Demolition (professional wrestling)

Professional wrestling tag team

Demolition

Smash (left) and Ax as WWF Tag Team Champions

Tag team
Members| Ax[1]
Smash[1]
Smash (original)[1][2]
Crush[1]
Billed heights| Ax:[1]
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3][4]
Smash:[1]
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[5][6]
Crush:[1]
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[7]
Billed from| Parts Unknown[8]
Debut| January 4, 1987[9]
Disbanded| May 6, 2017

Demolition was an American professional wrestling tag team most prominent during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) made up of Ax (Bill Eadie), Smash (Barry Darsow), and later Crush (Brian Adams). In the WWF, Demolition were three-time WWF World Tag Team Champions, and hold the record for the most combined days as reigning champions with that championship.

Their first reign with the WWF World Tag Team Championship is the fourth longest reign with any tag team championship in WWE history (behind Mark Coffey and Wolfgang's reign with the NXT UK Tag Team Championship, The New Day's reign with the WWE (Raw) Tag Team Championship and The Usos' reign with the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship) and is the longest reign on record for that specific championship (which has been defunct since 2010).[10] Beginning in 2007, Ax and Smash reunited for several appearances at various independent shows and legends conventions.[1]

Part of a series on

Professional wrestling

History

* History of professional wrestling
* By year
* Early wrestling championships
* Gold Dust Trio
* 1980s boom
* Black Saturday
* 1994 NWA World Title Tournament
* Monday Night War
* Attitude Era
* 2000 All Japan Pro Wrestling mass exodus
* The Invasion
* Wednesday Night Wars

Notable promotions

* All Elite Wrestling
* All Japan Pro Wrestling
* All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
* All Star Wrestling
* American Wrestling Association
* Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
* Extreme Championship Wrestling
* DDT Pro-Wrestling
* Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
* Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
* Jim Crockett Promotions
* Joint Promotions
* Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
* Major League Wrestling
* Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling
* National Wrestling Alliance
* New Japan Pro-Wrestling
* Pro Wrestling Noah
* Ring of Honor
* Soft Ground Wrestling
* Stampede Wrestling
* Titanes en el ring
* Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling
* Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
* UWF International
* Women of Wrestling
* World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
* World Championship Wrestling (United States)
* World Wonder Ring Stardom
* WWE
* Raw
* SmackDown
* NXT
* Evolve
* Others

Notable men

Early 20th century (Before 1949)

* Bert Assirati
* Billy Riley
* Billy Sandow
* Ed "Strangler" Lewis
* Frank Gotch
* George Hackenschmidt
* The Great Gama
* Jack Pfefer
* Joe Stecher
* Jim Londos
* Lou Thesz
* Martin "Farmer" Burns
* Orville Brown
* Salvador Lutteroth
* Toots Mondt

Mid 20th century (1950 − 1969)

* Blue Demon
* Bruno Sammartino
* Buddy Rogers
* Danny Hodge
* Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer
* Édouard Carpentier
* El Santo
* Freddie Blassie
* Gene Kiniski
* Gorgeous George
* Karl Gotch
* Rikidōzan
* Sam Muchnick
* Stu Hart
* Verne Gagne

1970s

* Abdullah The Butcher
* Akira Maeda
* André the Giant
* Antonio Inoki
* Baron von Raschke
* Big Daddy
* Billy Robinson
* Carlos Colón
* Dory Funk Jr.
* Dusty Rhodes
* Ernie Ladd
* Giant Baba
* Gordon Solie
* Harley Race
* Jack Brisco
* Mil Máscaras
* Negro Navarro
* Nick Bockwinkel
* Terry Funk

1980s

* Bobby Heenan
* Dynamite Kid
* Genichiro Tenryu
* Hulk Hogan
* Jim Crockett Jr.
* Randy Savage
* Ric Flair
* Ricky Steamboat
* Roddy Piper
* Satoru Sayama
* Stan Hansen
* Ted DiBiase
* Vince McMahon

1990s

* Akira Taue
* Antonio Peña
* Atsushi Onita
* Bret Hart
* Eric Bischoff
* Jim Ross
* Jushin Liger
* Keiji Muto
* Kenta Kobashi
* Kevin Nash
* Mick Foley
* Mitsuharu Misawa
* Owen Hart
* Paul Heyman
* Ron Simmons
* Scott Hall
* Shawn Michaels
* Sting
* Steve Austin
* The Rock
* The Undertaker
* Toshiaki Kawada
* Triple H
* Vince Russo

2000s

* AJ Styles
* Batista
* Brock Lesnar
* Chris Jericho
* Eddie Guerrero
* Edge
* Hiroshi Tanahashi
* Jeff Hardy
* Jeff Jarrett
* John Cena
* Kurt Angle
* Místico
* Naomichi Marufuji
* Randy Orton
* Rey Mysterio
* Samoa Joe

2010s − 2020s

* Bryan Danielson
* CM Punk
* Cody Rhodes
* Jon Moxley
* Kazuchika Okada
* Kenny Omega
* Kota Ibushi
* Nick Khan
* Roman Reigns
* Rossy Ogawa
* Seth Rollins
* Tetsuya Naito
* Tony Khan
* Will Ospreay
* Zack Sabre Jr.

