The Son of A Great-Superstars Profile#184

Greg Gagne 

Real name: Greg Gagne 

Hometown: Mound, MN

A.K.A.: N/A

Membership: High Flyers (w/Jim Brunzell)

Finishing move: Sleeperhold

Background: Verne Gagne was a man. A dragon? No, just a man. He altered reality, you know. Split everything, world got split into different dimensions. 

In the new scheme of things, Verne oversaw a team of heroes based out of Minnesota. Greg was set to inherit the whole thing. Pity he lacked pretty much everything his old man had. 

His efforts at being a hero? He formed a super team! Of himself and one other guy, who did most of the work. He trained under Sgt. Slaughter! Who declared him a buck private for life. 

He even made his way to New York, but after a few fights couldn't cut the mustard and left. Not that he was even on Titan Inc's radar anyway. 

So yeah, went home to Minnesota and stayed there til the 90s, then retired. Some stories are epic and some aren't; you can't win every time. 

The Highest Chief-Superstars Profile#183

Peter Maivia

Real name: Fanene Maivia 

Hometown: The Isle of Samoa 

A.K.A.: Prince Peter Maivia

Membership: Titan, Inc. 

Background: All dynasties start somewhere.

Before the Rock or even the Soulman, we must look back to the island of Samoa. Much has been written about the culture and its heroes. 

One of the biggest was the prince and yes, that was his persona as he arrived in America. He was royal and he loved to fight. He even joined the Superstars, but formerly quit in 1978 when he attacked Bob Backlund. 

His tenure in the 80's was brief as he officially retired in 1982 but he lived long enough to see his family grow and flourish. 

I Like to Hurt People-Superstars Profile#182

Ox Baker

Real name: Douglas Baker

Hometown: Waterloo, IA

A.K.A.: The Friendly Arkansas Ox

Membership: Titan, Inc., partners with the Grand Wizard

Finishing move: Heart Punch

Background: Ox started out as good as one could be. Back in the 60's, the Friendly Arkansas Ox was a proud member of the Superstars and was on his way to build his own legend alongside the greats. 

Something happened though. The bespectacled youth went out to the woods. What came back was bald and ornery. He left New York and wandered the world, battling anything and everyone. 

In 1980 he came back and was given to the Grand Wizard, who promptly dropped him as a client after one fight where Ox should bloodlust more akin to an animal than a human. Ox didn't care. He lit out and was never seen in New York again, although rumors and sighting would continue well into the Twenty-First Century. 

The Mouth of the South-Superstars Profile#181

Jimmy "the Mouth of the South" Hart

Real name: James Hart

Hometown: Memphis, TN

A.K.A.: the Strapmaster, the Colonel, the Memphis Chicken 

Membership: Titan, Inc., the Gentrys 

Finishing move: N/A

Background: A loudmouth, but an entertaining one. 

Jimmy, if fate had gone another way, would probably have remained a member of a half-way decent rock and blues band, touring medium sized clubs. 

That didn't happen; instead he ran into Jerry Lawler and figured "Hey, I want to see someone knock the hell out of that guy. Why don't I make that happen?" and thus the First Family was born. This got him on Titan's radar and soon he was pushed alongside Slick and Captain Lou. Hart first worked with Greg Valentine, but it was his mentoring of the Hart Foundation that cemented his role as a manager. 

For most of the 80s he was there, usually out in front and causing a distraction while his boys were up to no good. He had the best of the best, even the Missing Link but when the 90s came, things changed. 

The Bad One-Superstars Profile#180

 Earl Hebner

Real name: Earl Hebner

Hometown: Richmond, VA

A.K.A.: Dave Hebner

Membership: City of New York Judicial Branch

Finishing move: N/A

Background: Once there were two brothers. One, the bane of his father's eye, cheated his way through school and graduated barely, eventually becoming an ambulance chaser

When there is a fight, an impartial figure to often called upon to render a judgement. Earl knocked out Dave and took his place, ensuring that Hulk Hogan lost. His deception was quickly uncovered and Earl quickly figured that maybe committing identity theft was a bad idea. 

Of course, when his tried to fly on the straight narrow that somehow screwed him worse than being crooked, but that's a story for another day. 

