Big Boss Man Gets WWE Induction

Ray Traylor, Jr., a professional wrestler who once worked as a Cobb County prison guard, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next month.

WWE confirmed Traylor's selection via Twitter on Monday.

Traylor was one of the most popular stars during the 1980s and 90s. He was born in Marietta in 1963 and was a prison guard until he debuted in 1985 for Jim Crockett Promotions, one of the leading wrestling companies in the southeastern United States.

When he debuted, Traylor wrestled under the name "Big Bubba Rogers," but in 1988 he signed with the then-World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) as the character of the Big Boss Man. Promoter Vince McMahon Jr. created the character when he learned of Traylor's background.

Traylor wrestled in a light blue, short-sleeved shirt with black trousers and an equipment belt that carried a pair of handcuffs and a night stick.

Traylor wrestled most of the era's major stars on pay per view and network TV, including Hulk Hogan, Jake "the Snake" Roberts, Andre the Giant and dozens of others. His skills behind the microphone backed up his loud, forceful presence in the ring itself.

Toward the end of his career, Traylor worked in Japan and for other smaller promotions throughout the U.S., before briefly returning to Vince McMahon's promotion during the Stone Cold Steve Austin era in the mid 1990s. His last match came in a tournament in Japan.

In July 2004, Traylor ran unsuccessfully for the Paulding County commission. He died later that year of a heart attack at age 41.

At the time of his death, Traylor was the owner of a Dallas, GA-based storage company.

Traylor will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 1, the night before Wrestlemania 32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Photo above: Big Boss Man takes a moment out of his autographing session to pose for the cameras at Andrews AFB in 1999. Credit: Telfair H. Brown PA1