Theodore Long | |
---|---|
Birth name | Theodore Robert Rufus Long |
Born | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | September 15, 1947
Spouse(s) |
Tasha Long
(m. 1982; died 2022) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Teddy Long Theodore Long Theodore R. Long[1] |
Billed height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] |
Billed weight | 173 lb (78 kg)[2] |
Billed from | Atlanta, Georgia[2] |
Debut | 1985 |
Theodore Robert Rufus Long (born September 15, 1947)[3] is an American former professional wrestling referee, manager and authority figure best known for his tenures in NWA, WCW and WWE.
Long began his career in the National Wrestling Alliance and made his WWE (then the World Wrestling Federation) debut in 1998 as a referee. He transitioned to be an on-screen manager in 2003 and later served as General Manager of SmackDown for two tenures lasting a combined six years as well as a one-year stint as ECW General Manager.
In 2017, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ron Simmons and John Layfield.[4]