Notable women

Early & Mid 20th century (1900 − 1974)

* Chabela Romero
* Cora Livingston
* Donna Christanello
* Ethel Johnson
* Irma González
* June Byers
* La Dama Enmascarada
* Mae Young
* Mildred Burke
* The Fabulous Moolah

Late 20th century (1975 − 1999)

* Aja Kong
* Akira Hokuto
* Bull Nakano
* Chigusa Nagayo
* Chyna
* Dump Matsumoto
* Jackie Sato
* Lady Apache
* Lioness Asuka
* Madusa Miceli
* Manami Toyota
* Megumi Kudo
* Miss Elizabeth
* Sherri Martel
* Wendi Richter

2000s

* Awesome Kong
* Ayako Hamada
* Beth Phoenix
* Faby Apache
* Gail Kim
* Lita
* Madison Eagles
* Marcela
* Nanae Takahashi
* Sara Del Rey
* Stephanie McMahon
* Trish Stratus

2010s

* Alexa Bliss
* Asuka
* Bayley
* Becky Lynch
* Charlotte Flair
* Iyo Sky
* Kairi Sane
* Mayu Iwatani
* Meiko Satomura
* Mercedes Moné
* Princesa Sugehit
* Ronda Rousey

2020s

* Bianca Belair
* Giulia
* Liv Morgan
* Rhea Ripley
* Sareee
* Syuri
* Toni Storm
* Utami Hayashishita

Notable tag teams and stables

Mid 20th Century − 1970s

* Assassins
* Blackjacks
* Blond Bombers
* The Duseks
* Fabulous Kangaroos
* First Family
* Kalmikoffs
* Los Misioneros de la Muerte
* Sharpe Brothers
* Valiant Brothers
* Wild Samoans

1980s

* Brain Busters
* British Bulldogs
* Bushwackers
* Crush Gals
* Demolition
* Fabulous Freebirds
* Four Horsemen
* Hart Foundation
* Heenan Family
* Los Infernales
* Mega Powers
* Midnight Express
* Revolution
* Road Warriors
* Rock 'n' Roll Express
* Steiner Brothers

1990s

* Cho-Ten
* Dangerous Alliance
* D-Generation X (New Age Outlaws)
* Doom
* Dudley Brothers and the Dudley Boyz
* Dungeon of Doom
* Heisei Ishingun
* Holy Demon Army
* Jado & Gedo
* Kai En Tai
* Las Cachorras Orientales
* Los Gringos Locos
* Miracle Violence Connection
* New World Order (Outsiders)

2000s

* Age of the Fall
* Apollo 55
* Beer Money, Inc.
* The Briscoes
* Brothers of Destruction
* Burning
* Colony
* Edge & Christian
* Evolution
* Hardy Boyz
* Kings of Wrestling
* Latin American Xchange
* Los Guerreros
* Main Event Mafia
* Motor City Machine Guns
* Tencozy
* Voodoo Murders

2010s and 2020s

* The Addiction / SCU
* American Wolves
* Blackpool Combat Club / Death Riders
* Bloodline (Usos)
* Bullet Club
* Chaos
* Elite
* FTR
* Golden Lovers
* Judgment Day
* Los Ingobernables (de Japón)
* Los Perros del Mal
* New Day
* Oedo Tai
* Queen's Quest
* Shield
* Undisputed Era (reDRagon)
* Wyatt Family
* Young Bucks

By region

* Australia
* Bolivia
* Canada
* China
* France
* India
* Iran
* Israel
* Japan
* Mexico
* New Zealand
* Puerto Rico
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* United Kingdom
* United States

Styles

* British wrestling
* All-in style
* Mountevans rules
* Cruiserweight
* X Division
* French catch
* Hardcore
* Intergender
* Lucha libre
* Midget
* Mini-Estrella
* Puroresu
* Shoot style
* U-Kei
* Women's

Concepts

* Attire
* Masks
* Wrestling singlet
* Wrestling shoe
* Blading
* Championship
* World Heavyweight
* Dirt sheet
* Glossary of terms
* Kayfabe
* Gimmick
* Face
* Heel
* Shoot
* Heat
* Job
* Push
* House show
* Match types
* Music
* Ring name
* Sports entertainment
* Tag team
* Weight classes
* Wrestling ring

Culture

* Backyard wrestling
* Cauliflower Alley Club
* Cauliflower ear
* Comic books
* Fantasy wrestling
* Films
* Luchador films
* Magazines
* Paintings
* Gustave Courbet
* Thomas Eakins
* William Etty
* George Luks
* Rib
* Ribera Steakhouse
* Ten-bell salute
* Video games
* Wrestling personalities in politics
* Zubaz

Media outlets

* Botchamania
* Box y Lucha
* Dark Side of the Ring
* Fighting Spirit Magazine
* Live Audio Wrestling
* OSW Review
* Power Slam
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* Solowrestling
* Súper Luchas
* WrestleCrap
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Controversies

