Tank - Timmy Lee Robertson March 29, 1980 – May 15, 2009
“Live Life Like You Were Dying”
----One of my first memories of Tank is from an old hot stuffy building in Blytheville, AR. A crew of guys would train there and my job would end up being to get them dates and make sure they would make the shows and such. I would start my stint as “Coach BT” sometime later that year with guys like Christian Jacobs, Kade and Paul Justice. Mark Justice would come along later on, but if I remember right this was before the other guys had even debuted or had just debuted. Tank had an idea of taking the crew with him to do a show with the Hambones. I was adamant about him not doing this. Well, I was just a plain asshole. Yelling at him and telling him that I didn’t want my guys booked on shows that would make them have bad habits. Tank stood there and just took the ass chewing. He never yelled back and just pretty much said I will do what you want. Thankfully he didn’t just punch me. But, I guess with knowing what I know now about him, and when I asked Tank about his years after the face, he would say, “You were right, I was just listening.”
----Rod Dent posted on the Starr Treatment,
“One of my memories of Tank. We were working a show for BT in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, we had a full crew Tank showed up and did security.” And that was fine with him that night. He just wanted to be part of the show. Tank would go on to work for me during a stint I had booking in Malden, MO for ICW. He would tell me later that he learn psychology during that period and would always talk fondly of working with the locker room of Dent, Psycho, Stephanie, James Arnez and others.
----“It’s sad when anyone dies in the wrestling business, because it touches all of us that are involved in the business being it’s as a worker or a fan. But to have someone you worked shows with, talked to, joked around with in the locker rooms, its something you don’t expect. Makes you realize how short life is.”, stated “Notorious” on the Starr Treatment. I could have not said it better myself. I stayed numb almost the whole day on Friday. I took my family out to eat and as we returned, I just went to the site and read what it said again. I had written the damn thing and still couldn’t believe it – “Tank Dies At The Age of 29.”
----I sit there thinking about every time you would see him; he would have a big smile on his face. Especially if he was at a wrestling event. Tony Dale, who is the step father of my daughters, actually lived across the street from Tank and his family growing up. He was talking to a few of us before the funeral and he said, “When Tank was just old enough talk you could ask him “What do you want to be when you grow up??” and he would say, “I wanna be a “waassller”.”” It really didn’t matter that Tank was not in every main event or was not wrestling on a big level card. He was living out a dream. Many people grow dreaming about being something and never getting an opportunity. He did and he enjoyed every minute of every event.
----Tank was one of many of my RRO staff that is not seen by the readers. He would send in results, news and would message me once or twice a week on Yahoo messenger to just say, “Hey..you there?” I would not always respond as my hours were different than his, but it would not stop him from saying hello or informing of something that was going on. “Did you hear?” or “We got a show this weekend..” was common things. If he was on a show, he would make sure that I knew about it and would send in results after the fact. Friday morning I got home from work with a message from him talking about the situation with Mo in South Carolina. I would not get that message until I logged into messenger just hours after he had died. It was almost liked he was sending in stuff after he had died. He was a huge supporter of what I was doing and always had ideas all the time. The Yearbook actually came out of an idea that Psycho and Tank had. He wanted me to do a TOP 100 wrestlers of this area book and it would later morph into the Yearbook. We always talked about the Top 100 and how it would cause controversy no matter who was in it. When I first talked with Tank’s wife Helen she said, "He really wanted one of those Yearbooks this year, but we just didn't have the money. He really liked and respected you." I broke down pretty hard from that one. When a friend dies you are not trying to make it about yourself, when someone says something like that – it just hurts like hell and also makes you proud that he was a friend.
----Tank’s wrestling career would span over 10 years. He would work CCW, MCW, ICW, DCW and other small promotions in this area. Below are results and highlights of the last 3 years of his career.
9.23.06 – Appeared on first NBW show in Dyersburg, TN - The Real Deal” Tim Edwards beat Tommy Boy and Tank in a 3 Way match.
