Big Bossman passes away at age 42

[De Lorimier]

Big Bossman passes away at age 42
TSN.ca Staff
9/23/2004

Ray Traylor, known to WWE fans as "The Big Bossman", passed away in his home on Wednesday night at the age of 42.

Traylor got his start as Jim Cornette's bodyguard "Big Bubba Rogers" after leaving his job as a real life prison guard in Marietta, Georgia.

After joining Vince McMahon's WWF in 1988, he was given the persona of "Big Boss Man", based on former job, and was managed by "Slick". Traylor went on to feud in the upper-mid card, including a memorable title chase with Hulk Hogan.

After leaving WWF in 1993, Traylor joined worked in Japan alongside "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, before returning to the United States and joining WCW in 1994.

While in WCW, Traylor appeared in a variety of roles including his original gimmick of "Big Bubba Rogers", "The Guardian Angel", "The Boss", and after being kicked out of the nWo, his real name of Ray Traylor.

After re-joining the WWF in the fall of 1998, Traylor appeared as a masked "Big Bossman" and was immediately inserted in a top card feud with Steve Austin as Vince McMahon's enforcer. He would go on to be part of some major angles, including being hanged by The Undertaker's Brood, and participating in the infamous "Hell in a Kennel" match. Traylor would go on to win the WWE Tag Team Titles on December 14th, 1998, and the WWE Hardcore title four times (November 30th, 1998, July 25th August 24th, and October 12th 1999).

Traylor was then assigned to Ohio Valley as an instructor who coached the developmental talent. Earlier this year Traylor worked at Korakuen Hall in Japan, where he attacked "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.

Traylor had been in good spirits, and had not been complaining of any health problems other than a chronically bad knee.

Seeing the old Boss man handcuffed to the ropes and beaten by Hulk Hogan with my brother and his freinds at the old Montréal Forum remains one my of my favorite childhood memories.

RIP Boss Man.

 

[newfangle]

I remember watching him when I was very young.

Brain Pillman, Owen Hart, Davie Boy Smith, and now Big Boss Man.

What a crummy business.

 

[Capulet]

Why the hell are alot of wrestlers dying young? Drugs? That's really sad.

RIP, Big Bossman. You entertained millions.

 

[Moss]

Why the hell are alot of wrestlers dying young? Drugs? That's really sad.

RIP, Big Bossman. You entertained millions.

I dunno, but it does seem like a lot wrestlers see their lives ended short.

 

[classical_hero]

Too many are dying young.

 

[Hamlet]

Jesus Christ, he looked about 42 back in 1990 when I was collecting WWF cards and watching it on my Nan's TV.

Sweet dreams, Ray.

 

[~Corsair#01~]

Shame, he was a good actor.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

The article doesn't say exactly what killed him...my guess would be a heart attack, or perhaps drugs.

 

[MajII]

Why the hell are alot of wrestlers dying young? Drugs? That's really sad.

RIP, Big Bossman. You entertained millions.

My guess would be their immense size almost equates to obesity when the funciton of the heart is examined. Unless they engage in frequent and intense cardio-vascular activity and eat a balanced diet they share the same risk of ailment that the severely overweight do.

Their figures might suggest they're healthy, but unless they take care of what's underneath they're as prone to illness as the next fat guy.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

Yeah, being that heavy, and taking part in that much stressful/ strenuous activity is really hard on the heart.

Like Chris Farley (from SNL), as heavy as he used to be, but always acting so nuts (think motivational speaker 'Mat Foley'), I knew he wasn't going to live to see old age. Drugs got him first, though.

 

[SolarKnight]

Davie - boy smith, which wrestler was that again?

 

[CurtSibling]

Never liked wrestling that much as a kid, but Bossman was a real character.

Sad that man should die so young...

 

[Jawz II]

was he the one with the cop uniform?

blue shirt, black pants, good guy one day and bad guy 2 weeks later?

i watched wwf when i was a kid back then too, always thought he was supposed to be a cop

 

[Quentin]

I had his action figure once.

Strange that an article about his death has no mention at all of the reason...

 

[King Alexander]

I also watched him when I was a kid. Nice moves, although it takes a good acting-training.
I also played his character in a video-game(along with the other WWF stars at that time).

Sad that he died so young.

 

[Jawz II]

the undertaker kicked ass, what happened to him?