* Animals in professional wrestling
* Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide
* David Arquette in WCW
* Death of Owen Hart
* Fingerpoke of Doom
* Killing of Bruiser Brody
* Killing of Rikidōzan
* Mass Transit incident
* Montreal Screwjob
* Premature deaths
* Ring boy scandal
* Speaking Out
* United States v. McMahon
* Vince McMahon sex trafficking scandal
* WWE–Saudi Arabia relationship

Lists

* Attendance records
* Championships
* Families
* Halls of fame
* Matches rated 5 or more stars by Dave Meltzer
* Moves
* Promotions
* Rivalries
* Rosters
* TV shows
* Wrestling families

Related topics

* Combat sport
* Comparison of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts
* Martial arts
* Mock combat
* Pankration
* Shootfighting
* Sport wrestling
* Amateur
* Catch
* Shoot
* Submission
* Lancashire
* Luta Livre
* Pehlwani
* Stage combat
* Theatre
* Theatresports

* v
* t
* e

## Career

[edit]

### World Wrestling Federation (1987–1991)

[edit]

#### Formation and early push (1987–1988)

[edit]

Randy Colley and Bill Eadie created the Demolition gimmick and worked for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). They debuted as a heel tag team on January 4, 1987, at the Springfield Civic Centre in Massachusetts, alongside manager Luscious Johnny V, defeating the team of The Islanders and later participating in a battle royal won by Pete Doherty.[9] Demolition wore studded black leather outfits and leather-covered hockey masks to the ring, which they removed to reveal face paint usually made up of some combination of black, white, red, or silver colors, though other colors were sometimes included. The tag team wore outfits similar to Lord Humungus of the 1981 film Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, while their facepaint was reminiscent of hard rock band KISS. However, in TV interviews the characters generally compared themselves to another hockey-masked horror movie villain, Jason Voorhees of the Friday the 13th film series, as well as Freddy Krueger of Nightmare on Elm Street.

After only two more matches (wins over enhancement talent at TV tapings on January 5 and 6), Colley was replaced with Barry Darsow starting with a match filmed January 26, 1987 at the Sundome, Tampa FL and aired on the February 14, 1987 edition of Superstars. Eadie has stated that Colley was replaced because he was too recognizable to the fans as the man who previously performed as Moondog Rex. The WWF pitched a few potential replacements to Eadie, but he thought fans would recognize the suggested replacements. However, Eadie felt that many WWF fans would not recognize Darsow, who had been working for Jim Crockett Promotions as Krusher Khruschev alongside Nikita Koloff. Darsow had left Crockett following a dispute in order to take over the role of Smash.[1][5][6][2] On the March 14 Saturday Night's Main Event X, Demolition participated in another battle royal, won by Hercules Hernandez.[9] Around that same period, Johnny Valiant (who went on to manage the "new Dream Team" of Greg Valentine and Dino Bravo before leaving the WWF at the end of 1987) sold their contracts to Mr. Fuji who became their manager.

Demolition's undefeated streak ended when they suffered their first pinfall loss to The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel and Tom Zenk) on June 6, 1987 at the Boston Garden, Demolition became known for their aggressive style in the ring and the way that they dominated their matches. Their first feud was with the team of Ken Patera and Billy Jack Haynes, which started after Ax and Smash brutalized WWF jobber Brady Boone (billed in storyline as the cousin of Haynes), during a televised match and then battered first Haynes and then Patera when they each tried to come to the rescue. Demolition claimed victories over all of the established face tag teams in the WWF at the time, including The Killer Bees (Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair), The Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond), the British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith),[11] the Young Stallions (Paul Roma and Jim Powers), The Islanders (Haku and Tama),[12] and The Can-Am Connection.[11]

Demolition made their pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series in an elimination tag team match as part of the heel team. They eliminated The Rougeau Brothers, but were disqualified when Smash shoved down referee Dave Hebner during the match and the face team went on to win the match.[13]

#### Tag team title reigns (1988–1990)

[edit]

Demolition was known for their distinctive outfits which involved an entrance mask as well as red and silver face paint.

At WrestleMania IV, Ax and Smash defeated Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) to win their first WWF Tag Team Championship. Ax struck Martel in the back of the neck with Fuji's cane while he had Smash in a Boston crab (Fuji had dropped the cane into the ring while taking a beating from Santana who carried on oblivious to what was happening in the ring). Martel was knocked out and Smash covered him for the pin while Ax hid outside with the cane.[1][14][15] As champions, they defeated a number of the top teams of the WWF, which at the time had a very talent-rich and hotly contested tag division, most notably the British Bulldogs[1][16] and Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart).[1][17][18]

Their first big challenge came in the summer of 1988, when The Powers of Pain (The Warlord and The Barbarian) entered the WWF and challenged them for the Tag Team Championship. During the elimination tag team match at Survivor Series, Mr. Fuji attacked Demolition and joined forces with the Powers of Pain. A double turn took place as Demolition turned face while the Powers of Pain turned heel.[19][20] Interviewed after the contest, Fuji claimed that he had turned on Demolition because, since winning the championship, they had become insubordinate and disrespectful towards him, whereas the Powers would be utterly obedient and loyal apprentices.[21] For their part, Demolition denounced their former manager as a parasite,[22] labelling him "Fuj the Stooge."[23][24][25]

