Demolition

[GarvinStomp]

Mr. Superstar,

It was great meeting you back in August at NWA Fanfest in Charlotte. I thought you were a really nice guy.

How did you like tag teaming with Barry Darsow as Axe and Smash in the WWF. I thought Demolition was the premiere tag team in the WWF and you guys had the stretch of winning at Wrestlemania, IV, V, and VI. What was it like wrestling in the Skydome at Wrestlemania VI? Did you feel it was a bigger victory to beat Stirke Force at Wrestlemania IV or Colossal Connection at Wrestlemania VI?

On another note, is it true that you played football and ran track at WVU? If so, did you play for Jim Carlen or Bobby Bowden? Do you follow the Mountaineers today?

[Masked Superstar]

Thanks for the nice comments.I appreciate your loyal support of Demolition. I had a good time working with Barry. Strike Force and Colossal Connection were two completely different types of teams as you know.They required two diferent types of matches and prep. I enjoyed each experience . We could do more movement with Strike Force of course but who knows which the fans liked to see the most. I felt the fans didn't think we could win from Andre and Haku. I felt the fans were more upset when we took the championship from Strike Force but expected we could do it. To choose a favorite , I really couldn't. Sorry!!

WVU: I went on a track scholarship. Was Captain for two years. Both Carlen and Bowden were there. Carlen was Head coach, Bowden was his assistant. When Carlen later went to Texas Tech, Bowden became head coach. I had already graduated by then.

[howard1975]

mr superstar 1st of all i would like to say it was a pleasue watching you all those years with barry darsow as demolition.i have 3 questions.1 is what are some of your favorite matches and what was it like being in a couple of wrestlemanias and how many were you in.also is there a chance in the future that there will be a dvd releadesed in the near future on demolition.thank you for taking the time to answer the questions it was a pleasure watching you all those years.howard witzer.

[Masked Superstar]

Howard,

I appreciate your kind remarks. If I remember correctly I was in Three . They were high pressure situations, all of them. In fact all of the pay-per-views are high pressure. I am glad for the experience and they all were fun.

As to my favorite matches, too many to comment on. Like I have said many times . They are all different, all good memories and it would be unfair to try to select just a few. Hope you understand.

With regards to any DVD's , I have no control of that. I have been asked many times but that would be a decision that WWE officials would have to make.

I understand that there are new contracts being sent to talent the WWE wishes to use for various events, DVD's , dolls , etc. From what I am told the contracts are not really talent friendly. Not too many takers at this time.

Unless that changes I wouldn't see many takers.

Hope that helps

[flairgold1985]

Dear Mr Superstar.

First off I have to say that it is a true honor to speak to such a wrestling legend like yourself. I have 3 questions. My first question is how did it feel to be able to be in the same ring as Andre The Giant. My second question is when the great Mr Fuji was managing you in demolition, how much of a influence did he have on your career. My final question is if you could pick your 3 favorite arenas and toughest opponents. Thank You very very much. It was a pleasure watching you over the years. Richard Witzer

[Masked Superstar]

Andre and I were very good friends. He was a freind of my family as well. I think of him often, sad that he died so young. It was easy in the ring with him. He was an excellent professional. I often tell others that if they worked as good as Andre at getting the fan support behind them all matches would be easy and exciting.

If he can work and have the crowd support at his size there is no reason for any fan favorite not to get the fans support. Too often the good guy thinks he is too strong , too big to ask for support. That is why the fans show up . They want to support their chosen one against the bad guy. If you don't include them in your struggle they feel betrayed. All of my matches against or as tag partner with Andre were good memories.

Fuji: He knows the wrestling business. Fuji was fun to be around, he wanted to get a good workout, good food, have a nice place to sleep each night after the events and be on time for the matches and put on a good performance each evening. All the things that I followed and believe in as well.

It was easy to be around him and he would watch each match and tell us what he felt went well , what didn't seem to work and what he thought we should try or not try. He was interested in helping the team as a unit. He wasn't interested, as so many mangers are, about putting the spotlight on himself. If we were successful then he was doing his job.
Too often you seee matches in which the managres try to showcase themselves. That may be fine when the talent i the ring can't perform. Fuji didn't do that he was there when we needed him and when he did do something it meant something to add to the match. Too much manager interaction takes away from the match and puts all the action on him not the ones doing the work in the ring.Very few times have I sen people buying tickest to come see a manager over the wrestlers in the action. It does happen once in a very long time but that is programmed into the event not the event itself.

