Teddy Long was married for nearly 4 decades to his wife, Tasha Long, from around 1982 until her passing in September 2022.
Teddy Long, born Theodore Robert Rufus Long in 1947, is a legendary figure in professional wrestling.
He began his career humbly in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as a ring crew member and referee, eventually transitioning into a charismatic manager and authority figure.
In 2017, the APA (Bradshaw & Ron Simmons) inducted Teddy into the WWE Hall of Fame in recognition of his decades-long impact.
Recently, Teddy has been mourning the loss of his son, Antione Long, who recently passed away on July 7, 2025.
Antione, affectionately known as “Little Teddy,” was not involved in wrestling but was beloved by those close to the Long family.
This tragedy follows the loss of Teddy’s wife, Tasha, in 2022, marking a challenging period for him.
Teddy Long And His Wife, Tasha, Were Together For 40 Years!
Teddy Long’s wife, Tasha Long, was his partner for over 40 years, having married in 1982.
While she largely stayed out of the spotlight, Teddy often spoke warmly of her in interviews.
He usually described her as someone who understood the demands of the business and stood by him through its highs and lows.
In 2007, Teddy was involved in a notable WWE storyline with Kristal Marshall, a former WWE Diva.
In the storyline, Kristal played his romantic partner, and the two were portrayed as being “engaged” on-screen.
The angle led to a planned wedding segment on SmackDown, during which Teddy Long suffered a scripted (kayfabe) heart attack at the altar before the ceremony could be completed.
This storyline was purely fictional and part of WWE programming. Kristal later revealed in interviews that there were creative issues behind the scenes, and the angle was abruptly dropped.
Despite the dramatic nature of the storyline, there was no real-life romantic involvement between Teddy Long and Kristal Marshall.
Off-screen, Tasha remained his real-life partner. She understood the wrestling lifestyle and supported him through travel, pressure, and scripted controversies.
Their marriage lasted for nearly 40 years until her passing in September 2022.
Teddy revealed the news during an emotional appearance on the Busted Open Radio show.
Furthermore, he said that he chose not to make a public announcement at the time because he preferred to keep personal matters private, saying:
I did lose my wife, but I’m keeping on going, man, because that was God’s cause. So there’s nothing I can do about that but just keep on continuing to do what I do.
As for the cause of her death, Teddy did not disclose any specific details.
Despite the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife Tasha in 2022 and his son Antione in 2025, Teddy Long continues to be supported by his daughter, LeTicia.
While the details about LeTicia are under wraps, she remained a pillar in Teddy’s life.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Teddy started his professional wrestling career in 1985 with the National Wrestling Alliance.
- He made his debut in the WWF (now WWE) as a referee in 1998.