Ax and Smash also memorably squared off against each other as entrants #1 and #2 in the Royal Rumble match at the Summit in Houston in 1989, tearing into each other for the full two minutes before being joined in the ring by the third entrant André the Giant, where they once again joined as Demolition and targeted the big man.[26]

Demolition defeated the Powers of Pain and Mr. Fuji in a tag team handicap match at WrestleMania V to retain the WWF World Tag Team Championship when they caught Fuji in the "Demolition Decapitation".[27] That day, Demolition became the longest reigning WWF World Tag Team Champions after breaking the previous 370 day record of The Valiant Brothers (Jimmy and Johnny). Subsequently, on May 2 Demolition's reign exceeded the 399-day third reign of The Fabulous Kangaroos with the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship, thus becoming the longest running holders of any tag team championship in WWF/WWWF history. They would eventually last a reign of 478 days, and while the general record for any male tag team championship has since been broken (by The New Day in 2016, by Mark Coffey and Wolfgang in 2020 and by The Usos in 2022), this still stands as the specific record for the "classic" World tag team title of 1971–2010.[28][29]

After WrestleMania V, Demolition started a feud with The Twin Towers (Akeem and The Big Boss Man) and then a feud with The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), who were managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. On the May 27, 1989 Saturday Night's Main Event XXI, the Brain Busters defeated Demolition by disqualification.[30] They finally dropped the titles to the Brain Busters in a two out of three falls match on the July 29 Saturday Night's Main Event XXII (filmed July 18, 1989 in Worcester, Massachusetts at the Worcester Centrum) following outside interference from André the Giant who threw a chair into the ring for Anderson to use on Smash.[1][31] As well as looking to regain the belts, Demolition sought revenge on André and closure on The Twin Towers. At SummerSlam 1989, King Duggan and Demolition defeated André and the Towers in a six-man tag team match (already advertised prior to the title change) where Darsow showcased his strength by body slamming both of the Twin Towers.[32] Demolition focused on regaining the tag titles and restarted their feud with the Brain Busters. On the November 4 edition of Superstars (taped on October 2), Demolition defeated the Brain Busters to regain their tag titles and win their second WWF Tag Team Championship.[1][33][34]

Demolition next feuded with the new Heenan Family team, The Colossal Connection (André the Giant and Haku). On the December 30 edition of Superstars (taped on December 13), Demolition lost the tag titles to the Colossal Connection.[1][33] At WrestleMania VI at the SkyDome in Toronto, Demolition defeated the Colossal Connection to regain the titles and win their third and final WWF World Tag Team Championship, and finally put an end to their feud with the Heenan Family.[1][35][36] Due to his deteriorating physical condition, André never tagged in during the match with Haku facing Demolition on his own.

#### Addition of Crush (1990–1991)

[edit]

Shortly after WrestleMania VI, the team quietly turned heel. This intensified when Brian Adams debuted in WWF and joined the team as Crush.[1][7][37] In kayfabe it was claimed that this was a heinous scheme to gain a three-on-two advantage over other tag teams. (In reality, it was actually because Eadie had developed an allergy to shellfish which he attributed to his frequent trips to Japan, which hospitalized him, and WWF owner and head booker Vince McMahon wanted to add a third member to the team just in case the illness put Eadie out of action for an extended period of time.)[38]

Crush soon took a more active role, teaming with Smash while Ax faded into the background, becoming more of a manager. At this time Demolition used the "Freebird rule" to allow any two members to wrestle the matches. Smash and Crush defended the titles in the summer of 1990. On the July 28 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Smash and Crush defeated The Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) to retain the titles[1][39] after Ax interfered on their behalf and scored the pin on Michaels.[40] The next month at SummerSlam, however, Demolition lost the titles to the Hart Foundation in a two out of three falls match. In that match, Smash & Crush started, but Ax secretly came down later on to substitute himself into the match behind the referee's back. Ultimately, the Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal),[1][41][42] who had signed with the WWF a month earlier, interfered and snuffed out the deception. Demolition never recaptured the titles after this loss.

As a result of the interference by LOD, Demolition began feuding with Hawk and Animal who would often be joined in six man matches by reigning WWF Champion The Ultimate Warrior. WWF commentators at the time would often claim that the team wearing the face paint would win whichever particular match they were broadcasting (Demolition, LOD and the Warrior all wore face paint). On the October 13 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Ax, Smash, and Crush lost to the Ultimate Warrior and LOD.[1][43]

Soon after, due to the Legion of Doom (L.O.D.) now being on the WWF roster, Demolition's popularity began to decline and they regained the managerial services of Mr. Fuji in the fall of 1990. At Survivor Series, The Perfect Team (Demolition and Mr. Perfect) was defeated by The Ultimate Warriors (the Ultimate Warrior, the "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich, and the Legion of Doom).[1][44] Shortly after, Ax left the WWF, with the on-air explanation being an order from kayfabe WWF President Jack Tunney that there could only be two members of Demolition. Smash and Crush were the two remaining members, and went on to primarily lose to teams such as the Rockers and the Legion of Doom. The team lost a match to Genichiro Tenryu and Koji Kitao at WrestleMania VII.[45]