The Good One-Superstars Profile#179

Dave Hebner

Real name: David Hebner

Hometown: Richmond, VA

A.K.A.: N/A

Membership: City of New York Judicial Branch

Finishing move: N/A

Background: Once there were two brothers. One, the apple of his father's eye, worked hard and graduated school, eventually becoming a judge with a reputation of calling it fairly and right down the middle. 

When there is a fight, an impartial figure to often called upon to render a judgement. Dave was one of the best; when you're that high up that paints a target on you. When Ted DiBiase wanted to make a hundred percent that his man Andre would win a fight against Hulk Hogan, he found an interesting tidbit. 

Dave had a brother...an identical brother...

Look at That!-Superstars Profile#178

Craig DeGeorge 

Real name: Craig Minervini

Hometown: Miami, FL

A.K.A.: N/A

Membership: Titan Inc. 

Finishing move: N/A

Background: He didn't have a great catchphrase or witness the most epic of battles, but from 1987 to 1989 he was there. 

He didn't do a whole heck of a lot but he was there. He later went back to local sportscasting and found his niche there. 

 

The Lord of the Brook-Superstars Profile#177

Lord Littlebrook

Real name: Eric Henry Edward Tovey

Hometown: Tottenham, London, UK

A.K.A.: Roger Littlebrook

Membership: Partners with Little Tokyo, King Kong Bundy

Finishing move: Giant Swinger

Background: Staying on the straight and narrow isn't always the easiest. 

Eric was a clown. Not a put down either, no, he wore the greasepaint, tumbled, magic tricks, the whole nine yards. He might have even found success; but the circus went bust. Trapped in a foreign country with no prospects, why not turn to crime?

Thus the lower class Tovey became first Roger Littlebrook then LORD Littlebrook, a displaced nobleman with a penchant for highway robbery. His biggest moment was teaming up with his student and King Kong Bundy to take on Hillbilly Jim. They lost. 

He did pretty for himself, slowly retiring into a trainer (see Little Tokyo or Colonel DeBeers) before retiring in the late 90's. 

The Smallest of Tokyos-Superstars Profile#176

Little Tokyo

Real name: Shigeru Akabane

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan

A.K.A.: Tokyo, 

Membership: Partners with Lord Littlebrook, King Kong Bundy

Finishing move: N/A

Background: Sometimes you get epic and sometimes you bump into a guy in the john. 

Akabane was a fighter but more or a bottom of the card kind of guy. That's when he bumped into the infamous Lord Littlebrook and thus a partnership was born. 

That's about it. They traveled, fought, and travled some more. They tried to shake down Hillbilly Jim, earned a country boy ass whuppin. Tokyo split after that, but drifted around a bit. He retired in 1997.

Breaking News-Superstars Profile#175

Sean Mooney 

Real name: Sean Mooney

Hometown: Rochester, NY

A.K.A.: N/A

Membership: Titan News

Finishing move: N/A

Background: Just a guy named Sean

Craig DeGeorge had split and there was someone needed to replace him. He wasn't given the main chair but he was there for the syndication packages and home video releases, which earned him a decent sized audience. 

So yeah, from 1988 to about 1993 there was a guy. Not huge, rarely on the front line where the action was but he was there. 

He mostly does regional news now.

Promotional consideration paid for by the following-Superstars Profile#174

Lord Alfred Hayes 

Real name: Alfred George James Hayes

Hometown: Windermere, England 

A.K.A.: Judo Al Hayes, the White Angel

Membership: Partners with Les Thornton, Ricky Romero, and Roger Kirby

Finishing move: The Tower of London

Background: You can get away with quite a bit with just an accent. 

Young Hayes was solidly middle class, but he had eyes for higher. First as the white clad hero the White Angel, he did pretty well in France but when he tried to take down the infamous Australian crook Dr. Death he was not only beaten but unmasked. 

After that and during a brief stint in politics, he went to America. He opted for the career as a villain and did a right decent job of it but retired in 1982. He got into the managing game and also did a decent job; not upper echelon but a nice run all the same. 

He took the name "Lord Alfred" and nobody bothered to check. When Titan Inc. switched owners in the 80's, he was hired not as a villain or hero, but rather in the news, often working alongside Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan. 

He was let go from Titan in 1995 and despite a brief comeback attempt in Chicago he opted to retire. 

