The Cauliflower Alley Club yesterday announced the passing of "Golden Boy" Jerry Grey, a longtime journeyman wrestling following a lengthy battle with cancer at 62.
An Ohio transplant to Florida, Grey broke into the business under Boris Malenko and debuted as a teenager for Malenko and Louie Tillet's Sunbelt Wrestling, which attempted to run oppositition of Eddie Graham's Championship Wrestling from Florida. After making national appearances on TBS for Georgia Championship Wrestling, Grey later worked for Florida and then Jim Crockett Promotions, Memphis (under masked personas, including Mega Maharishi and The Guru) and Bill Watts' Mid-South territory.
Grey worked as an underard talent and moved from territory to territory in the 1980s, eventually getting a big push for Don Owen's Portland Wrestling, where he teamed with Tom Prichard. The duo held the tag team titles there. He returned to Florida, where he feuded with Tyree Price over the Bahamas Championship and held the tag team belts with Bob Cook as the masked Mighty Yankees. The team also appeared for Memphis in the CWA era.
Cook, who handles a lot of the CAC's online media, wrote the following:
"Today, we lost more than a friend… we lost a brother. Please join the Cauliflower Alley Club as we remember a dear friend.
For over 40 years, “Golden Boy” Jerry Grey was a constant in the life of “The Cooker” Bob Cook — in and out of the ring. They traveled the roads together, got in trouble together, had each other's back at all times, shared the spotlight, and built something special as The Mighty Yankees. Those weren’t just matches… those were some of the greatest moments of Cook’s life, moments he carries with him forever.
Although they are long removed from the ring and have had their many health battles over the years, their friendship remained strong. That bond never faded — if anything, it only grew stronger with time as they spoke often, mostly reminiscing about the past.
Jerry wasn’t just a talented professional wrestler — he was a promoter, a leader, and a man who truly loved this business and everyone in it. But beyond all that, he was someone you could count on. Loyal. Passionate. Real.
Bob Cook recalls, “We laughed, we fought, we chased dreams together… and somehow, through it all, we created memories that time can never take away. This one hurts deeply. The ring feels a little emptier today, and so does my heart.”
We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends during this most difficult time, may the memories of the good times carry us all through.
“Rest easy, my friend. Thank you for the memories, the miles, and the brotherhood. You will be greatly missed… but never forgotten.
— Your partner, always, love you.”
Grey toured for New Japan Pro Wrestling a number of times between 1986 and 1989 and also appeared on WWF TV as a babyface enhancement talent. While in NJPW, he teamed with Dick Murdoch, Ray Candy, Mr. Pogo, Kendo Nagasaki and others. Grey later promoted under the WPW banner, focused in the Southeastern United States. He last wrestled in 2019.
Grey was diagnosed in 2012 with colon cancer, which caused him to basically spend everything he had saved making in professional wrestling. A GoFundMe launched a few years ago raised nearly $40,000 to assist him.
PWInsider.com sends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Jerry Grey.
Thanks to Darren Gibson for passing along the news.
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