Thomas Burton (October 14, 1961 – March 29, 2010) was an American professional wrestler, also known by his ring name Tom Davis, who competed in North American regional and independent promotions during the 1980s and early 1990s including the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) and the American Wrestling Association (AWA). He also had successful stints in international promotions such as the Japanese shoot-fighting promotion UWF International.
Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Federation and early career
Making his debut in July 1988, Burton first appeared in the World Wrestling Federation appearing on WWF Superstars of Wrestling teaming with Chris Curtis against The British Bulldogs and, in single matches, faced Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake during August 1988.
Several weeks later, while in the American Wrestling Association, he teamed with Mike Enos and Krusher Krugnoff in a 6-man tag team match against Los Guerreros (Hector, Mando and Chavo Guerrero Sr.) in September 1988 and, the following month, defeated Jerry Lynn in one of his earliest matches while touring various independent promotions in the Midwest.
During the next year, he made occasional appearances on WWF Superstars facing Hercules in Huntsville, Alabama, on January 21 and, teaming with Dusty Wolfe, against The Rockers in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 8, 1989. Appearing on WWF Wrestling Challenge later that year, he also faced Ronnie Garvin, Tito Santana, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and Jake "The Snake" Roberts. He also wrestled The Rockers several times, with partners Barry Hardy and Larry Lawson.
Facing Brutus Beefcake, Koko B. Ware and "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka during early 1990, Burton returned to the independent circuit for a time before settling in Memphis.
United States Wrestling Association
While in the USWA, Burton began teaming with Tony Anthony as the Dirty White Boys and, while losing to Jeff Jarrett and Billy Joe Travis on May 21, they later came back to defeat Rex King and Steve Doll for the USWA Tag Team Championship in Memphis, Tennessee on June 2, 1990, before losing to Rex King & Joey Maggs weeks later. Feuding with Billy Joe Travis, Burton had a less than successful singles career losing singles matches to Rex King and Joey Maggs before leaving the promotion later that year.
He also appeared in Jim Crockett Promotions's NWA Power Hour, teaming with Tim Hughes against Arn Anderson and Barry Windham on July 22, 1990. He also faced Lex Luger several times on WCW Worldwide before teaming with Barry Horowitz against the Renegade Warriors (Mark and Chris Youngblood) on October 13, 1990.
Global Wrestling Federation
Returning to the WWF for a short time teaming with Mike Shelton against the Legion of Doom on October 14 and, in WCW, faced Terry Taylor on November 3, 1990. The following year, he appeared in the UWF International's television debut losing to Nobuhiko Takada at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on May 10, 1991. During the next two months, he faced Kiyoshi Tamura and Yuko Miyato before returning to the United States in early July.
Resurfacing in the Global Wrestling Federation, he lost to Terry Daniels at the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas, on July 19, 1991. He later started teaming with Mike Davis, briefly as an incarnation of the Rock 'n' Roll RPMs, and later as Tom Davis of the Dirty Davis Brothers. In July, the two entered the 2-day GWF Tag Team Championship Tournament defeating Firecat and El Grande Coloso, the Renegade Warriors and Bill Irwin and Johnny Ace before losing to Cactus Jack and Makhan Singh in the tournament finals on July 27.
Losing to The Patriot and The Handsome Stranger during early August, he and Mike Davis faced Chris Walker and Steve Simpson, the Renegade Warriors, American Breed and Terry Garvin and Ed Robinson during the next several months.
In late September, Burton and Davis began a storyline with Chaz and Terry Garvin, defeating them on September 27 and later in a rematch on October 11. later that month Burton and Mike Davis were hired by The Lightning Kid to sideline Chaz who had been challenging The Lightning Kid for his GWF Light Heavyweight Championship. During one of their matches they had been trying to injure Chaz's knee when Tug Taylor ran to the ring. Although presumably hired by The Lightning Kid as well, Tug Taylor instead turned on the Dirty Davis Brothers and running them off. During an interview with Tug Taylor afterwards revealed that Chaz was his son and that he would be watching out for Chaz during his stay in the promotion.