The House of Humperdink Lives!-Superstars Profile#173

 Sir Oliver Humperdink

Real name: John Jay Sutton

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

A.K.A.: The Big Kahuna, Rooster Humperdink, Big Daddy Dink

Membership: Partners with the Army of Darkness, the Fabulous Freebirds, the House of Humperdink

Background: John Sutton came from the humblest beginnings. Much like Captain Lou Albano, he quickly saw profit coming from not running around in bright tights but arranging the fights. In the Midwest and Canada he made a small name for himself.

Heading south, he ran afoul of Lord Alfred Hayes and ending up the servant of Dusty Rhodes (who dubbed him Rooster)

He moved back North and became friends with Bam Bam Bigelow although the partnership wasn't a terribly profitable one. Humperdink split after a year with Titan after trying to managed Paul Orndorff back to stardom. 

He formerly retired in 1995.

The Cloud of White-Superstars Profile#172

Donna Christanello

Real name: Mary Alfosi

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

A.K.A.: Princess White Cloud

Membership: Partners with Toni Rose

Background: Sometimes a goon is a goon. Trained under the infamous Fabulous Moolah, tried to be a hero with a Native American gimmick. Didn't exactly set the world on fire, fell into crime. 

Mostly regional but did have a shot at the big time briefly in the mind 80's. Didn't exactly set the world on fire there either, and she retired in 1991. 

No, Not That One-Superstars Profile#171

Dawn Marie

Real name: Dawn Marie Johnston

Hometown: Newington, CT

A.K.A.: N/A

Membership: Superstars

Background: Not everyone gets a chapter. Heck, sometimes the best you can manage is a footnote. 

Dawn was a fighter, a proper one at that having battled her way across Japan. Titan was looking to increase their ladies division, so Dawn Marie was brought on, mostly working as a hanger on to Sherri Martel. She lost in her big match and split for Florida. 

Strongest in the World-Superstars Profile#170

Ted Arcidi

Real name: Ted Arcidi

Hometown: Buffalo, NY

A.K.A.: Boss of the Benchpress

Membership: Superstars

Finisher: Bear hug

Background: He found his niche, what can I say?

Ted was a pretty straight forward guy. He wanted to be strong, so he worked out. Probably too much, as by the time he was finished, Ted was now the strongest man on the planet. Seriously, dude could shatter diamonds just using his deltoids. 

Naturally Vince came calling but they quickly a found a problem. Ted was strong-WAY too strong. One slap could cripple. The strongest blows barely registered with him. How could you build a fight around that? It would be like watching an adult fighting in a child's karate tournament. Sure, funny the first time but only a psycho would watch a second time. 

So Ted was quietly retired in 1990. 

The Kid of Haiti-Superstars Profile#169

The Haiti Kid

Real name: Raymond Kessler

Hometown: New York City, NY

A.K.A.: Little Mr. T

Membership: Superstars 

Background: If you know a fool, can you truly pity him? Kessler was a guy who just wanted to make a difference, maybe get paid while doing it. He tried out for the Superstars in back in '71. Made a junior member. He wasn't happy, but a paying gig is better than nothing. 

He was regulated to background roles mostly but his fortunes turned when Mister T took notice. He even changed his name, but all that got him was a shaved head. He tried make a go of things as a serious hero, but he formerly retired in 1994. 

The Natural One-Superstars#168

 "The Natural" Butch Reed

Real name: Bruce Reed

Hometown: Kanases City, MO

A.K.A.: Doom#2, "Hacksaw" Butch Reed

Membership: Doom, Soul Patrol

Finisher: Elbow Drop

Background: Not the first dude to fall prey to flattery

Reed was looking to make a difference, really, but when the Doctor of Soul, Slick, came in and promised him wealth and respect...

Reed dyed his hair and started his public debut by knocking the hell out of Tito Santana. Other victories followed, including taking down former BMOC "Superstar" Billy Graham but he just never seemed to connect. The money also wasn't quite what was promised either. 

After a bit, Reed headed South but those adventures are recorded elsewhere.

Borne Again-Superstars Profile#167

 Matt Borne 

Real name: Matthew Osborne 

Hometown: Ellwood City, PA

A.K.A.: Doink the Clown, Borne Again, Big Josh, Reborne Again, Sgt. Kruger

Membership: Destruction, Inc., the House of Humperdink, Legion of Doom, the Rat Pack

Finisher: Nothern Light Suplex

Background: "What could have been" might be the cruelest way to begin a story. 