The team's next match was at WWF/SWS Wrestlefest on March 30, 1991 where they defeated Shunji Takano & Shinichi Nakano.[46] Following this match, Demolition would continue to wrestle in the SWS throughout the summer usually on the losing end of matches. Crush went on a leave of absence from the WWF (his SWS commitments aside), while Smash wrestled in singles matches (usually on the losing end) for a brief time before also leaving the WWF. As well as SWS, they also teamed in the WWC after leaving the WWF.[47] The team's final WWF-related match occurred on an SWS show in Japan on September 18, 1991 in a losing effort to George Takano and Shunji Takano.[48] Afterwards, they eventually broke up and the member Crush would return to PNW (where he had previously wrestled as Brian Adams), still in his Demolition attire and paint, but as a face, where he would eventually win the PNW Heavyweight Championship[47] Smash would later return to the WWF as the Repo Man a sneaky thief claiming to be a repossessor, in the fall of 1991. Crush would also return in the spring of 1992, still as a face, beginning a run as the popular "Kona Crush" surfer type building on Adams being a native of Hawaii). The two ended up facing off at SummerSlam 1992, with Crush getting the victory over Repo Man.[49] Crush would later turn heel on Randy Savage and rehire Mr. Fuji as his manager in 1993, once again painting his face, only in a different pattern from his Demolition days.

### Post-WWF

[edit]

Original "Smash" gimmick owner Randy Colley moved to the Continental Championship Wrestling territory in late 1987 and revived his version of the Demolition character with only minor modifications as Detroit Demolition. He was managed by Downtown Bruno and stayed in the territory until the end of 1988.[50] In May 1988 he teamed with D.I. Bob Carter to win the CWF Tag Team Championship.

Detroit Demolition feuded with Lord Humungous after Humungous turned babyface on Bruno's stable, helping (kayfabe) childhood friend Shane Douglas defeat Detroit Demolition . In retaliation, Detroit Demolition squirted ink in Humungous' eyes, causing Douglas to come to his old friend's aid, cementing their alliance. Humungous and Douglas would defeat Detroit and Carter for the tag team title in June 1988. As Darsow and Adams would do later on, Colley as Detroit Demolition also made occasional visits to the WWC in Puerto Rico. By early 1989 he had reverted to Moondog Rex and signed with WCW.

After leaving the WWF, Eadie began using the name Axis the Demolisher on the independent circuit and took in Colley as well as Richard "Le Magnifique" Charland under the name of Demolition Blast in an attempt to resurrect the Demolition name and gimmick.[51][52] They were sent a cease and desist letter by the WWF once they found out. They wrestled for Universal Superstars of America where they held tag team title once. Also Demolition Hux portrayed by Garry Robbins.

In between his time as Repo Man in the WWF and his 1994–1995 stint as Blacktop Bully in WCW, Darsow wrestled as Smash in Australia for local promotion AWF in mid 1993, losing to Hawk on 14 June in Melbourne.

In the mid-1990s, Bill Eadie filed a lawsuit against the WWF for the rights of the "Demolition" name and gimmick but lost. Ax, Smash and Crush signed a deal with Jakks Pacific to make Demolition Classic Superstars action figures. Ax and Smash were together in a 2-pack for Toys R Us, each had a singles figure from series #14, and were packaged and repainted with Crush in a 3-pack for Walmart.

On April 1, 2007, Darsow and Eadie reunited for the first time in 16 years at a "Meet the Legends" event in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.[53]

On August 13, 2007, Brian Adams was found unconscious in his Tampa, Florida home. Adams' wife found him not breathing in his bed, and summoned paramedics. The wrestler could not be revived, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police could not immediately determine a cause of death, but noted no signs of injury.[54][55]

On September 29, 2007, Darsow and Eadie reunited as the tag team Demolition for the first time in 16 years in Orlando, Florida at a United States Xtreme Wrestling event. They once again became tag team champions, defeating the Christopher Street Connection (Buff-E and Mace) to win the UXW Tag Team Championship.[53]

On Friday, February 22, 2008, both Ax and Smash were re-united and inducted into the XWF Hall of Fame by Jack Blaze who also inducted both New Jack & Shark Boy in the same night. Later that year, XWF became LPW (Legends Pro Wrestling) where Demolition are still honored as LPW Hall of Fame Inductees- Class 2008.

Demolition teamed with One Man Gang in the 28-team King of Trios tournament held by Chikara during the weekend of February 29 and March 1 and 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While losing the three-man tournament they did win the Tag Team gauntlet.[56]

On November 13, 2010, Demolition appeared at WrestleRage VIII in Villa Park, Illinois with POWW Entertainment.[57] They beat the team of Picture Perfect for the POWW Tag Team titles, but quickly lost them after the first match to the team of Trevor Blanchard and Black Iron.[57]

On May 21, 2011, Demolition reunited at Full Impact Pro's debut iPPV In Full Force.[58] Their match against Tony DeVito and Ralph Mosco went to a no contest when local commentator and manager Larry Dallas came out and said his men wanted revenge. The ring was stormed by Manu, Sami Callihan, Blain Rage and Joey Attel. Demolition, Devito and Mosco managed to clear the ring and beat Dallas to end the show.[58][59]

On September 16, 2012, Demolition returned to Chikara, taking part in the tag team gauntlet match at the 2012 King of Trios tournament, from which they were eliminated by their old WWF rivals, The Powers of Pain.[60]

In 2013, Demolition were set to perform for the eastern Canadian independent promotion XWA. The former champions were scheduled to make appearances in Saint John (June 6), Fredericton (June 7), Miramichi (June 8), and Bathurst (June 9).