9.29.06 - Tank/Pecos beat Hamhock/JoeDalton at MCW in Osceola, AR.
10.06.06 – His match was rated on the first ever Arena Report. Show was booked by Greg Anthony with him giving Tank the idea about the 5 Count gimmick.
----Tank totally squashed Tommy Boy and ended it with a 5 count. [**] Tank gave Tommy very little and should have given him nothing. Tommy is ok at taking a beating, but he didn’t even show up in wrestling gear. Tank is so much bigger than everyone on the roster, except maybe Edwards. He looks like a killer unstoppable monster heel. He is doing the 5 count King Kong Bundy gimmick and that is perfect for him.
10.14.06 – NBW **Triple 5 Challenge** [5 count in under 5 minutes or opponent gets $500]TANK defeated The K.I.D. in 2:20 with a Dual chokeslam spinebuster.
10.21.06 – NBW TANK defeated Jumpin' Jack Flash in 3:20 in the Cash Flow Triple 5 Challenge.
10.26.06 - "Main Event" Steven Rampage/A.C. Havoc defeated "Playboy" Jason D/TANK w/ Passion for a show in Memphis, TN.
10.28.06 – Tank would be managed by Cash Flow - TANK defeated Starblazer #3 [Jamie Lee under a hood]in 3:42 in Cashflow's Triple 5 Challenge in NBW.
11.04.06 – NBW Tank beat Rod Dent III in Cashflow's Triple 5 Challenge.
11.16.06 – “All American" Teco Murdoch pinned TANK in Newport, AR.
11.17.06 - Tank beat Lunatic (Jamie Lee under a hood) in 3:47 in the Cashflow Triple 5 Challenge in Kenton, TN for NBW.
11.18.06 – NBW TANK defeated "East Coast Bad Boy" Sypro in 4:53 in the Cashflow Triple 5 Challenge”.
11.25.06 – Tank defeats Kilo to win the vacated NBW Title. Kilo lasted more than 5 minutes, so he won the 5 minute challenge. This title would be the top title he held in the area.
12.06.06 – NBW Tim Edwards/Tank beat Slim Pickens/The Kid.
12.17.06 - "Upset Kid" Jeremy Moore & Jerry Weezy defeated TANK & A.W. James.
12.23.06 - NBW Heavyweight Champion TANK over "Southern Outlaw" Kilo by submission in a non -title match.
12.30.06 – Kilo would beat Tank for the NBW Title. In an angle earlier in the night, Tank hit Kilo with a clipboard to bust him open. Tank would joke to me that he stole my Coach BT gimmick.
----In January of 2007, Tank would contribute an article titled “Tank Talks” about letters from MO, Dustin Starr and indy wrestling in general. I wrote this about him.
“He actually worked many shows for me in Malden, MO and was an all around good person. Even though I was not one to pay lots of money [we were not drawing big crowds], Tank was always there to wrestle. He has improved to being an asset to any of the promotions in this area and I do feel he has “untapped” abilities. He is believable as a monster and actually knows psychology, which I hope I can claim was part of my teaching.”
----Tank did a few things to say about the various subjects, but the last few lines of the piece will show you that he was not only thinking about Tank, he was also thinking about the whole dressing room.
“So be careful of how you talk about talent pools in another locker room because that doesn’t look too good on the locker room they are working in right now. Regardless of how much money anyone makes. Regardless of where they go to wrestle. Regardless of whom they meet along the way. Everyone is equal in my opinion, some just more experienced, but no better. That is what is wrong with the independent scene now is that everyone is trying to compete. And for what? The independents might be a stepping stone to get to the top, but don’t let other workers be the stones you cast along the way.”
1.06.07 – NBW Tank beat Tim Edwards in a Fans Bring The Weapons Match. Tank would tell me after the match that he was very proud of the beating that both of them took in this bout.
