The Pain and the Power-Superstars Profile#124

The Powers of Pain

Real names: (B) Sione Vailahi (W)Terry Szopinski

Hometown: Parts Unknown

Membership: The Barbarian, the Warlord, Mr. Fuji, the Baron 

A.K.A.: Super Assassins, the Super Destroyers 

Background: As mentioned, Tito Santana brought the two in for revenge for Demolition's attack on Strike Force. 

They VERY quickly ditched Santana and hooked up with the Baron, but the older man retired. During a dust up, the Powers quickly betrayed their allies and took in Mr. Fuji after Demolition beat the older jerk senseless. 

From there Fuji called the shots. 

For the most part they did alright, but they went from major forces to minor thugs at best. In 1990 they split, with Fuji selling the Barbarian's contract to Bobby "the Brain" Heenan and the Warlord to Slick. They would reunite later in Japan some years later and still fight to this day.

The Violence-Superstars Profile#123

The Warlord

Real name: Terry Szopinski

Hometown: Parts Unknown

Membership: Powers of Pain, Super Assassins, Paul Jones Army

A.K.A.: Super Assassin#2, Violence Warlord 

Finisher: Full Nelson 

Background: Tito Santana was desperate.

His partner Rick was injured by Demolition. What could he do? He went out and found the toughest guys he could find. The Barbarian he knew of but he found the Warlord throwing Mike Sharpe through a bar window.

Thus the Powers of Pain were born. The Warlord was born. He would split from the Powers in the 90s and his tales are accounted elsewhere.

The Greatest Athlete in Canada-Superstars Profile#122

Iron Mike Sharpe

Real name: Michael Sharpe 

Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 

Membership: JOB Squad 

A.K.A.: Mike Sharpe, Jr. 

Finisher: Hammer Punch 

Background: A father and uncle were champions from San Francisco to Japan, so Mike figured he had to step up his game. Why not get super powers?

Pity he didn't just have the budget. Still, he earned something no one else could boast of, the ability to turn his flesh into solid iron!

Well, his forearm at least. Still, he could whack you good with it. 

Shockingly this didn't lead him to leading the Superstars. McMahon saw some use in him and had him placed on the JOB Squad-designed to make the heroes look good. Thus Mike went out night after night and got the stuffing kicked out of him.

Just a Playboy-Superstars Profile#121

"Playboy" Buddy Rose

Real name: Paul E. Perschmann

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

Membership: The Heenan Family, Beach Boys

A.K.A.: The Executioner 

Finisher: DDT

Background: From brief hero, to crook, to fad diet salesman. What a trip, eh?

Buddy trained alongside the future Sgt. Slaughter but found crime more profitable. In the West, he had established himself as a bold figure, robbing and romancing the ladies with equal passion. By the time he got on McMahon's radar, he had let himself go somewhat.

He tried going as the "Playboy" but that didn't exactly set any records. Bobby Heenan slapped a mask on him and called him the Executioner but he was thoroughly trounced by Tito Santana. 

After that the Brain had Buddy demoted, finally using him to sell a useless weight loss power in the 90s. 

The Polish Hammer-Superstars Profile#120

Ivan Putski

Real name: Jozef Bednarksi

Hometown: Krakow, Poland 

Membership: Superstars, partners with Tito Santana 

A.K.A.: Hercules Jim Bednarksi

Finisher: The Polish Hammer 

Background: A tough talking PI might be a bit cliche, but it works. 

Ivan, after his family moved to the USA, worked a variety of jobs. He disliked bullies, which tended to get him into trouble. In 1974 he found himself working in New York, where he sort of fell into the detective line. He was good, good enough to get on with the Superstars and working with Pedro Morales. 

Later he worked alongside rookie NYPD detective Tito Santana, and even helped get him on the Superstars. Sadly the 80s would be less than kind and he officially retired in 1987. He came out of retirement a few times in the 90's to help his son Scott.

The Magnificent Rock-Superstars Profile#119

Don Muraco

Real name: Don Muraco

Hometown: Sunset Beach, HI

Membership: Superstars, partners with Lou Albano, Mr. Fuji, Superstar Billy Graham, the Grand Wizard, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Dangerous Alliance, Hot Stuff International

A.K.A.: Aka Oni, Don Morrow, Doc X

Finisher: Reverse Piledriver

Background: One of the last great villains.

Yeah, Don started out as a hero, first mainly in the Midwest before relocating to San Fransico. By the time he hit Florida, he figured being a bad guy paid more. 

Heading up North, he made headlines when he took on the Superfly. From there he was fighting any and all comers but when McMahon Jr. took over, things changed. Don did try a shot being an actor, staring in a few pilots that failed to get picked up (such as FUJI VICE). Muraco wasn't a 100 percent sold on being a good guy again, but for the money involved, eh, he'd give it a shot. 

This served him well but by the late 80's Don found himself let go. He wandered a bit before heading over to Philly for a bit but by 1995 he had enough and retired. 

The Big Cat-Superstars Profile#118

Ernie Ladd

Real name: Ernest Ladd

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Membership: Partners with Leroy Brown 

A.K.A.: The King

Finisher: Big Boot

Background: The 1970s were wild, man.

Ernie Ladd, formerly big man of the gridiron, fell into fighting at first as a means of making some pocket money during the off season. Sidelined by an injury, Ladd saw this as a means of making more money. Soon he was taking on Bruno Sammartino himself, tangling with most of the Superstars at one point or another. 

Then the 80's happened. Now aged, Ladd tried to make it a go with the new McMahon but he was quickly regulated to being a color commentator for Titan News before being phased out for Bobby Heenan. He quietly retired in 1988.