Randy Colley

Randy Colley (May 2, 1950 – December 14, 2019) was an American professional wrestler better known as Moondog Rex.

He was best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation as a part of The Moondogs, and as the original Smash of Demolition.

Colley made his debut wrestling as Jack Dalton.

Teaming with Jim Dalton, he lost to Bob Boyer and Joe Turner on September 21, 1970, in Panama City, Florida, at a Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling event.

The Dalton Brothers would remain a tag team throughout 1970 and 1971, facing various opponents such as The Welch Brothers and The Australians.

For the remainder of the 1970s he moved around various National Wrestling Alliance territories.

In 1972 the Dalton Brothers moved to NWA Mid-America and were ultimately rebranded as "The Medics".

In 1976 he joined Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and began wrestling under his real name for the first time.

This would also be his first singles run.

While appearing in MACW he would compete against opponents such as Steve Strong, Two Ton Harris, and Larry Sharpe.

Colley joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1980, debuting under the name "Ripper Hawkins".

Within a few weeks, he was re-packaged as "Moondog Hawkins", soon after that being renamed "Moondog Rex".

Eventually, he was teamed with "Moondog King" (Edward John White) as "The Moondogs" tag team.

In 1981 he won the WWF Tag Team Championship with Moondog King (later replaced by Moondog Spot) as the Moondogs.

On August 21, 1981, the Moondogs would lose the Tag Team Championship to Rick Martel & Tony Garea.

On September 1, 1981, he mounted an unsuccessful challenge to WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund, but was defeated.

He next appeared in Georgia Championship Wrestling.

Wrestling with Moondog Spot (Larry Latham), the Moondogs made their debut on October 25, 1982, in a match at the Omni against Brad Armstrong and Tito Santana.

The Moondogs would continue with the promotion for the next three months, wrestling The Wild Samoans and various combinations that included Stan Hansen.

Both Moondogs then jumped to the CWA, where they defeated The Fabulous Ones on April 4, 1983, in the Mid South Coliseum to win the Southern Tag Team Championship.

They became embroiled in a lengthy feud with the Fabulous Ones and lost the titles to them three weeks later.

The Dogs also would team up with Jimmy Hart.

The Moondogs jumped to the World Wrestling Federation in the midst of its national expansion.

The Moondogs made their return on the March 4th, 1984 edition of All American Wrestling and defeating Bobby Fulton and Brian Madden.

The new duo remained undefeated until June 30, where they lost a Los Angeles house show match to The Wild Samoans.

The Moondogs continued to unsuccessfully feud with the Samoans throughout that summer.

In June 1984 Colley received two singles shots against WWF Champion Hulk Hogan on the Canadian television tapings that aired on both Maple Leaf and All-Star wrestling.

In September 1984 they were programmed into a house show series against the newly arrived Fabulous Freebirds.

While continuing to defeat preliminary opposition on television, the Dogs were winless against the Freebirds.

Following departure of Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, and Buddy Roberts from the promotion, the Moondogs feuded with the Brisco Brothers.

The Moondogs entered 1985 on the lower end of the tag team ranks, and were split apart as singles wrestlers to help flesh out house show cards.

Colley lost singles matches to Bret Hart, Barry Windham, Jimmy Snuka, Jerry Brisco, and Tony Atlas to start the year, before going on a winning streak that saw him defeat Bobby Colt, and Rick McGraw on the house show circuit.

This would continue until April 1985, at which point Colley left the WWF for Bill Watts' Mid South Wrestling Federation.

Colley made his debut for the UWF on April 10, 1985.

Wrestling as The Nightmare, he was teamed with Eddie Gilbert and defeated Steve Brinson and Terry Daniels.

He was managed by both Eddie Gilbert and Sir Oliver Humperdink and remained undefeated and on May 22, 1985, defeated Terry Taylor to gain the Mid-South North American Title.

In June he rebranded himself as The Champion and continued to successfully retain the title against challengers such as Taylor, Magnum T. A., Butch Reed, and Brad Armstrong.

The Champion retained the title until August 10, 1985, where he was defeated by Dick Murdoch at the MSW Superdome Extravaganza in New Orleans, LA.

Colley suffered his second defeat weeks later, falling to Jake Roberts on television.

Colley then began a long losing streak, losing to Wendell Coley and Butch Reed, as well as facing numerous defeats in various tag team matches.