1.13.07 – NBW “Team X” [Gryffon/Phoenix] beat The Kid/Tim Edwards & Tank/Playboy Tommy Love in a 3-way tag match.
1.20.07 – NBW Indian Strap Match – Tim Edwards beat Tank.
1.27.07 – NBW Ca$hFlow [Tank, A.C. Havoc & Big Red] went to a double count out with "Real Deal" Tim Edwards/”The Kountry Homeboyz” [ J.Weezy/G. Thompson].
2.02.07 - Tank/Rockin Randy/Drew Evans beat Pretty Boy James/Tim Alfonzo/Erik Hayes for WTWA in Dyersburg, TN.
2.03.07 – NBW "Real Deal" Tim Edwards beat Tank in a submission match. The match only went about 3 to 4 minutes because the ring broke and Tank got a really bad stinger on his spine which caused his left leg to go numb. He was doing the Umaga spot where he has them sat down in the corner and runs and puts his butt in their face - Edwards moved and he hit and the ring snapped, dropped the turnbuckles down and gave him one hell of a stinger. He got a standing ovation when he got up. Tank came out the following week at NBW and thanked the fans turning babyface.
2.17.07 - Tank & "Playboy" Tommy Love defeated "The Kountry Homeboyz" [J. Weezy/G.Thompson] to become the new NBW Tag Team Champions after Tank hit Weezy Waldo with his "Detonator" (double underhook piledriver) - Tank was working babyface after the accident and they were running a gimmick were he is trying get Tommy to stop cheating.
2.24.07 - Tommy Love/Tank lost by DQ, but retained the NBW Tag Team Titles over "Kountry Homeboyz" [J.Weezy/G.Thompson].
3.03.07 - Tank beat J-Fed
3.10.07 - The Sicilian Kid/Slim "The Bulldog" Pickens def. "Playboy" Tommy Love/Tank to become the new NBW Tag Team Champions. The finish had Tommy was wanting to use a chain and Tank was trying to stop him and Tommy got rolled up for the 3, after Tank left the ring, Kilo and Alan Steele came out and beat down Kid and Slim. Tank saved and they tried to attack him only to be thrown off, then all of the heels came out and started beating everyone in the ring, faces came out to a huge brawl, crowd was nuts for this.
4.14.07 – Arena Report was filed as NBW packed 316 fans for a show with Rikishi. Here is what I wrote about his match.
---- Even though Kid won the bout, Tank was the star of the battle royal leading most of the young guys into being eliminated and calling the right stuff at the right time. Tank had been out for few weeks and the crowd was hot for him. Tank threw Kid thru the top and second rope, so he was not eliminated. After Tank eliminated Weezy, then he jumped over the top rope thinking he won, but then Kid got in. Crowd liked the finish and Weezy/Kid/Tank all shook hands at the end. [**1/2]
4.21.07 - Tank defeated Stumaga with his "Detonator" piledriver.
4.28.07 - Tank wins the Battle Royal to determine #1 contender for NBW heavyweight Title. The last 3 in was Kilo, Mark justice and Tank. The heels worked over Tank’s leg and was trying to throw him out. Kilo held Tank while Mark got a running start. Tank elbowed Kilo and backdropped Mark over the top. Tank and Kilo worked a good 3 to 4 minutes after that. Tank went for a splash on Kilo, he moved and Tank cleared the top rope while in the air. Kilo jumped over the top after Tank. Both fought on the apron, then Kilo ran towards Tank and got backdropped out of the ring for the Tank win.
5.04.07 – Tim Edwards and Tank team against Mutt/Rex – “Moondogs” and walk out. This version of the Dogs was not selling the two big guys, so they just walked out on them.
5.05.07 - NBW Heavyweight Champion "All That" Allen Steele defeated Tank. Tank was going for his "Detonator" piledriver, when Mark Justice came out. Referee Ron got out of the ring and forced Justice to the back. meanwhile in the ring, Steele grabbed his title belt and went to blast Tank. Tank ducked and kicked Steele and went for the powerbomb. When Tank got Steele up, Steele still had ahold of the belt and blasted Tank in the head and tossed the belt aside. The referee came back in the ring and counted the three.