In November 2013, their Demolition Decapitation finishing move was rated the 7th greatest Tag Team Finisher of all time.[61]

In July 2016, Eadie and Darsow were named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit is litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[62] The lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant in September 2018.[63]

On May 6, 2017, Demolition wrestled their last match as a tag team. Both Eadie and Darsow retired from wrestling later that year.

Colley died December 14, 2019.

## Members

[edit]

## Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

See also Moondog Rex#Championships and accomplishments, Ax (wrestler)#Championships and accomplishments and Brian Adams (wrestler)#Championships and accomplishments for singles titles (and tag team titles with a non-Demolition partner) won by the original Smash, Ax and Crush respectively while using the Demolition gimmick.

The below list includes only tag team titles held by teams billed under the Demolition name and consisting purely of two or more of the members both/all using their Demolition personas. All championships and accomplishments below are by the Ax and (Darsow) Smash line-up unless otherwise noted.

* Great Lakes Championship Wrestling
* GLCW Tag Team Championship (1 time)
* Keystone State Wrestling Alliance
* KSWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)[64]
* Legends Pro Wrestling
* XWF/LPW Hall of Fame Inductees- Class 2008 (2/22/08)
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* Ranked #59 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" in 2003
* POWW Entertainment
* POWW Tag Team Championship (1 time)[57]
* United States Xtreme Wrestling
* UXW Tag Team Championship (1 time)[53]
* Universal Supertars of Wrestling
* World Wrestling Federation
* WWF Tag Team Championship (3 times)[10][15][34][36] – Crush joined team midway through third reign

## See also

[edit]

* Disciples of Apocalypse
* KroniK
* Stud Stable
* The Ascension
* The Road Warriors

