Ron Fuller (wrestler)
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Former professional wrestler and older brother of Robert Fuller (Col. Rob Parker). At 6'9" was a basketball stand-out in high school and won a scholarship to the University of Miami. Upon graduation, followed in his family footsteps and became a professional wrestler. Wrestler for his grandfather and father's promotion in Tennessee and eventually bought it out.
In the 1970's to early 1980's, he expanded his territory from Tennessee to the Florida panhandle. Named it Southeastern Championship Wrestling and made it a "hot spot" for southern wrestling.
In the early 1980's, he wore a mask and called himself the "Tennessee Stud". Teamed with his brother and cousin Jimmy Golden several times, to try winning the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Titles from a young Arn Anderson and Jerry Stubbs. Always came up on the short end and brother was injured (kayfabe) by Anderson and Stubbs. Went through a variety of partners, including Andre the Giant to try and beat them. Found one in Bob Armstrong and seemed to beat them. However titles were held up by NWA President Bob Giegel (kayfabe), who ordered a rematch. Fuller turned heel on Armstrong, allowing Stubbs and Anderson to keep the belts.
As the territory's owner, he created a new singles belt called the NWA Continental Title. In the storyline, he named Freebird Michael P.S. Hayes the champion. (In a silly explanation, Hayes had the belt flown in ahead of him). The following week, Hayes arrived in Dothan, AL, to defend the belt against Fuller. Fuller won and planned to leave the area to defend it. However, Fuller was "contractually obligated" to stay in the territory. Fuller tore up the contract, but T.V. announcer Charlie Platt revealed it was a photocopy. Bob Armstrong sneaked up behind Fuller, holding a piece of paper. When Fuller asked where was the original copy, Platt replied, "Right behind you." When Fuller turned, Armstrong punched him and he fell over the announcers table. Armstrong gained his revenge on Fuller, by winning the Continental Title.
In 1985, Fuller changed the name of the territory to Continental Championship Wrestling; to compete with Vince McMahon's WWF (WWE). At this time, he created the Stud Stable and renewed his fued with Armstrong. In a steel cage tag team match, Fuller teamed with cousin Jimmy Golden against Armstrong and Robert Fuller. Robert turned "heel" and all three beat up Armstrong. Armstrong's sons Brad, Steve, and Scott came to their Dad's rescue, but he was already injured. The next week, Fuller revealed a clause in the contract saying, "Because Armstrong lost (though a pin never occurred), he must leave the territory." In the weeks that followed, "The Stud Stable" eliminated the Armstrongs; except for Brad. Brad teamed with 7'5" wrestler Little John Harris. While Fuller fought Harris outside the ring, Golden and Robert were about to "squash" Brad. Suddenly, a masked man ran to the ring and saved him. The man put Robert in the figure-four leglock and Robert screamed in pain. The masked man speaks and says, "You can call me The Bullet!" Hearing he sounds like Bob Armstrong, Fuller cried out in anger. In the following weeks, Fuller talked (kayfabe) with Bob Geigel. Geigel decided, "If The Bullet is unmasked as Bob Armstrong, he is banned for life."
Over the next two years, Fuller and his stable tried unmasking Armstrong, but never succeeded. In a steel cage match, Armstrong locked Fuller in the figure-four and kept it clampt on. Fuller's leg was broken (kayfabe) and he retired as a wrestler. Still a manager, he brought in different wrestlers to the Studd Stable. In 1987, he hired Kevin Sullivan to unmask Armstrong. Sullivan revealed he used Fuller as a pawn; to start his own faction. He brought in the New Guinea Headhunters, Sheik Abdul (Saudi Arabia), and Kris Von Kolt (Germany). Fuller and Studd Stable turned "face" and put their differences aside with The Bullet. The Bullet, the Armstrongs and Stud Stable form an alliance. Since Sullivan's faction were foreigners (kayfabe) who hate America, the alliance became American patriots. However, Sullivan brought up Fuller can't wrestler, because he was medically forced to retire. So, Fuller "fools" Sullivan, by donning his Tennessee Studd mask once again. In a throwback to Bob Armstong's Bullet storyline, "The Tennessee Studd" is there to wrestle for Ron Fuller.
After the feud ended, Golden and Robert turned heel again, but Ron "retired" as a face. He made on and off again appearances on T.V. and area matches. However, he really worked behind the scenes. In 1988, he sold Continental Championship Wrestling (which became Continental Wrestling Federation) and retired from the business.
Throughout the 1990's, he helped bring WCW shows to the old territory, but never worked full time for the promotion. Today, he lives in Florida and runs a tow truck business. Occasionally, appearing in independent shows around Florida and Alabama, he still loves giving back to the "sport" that made him happy.