5.11.07 – LAW Rector, AR - Tank beat TL Jones.
5.12.07 – NBW The 1 Man Wrecking Crew" Tank & J.Weezy defeated "Mr. EGO" Kilo & Stumaga when Tank pinned Stumaga.
5.19.07 – ACW Loose Caboose Festival Paragould, AR Tank & Kilo defeated The Hambones to advance to a title match later in the card…Idol Bane/Cody Daniels defeated Tank & Kilo to retain the ACW Tag-Team Titles.
5.19.07 - Tank defeated Buckwheat.
6.01.09 - "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated Crazy Train on a show that featured Rikishi/Brian Christopher vs “Too Cool 2” [Tim Grind/Flex] in Union City, TN.
6.02.07 - Tank defeated Crazy Train. Bigg Money Gripp came out before the match and told him that he has a surprise for him next week. He told Tank that he had seen enough of him beating up on all the little people in NBW, especially his guys, so he promised that Tank would taste his own blood at Summer Jam at the hands of Lord Humongous.
6.02.07 – Arena Report is filed for NBW’s “Summer Jam”.
----Tank by DQ over Lord Humongous. This was all psychology with Huey heeling and Tank taking a beating. Tank bodyslammed Huey early. Huey dropkicked Tank in the face – and that is not easy considering the size of both guys. Huey is bigger than he looks on TV. Huey started using the hockey mask and Tank bladed. Real good juice. Crowd was not into it as much as I expected. Ref bump with ending with interference, but ref caught him and DQ’ed him. Krisis came down and put the Claw on Tank and they left him lying. [**]
6.09.07 – NBW Crazy Train beat "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank by DQ when Alex Krisis came to the ring and blasted Crazy Train with a chair. (While Tank had his back to Krisis pleading his case to the referee, Krisis came to the ring and attacked Tank with the chair across the back and then put on the CLAW!. Tank bled again and Krisis left him laying).
6.23.07 – NBW "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated Alex Krisis. Krisis attacked Tank while he was making his way to the ring while the lights were off sending him straight into the ring pole busting him open. Krisis took quick advantage and starting working Tank over but Tank would not stay down. Krisis hit a series of moves on Tank including 2 big splashes but Krisis pulled Tank up before the ref could count. Krisis went back to work on Tanks head busting him open even worse. (Good Color) Krisis bodyslammed Tank, which has never been done in NBW, and went for the pin but Tank kicked out big. Tank came back on Krisis with punches that sent him reeling. Tank hit a series of clotheslines and sent Krisis in the corner for not 1, but 2 big avalanches. Tank set up for the Warhead (double handed sit down chokeslam) but Krisis raked the eyes. Tank turned around into the CLAW and went down to his knees. Ref raised his hand but it only dropped twice. Tank came back up with the CLAW still applied and caught Krisis with the Warhead and got the pin.
6.30.07 NBW Tank interview. Tank talked about how everyone that has come into NBW has tried to take him out because he is the biggest around, but he is still standing. Tank talked about how he was the rightful #1 contender for the heavyweight title and put over the fact that NBW was in the latest issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and they even listed him as #1 contender, but he could still not get a title match. Tank stated that Tim Edwards was supposed to be climbing the ladder for a title match as well and he has went thru everyone back there except for him.
7.07.07 NBW "The One Man Wrecking Crew" TANK defeated "Playboy" Tommy Love after a "Warhead".
7.14.07 NBW "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated "Straight Shooter" Gunner Thompson to advance in the Lucky 7 Tournament.
7.21.07 NBW Tank runs an angle where he is trying to get Tim Edwards in the ring.
7.28.07 NBW "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated "The Enforcer" Mark Justice in the finals of the NBW Lucky 7 Tournament at NBW’s Vendetta show.