Favorite arenas: I was asked this before many times, some of them : Montreal, Atlanta, Greensboro, Charlotte, Richmond,Tokyo,Chicago,Boston, Columbus(Oh. and Ga.)Augusta, Ga.,Charleston S.C.. Those are some, of course, I have many others. too many to actually list. I have been very lucky and have been able to travel and get paid very well to see so many wonderful places, people and things. I was just speaking to a young wrestler the other week about the same thing. I told him to enjoy the trips, to sight see when he could and to take his family with him as often as he could. SO MANY NICE THINGS TO SEE AND TOO OFTEN PEOPLE LET THEM PASS BY WITHOUT CHECKING THE SITES AND ATTRACTIONS OUT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE RIDE WILL END, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EACH TRIP.

Thanks for the questions:

Superstar

[GarvinStomp]

Mr Superstar,

how did you like working the traditional Survivor Series matches? Were they much different or harder to prepare for than traditional tag team matches? Did you like working the Survivor Series match in 1990 where you were a part of the Perfect Team?

Also, how did you like working with the Powers of Pain? I enjoy watching the handicap match you and Smash had against them at Wrestlemania V. Was it more difficult or less difficult going against a power team as opposed to more scientific wrestlers?

thanks

Matt

[Masked Superstar]

The events such as Survivor Series are difficult to prepare for in that you never really know what is going to happen next. It is important to stay alert. It is very easy to get caught up in the motion of the match and not pay attention to all of the wrestlers in the ring. It is very easy to get injured. I was always careful to be aware of where I was in the ring. With many bodies flying and moving about ,you could imagine how dangerous it could be.

I enjoyed our matches with the Powers of Pain. They both are good friends of mine and I think they are excellent professional wrestlers. Credit to the business. They were very strong but our matches seemed very comfortable and I think went well. I felt they were as good an opponent as we had in New York. Even better when Fuji joined them it added to the contest.

[mtd]

Speaking of Mr. Fuji, I definitely recall Luscious Johnny Valiant being the original manager of Demolition for the team's first few months before handing the contract rights (or something like that) over to Fuji.

Superstar: What was the true story here? Was Johnny V supposed to be your permanent manager but it didn't work out? I did find it odd that a heel manager can control two full-time teams simultaneously (the "Dream Team" of Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake being Johnny's other duo he managed).

I'm only guessing that the managerial switch was to prevent any fan rumors about an angle of forcing Johnny V to choose between his Dream Team or the then-up-and-coming Demolition? I can definitely imagine Beefcake & Valentine both turning face if an angle like this ever came true.

[Masked Superstar]

The real story was that Johnny was a little too comical for the persona of a team like Demolition. Nothing against him personally that was his character. I felt Demolition needed and more serious and I would say more sinister manager. Who fit that bill more than Fuji.

I was the one that suggested the change be made. As I said it wasn't personal against Johnny but I felt it was needed. I never put any thought to the fact that he already had a team. Good point and very good observation on your part

[polishpowderkeg]

Superstar,


Here are some things I love about Demolition that were not already mentioned. First, you guys were like one of fav teams all time. I loved the entrance music, and they would always come in close on the camera angle when you took off the masks and stuck out your tongues. Also, I love the promo you guys did right before SNME against the brainbusters was my all time favorite, my brother and I still remember and do it from time to time the end went like this.


Smash: Sometimes we might get a little hot under the collar

Ax: But we'll always keep our heads

Smash: and we'll always keep our belts

Ax/Smash in unison: BRAINBUSTERS THE HEAT IS ON

then the theme song starts

[Masked Superstar]

Wow! you are a true fan. I don't even remember that interview that well. Thanks for the support.

Yes, I agree we did have a neat theme song. Still get loads of comments about it. Jimmy Hart did a good job. I think it fit the character well.

We had several good opponents to work with at that time.I enjoyed my experience .

[chitokmcmahon]

I'm going to jump on in here as well, as I'm a HUGE Demolition fan, you and Smash, along with Hulk Hogan were really what got me hooked on wrestling back in the 80s!

I grew up just outside of Toronto and unfortunately, I was too young to see you when you were there with the Mid-Atlantic guys in the early 80s, but I was at WrestleMania 6 and seeing you and Barry take the tag team titles from Andre and Haku was definitely a highlight of the show for me!

I just wanted to say thank you for all the memories that you gave all of us over the years

[Masked Superstar]

Thank you my freind. I certainly appreciate your comments. You happen to live in a great favorite city of mine. All the best !!!