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Demolition Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
2. ^ a b "Randy Colley's Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
3. ^ "Bill Eadie's Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
4. ^ "Demolition Ax Bio". Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
5. ^ a b "Barry Darsow's Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
6. ^ a b "Barry Darsow Bio". Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
7. ^ a b "Brian Adams Bio". Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
8. ^ "Demolition's WWE Alumni Profile". WWE. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
9. ^ a b c "WWF Show Results 1987". The History of WWE. Retrieved May 18, 2015. "
WWF @ Springfield, MA – Civic Center – January 4, 1987
Pete Doherty won a $50,000 20-man bunkhouse battle royal; other participants included: Hillbilly Jim, Dick Slater, Mike Rotundo, Dan Spivey, Lanny Poffo, Don Muraco, Bob Orton Jr., Brutus Beefcake, Sika, Demolition, the Islanders Greg Valentine, & Jim Neidhart ... Demolition defeated the Islanders...
WWF @ Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena – February 21, 1987...Saturday Night's Main Event #10 – 3/14/87 on NBC ...
Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan) won a 20-man battle royal at 11:16 by last eliminating Billy Jack Haynes after Haynes grabbed for Heenan on the ring apron; other participants included: WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant (w/ Bobby Heenan), Ron Bass, B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell, Demolition, the Islanders, Billy Jack Haynes, Hillbilly Jim, the Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart), Blackjack Mulligan, Paul Orndorff, Lanny Poffo, Butch Reed, Sika, Nikolai Volkoff, & Koko B. Ware"
10. ^ a b "World Tag Team Championship official title history". WWE. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
11. ^ a b "WWF Prime Time Wrestling Results 1987". The History of WWE. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
12. ^ "WWF Superstars of Wrestling Results (1986–1997)". The History of WWE. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
13. ^ "Survivor Series 1987 official results". WWE. November 26, 1987. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
14. ^ "WrestleMania IV official results". WWE. March 27, 1988. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
15. ^ a b "Demolition's first World Tag Team Championship reign". WWE. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
16. ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event results – April 30, 1988". WWE. April 30, 1988. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
17. ^ "SummerSlam 1988 official results". WWE. August 29, 1988. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
18. ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event results – October 29, 1988". WWE. October 29, 1988. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
19. ^ "Survivor Series 1988 official results". WWE. November 24, 1988. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
20. ^ "WWF Show Results 1988". The History of WWE. November 24, 1988. Retrieved May 18, 2015. "The Powers of Pain, Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid, Jim Powers & Paul Roma, and Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition (w/Mr. Fuji), the Conquistadors, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/Bobby Heenan), Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (w/Jimmy Hart), and Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov; Bret pinned Raymond Rougeau by blocking a backdrop attempt and using an inside cradle; Zhukov pinned Powers with the momentum of a flying crossbody put Zhukov on top; Jannetty pinned Zhukov with a sunset flip into the ring after a blow to the midsection by Michaels; Blanchard pinned Bret when Hart pinned himself with a German suplex into a bridge; Michaels & Jannetty fought Anderson & Blanchard to a double disqualification for brawling in the ring and eventually fighting to the backstage area; Smash pinned Dynamite with a clothesline after Dynamite missed a diving headbutt off the top; Demolition was counted-out after Mr. Fuji pulled the rope down, causing Smash to fall to the floor; the Barbarian pinned a Conquistador with a running headbutt off the ropes after Fuji tripped a Conquistador; after the match, Demolition cleared the ring of Powers of Pain and Fuji"
21. ^ Post-match interview with Mr Fuji, Survivor Series 1988 Pay per view broadcast, Titan Sports transmitted November 24, 1988
22. ^ Demolition post-match interview, MSG Network, filmed November 26, 1988 transmitted November 28, 1988
23. ^ "Mr. Fuji Pro Wrestlers Database". Retrieved June 13, 2022.
24. ^ "Mr Fuj the Stooge! How's that, stooge?" In-ring comments by Ax, Demolition vs Powers Of Pain match segment, The Main Event, NBC transmitted February 3, 1989
25. ^ Pre-match interview with Demolition, WrestleMania V Pay per view broadcast, Titan Sports transmitted April 2, 1989
26. ^ "Big John Studd (spot No. 27) wins the Royal Rumble Match". WWE. January 15, 1989. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
27. ^ "WrestleMania V official results". WWE. April 2, 1989. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
28. ^ "WWE World Tag Team Championship History". Hoffco-Inc. Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
29. ^ "United States Tag Team Title (Capitol/WWWF)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
30. ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event results – May 27, 1989". WWE. May 27, 1989. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
31. ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event results – July 18, 1989". WWE. July 18, 1989. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
32. ^ "SummerSlam 1989 official results". WWE. August 28, 1989. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
33. ^ a b "WWF Superstars of Wrestling Results 1989". The History of WWE. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
34. ^ a b "Demolition's second World Tag Team Championship reign". WWE. Archived from the original on December 31, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
35. ^ "WrestleMania VI official results". WWE. April 1, 1990. Archived from the original on February 22, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
36. ^ a b "Demolition's third World Tag Team Championship reign". WWE. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
37. ^ "WWE World Tag Team Championship History". Complete WWE. Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2008. "Ax & Smash regained the titles, but Crush joined and defended the titles with Smash."
38. ^ Bill Eadie, Barry Darsow (2007). Shoot Interview with Demolition (documentary) (DVD). RF Video.
39. ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event results – July 28, 1990". WWE. July 28, 1990. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
40. ^ "WWF Show Results 1990". The History of WWE. July 28, 1990. Retrieved May 18, 2015. "WWF Tag Team Champions Smash & Crush (w/ Ax) defeated Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty at 9:31 when Ax interfered behind referee Joey Marella's back, hit a clothesline on Michaels as Michaels had Smash rolled up, and scored the pin; after the bout, both the Hart Foundation and the Legion of Doom came to the ring to dispute the decision"
41. ^ "SummerSlam 1990 official results". WWE. August 27, 1990. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
42. ^ "WWF Show Results 1990". The History of WWE. August 27, 1990. Retrieved May 18, 2015. "Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition (Crush & Smash) at 14:24 in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match to win the titles; fall #1: Bret was pinned at 6:09 after sustaining the Decapitation; fall #2: the champions were disqualified at 10:06 after Crush physically prevented the referee from counting a pinfall on Smash after Smash sustained the Hart Attack; fall #3: Bret pinned Crush with a school boy roll up after Neidhart hit a slingshot shoulderblock into the ring, moments after the Legion of Doom came ringside and began brawling with Smash and an interfering Ax; pre-match stipulations stated that only two of the three members of Demolition was allowed at ringside, but Ax came down mid-way through the contest and hid underneath the ring, eventually switching places with Smash without the referee noticing"
43. ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event results – October 13, 1990". WWE. October 13, 1990. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
44. ^ "Survivor Series 1990 official results". WWE. November 22, 1990. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
45. ^ "WrestleMania VII official results". WWE. March 24, 1991. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
46. ^ "Wrestlefest". ProWrestlingHistory.com. March 30, 1991. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
47. ^ a b Inside Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Illustrated 1991.
48. ^ "Demolition Matches". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
49. ^ "SummerSlam 1992 official results". WWE. August 29, 1992. Retrieved April 12, 2008. "Crush def. Repo Man"
50. ^ "Randy Colley – Online World of Wrestling". May 26, 2023.
51. ^ Burkholder, Denny (August 13, 2004). "Demolition: the Imitators Become Innovators". Online Onslaught. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2007.
52. ^ Woodward, Buck (December 29, 2001). "2001: The Year in Review". 1Wrestling.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2007.
53. ^ a b c Clevett, Jason (April 6, 2007). "Fans mingle with legends on 'Mania Day". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
54. ^ Brian "Crush" Adams passes away; WWE; 2007-08-13; accessed 2007-08-13
55. ^ "Cops: Wrestler's Wife Discovered Body". TMZ. August 13, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
56. ^ "Chikara King of Trios 2008". Chikara. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
57. ^ a b c "WrestleRage Changed The Face Of POWW!". POWW Entertainment. November 13, 2010. Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
58. ^ a b "FIP In Full Force '11". The Internet Wrestling Database. May 21, 2011. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
59. ^ "Full Force 2011 results". World Wrestling Network. May 22, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
60. ^ "Past Results − King of Trios 2012 − Night 3". Chikara. September 16, 2012. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
61. ^ Artus, Matthew (November 8, 2013). "The 15 greatest tag team finishers of all time". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2023. "No. 7: Demolition Decapitation (Demolition)"
62. ^ "WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff". FoxSports.com. Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
63. ^ Robinson, Byron (September 22, 2018). "Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
64. ^ "Keystone State Wrestling Alliance – News".