8.04.07 NBW J.R. Manson defeated "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank. Tim Edwards was still avoiding Tank and even caused Tank’s loss here.
8.11.07 NBW "Real Deal" Tim Edwards & NBW High Risk Champion J.R. Manson defeated "Upset Kid" Jeremy Moore & "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank. During the match, Edwards would never tag in while Tank was in the ring. when it finally came down to it and Moore made the hot tag to Tank, Edwards sidestepped a punch and Tank stopped just short of hitting the referee. Referee Barry sent Tank to the locker room because he thought Tank was trying to hit him. Edwards & Manson double teamed Moore until Manson pinned him after an "Unprettier". after the match, Edwards knocked out the referee and held Moore so Manson could cut some of his hair off until Tank came back in for the save.
8.18.07 NBW "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated Alex Krisis in angle where Jimmy Tidwell picked his opponent.
8.24.07 MCW Heavyweight Champion Frankie Tucker defeated Tank to retain the title in Osecola, AR for MCW.
8.25.07 NBW An angle where Tim Edwards signs to face Tank at NBW’s “Legacy” – at the contract signing Edwards stabs Tank in the eye with a pen.
8.31.07 Southern Outlaw" Kilo & MCW Heavyweight Champion Frankie Tucker defeated "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank & T.W. Justice when Kilo pinned Justice after a frogsplash from MCW in Osceola, AR.
9.01.07 NBW "The One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank vs. "Real Deal" Tim Edwards & J.R. Manson w/ Tidwell at ringside. Tank took a beating with his eye still injured. Krisis made the hot tag and shook Tank’s hand after the match.
9.15.07 NBW Tank teamed with Tim Edwards when Allen Walker made them team. They were defeated by “Black Label Society” [AJ Bradley/Robbie Douglas].
9.22.07 NBW "The Real Deal" Tim Edwards def. Tank to retain the NBW Championship at NBW’s “Legacy”.
10.06.07 It was reported that Tank had moved from Dyersburg, TN and living in Missouri. He would not be working NBW for now.
10.13.07 Tank defeated Slim Pickens for LAW in Rector, AR.
10.27.07 Tank returned three weeks after leaving to turn heel on Jeremy Moore and Jason Reed. Tank becomes a member of the “Riot Squad” [Mark Justice/Rob Justice] with Jimmy Tidwell.
11.10.07 NBW “The Riot Squad” (Tank & "The Law" Robert Justice) with Jimmy Tidwell defeated "Upset Kid" Jeremy Moore & the returning J. Weezy when Tank pinned J Weezy.
11.17.07 "Upset Kid" Jeremy Moore, Crazy Train & "Girl Candy" Christian Jacobs defeated The Riot Squad (Mark Justice, Rob Justice & Tank) when Jacobs pinned Mark Justice.
11.23.07 Tank participated in a $10,000 Battle Royal at LAW’s “Thanksgiving Throwdown”. He was one of the last three in the ring. Tank made everyone look small in the battle royal – even Psycho. He also stayed in the ring the whole match and worked his ass off
12.08.07 NBW Tank defeated J.Weezy after a "Warhead". After the match, Mark Justice told Tank to finish him off and Tank gave Weezy a vicious looking "Detonator" piledriver and Weezy had to be carried to the locker room.
12.15.07 NBW “Southern Outlaw” Kilo defeated Tank by DQ when Riot Squad interfered.
12.16.07 The Asylum (Psycho, Arnez & Pappy) defeated The Riot Squad (Mark & Rob Justice & Tank) at the Barry Harber Memorial Show in Dyersburg, TN.
12.23.07 NBW “The Asylum” [Psycho & Arnez] defeated NBW Tag-Team Champions “The Riot Squad” [Tank & Rob Justice] by countout when Rob & Tank left during the match because they had enough and told commissioner Allen Walker that they were too crazy.