Young Matt Borne certainly had plenty going for him. Son of legend Tony Borne, Matt seemed destined to end up a Superstar. One fight with Ricky Steamboat later and that dream was deader than a dodo. Matt just didn't click with people, or at least no one in management. 

He left the Northeast and went first to Texas. Did alright for himself, had some success doing the costumed bit in the Southeast, but it was his run in the 90's that would cement his page in history. 

The Fist of Granite-Superstars Profile#166

"Rugged" Ronnie Garvin

Real name: Roger Barnes 

Hometown: Charolette, NC

A.K.A.: Mr. Knoxville 

Membership: Superstars, the 4X4s, the Garvin Brothers

Finisher: Knockout Punch 

Background: A hero in one place can be a zero somewhere else. 

Ronnie Garvin had been a local legend down south, often fighting Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen; even beating the former briefly. Hoping to find a place where the fighting was good and Flair free, Garvin headed north. 

He was in the big city about five minutes before he picked a fight with Greg "the Hammer" Valentine. He had a few big moments but for the most part he was regulated to the back of group shots. He formerly resigned from the Superstars in 1990.

The Lost Superstar-Superstars#165

Tom Magee 

Real name: Tom Magee

Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 

A.K.A.: Mega Man

Membership: N/A

Finisher: Canadian Backbreaker 

Background: Who?

At a glance, Tom should have had a place among the great. Bodybuilder, boxer, karate, he excelled in every field he entered. He was even a hero in Canada and Japan.

What happened?

That may never be known. A fight between him and Bret "the Hitman" Hart happened, allegedly. The fight quickly gained urban legend status, with more than a folk claiming it never happened. 

Magee did pop up throughout the 80s. Jimmy Hart expressed interest in him, according to a few coffee stained memos that have been unearthed. He was to be given a name of Mega Man, no word on his costume. 

He quietly left in 1990, assuming he was there at all.

PRESENTING!-Superstars Profile#164

Mike McGuirk 

Real name: Michelle McGuirk

Hometown: Tulsa, OK

A.K.A.: N/A

Membership: Titan, Inc. 

Background: She wasn't the Fink, but she was there. McGuirk was at first seen as more window dressing, but even with her glittery tuxes she had a certain style. She made a decent career, covering the Superstars but she didn't quite have the impact that Mean Gene or even Jesse the Body had. 

She formerly left Titan in 1994. 

The Mad One-Superstars Profile#163

Mad Maxine

Real name: Jennine Mjoseth

Hometown: West Germany 

A.K.A.: Lady Maxine 

Membership: Student of the Fabulous Moolah 

Finisher: Vertical supplex 

Background: the roads not taken, eh?

The Fabulous Moolah, already a noted scumbag, unveiled her latest creation-Mad Maxine! A warrior from the road, born in the thunder and ready to crush the unworthy!

...who was actually a basketball player taking a sabbatical from her studies and was talked into getting a mohawk. She thought the whole supervillain thing was a neat idea, at least until the reality of working for Moolah hit her full in the face. 

Seriously, she earned $210 bucks total but thanks to Moolah's accounting she somehow ended up owning her money. She opted to leave, figuring being a reporter would make more cash and allow her a smidge more dignity. 

She formally retired in 1986 and later wrote a tell-all book.

HUT! HUT!-Superstars Profile#162

George Wells 

Real name: George Wells

Hometown: Oakland, CA

A.K.A.: Master G

Membership: Superstars, partners with Dewey Robinson, Johnny Weaver 

Finisher: Avalanche 

Background: Sometimes you can do everything right and still loose.

In the early 1970s, Wells got out of school and looked to heading to gridiron fame as a pro! A pro in Canada, true, but you can't spell pro without professional. So when Vince McMahon (Sr.) called him up and offered him a spot on the Superstars, well, of course he said yes!

It was mostly support/training, but hey, a foot in the pool can still you noticed! Although in this case no.

When Vince Sr. gave way to Vince Jr., Wells thought his career was on the way up. Surely he'd get slingshoted right to the big leagues, right?

Nope. More talent enhancement. He left the team in the mid 80s and formerly retired in 1988. 

Just a Good 'Ol Boy-Superstars Profile#161

"The Rebel" Dick Slater

Real name: Richard Van Slater

Hometown: Albany, NY

A.K.A.: Mr. Florida, the Texas Outlaw 

Membership: Superstars, Gary Hart International, J-Tex Corporation, Stud Stable, Hardliners, Rough N Ready, partners with Dusty Rhodes, Cowboy Bob Orton Jr. 

