, and William Regal and Dave Taylor.[9] Jesse and Festus suffered their second loss in the WWE when they were defeated by WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz on the November 27 edition of ECW, and lost to them again on the December 7 episode of SmackDown.[10][11]
After a brief hiatus, more vignettes aired, this time featuring Jesse, who explained Festus' condition and spoke of a cure for it.[12][13] The team returned on February 8, 2008, on SmackDown, defeating Deuce 'n Domino.[14] Festus appeared to be unchanged, aside from perhaps being more aggressive than ever.[14] This success continued as they once again defeated Morrison and Miz in another non-title match on the February 29 airing of SmackDown.[15] When they received a title match on the March 21 episode, however, they failed to win.[16]
They continued in a sporadic feud with Miz and Morrison for the rest of 2008, but also underwent a gimmick change which began on the September 12 airing of SmackDown.[17] Jesse and Festus made their way to the ring, dressed in moving attire, and with a hand truck, large cardboard box and moving supplies.[17] After an attack from Kenny Dykstra the duo proceeded to package Dykstra up and roll him away.[17] The next week they did the same thing to Ryan Braddock and later the set of Carlito's Cabana.[18][19] The gimmick highlighted SmackDown's move to MyNetworkTV, complete with overalls bearing the parodic company title of "MyMoving Company". After the show's move, however, they reverted to their previous gimmick.
On April 15, 2009, Festus was drafted to the Raw brand as part of the 2009 Supplemental Draft and, as a result, was separated from his tag team partner Jesse who remained on SmackDown.[20]
Slam Master J (2009–2010)
Jesse appeared on the June 26 edition of SmackDown, during the first televised edition of Cryme Tyme's Word Up internet show. During this segment, Jesse reprised his thug-wannabe mannerisms from his Ray Geezy gimmick. On Smackdown airing July 24, Jesse was officially renamed Slam Master J; his first match with this moniker was on the August 7, defeating Charlie Haas on Smackdown. He then formed a tag team with Jimmy Wang Yang and faced The Hart Dynasty on two occasions and lost. They picked up their first win as a team against Charlie Haas and Mike Knox. Gordy was soon unexplainingly out of WWE action until WrestleMania XXVI, where he took part in the 26-man Battle Royal with his former partner, Luke Gallows, formerly known as Festus, but both came up short and the match was won by Yoshi Tatsu.
Ray Gordy was released from his WWE contract on April 22, 2010 along with several other talents.[21]
Other Media
Ray Gordy has appeared in the video games WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 and WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 under the name "Jesse".
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Asiatic Driver (Pumphandle inverted scoop slam piledriver)[1]
- Diving leg drop, sometimes to the back of the opponent's head
- Bridging German suplex[1]
- Signature moves:
- Dropkick
- Monkey flip
- Multiple suplex variations
- Sunset flip
- Senton bomb[1]
- With Festus
- Rocket Launcher (Aided shoulder block)
- With Henry O. Godwinn
- Country Thunder (Pumphandle slam by Godwinn followed by a diving splash by Ray)
- Entrance themes
- "Biscuits & Gravy" by Jim Johnston (2007–2009; as Jesse) (WWE)
- "Thug Bug" by Darcus Knight & Otis Joy (as Slam Master J) (WWE)
Championships and accomplishments
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "OWOW Profile: Jesse". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/jesse.html. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
- ^ a b c "Jesse Dalton". accelerator3359.com. http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/rgordy.html. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ a b c d "Slam Master J Bio". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/slammasterj/bio/. Retrieved 2009-09-30.[dead link]
- ^ a b c Renwick, Meredith. "Ray Gordy's a Freebird too". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/09/16/194330.html. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
- ^ Noah Starr (May 11, 2007). "In with the new". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05112007/. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
- ^ Dee, Louie (2007-10-05). "Down-home debut". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/10052007/. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
- ^ "Festus Bio". WWE. Archived from the original on 2008-03-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20080311092436/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/festus/bio/. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ Rote, Andrew (2007-10-16). "Setting the night on fire". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/10162007/. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ DiFino, Lennie. "Finding the way". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/11092007/. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ Medalis, Kara A. (2007-10-27). "Beauties and Beasts". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/11272007/. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ Dee, Louis (2007-10-27). "M&M make it happen again". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/12072007/. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-01-24). "On their way to Madison Square Garden". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/01252008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ DFino, Lennie (2008-02-01). "Chamber mates". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02012008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ a b DiFino, Lennie (2008-02-08). "No looking back". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02082008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ DiFino, Lennie (2008-02-29). "Big Show, big impact". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02292008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-03-21). "Full Moon Con-Chair-To". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/03212008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ a b c Burdick, Michael (2008-09-12). "Power behind the throne". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/09122008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ Burdick, Michael (2008-09-16). "Attack of the Moscow Mauler". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/09162008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-09-26). "Keeping your enemies close". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/09262008/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ "2009 WWE Supplemental Draft results". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2009-04-15. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2009draft/2009supplementaldraftresults/. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ Gerweck, Steve (2010-04-22). "WWE releases six talents". WrestleView. http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1271973470. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
- ^ "Complete PWI 500 list for 2008". Wrestling Inc. http://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2008/918/randy_orton_346514.shtml. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
External links
Categories:- 1979 births
- Living people
- American professional wrestlers
- People from Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Finishing moves
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