12.29.07 – “Riot Squad” [Tank/X-Treme Justice] beat “Asylum” [Pappy/Arnez] in Weapons Cage match.
1.05.08 – NBW Tank as part of the “Riot Squad” in NBW with Rob and Mark Justice managed by Jimmy Tidwell held the NBW Tag Team Titles. They would lose the titles to Dustin Starr and Chris Rocker that night.
1.12.08 NBW Tank defeated "Knockout Kid" Jason Matthews.
1.26.08 Tank defeated Hamhock by DQ when the Hambone Express interfered and would later team with Ryan Lee in 2 out of 3 Falls Main Event losing to the Hambone Express for NWF in Marmaduke, AR.
2.02.08 Tank finishes up with NBW as reported on the site - Tank does not work for the promotion anymore because they say he is not “reliable”. Moore apparently fired him in front of all the boys, but has not called Tank to tell him he is not needed anymore.
2.16.08 Farmer Billy Hills & "Badstreet Boy" Ryan Lee defeated The Missouri Wrecking Crew (Tank & Bonecrusher) w/ Foxy Lady when Farmer pinned Bonecrusher for HCW in Duquoin, IL.
3.1.08 "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank wrestled "Badstreet Boy" Ryan Lee to a no contest for RCW in Marmaduke, AR. It was a showed he booked.
4.12.08 "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank & "Wildcard" Chris Graham defeated The Hambone Express in a "Street Fight" for RCW in Marmaduke, AR.
5.03.08 “The Missouri Wrecking Crew” (Tank & Bonecrusher) beat Farmer Billy Hills & Crazy Train when Tank pinned Crazy Train after a "Detonator" for HCW in Anna, IL.
5.10.08 "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated Hambone #1 by DQ when Hambone #2 interfered. "Badstreet Boy" Ryan Lee made the save.
8.16.08 "New Age Punisher" Ricky Andrews defeated "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank for RCW in Parsons, TN. This was a group run by Steve Creasy and booked by Tank. Tank would send in results, but not even put it over to me about him booking for Creasy, because of my past heat with Creasy.
8.06.08 MCW Heavyweight Champion Frankie Tucker w/ Sexy Sam Dollar & Billion Dollar Baby defeated "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank after interference from SSD for MCW in Dyress, AR.
10.11.08 Rick Ruby defeated "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank after a big boot in the corner and Ruby put his feet on the ropes for OCW for a benefit in Manila, AR. This was Ruby’s debut and Tank volunteered to take the pin for him.
10.24.08 “Natural Born Playaz” (Southside & Pimp) (champions) w/ Sexy Sam Dollar wrestled Hillbilly Nate and TANK to a no contest for MCW in Osceola, AR.
10.31.08 "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank w/ Sexy Sam Dollar defeated J.T. Storm, AC Styles and Ray Lee in a 4-Way Elimination match to receive a heavyweight title shot in Luxora the next night for MCW in Osceola, AR.
11.01.08 MCW Heavyweight Title Match "Mr. Slice & Dice" Frankie Tucker w/ Sexy Sam Dollar defeated "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank w/ Passion to retain the title after Tank missed a big splash in the corner and Frankie delivered the Flatliner. Passion was Tank’s wife Helen.
11.07.08 AC Styles & C-Money defeated Leroy Hambone & Tank w/ Sexy Sam Dollar after Tank accidentally hit Hambone with the bone instead of C-Money for MCW in Osceola, AR.
11.14.08 Southside Brawler & "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank w/ Ms. Vicky vs C-Money & Pokerface ended in a No Contest after a 4-way ensued and the referee could not control the action for MCW in Osceola, AR.
12.20.08 Deranged defeated Tank returning to NBW after a 10 month absence.
----Tank would be nominated Most Underrated 2008. He placed second behind Kilo and in front of Mark Justice in 3rd. All three had spent 2008 in NBW.
