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George Gray was an American professional wrestler best known as One Man Gang and Akeem.

Career

Gray started his career in the Kentucky/Tennessee independent promotions (most notably International Championship Wrestling, a Louisville, Kentucky-based promotion run by Angelo Poffo) under the name Crusher Broomfield. One of Broomfield's major angles was that his contract was owned by ICW Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and Savage's arch-nemesis (coincidentally at this time nicknamed "One Man Gang") Ron Garvin defeated Savage in a match to set Broomfield free. He later worked for the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling as One Man Gang, billed as being from Chicago's Halsted Street on the South Side. He was managed by Kevin Sullivan and Theodore Long, and Sir Oliver Humperdink. He was a member of Sullivan's Dungeon of Doom and had a brief run as United States Champion in 1995.

In the regional territories, he was a member of Skandor Akbar's "Devastation Inc."

World Wrestling Federation

Gray made his debut in the WWF on May 12, 1987, being managed by Slick, in a match against Jesse Cortez. He spent much of his early WWF run defeating enhancement talent ("jobbers") in extremely short matches in order to build him up. While the Gang often defeated jobbers and other lower card wrestlers with ease, he would often be on the end of defeat when main eventing against bigger stars such as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. One Man Gang participated in the first ever Survivor Series pay per view as a member of Andre the Giant's team, fighting a team led by Hulk Hogan. In 1988, Gang entered the first Royal Rumble at number 19 out of 20 participants, and was one of the last two men left in the ring, before being eliminated by Jim Duggan. One Man Gang participated in the World Title Tournament at WrestleMania IV, defeating Bam Bam Bigelow in the opening round before being disqualified against Randy Savage after Gang hit Savage with his manager's cane.

Following his loss at WrestleMania, Gang was placed lower "on the card," feuding with Bam Bam Bigelow, Koko B. Ware, and Don Muraco. In September 1988, One Man Gang's manager, Slick, announced that Gang was actually African, and planned to re-embrace his roots. An episode of WWF Superstars which aired on September 24, 1988, featured a vignette with Gene Okerlund on-location in "deepest darkest Africa", where he found One Man Gang transforming himself into his new persona. Slick announced from that point on, Gang would be referred to by his new name, Akeem, the African Dream. Ted DiBiase chose Akeem to join his team to fight Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage's team at the upcoming Survivor Series. The match featured Akeem along with teammate Big Bossman handcuffing Hulk Hogan to the ring post while they dominated the Macho Man, although Hogan eventually overcame the odds and defeated the two men. Shortly afterward, Bossman and Akeem teamed up to form the Twin Towers.

Though the Twin Towers never held the WWF Tag Team Titles, they were strongly involved in the storyline which would eventually cause Randy Savage to turn heel and challenge Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania V. In the 1989 Royal Rumble, Randy Savage was accidentally eliminated by teammate Hulk Hogan, allowing both Akeem and Bossman to double team Hogan and eliminate him. The Main Event show broadcast live on NBC on February 3, 1989 featured Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage vs The Twin Towers. During the match, Savage's valet Elizabeth was injured after Savage was thrown through the ropes and knocked her to the ground. This led Hulk Hogan to abandon his partner and bring Elizabeth to the back for medical help. Although Hogan later returned to the match to help Savage defeat Akeem and Bossman, Hogan's actions with Elizabeth caused Savage to attack him backstage, setting up the headline match for WrestleMania. The Twin Towers went on to face The Rockers at WrestleMania V and defeated them when Akeem pinned Shawn Michaels with a 747 splash after a powerbomb from the Big Bossman.

In early 1990, Big Bossman became upset with Slick always trying to take the credit for him, and turned on both his manager and his partner Akeem. He defeated Akeem at WrestleMania VI. Although Akeem remained in the WWF until October of 1990, his loss to The Bossman at WrestleMania was his last high profile match in the company.

Gray had a very brief stint in ECW as a member of the Full Blooded Italians.

Since then he has worked as a prison guard at Louisiana State Prison in Angola, LA. George Gray made a brief return to the WWF in 2001 for the gimmick battle royal at WrestleMania X-Seven, as One Man Gang.

Additional info

• Previous managers

• Kevin Sullivan
• Slick
• Theodore Long
• Rockin' Robin
• Gary Hart
• Jimmy Hart
• Boogaloo Brown
• Jim Holliday
• Skandor Akbar
• Jim Cornette
• James J. Dillon

• Movies

• Stayed Tune

• Finishing and signature moves

• 747 Splash
• Front suplex
• Elbow drop

Championships and accomplishments

• 1-Time WCW United States Champion
• 1-Time NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (with Kelly Kiniski)
• 1-Time NWA Florida United States Tag Team Champion (with Ron Bass)
• 1-Time NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Champion
• 1-Time WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Killer Tim Brooks & Mark Lewin)
• 1-Time UWF Heavyweight Champion
• 2-Time WWC Hardcore Champion
• 1-Time Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time WWA Heavyweight Champion
• 2-Time Superstars of Wrestling Australian Champion

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 312 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.

• American professional wrestlers
• 1960 births
• Living people
• People from South Carolina
• African American professional wrestlers