## External links

[edit]

* Demolition's OWW Profile
* Demolition's WWE Alumni Profile

* v
* t
* e

WWE World Tag Team Champions (1971–2010)

1970s|

* Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler
* Karl Gotch and Rene Goulet
* King Curtis Iaukea and Mikel Scicluna
* Chief Jay Strongbow and Sonny King
* Mr. Fuji and Professor Tanaka
* Haystacks Calhoun and Tony Garea
* Dean Ho and Tony Garea
* Valiant Brothers (Jimmy Valiant and Johnny Valiant)
* Dominic DeNucci and Pat Barrett/Víctor Rivera
* The Blackjacks (Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan)
* Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi
* Executioners (Executioner #1 and Executioner #2)
* Billy White Wolf and Chief Jay Strongbow
* Dino Bravo and Dominic DeNucci
* Yukon Lumberjacks (Lumberjack Eric and Lumberjack Pierre)
* Larry Zbyszko and Tony Garea
* Valiant Brothers (Jerry Valiant and Johnny Valiant)
* Ivan Putski and Tito Santana

1980s|

* Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika)
* Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales
* Rick Martel and Tony Garea
* Moondogs (Moondog Rex and Moondog King/Moondog Spot)
* Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito
* Chief Jay Strongbow and Jules Strongbow
* Soul Patrol (Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas)
* North-South Connection (Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch)
* U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo)
* The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff
* Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine)
* The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid)
* The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart)
* Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana)
* Demolition (Ax, Crush, and Smash)
* Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard)
* Colossal Connection (André the Giant and Haku)

1990s|

* The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags)
* Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk)
* Money Inc. (Irwin R. Schyster and Ted DiBiase)
* The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon)
* Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner)
* The Quebecers (Quebecer Jacques and Quebecer Pierre)
* 1-2-3 Kid and Marty Jannetty
* Men on a Mission (Mabel and Mo)
* Headshrinkers (Fatu and Samu)
* Two Dudes with Attitudes (Diesel and Shawn Michaels)
* The 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly
* Smoking Gunns (Bart Gunn and Billy Gunn)
* Owen Hart and Yokozuna
* Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip)
* The Godwinns (Henry O. Godwinn and Phineas I. Godwinn)
* Owen Hart and the British Bulldog
* Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin
* Dude Love and Stone Cold Steve Austin
* The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher)
* New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg)
* Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie
* Kane and Mankind
* Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker
* Big Boss Man and Ken Shamrock
* Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart
* Kane and X-Pac
* Acolytes Protection Agency (Bradshaw and Faarooq)
* Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy)
* The Unholy Alliance (Big Show and The Undertaker)
* Rock 'n' Sock Connection (Mankind and The Rock)
* Holly Cousins (Crash Holly and Hardcore Holly)
* Al Snow and Mankind

2000s|

* Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley)
* Edge and Christian
* Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty)
* Right to Censor (Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather)
* The Rock and The Undertaker
* Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane)
* Two-Man Power Trip (Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H)
* Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho
* Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon
* Chris Jericho and The Rock
* Booker T and Test
* Spike Dudley and Tazz
* Billy and Chuck
* Rico and Rikishi
* Edge and Hulk Hogan
* The Un-Americans (Christian and Lance Storm)
* The Hurricane and Kane
* Chris Jericho and Christian
* Booker T and Goldust
* Lance Storm and William Regal
* Chief Morley and Lance Storm
* Kane and Rob Van Dam
* La Résistance (René Duprée and Sylvain Grenier)
* Evolution (Batista and Ric Flair)
* Booker T and Rob Van Dam
* Chris Benoit and Edge
* La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier)
* Eugene and William Regal
* Tajiri and William Regal
* The Hurricane and Rosey
* Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch
* Big Show and Kane
* Spirit Squad (Johnny, Kenny, Mikey, Mitch, and Nicky)
* Roddy Piper and Ric Flair
* Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton)
* John Cena and Shawn Michaels
* Paul London and Brian Kendrick
* Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly
* The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr.)
* Batista and John Cena
* CM Punk and Kofi Kingston
* John Morrison and the Miz
* The Colóns (Carlito and Primo)
* Chris Jericho and Edge
* Jeri-Show (Big Show and Chris Jericho)
* D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H)

2010s|

* ShoMiz (Big Show and The Miz)
* The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template