1.24.09 Tank returned full time to NBW doing the Triple 5 Challenge gimmick again and started an angle with a “fan” [Ricky Andrews – who he helped train] in the crowd.
2.14.09 NBW "One Man Wrecking Crew" TANK defeated Norrin Radd in a "Triple 5 Challenge" in under 3 minutes with a Black Hole Slam. After the match Tank challenged the “fan” again and told everyone that if the fan had the balls, he would sign a waiver to wrestle him.
2.21.09 NBW Ricky Andrews signs a waiver and wrestles Tank. Tank destroys him.
2.28.09 NBW "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated BlackJack in 3:33 in a "Triple 5 Challenge" after the match, instead of Tank’s music playing, another music started playing in the background. Ricky Andrews came out from the locker room and ran in the ring. Tank swung with a clothesline, Andrews ducked and came back with a Thesz Press and started pounding on Tank. Tank ran back towards Andrews with another clothesline, Andrews ducked again and this time nailed Tank with a Calf Kick and Tank bumped and rolled out of the ring. NBW Owner Jeff McDonald made a rematch between Tank and Andrews for this Saturday in another "Triple 5 Challenge".
3.14.09 NBW "One Man Wrecking Crew" TANK defeated Ricky Andrews in a "Triple 5 Challenge" after a "Detonator". The ring announcer said the time of the match was 4:58 while Jeff said that his stopwatch shows just a few seconds after the 5 minute mark..
3.21.09 NBW "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated Ricky Andrews by count out in 5:20. Andrews lost but beat the “Triple 5 Challenge”.
3.28.09 NBW Tank runs out and attacks Ricky Andrews after his match. Dog Collar Match is signed for NBW “Spring Breakout 2009”.
4.11.09 NBW "One Man Wrecking Crew" Tank defeated Ozwick the Clown after a "Detonator". After the match, Tank and Ricky Andrews signs contract for Dog Collar Match.
4.18.09 NBW Arena Report is filed as Andrews goes over Tank in the blow off match at “Spring Breakout 2009”. This would be Tank’s last high profile match. Tank was happy with the match and felt they did good having to follow a Ladder match and Andrews being a rookie.
----Ricky Andrews beat Tank in a Dog Collar Match. Andrews is really green and needs some work. He is over like crazy though. Crowd loves this kid. Tank took some early bumps to a much smaller Andrews that he shouldn’t have. It seem like they were given limited time. [good thing and bad thing at the same time] Both guys juiced. Andrews took a good beating and Tank did good upsetting the fans. Andrews got a comeback and Tank bled well. Tank took back over and went to win the bout and they did the same ol’babyface chain match finish. Tank goes to three corners with Andrews behind him hitting them. Andrews slipped thru his legs pulling the chain between Tank’s legs and falling into the corner for the win. [**1/2]
5.09.09 *RCW Heavyweight Title Match*(champion) "One Man Wrecking Crew" TANK defeated BoneCrusher w/ Jade by reverse decision in Corning, AR. This would be the last match of Tank’s life.
----Referee Ron Bryson wrote the following…
“I had the pleasure to work with Tank on many different occasions in the ring. He was a good worker and a fine friend. I never saw him refuse to do anything that was asked of him. He would put anyone over to sell the story. I never really heard him talk bad about anyone, if he had an opinion that was negative he would keep it to himself unless he was ask. Well rest in peace my friend you will be greatly missed. Once again too damn many workers are dying too young.”
----Tank was one of those guys that I always believed should be pushed in main events because of his size, but was happy just working the middle of the card. If he was in the ring having fun and working with a friend like Blackjack, Crazy Train or Bonecrusher – well it didn’t matter to him that he was not in a main event.
----Tank was listed as 434 in the PWI 500 2008. He was very proud of it, because he had grew up reading PWI and thought it was just cool seeing his name listed there.
