Big Bossman

Real name: Ray Traylor
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 315 lbs.
Date of birth: May 2, 1962
Date of death: September 22, 2004
From: Cobb County, GA
Pro debut: 1985
Trained by: Ted Allen
Finishing move: Bossman Slam

Biography

– Prior to getting into wrestling, Traylor was legitimately a corrections officer in Cobb County, GA
– Traylor began his career in the NWA in 1985, working under his real name
– Dusty Rhodes repackaged Traylor as ‘Big Bubba Rogers’, the character re-debuting in May as Jim Cornette’s bodyguard
– At Starrcade 1986, Rogers defeated Ronnie Garvin by knockout in a Street Fight
– On April 19, 1987, Rogers defeated The One Man Gang to win the UWF Heavyweight Title
– On May 2, Rogers defeated Barry Windham by countout to retain the UWF Heavyweight Title
– On May 31, Rogers defeated Craig Whitford to retain the UWF Heavyweight Title
– On June 13, Rogers defeated Barry Windham to retain the UWF Heavyweight Title
– On June 15, Rogers defeated Michael Hayes to retain the UWF Heavyweight Title
– On July 2, Rogers defeated Barry Windham in a Street Fight to retain the UWF Heavyweight Title
– In March 1988, Rogers (as simply ‘Big Bubba’) went on tour with All Japan
– In May 1988, Traylor joined the WWF as ‘The Big Boss Man’, sometimes written as ‘Big Bossman’
– At Summerslam 1988, Bossman defeated Koko B Ware
– In 1989, Bossman and Akeem formed ‘The Twin Towers’ tag team
– At WrestleMania V, The Twin Towers defeated The Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty)
– At WrestleMania VI, Bossman defeated Akeem
– At Survivor Series 1990, The Hulkamaniacs (Bossman, Hulk Hogan, Jim Duggan & Tugboat) defeated The Natural Disasters (Earthquake, Haku, The Barbarian & Dino Bravo)
– At Royal Rumble 1991, Bossman defeated The Barbarian
– At WrestleMania VII, Bossman defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Mr Perfect by DQ
– At Summerslam 1991, Bossman defeated The Mountie in a ‘Loser Must Spend A Night In Jail’ Match
– At Survivor Series 1991, Bossman, Hawk & Animal defeated Earthquake, Typhoon & Irwin R Schyster
– At WrestleMania VIII, Bossman, Jim Duggan, Sgt Slaughter & Virgil defeated Brian Knobbs, Jerry Sags, Repo Man & The Mountie
– Traylor left the WWF in March 1993 and, following a short stint with USWA, returned to All Japan as ‘Big Bubba’ in the summer
– In December 1993, Traylor signed with WCW as ‘The Boss’, but was soon renamed as ‘The Guardian Angel’ due to copyright complaints from WWF
– In 1995, Traylor changed ring names once again, re-adopting the ‘Big Bubba Rogers’ moniker
– At Uncensored 1995, Rogers defeated Sting
– At World War 3 1995, Rogers defeated Jim Duggan in a Taped Fist Match
– At Souled Out 1997, Rogers defeated Hugh Morrus in a Mexican Death Match
– Traylor returned to working under his real name in late 1997 and began a feud with the nWo
– On the November 24, 1997 Nitro, Traylor defeated WCW United States Champion Curt Hennig by DQ
– At Souled Out 1998, Traylor, Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner defeated Scott Norton, Buff Bagwell & Konnan
– In March 1998, it was announced that Traylor’s WCW contract was not being renewed
– Traylor returned to the WWF as ‘Big Bossman’ in October 1998
– On the November 30, 1998 episode of Raw, Bossman defeated Mankind in a Ladder Match to win the WWF Hardcore Title
– On the December 14 Raw, Bossman & Ken Shamrock defeated The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn & Road Dogg) to win the WWF Tag Team Titles
– On the following episode of Heat, Bossman & Shamrock defeated The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) to retain the WWF Tag Team Titles
– At Royal Rumble 1999, Bossman defeated Road Dogg
– At In Your House: St Valentine’s Day Massacre, Bossman defeated Mideon
– At WrestleMania XV, Bossman was infamously ‘hanged’ by The Undertaker following their Hell In A Cell Match
– At Fully Loaded 1999, Bossman defeated Al Snow to win the WWF Hardcore Title
– On the following episode of Raw, Bossman defeated Viscera to retain the WWF Hardcore Title
– Bossman lost the Hardcore Title to Al Snow at Summerslam 1999, but regained it on the following episode of Smackdown
– During the feud, Bossman infamously ‘served Al Snow a meal made from his dead dog Pepper’
– On the October 14 Smackdown, Bossman defeated The Big Show & Al Snow to win the WWF Hardcore Title
– On the October 28 episode, Bossman defeated Al Snow to retain the WWF Hardcore Title
– On the November 11 episode, Bossman defeated Faarooq to retain the WWF Hardcore Title
– On the November 25 episode, Bossman defeated Kane to retain the WWF Hardcore Title
– On the December 5 Heat, Bossman defeated The Godfather to retain the WWF Hardcore Title
– On the February 6, 2000 Heat, Bossman defeated WWF European Champion Val Venis by DQ
– At WrestleMania 2000, Bossman & Bull Buchanan defeated D’Lo Brown & The Godfather
– At Backlash 2000, Bossman & Buchanan defeated The Acolytes (Faarooq & Bradshaw)
– In the summer of 2002, the Boss Man was assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling to coach the WWE developmental talent
– Traylor was released by WWE in 2003
– Bossman had a final run with Japan’s IWA from March to August 2004
– Traylor died of a heart attack at his home on September 22, 2004. He was 41 years old
– On April 2, 2016, Slick inducted the Big Boss Man into the WWE hall of fame.