During the 1970’s Western States wrestling superstar Adrian Adonis used to invite fans into the ring , before the matches started and challenge fans to real matches. One night a marine named Terry Daniels took the challenge. Daniels only stood at 5’8, but he was a standout wrestler in high school and a golden gloves boxer. Adonis was a Legitimate stretcher and hooker, and was deadly in the ring. I do not know who the winner was, but I know that Daniels impressed Adonis and the other wrestlers in the territory so much, that they trained Daniels to be a professional wrestler.

I am not sure when Daniels actually became a pro wrestler, but I know that the Funks, who owned Western States wrestling, were so impressed with Daniels that they gave him a light push from 1978, until the company went out of business in 1981.  While wrestling for Western States, Daniels beat veteran Roberto Pico, wrestled Adonis to a double count out, and team with Terry Funk to beat Adonis and Dennis Stamp. While wrestling in that territory, Daniels also teamed with Tom Jones to beat Porkchop Cash and Billy Star, as well as teaming with Adonis’s future tag team partner Dick Murdoch .

After Western States folded, Daniels began doing jobs on TV for Bill Watts mid-south wrestling and Joe Blanchard Southwest wrestling. In late 1983 Daniels traveled north to the WWF, where he again found himself putting over the companies top stars. 

Daniels was not wrestling underneath for long in the WWF! In early 1984 Daniels became the first recruit for Sgt.Slaughters Cobra Core. Daniels began holding the flag in Slaughters corner during his matches. During one of Sgt.Slaughters television matches the Iron Sheik attacked Daniels while Slaughter was wrestling. The inexperienced Daniels was overmatched by the sheik, but he wouldn’t let his American flag hit the ground. Shortly after that match, Daniels appeared on Pipers Pit, and the former marine was completely unaffected by Pipers antics. A frustrated Piper ended the show and left the set.

Daniels WWF TV push was in full motion! Daniels regularly beat the companies  underneath talent on TV, throughout the year. Daniels would give  Nikolai Volkoff and the iron sheik everything they could handle, ,before losing to his more experienced opponents on their way up to Slaughter. During that time Daniels reunited with Murdoch and Adonis, who were the WWF tag team champions at the time. Daniels and Slaughter challenged for the tag team title across the country, but were unsuccessful in winning them.

After Daniels push ran its course in the WWF, Daniels immediately returned to Bill Watts Mid-south wrestling in 1985.  Daniels was recognized for his service on Mid-south TV, when the larger Dirty White Boys attacked him and ripped his uniform. Daniels teamed with Tom Pritchard, Tim Horner, Mike Jackson and Wendall Cooley to wrestle the Dirty White Boys across the country. Daniels partners were good athletic wrestlers, but the larger Dirty White Boys would always overpower Daniels and his Partners , and win after a tough fight. These were street fights and Daniels needed a brawler. Daniels brought in badass brawler Bill Dundee. Dundee and Daniels fought White Boys tough, but after a hard fought draw, The Dirty White Boys took off their boots, and beat their game opponents to a bloody mess.

Daniels needed the big guns, and Watts himself who was disgusted at what the Dirty White Boys were doing, came out of retirement to help Daniels, and the duo beat the Dirty White Boys in shows throughout the territory. Daniels also brought in some familiar faces! Dick Murdoch teamed with Daniels to beat The Dirty White Boys in A no DQ match, and his old mentor Sgt Slaughter aided his old alley, and the two Beat the Dirty White boys in a boot camp match.Daniels left shortly after the feud with The Dirty White Boys. Daniels proved to be a very reliable performer for Watts, playing many different roles. Watts also sent Daniels to WCCW to put over Rip Oliver, One Man Gang and Scott Casey on WCCW TV. Daniels was getting a strong push for Watts, but put his ego aside, to put over World Class stars on their TV, when he was asked to.

Daniels next traveled close by to All-star wrestling in San Antonio. In Daniels brief stay in San Antonio, he beat Samoan Samu and Dennis Stamp twice, before returning north to Mario Savoldi’s ICW.

On ICW TV Daniels lost a good guy vs good guy match to Jumping Joe Savoldi, after the match the two competitors shook hands. Daniels was a team player for ICW wrestling and defeating local character wrestlers The Terminator, The Gambler , The Pink Assassin  and The Ninja, in competitive matches.  Daniels was also asked to help young wrestler Phil Apollo, who was getting his first push on TV. Daniels took on the young Apollo as his young team partner, and the two feuded the veteran tag team the Hollywood Blondes. After the feud ended, the Young Apollo turned on Daniels, and the two feuded with each other. During that time Daniels also wrestled in Les Thatchers Souther All-star wrestling.

After leaving ICW Daniels and fellow Mid-south alumni, Wendall Cooley returned for one match. The two wrestled to a no contest, for Watts rebranded UWF.

After his UWF match, Daniels wrestled for another major Northeast independent promotion, that had television. This time Daniels landed in the NWF. While wrestling for the NWF, Daniels wrestled Damien Kane to a draw, and beat Libyan wrestler Sheik Al Shadd by DQ. Daniels also teamed with Rocky Jones to beat the NWF tag team champions The Executioner’s by DQ, but the Executioner’s retained their titles. After unsuccessful challenging DC Drake for the NWF heavyweight title on many house shows, Daniels laid the foundation for his mentor Sgt Slaughter, to enter the company and beat Drake for the title.

After disappear from wrestling for a few years, Daniels resurfaced in the WWF in 1989. During this WWF stint, Daniels lost to WWF superstars on television. During this period Daniels faced Barry Whindham, and teamed with Mario Mancini, in a losing effort to the twin towers.

The Texas native would return home in 1990 and wrestle for the USWA. During Daniels brief run with the company, he twice beat El Grande Pistolero, as well as beating the Dog of War and Van Johnson. Before leaving the company, Daniels teamed with crowd favorite Gary Young, and the duo beat the Texas Hangmen by DQ on USWA TV.

In 1991 Daniels became a regular on ESPN, for Global wrestling in Dallas. On national TV Daniels defeated Rick Garren in the first round of a tournament, to determine the companies first Light heavyweight champion. While wrestling for Global, Daniels also beat Tony Faulk, Tom Burton and Ed Robinson on national television. Despite winning on TV for Global, Daniels role was to put over their young stars. Daniels did jobs for young light heavyweights Jerry Lynn and Barry Horowitz, as well as other up and comers.

Daniels had one last run with the WWF in 1992, losing to the Mountie and Rick Martel on TV. Daniels returned to wrestling in 2007, facing fellow Texan Dusty Wolfe before retiring for good.

During Daniels career he never won a title, which I think is so fitting when describing Daniels career! Daniels was A 5’8 former marine, who not only had the courage to get into the ring as a fan, he would actually hold his own against a legitimate shooter and hooker. Daniels was not only tough and determined, he was also a very giving wrestler. Daniels was truly unselfish as a performer. The first recruit for the Cobra core became a bonafide star during the WWF’s expansion era, he then dedicated the rest of his career elevating young wrestlers, who were trying to make a name for themselves.