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With their studded black ring attire, black hockey masks and face paint, Demolition dominated the tag team division in the World Wrestling Federation from throughout the mid 80’s.

Demolition – World Wrestling Federation 1987 – 1991

The team of Demolition began as Randy Colley and Bill Eadie as a heel tag team on the January 17, 1987 edition of WWF Superstars. After just a few short matches, Colley was replaced by Barry Darsow.

March 14, 1987 on Saturday Night’s Main Event, Demolition participated in a battle royal. The team’s first feud was with Ken Patera and Billy Jack Haynes. Throughout the year, Demolition defeated many tag teams in the WWF, including the Killer Bees, British Bulldogs and the Can-Am Connection. During the same year, Demolition acquired Mr. Fuji as their manager. Demolition appeared on their first pay-per view at the 1987 Survivor Series in a 10 team tag match.

Demolition Dominates the WWF Tag Team Division 1988 – 1990

Demolition proved to be a dominate tag team force through 1987 and into 1988. At WrestleMania IV, Demolition defeated the babyface team of Strike Force (Rick Martel & Tito Santana) to become the new WWF Tag Team Champions, in which this would be Demolition’s first reign as tag team champions. As the new WWF Tag Team Champions, Demolition rolled over top teams such as the Hart Foundation and British Bulldogs.

Demolition’s first big challenge was in the Summer of 1988. The Warlord and the Barbarian, better known at the Powers of Pain came into the WWF and challenged Demolition for the WWF Tag Titles. Eventually Mr. Fuji turned on Demolition and joined the Powers of Pain, Demolition became a face team, while the Powers of Pain turned heel. After WrestleMania in 1989, Demolition started a feud with the Brain Busters (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard).

Demolition adds a member 1990 – 1991

Just after WrestleMania, a third member of Demotion, Brian Adams, made his debut. Adams wrestled under the name of Crush. A third member was added due to Eadie being hospitalized from an allergy to shellfish after constant trips to Japan. Adams would be used in the event Eadie would be out for an extended period of time.

Crush soon developed a more active part with the team. Ax soon became more of a manager, but Demolition adopted the rule of allowing any two members to defend the WWF Tag Titles. In the summer of 1990, Smash and Crush defended the titles successfully until SummerSlam when they lost the titles to the Hart Foundation in a two out of three falls match after interference from the Road Warriors (Legion of Doom). Demolition would not regain the titles following this loss.

Soon after the Road Warriors (who were going by Legion of Doom or L.O.D) had gained popularity in the WWF, the fan’s interest in Demolition began to decline. Soon thereafter, Ax left the company with an on air explanation that there could only be two members of Demolition. In March of 1991, the WWF broke up Demolition with Crush and Smash went their separate ways entering singles competition. Shortly thereafter, Smash took a leave of absence for several months, then in the fall of 1991, was reintroduced as the heel Repo Man. Crush also left the company only to return in the Spring of 1992 as the babyface “Kona Crush.” The two faced off at SummerSlam, with Crush winning the match.

Demolition Post WWF

After leaving the WWF, Bill Eadie used the name Axis the Demolisher on the independent wrestling scene and also used the original Smash gimmick with his new partner Carmine Azzato who wrestled as Axis the Demolisher as the tag team Demolition Blast in an attempt to resurrect the team and name. They were sent a cease and desist order by WWF Chairman Vince McMahon. Eadie filed a lawsuit against McMahon to gain the rights to the name Demolition, but was unsuccessful.

Demolition facts

Demolition became the longest reigning WWF Tag Team Champions. They broke the record of the Valiant Brother by holding the belts for 478 days before losing to the Brain Busters in a two out of three falls match on the July 29, 1990 Saturday Nights Main Event.

April 1, 2007, Barry Darsow and Bill Eadie reunited for the first time in 16 years at the Meet the Legends event in Canada.

Sadly, on August 13, 2007, Brian Adams was found dead in his Tampa home. His wife found him in bed not breathing and called 911. Adams could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police could not determine the cause of death, but noted no signs of injury.

February 28, 2009, Darsow and Eadie participated in the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Event sporting their original face paint and spiked outfits. They lost by disqualification after Ax (Eadie) hit the referee with a chair.

After going to WCW, and eventually retiring, Barry Darsow stays busy. He currently owns Added Value Printing, which specializes in hard-hats and medical supplies and also sells real estate as a side job.

Darsow does admit that sometimes who does miss his life as a professional wrestler. “I miss it sometimes…I miss seeing the boys…being on the road…Wrestling is still in my blood…and it always will be. I had the time of my life.

Barry Darsow currently resides with his family in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and WWE.com