Finisher: Swinging Neckbreaker 

Background: Sometimes you don't get a choice where you're born. If you asked Dick, he'd tell you he was pure Southern redneck through and through. 

Even his closest friends didn't know he was born in New York. 

He was a tough SOB and made his way wherever he could fight, even doing a bit with Dusty Rhodes during his hellraising days. He managed to make his way onto Titan's radar where he was dubbed "the Rebel". He was even given a souped up Dodge Charger, but the fans didn't exactly warm up to him. After a brutal fight with Butch Reed, Slater quit and made his way down South. 

Rumors that he drove the car through Titan's lobby have yet to be verified. 

$$$$-Superstars Profile#160

 The Mega Bucks

Real names: (TD) Ted DiBiase (A) Andre Roussimoff

Hometowns: (TD) Seasonal residences, (A) Grenoble, French Alps

Membership: "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, Andre the Giant, Bobby "the Brain" Heenan

Finishers: (TD) Million Dollar Dream, (A) Big Boot

Background: For most actions, there is a reaction. 

Andre and Ted DiBiase had done some running around before back in the 70s. Despite Andre's pleas, Ted never made it as a Superstar. When he made his fortune, he remembered that. When Andre turned on Hogan, Ted figured he'd help his old buddy and leant him his muscle to try and take over the Superstars. When that failed, Ted and Andre hired Bobby the Brain as their manager and emerged as the Mega Bucks (mostly to counter the Mega Powers).

The team proved to be unable to live up to their pedigree and after a brutal fight against the Mega Powers, the team was quietly dissolved.

MEGA!-Superstars Profile#159

 The Mega Powers

Real names: (HH) Terry Boella (RS) Randall Poffo

Hometowns: (HH) Venice Beach, CA, (RS) Sarasota, FL

Membership: Hulk Hogan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Miss Elizabeth 

Finishers: (HH) Atomic Leg Drop, (RS) Flying Elbow Drop

Background: Sometimes things line up but never for long. 

1987 was when things changed. Randy Savage was officially a villain boarding antihero. When the Honkey Tonk Man ambushed Savage, who makes the save but the number one hero Hulk Hogan? Thus an alliance was formed and everything worked out, right?

They fought against multiple foes but there always seemed to be an edge to Savage. He started talking about Hogan lusting after Miss Elizabeth and attempting to get Savage out of the way. Things finally exploded in 1988 during a hot summer and by 1989 the two were on a course to fight. 

They would later reconcile in the mid 90s but that is a tale for elsewhere.

 

Born in the USA, part deux-Superstars Profile#158

American Express 

Real names: Michael Rotunda, Dan Spivey 

Hometown: Syracuse, NY; Florida 

Memberships: Mike Rotunda, Dan Spivey 

A.K.A.: (DS) Golden Boy

Background: Barry Windham was gone. 

Mike was quickly falling behind, so word came down from the head office that he needed a partner. Dan Spivey was already being billed as 'Golden Boy', plus he kinda looked like Windham was a new team was dubbed. 

Power, skill and talent are great but they were already paling in comparison to the other Superstars. The team was quietly disbanded in 1987.

The Blue Blazer-Superstars Profile#157

The Blue Blazer 

Real name: Unknown

Hometown: Parts Unknown 

Memberships: None

A.K.A.: N/A

Background:

Yeah, this is also a reason why a comic staring WWE guys never got off the ground. Obviously no disrespect towards Owen Hart and his family, I did this mostly for completion's sake but I'll just leave this alone.

Rather liked the Blue Blazer outfit, for whatever it's worth.

 

The Maltese Master-Superstars Profile#156

Baron Mikel Scicluna

Real name: Mikel Scicluna 

Hometown: Isle of Malta

Memberships: Partners with Smasher Sloan, King Curtis Iaukea

A.K.A.: Mike Valentino 

Background: Really a story in two parts. 

First, a destitute man (possibly of royal descent, it was never really confirmed) turned to general thuggery in 1953. He had a decent career in crime, fighting against the Superstars but slowed down in the 70's. 

Starting in the 80's, He was brought back and yes, he was fighting again but this time it was more as a member of the J.O.B. Squad, only raising hell to make the Superstars look good. He formerly retired in 1984.