-----Neil Taylor said the following on www.wrestlingnewscenter.com
“That’s how I remember Tank even now, smiling and laughing. I do not know if the guy had a mean bone in him, if he did I never saw it.”
----That just reminded me of that time many years ago when I was in his face yelling. Maybe because Tank was such a good person is why he didn’t just squash me!!
----Wrestling people from the area that attended his funeral were Crazy Train, Tommy Redneck, Jon “Biscuit” Roberts, Outlaw, Bonecrusher, Blackjack, Ricky Andrews, Southside Brawler and Shannon Lee. The pastor that proceeded over the funeral was a former worker, who I was not familiar with. He did a great job letting rest of the packed funeral home know the importance that wrestling was to Tank. He also put over the fact that the workers might not look like your normal kind of people, but they do have some of the biggest hearts of anyone. Some of the pallbearers were dressed in gimmick.
----Frankie Tucker said the following on the Kayfabe Message Board.
“I respected and liked Tank in the ring and outside the ring !!!”
----A photo of Tank appears in Yearbook 2008 with a handprint of Tucker’s chop on Tank’s chest. Tank was proud of that picture.
----Ricky Andrews said the following on the Kayfabe Message Board.
“Tank was a friend and brother to many. He was truly one of the nicest giants I ever met. We use to joke that he was my daughter’s big teddy bear. RIP Tank.....you will never be forgotten.”
----Jeremy Moore, who Tank worked with for the majority of his last three years, said the following on www.wrestlingnewscenter.com.
“This past weekend was a very tough weekend for not only wrestling in general in this area but also for me and my Dad. It's never easy when you get the call that one of your friends have passed away, this time was no different. It's always hard to try and find a way to smile when something like this happens, but I truly think Tank wouldn't want everybody walking around all down and out. I personally have known Tank for somewhere close to 3 years. He was there for the very first New Blood Wrestling show we ran in Dyersburg, Tn.
From day 1 I could tell Tank not only loved but truly respected the wrestling business, something I and many of the other young guys on the NBW roster were just learning. When I took over booking for NBW Tank helped out alot, I guess you could say he was a company guy. He was full of many ideas some great and some not so great, the same went for me, I guess that’s why it was a good combination. We didn't always see eye to eye by no means but at the end of the day we would put our differences aside and start fresh. After Tank and I parted ways we lost touch for awhile until just recently. I'm sure glad I had the chance to work and talk with him again before he passed away.
Tank my Dad and I will truly miss you.”
----In the territorial days, Tank would have been a perfect opponent as a huge heel. It is not hard for me to imagine Jimmy Hart bringing him in to fight Jerry Lawler for a big show on Monday night. His size, his agility and his attitude would have made him a household name. But, being born in 1980 and being stuck in the post-territorial area didn’t help his case in getting any high profile matches.
----Dustin Starr on the Starr Treatment wrote the following…
“A monstrous, 400-plus pound athlete.that probably stood 6′ 3″ tall… You just don’t see losing a specimen like that at such an early age. But it goes to show you that you just never know when your time has come.”
----“Live Life Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw was played at Tank’s funeral. That song always gets me to thinking about my own life every time I heard it. You can only be sad thinking about a friend dying. A friend dying at the age of 29. But, I think I can honestly say Tank lived life to the fullest. The big man billed from the Badlands of Missouri [a nod to Coach BT and the Riot Squad, which made me smile every time I heard it announced], will be missed. Many of you reading this will miss him at the matches – either you are a worker or a fan. Some of the workers at the funeral were joking they would miss his ribs of freezing their clothes. He will be missed by his wife Helen and their two kids. Blackjack, who had been Tank’s friend for a long time, said he would miss him saying “Just ate some cold pizza and drank a Pepsi.” Everyone will miss his big smile. I will miss messages I would get on Yahoo messengers. Not only the wrestling news and such, but the things like, “Merry Christmas” and just “How’s it going?” RIP my friend – thanks for giving us the time you did.
