Tommy Rogers, one half of the popular tag team The Fantastics, passed away on June 1, 2015, at the age of 54. His death shocked and saddened the wrestling world, as he was widely regarded as one of the best performers of his era. But what was the real cause of his death? And how did his life and career unfold?
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Early Life and Career
Tommy Rogers was born Thomas R. Couch on May 14, 1961, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He started wrestling in 1980, using the ring name Tommy Rogers, in North Carolina. He had no formal training, but he quickly learned the ropes from veterans like Buzz Sawyer and the Brisco brothers. He met his future tag team partner Bobby Fulton in Memphis, where they formed The Fantastics in 1983. The duo had a natural chemistry and charisma, and they soon became fan favorites.
The Fantastics’ Feuds and Successes
The Fantastics had their first major feud with The Midnight Express, consisting of Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton, in Mid South Wrestling. The two teams had a series of classic matches, often involving bloody brawls and high-flying moves. The Fantastics won the Mid South Tag Team Championship twice from The Midnight Express, and they also captured the UWF Tag Team Championship once.
The Fantastics then moved to World Class Championship Wrestling, where they continued their rivalry with The Midnight Express, who had switched to Jim Cornette as their manager. The Fantastics also feuded with The Sheepherders, later known as The Bushwhackers, in a violent and brutal series of matches. The Fantastics won the WCCW Tag Team Championship four times, and they were voted as the Tag Team of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1986.
The Fantastics then went to the NWA’s Jim Crockett Promotions, where they renewed their feud with The Midnight Express, who had added Stan Lane as their third member. The Fantastics won the NWA United States Tag Team Championship from The Midnight Express in a tournament final, but they lost it back to them in a controversial finish. The Fantastics left the NWA in 1989, and they wrestled in various independent promotions and in Japan for the next decade.
The Final Years and Death
The Fantastics briefly returned to WCW in 1994, where they feuded with teams like Pretty Wonderful and Harlem Heat. They also had a short stint in the WWF’s Light Heavyweight Division in 1997, where they faced each other once on Raw. Rogers also wrestled in ECW from 1997 to 1999, where he teamed with Jerry Lynn and worked as an agent. He made his last appearance in WCW in 2000, where he lost to Kid Romeo and Lash LeRoux.
In 2005, The Fantastics reunited on the indie circuit, and they won the SCW Tag Team Championship by defeating The Midnight Express in a steel cage match. Rogers retired from the ring in 2007, after undergoing hip replacement surgery. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he lived until his death.
On June 1, 2015, Rogers was found dead in his Honolulu home by his roommate. The cause of death was not officially released, but some sources claimed that it was suicide, as he was facing legal troubles after a physical altercation with the police. However, his friends and family denied that he committed suicide, and they said that he died of natural causes, possibly related to his heart condition. According to Wrestling Epicenter, his tag team partner Bobby Fulton revealed that Rogers had a pacemaker installed in his chest, and that he accidentally choked on his food, which triggered a heart attack.
Legacy and Impact
Tommy Rogers was one of the most talented and respected wrestlers of his generation. He was known for his athleticism, agility, and innovation, as he invented moves like the Tomakaze, later used by Christian Cage. He was also praised for his professionalism, work ethic, and kindness, as he was always willing to help others and give back to the industry. He influenced many wrestlers who came after him, such as Edge, Christian, and the Hardy Boyz.
Tommy Rogers was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2015, along with Bobby Fulton, as The Fantastics. He was also honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2016, with the Tag Team Award. He is remembered as one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time, and as a true legend of the sport.