How Magnum T.A. Turned Into Wrestling’s Biggest “What If”

If you’ve ever tuned in to watch Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the Download before, you might have noticed some professional wrestling action figures in the studio backdrop. On this week’s episode, Dale Jr. has the opportunity to sit down with the likeness of one of these figurines: the legendary Magnum T.A. Dale has often shared his love for professional wrestling while growing up, watching on Saturday mornings after cartoon matinees had concluded. It was through this programming that he took notice of Magnum and Dusty Rhodes, as well as the other icons of the 1980s independent scene. 

Magnum, whose real name is Terry Wayne Alan, explains that although he was a semi-successful wrestler on the collegiate level, he never dreamed of being a professional. His path into the sport came through a bartending gig he had while attending school in the Chesapeake, Virginia area. His training took him to the Pacific Northwest, where he’d forge a friendship with the legendary Andre the Giant, who was responsible for creating the Magnum T.A. persona. Terry would be on a fast track to becoming the World Heavyweight Champion when a tragic 1986 car crash changed his life forever. He and Dale talk about the state of wrestling in the 80s, unlikely paths in life, and having to give up something you love before you’re ready.

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