Non Participant
Tommy Young
(photo by Les Thatcher)
Date of birth: July 9, 1947
Town of birth: Charlotte, North Carolina
Trained by: Lou Thesz
Debut: 1973
Tommy Young started out as a referee in 1973 for the National Wrestling Alliance and Jim Crockett Promotions.
By the 1980s, Tommy was the Senior Referee for Jim Crockett Promotions and refereed most of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship matches. He had a style of sliding while starting the three count that made it look like he was giving his all to be in the right place at the right time to give a timely count on the pin. He had excellent facial expressions to show his pain if he was knocked down or his frustration over the heels cheating.
Tommy severely injured his back in 1989 and had to retire.
He returned briefly in 1998 in the World Wrestling Federation as part of the "NWA" angle.
Tommy attends wrestling reunion shows but is now retired from refereeing. However, he has refereed special matches in such reunion shows, such as the Rock and Roll Express vs Midnight Express matches.
Tommy was "knocked out" more than any other referee in wrestling history.
Tommy was named Referee of the Year in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986.
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(compiled by Brett Schwan)
