Ray Traylor, who wrestled in the WWF for years under the name "The Big Boss Man," passed away over the weekend at the age of 42. Rick Scaia has the obit. The Boss Man, who really was a former prison guard in Cobb County, Georgia, used to come to the ring in full police uniform, and after winning would handcuff his defeated opponents to the ring ropes and beat them with a nightstick- a practice that was kiboshed around the time of the Rodney King beating. Traylor remained active until not long before his death, and will be missed.
Posted by Stephen Silver at September 27, 2004 01:31 AMI can't believe this. I live in freaking Cobb County and I didn't hear this.
He was one of my favorites growing up. RIP - Ray.
Posted by: Gib at September 27, 2004 12:17 PMI was sorry to hear about Traylor dying. I always had a fond spot in my heart for him.
I remember sitting in the second row of a house show in Knoxville during Bossman's feud against Hogan, and they were wrestling one of their matches. I remember my friend Brett and I cheering hard for the Bossman, a couple of voices against a crowd of Hulkamaniacs (we hated Hogan...still do).
After the match, as he walked back to the back, he gave Brett and me a wink. I always thought that was cool.
Posted by: BSTommy at September 27, 2004 09:12 PM