THE FIRST OF MANY, BUT ALWAYS THE BEST

The old saying says that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that is true, then The Road Warriors are among the most flattered performers in the history of professional wrestling.

Following the debut of The Road Warriors in 1983 and their fast ascension in the ranks of every territory they visited, it didn’t take long for others to begin mimicking their look, from their amazing physiques to their unique haircuts to their intimidating face paint, with some adding Hawk & Animal’s steel spikes to their outfits. ​

THE BLADE RUNNERS

The Blade Runners take on "enhancement talent"

In 1985, two rookies in California completed their training under Red Bastien and Rick Bassman, and took numerous cues from Animal & Hawk when they formed the tag team The Blade Runners. Both incredible physical specimens with an intimidating presence, Rock & Flash employed face (and tongue) paint as they ran roughshod over their competition. Rock and Flash didn’t last long as a team, but the men behind those characters would certainly make their marks on the business.

Flash would soon change his face paint and become Sting, who made his way to Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987 as part of their purchase of Bill Watts’ Universal Wrestling Federation. Seeing the potential in the young talent, Crockett pushed Sting as a threat to Ric Flair’s NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and fans took to the surfer from Venice Beach immediately. Along the way, he teamed with The Road Warriors, who regarded him as a “brother in paint”, helping cement his legitimacy as a future star. Few in this era would have a bigger impact on WCW than Sting.

Rock would also change his face paint and become The Dingo Warrior, finding success in World Class Championship Wrestling, and soon made his way to the World Wrestling Federation as The Ultimate Warrior. His amazing physique and frenetic presence fascinated audiences, and he quickly obtained the WWF Intercontinental Championship before going on to challenge and defeat Hulk Hogan for the WWF Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania VI.

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DEMOLITION

The Legion of Doom vs. Demolition, Oct. 30, 1990

In January 1987, following a spurned offer for The Road Warriors to jump from Jim Crockett Promotions to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Vince McMahon attempted to create his own version of the phenomenon in the team of Demolition, Ax & Smash. Ax was portrayed by Bill Eadie, the former Masked Superstar, and while Randy Colley (formerly Moondog Spot) initially filled the role of Smash, Barry Darsow would shed his Krusher Khruschev persona and don the paint to complete the painted and spiked duo. Their visual similarity to The Road Warriors was so apparent that many casual fans confused the two teams (possibly McMahon’s goal), and was all-the-more ironic because Darsow was good friends with both Animal & Hawk in their days before pro wrestling, when they worked together as bouncers.

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POWERS OF PAIN

The Road Warriors vs. The Powers of Pain

Yet another entry in the story of imitators is that of The Powers of Pain. Following an intense feud with The Road Warriors in Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) in 1987 and early 1988, the painted duo (Warlord added the paint after leaving JCP) would make their presence felt in the WWF in June of 1988. They were immediately pushed as babyfaces feuding with the heel team of Demolition, seemingly offering fans the Road Warriors vs. Demolition feud that so many had clamored for.

Many casual fans believe that The Road Warriors really had arrived in the WWF, due to Barbarian & Warlord’s remarkably similar looks to Animal & Hawk, respectively. Seemingly brought in to be sacrificed to Demolition, the Powers of Pain duo split up in March 1990, with each man joining the WWF singles ranks with new gimmicks.

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