Troy Graham
Encyclopedia
Troy Rolland Thompson (December 7, 1954 – March 7, 2002), was an American
professional wrestler
known as Dream Machine and Troy Graham.
and first came in to wrestling as Troy "The Hippie" Graham. During his initial career, he fulfilled the role of a heel
.
Wrestling as the masked "Dream Machine," Thompson captured the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship in 1981 after defeating Steve Keirn
in the final bout of a one-night tournament. Promoter Eddie Marlin awarded the belt to Dream Machine and his manager Jimmy Hart during an episode of Championship Wrestling that aired soon after the tournament.
From 1982 to 1983 Thompson teamed with Porkchop Cash
as "the Bruiser Brothers," as part of Hart's First Family
stable. They defeated Dutch Mantell and Koko B. Ware for their first AWA Southern tag team championship titles. They also went on to compete against the Rock and Roll Express, exchanging the Southern tag team with them.
As the Dream Machine, Thompson (sans mask) was one-half of the tag team known as "The New York Dolls". The Dolls had a longstanding feud with the Fabulous Ones, Steve Keirn and Stan Lane
.
In 1984 Troy Graham was replaced in the Bruise Brothers and left the Memphis territory.
Troy Graham died on March 7, 2002 of a heart attack.Leaving behind a seven year old daughter Charlcie Sue,his mother and great grandmother.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
known as Dream Machine and Troy Graham.
Career
Thompson was discovered by Jimmy HartJimmy Hart
James "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
and first came in to wrestling as Troy "The Hippie" Graham. During his initial career, he fulfilled the role of a heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
.
Wrestling as the masked "Dream Machine," Thompson captured the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship in 1981 after defeating Steve Keirn
Steve Keirn
Stephen "Steve" Paul Keirn is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for being part of the tag team The Fabulous Ones, with Stan Lane, and later for a run in the World Wrestling Federation as Skinner, a gimmick that portrayed him as a tobacco spitting alligator hunter from...
in the final bout of a one-night tournament. Promoter Eddie Marlin awarded the belt to Dream Machine and his manager Jimmy Hart during an episode of Championship Wrestling that aired soon after the tournament.
From 1982 to 1983 Thompson teamed with Porkchop Cash
Porkchop Cash
Bobby Cash is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He competed primarily in promotions operated by the National Wrestling Alliance...
as "the Bruiser Brothers," as part of Hart's First Family
The First Family (professional wrestling)
The First Family was the name of two professional wrestling stables led by Jimmy Hart, first in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association, then in the late 1990s in World Championship Wrestling.-CWA stable:...
stable. They defeated Dutch Mantell and Koko B. Ware for their first AWA Southern tag team championship titles. They also went on to compete against the Rock and Roll Express, exchanging the Southern tag team with them.
As the Dream Machine, Thompson (sans mask) was one-half of the tag team known as "The New York Dolls". The Dolls had a longstanding feud with the Fabulous Ones, Steve Keirn and Stan Lane
Stan Lane
Wallace Stanfield "Stan" Lane is an American professional wrestler, trained by Ric Flair, who started wrestling in 1974 in Championship Wrestling from Florida. For a brief time in Florida, he was nicknamed Nature Boy...
.
In 1984 Troy Graham was replaced in the Bruise Brothers and left the Memphis territory.
Troy Graham died on March 7, 2002 of a heart attack.Leaving behind a seven year old daughter Charlcie Sue,his mother and great grandmother.
Championships and accomplishments
- Continental Wrestling AssociationContinental Wrestling AssociationThe Continental Wrestling Association was a wrestling promotion managed by Jerry Jarrett. The CWA was the name of the "governing body" for the Championship Wrestling, Inc. promotion which was usually referred to as Mid-Southern Wrestling...
- AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- AWA Southern Tag Team ChampionshipAWA Southern Tag Team ChampionshipThe AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the Tennessee area from the 1940s through the late 1980s. It was originally named the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship from its inception through 1977, when it was renamed the AWA Southern...
(2 times) - with Porkchop Cash
- United States Wrestling AssociationUnited States Wrestling AssociationThe United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
- USWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Wrestling AssociationWorld Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)The World Wrestling Association was an Indianapolis-based pro wrestling promotion which was operated by Dick "The Bruiser" Afflis and his business partner Wilbur Snyder. The WWA was affiliated with the larger American Wrestling Association and recognized its champions, though the WWA also had its...
- WWA World Tag Team ChampionshipWWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWA World Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title in the Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association from the promotion's formation in 1964 until the late 1980s when the promotion closed.-Title history:...
(1 time) - with Rick McGraw