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The Long Storied Career of Thomas Knight Is Finally Over

The Long Storied Career of Thomas Knight Is Finally Over

Posted: Aug 26th 2016 By: CMBurnham

He is something of a legend in the circles of Oklahoma pro wrestling.

He as been called many things. Royalty. A Vampire. A Chick Manet.

He as successfully served as both a referee and a wrestler.

But now, it is all over for Thomas Knight.

From his humble beginnings at the end of WCCW in 1989, Thomas Knight learned the trade of pro wrestling, along with his twin brother Jeff Knight. Both together as the New York Express and separately, Thomas has been a reliable fixture on the Oklahoma Indy scene for the past 10 years.

Most of that time has been spent as a referee all over the state, but periodically, Thomas would get the itch to put back on the tights and step back into the ring to compete. And, to be honest, it was rarely a successful venture. More often than not, Thomas found himself staring at the lights by the time his match was over.

A couple of years ago, Thomas and Jeff, fresh off successful appearances in North Carolina, made their way back to Oklahoma and entered ComPro. This was beginning of a magical time for Thomas as finally, everything seemed to fall into place. The New York Express won the ComPro Tag Team titles in front of a packed crowd on December 6, 2014, defeating the Swamp Men and Spanish Wolf for the then-vacant belts. It seemed that finally, Thomas and Jeff were going to get the respect they felt they deserved.

But things started to fall apart almost as soon as they were put together. A parting of the ways between the brothers left Thomas with no partner to defend the titles with and even with the help of the Swamp Men in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match, he lost those titles to Spanish Mayhem on January 24th, 2015. But shortly after that, Knight found camaraderie among the membership of La Famiglia, beside Wade Argento, Luke Grayson and Patient Zero. Pairing himself with Grayson, La Famiglia was able to bring the ComPro Tag Team Titles into their hands when they defeated Seth Angel and Adrian Dell June 25, 2015. Almost 3 months of domination of those tag team belts was the result, but all good things eventually come to an end. And that end came on October 17, 2015 when Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse took the belts away from La Famiglia. Once again, Knight found himself without his regular partner to defend the titles as Patient Zero had been kicked out of the group by that point and had taken partial revenge by putting Luke Grayson in a body bag and carrying him out of the arena the week before this title match. This forced Knight to team with Wade Argento and while they may have been stablemates, they were not regular tag team partners. And with the added presence in that match of Spanish Wolf and The Wrecking Crew, there seemed little hope for Thomas to walk away still a champion.

From that time forward, Knight has never seen gold again. But as he approached 50-years old, he knew there was one thing he wanted to do before leaving the sport he loved: Win a Heavyweight Title. And when he was able to gain a DQ victory over The Canadian Red Devil, who was the #1 contender tho the ComPro Title, this opened a door for him. Thanks to some heavy politicking by ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion Nathan Estrada, Knight was granted a title shot at Richie Adams on August 12th. Knight was even able to have all of La Famila at ringside with him. And it appeared at first that the numbers game was going to work in his favour as Mr. Chale hopped up on the ring apron towards the end of the match, which drew the attention of Adams. Knight charged in towards Adams, but Adams seemingly had eyes in the back of his head and side-stepped, which caused Knight to collide with Chale. Adams then rolled Knight up for the victory.

Thins were not over yet, though as La Famila all entered the ring and began to attack the champion after the match. This brought The Canadian Red Devil out to make the save. CRD and Adams immediately had words with each other, which did nothing but please La Familia. They waited patiently until the verbal banter was over and then Estrada stepped forward and challenged Adams on behalf of Knight to a rematch. Double or Nothing. And to show everyone that he was serious about this, he announced that the career of Thomas Knight would be on the line as well!

This was not something that Estrada seemed to have consulted Knight about prior to doing it and the look on the face of Knight revealed that it may have been an unwelcome surprise. But it also seemed to motivate Knight as reports indicated that he was in the gym preparing for this match harder than any other match he ever had. He knew this was it. He either walked out of ComPro the champion or he walked out forever.

Last Friday, Knight stepped into the ring, followed afterwards by Adams. The intensity in the atmosphere was incredible. Fans knew this was a match for the ages. Adams immediately went to work with chain wrestling and Knight had difficulty keeping up. But when Knight started using the distraction of the La Famila members at ringside, things looked like they would turn around. Then, the shocking moment as Knight executed a Pedigree in the middle of the ring and rolled Adams over. The referee counted 1....2....and somehow before the 3 count, Adams shot a shoulder up! There was still life in the champion. Sensing his opportunity, Knight positioned Adams for a second Pedigree, but Adams reversed it and locked Knight into a submission hold.

Knight fought. He fought with every ounce of breath in his body. He fought with all the heart a former champion could muster.

But in the end, Knight had no choice but to tap out.

After the match, La Familia entered the ring and Nathan Estrada took the microphone to address their stablemate. Nathan said that Thomas had a long career and had been in La Familia since the beginning. And then Nathan revealed his true intentions as he said that Thomas had never been good enough for La Familia. All the members of the group began to attack the broken, defenceless now ex-wrestler and only the help of Gavin Dixon prevented unknown levels of damage from happening.

But with that act, Thomas Knight is now off the active roster for ComPro. And while the stories will continue to circulate and the tales will continue to be told, Thomas will have to simply be content to bask in the glory of a career that was, perhaps, full of maybes. Of could-have-beens. And to know that he was almost a champion.

Those are the stories that careers are made of.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion

Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
05-04
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th Today!
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th Today!
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th Today!
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Shane Rawls May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Payton Scott May 13th
  • Maggie Rae May 13th
  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Karl Krupp May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
  • Lars Manderson May 13th
  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Pete Maguire May 13th
  • Dave Ryda May 13th
  • Shawn Bragan May 14th
  • Steve Williams May 14th
  • Scott Irwin May 14th
  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
  • Big Van Vader May 14th
  • Joe Cuedo May 15th
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  • J. B. Pain May 17th

More Look Back In History

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