The Real Playboy-Superstars Profile#131

Larry Sharpe

Real name: Larry Weil

Home: Castleisland, Ireland 

Membership: Bodacious Blonds, Hollywood Blondes, partners with Jack Evens 

Finisher: Piledriver

Background: Those that can, do; those that can't teach-and if you said that saying to Larry Sharpe he'd turn you over to some of his students. 

Larry could have been a premier member of the Superstars but when the 80s rolled around he quietly left the team and headed to various points, learning. When he felt he had learned enough he opened his Monster Factory and started churning out students who names will live forever. 

And That's All the People Need to Know!- Superstars Profile#130

the Baron 

Real name: James Donald Raschke (at least that's who the checks were made out too)

Home: Republic of Germany (we think, his accent suggested the Bavarian alps)

Membership: Paul Jones Army, partners with Greg Valentine, Horst Hoffman, Mad Dog Vachon, Paul Jones, the Crusher, managed the Barbarian and the Warlord

A.K.A.: Fritz Von Raschke, Jim Raschke

Finisher: The Brain Claw

Background: To most people in Titan, the Baron was a shadowy figure. He issued orders to the Barbarian and the Warlord but the Powers of Pain quickly broke free from him for reasons unrevealed. 

After that he returned to his old Midwest stamping grounds. Why? That is unknown. His background, unknown. 

Although every so often, someone notices a hooded figure in the background of some old photos or catches glimpse of a twisted old man out of the corner of their eyes. 

The Russian Bear-Superstars Profile#129

Ivan Koloff 

Real name: Ivan Koloff

Home: Moscow, Russia 

Membership: The Russians, Paul Jones Army, House of Humperdink, partners with Superstar Billy Graham, Captain Lou Albano, "Classy" Freddy Blassie

A.K.A.: Oreal Pierce, Jim Parris, Red McNulty

Finisher: Russian Neckbreaker

Background: Russian superagents weren't unusual. They send some of their guys to attack, we send some guys, wash rinse repeat.

Ivan was one of those men. He was given the background a simple farmer from Ottawa but that was simply a cover. Ivan was augmented and gave the Superstars a run for their money, even being the first one to defeat Bruno Sammartino. Ivan was on a rampage until Pedro Morales stepped up and used Ivan as a stepping stone to his becoming the Superstars next leader. 

As the 70's gave way to the 80's Ivan found himself cut off from his handlers. He drifted south and battled across the Southeast for a bit before retiring. 

The Iron Ace-Superstars Profile#128

Antonio Inoki 

Real name: Kanji Inoki

Home: Tokyo, Japan 

Membership: B-I Cannon, partners with Tatsumi Fujinami, Seji Sakaguchi

A.K.A.: Kamikaze, Tokyo Tom, Kinji Onoki, Little Tokyo, Kazimoto

Finisher: Enzuigiri

History: A man's whose legacy could fill a hundred profiles. 

But his relationship with Titan was brief. Bob Backlund was touring Japan on a goodwill tour when Inoki challenged him to a fight. Much to the shock of his Superstars teammates, Inoki won. The victory was never acknowledged but those that saw knew. 

Inoki would mostly stay in Japan where he would move into the realm of politics. 

Hotstuff!-Superstars Profile#127

"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert

Real name: Thomas Edward Gilbert, Jr. 

Home: Lexington, TN

Membership: Memphis Mafia, Hot Stuff International, Hot Stuff and Hyatt International, First Family, Dangerous Alliance, New Fabulous Ones, partners with Doug Gilbert and Dark Patriot 

A.K.A.: The Bogie Man, Jason the Terrible, Tommy Gilbert, Jr. 

Finisher: Piledriver

Background: Another son, another father. Tommy Gilbert was a legend in Memphis. That might have played a part in his moving North. Finding Bob Backlund, Gilbert was taken under the man's wing and was made a low ranking member of the Superstars, albeit briefly. 

Yeah, briefly being the key phrase as one fight with the Masked Superstar left him utterly broken. Gilbert was dismissed from McMahon's company before his son took over. 

From there he went back to Memphis and from there sailed into legend. 

The Dragon of Tradition-Superstars Profile#126

Tatsumi Fujinami

Real name: Tatsumi Fujinami

Home: Kunisaki, Oita, Japan 

Membership: Dragon Bombers, partners with Antonio Inoki, Kengo Kimura, and Osamu Nishimura

A.K.A.: Ox Fujinami 

Finisher: Dragon Supplex

Background: A man from the East...

Seriously though, the sheer amount of fights this man has been in could fill entire libraries. He started as a rival to Antonio Inoki but when Inoki was fired from the company that he made famous, Fujinami threw in with him. 

His exploits in Japan made him a legend, with his style and moves being studied in places from Canada all the way to Mexico. 

For a brief time, Titan, Inc. did business with this new Japanese company. Fujinami spared with Hulk Hogan but after a brawl with Matt Borne he left for his familiar haunts. 

 

Jive Soul Brother-Superstars Profile#125

Slick

Real name: Kenneth Wayne Johnson

Home: Fort Worth, TX

Membership: Managed One Man Gang, Akeem, Boris Zhuov, Butch Reed, Earthquake Evans, Hercules, the Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, Paul Roma, Rick Martel, the Warlord 

A.K.A.: Reverend Slick 

Finisher: N/A

Background: Sometimes the acorn falls pretty dang far from the tree. 

Slick was the only son of Rufus R. Jones. When your old man is as tough as he was, the bar is set a little high. Slick took one look at that bar and said the hell with it. He took to the streets, but it wasn't to be a fighter. 

No, Slick got by on his brain. He could put people where they would do the most damage. This got him hired by "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Slick was smart and soon bought out Blassie's stable of fighters. He took a run of the mill biker and turned him into the African Dream.

From there he focused mainly on tag teams. He was doing fine, just fine. Cash was coming in steady, his fighters were making him feared but he wasn't happy. 

Then Davey Boy Smith beat the daylights out of him. From there, Slick decided to take some serious stock of his life. The 90s would see a new Slick emerge.