drqshadow: Marcus is right on several fronts; we do indeed share a passionate love for the great synth bands of the 80s.. whether it's The Cure, Depeche Mode, A'Ha or that pesky Flock of Seagulls, we're both ready to throw on those leg warmers and jump onto the neon dance floor. He's also correct in stating there is no "I" in team, though there is a "me," if you rearrange the letters liberally. Still, if it's attention you're after in the world of professional wrestling, strength most certainly comes in numbers. The idea of what constitutes a stable has been pushed and shoved in many directions over the years, but the basic ideal has remained unaltered. When several like-minded individuals unite both in and out of the ring, there is no force greater. And, while each and every stable in pro wrestling history has exploded at some point or another in grand fashion, the benefits enjoyed during the team's tenure far outweigh the troubles endured after their split.
Marcus: What we have decided to do in part one of this two part series is look at which factions in the 80's were representative of the decade, what did they do and why did they do so? Over the span of ten years, five different factions defined the meaning of team work and how it is intended to be seem. Words such as "tradition" and "legacy" are tossed around with a lot more regularity today. During this decade these five teams represented their federation, and will all go down in wrestling history in some way or another.
Jimmy Hart's Family
Marcus: Jimmy Hart's collection of athletes was synonymous with two wrestlers in particular. The great white north has been home both Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart and laid down the "foundation" for their careers. During their tenure in the WWF in the early to mid 80's they pieced together one of the greatest teams in wrestling history. Hart and Neidhart being not only trained by Bret's father Stu, but their relationship as brother in laws to some extent made their in ring communication that much smoother.
Their long standing feuds with teams such as the British Bulldogs were what solidified their place in the company's tag team division. As time went on their faction of 2, although dissolved temporarily, was strengthened in the 90's. The additions of the late Davey Boy Smith, Brian Pillman and Owen Hart helped to resurrect this great faction into a dominant force once again. Their impact in the ring symbolized more than simply a team with incredible chemistry. They in some respects truly defined what team work was all about. To this day teams owe the entire Hart faction a collective thank you for helping to pave the way.
Several other members have made up Hart's family over the years as well. Greg Valentine, The Honky Tonk Man, they comprised the tandem of "Rhythm and Blues". This team met relative success with a tag team title run. Hart played the part of manager for Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake for a brief time. He actually played the part of a lackey to be quite honest. Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Jimmy Jack Funk all funnily enough played the part of the Funk brothers. One problem was that Jimmy Jack wasn't related. The names have changed within Jimmy Hart's family but one thing always remained the same, "the mouth of the south" and his historic megaphone would never be matched. What also needs to be remembered is that Hart's regime would never duplicate the success that the Hart Foundation ever had.
drq: Jimmy Hart was perhaps one of the most annoying managers of all time, always shouting in his over-the-top southern drawl, always using a signature megaphone to do so. Buried underneath layer upon layer of sparkling, shimmering, glittering wardrobe, he was teh definition of the WWF's so-called "circus era," a posterboy for the flamboyant, and everything the "Attitude era" was made to protest. Hart was the kind of guy who you wanted to see knocked out in the worst way. And, in that role, he was flawless. He drew those first flickers of attention to the Hart Foundation during their early years, helped to get them off the ground. While the real stars were certainly Bret and Jim, the "mouth of the south" was always there to entertain during the lull of the match, to annoy the living HELL out of you in those backstage interviews. Jeez, I'm getting worked up just thinking about it..
As Marc touched upon, Hart moved on from his famous coalition with the Anvil and the Hitman toward a more.. um... colorful roster. Perhaps more in tune with the cartoon character he'd portrayed on television for the previous handful of years. As the manager of the Honky Tonk Man, Hart was at his prime. He was a goofy, annoying manager who strode to the ring alongside a goofy, annoying wrestler. He was always there to inflate Honky's ego, to pat him on the back after a successful feat of strength. They were a perfect fit; dueling southern drawls, matching glitter outfits, that same 'oh sweet lord, kill him now' personality. While others came and went, the Hart Family was the heart and soul (no pun intended) of the undercard during the age of Rock'n Wrestling.
The Four Horsemen
Marcus: Alright the mark in me is coming to the forefront, what can I say. I took the time to watch this collection of the most talented and technically sound athletes to grace the squared circle, and as a team they were without question able to harmonize this incredible team work that is unmatched even by today's relatively high standards. Although the names have changed the symbol of excellence is synonymous with the Horsemen. Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, Ole Anderson, Sting, Lex Luger, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, Steve McMichael all contributed to their success, but without a doubt all the very foundation of the Horsemen rested on the collective shoulders of Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.
During their tenure during the 80's, Jim Crockett's NWA was infamous for its "heels" and although at times the Horsemen took on the role of a face, they without a doubt appeared to have taken great pride in being bad. As I look at their roles from a societal standpoint, and how the Horsemen are a reflection of society the parallels are incredible. In order to get ahead in this cruel world one needs to do what ever they need to do to survive, this was a reflection of the Horsemen. As we look at how their characters, dressed outside of the ring were reflective of those in the "concrete jungle" of the business world. The Horsemen were a symbol of excellence that will never be duplicated.
drq: Oh man, like I even need to really expand here. If you were with us little over a year ago, chances are you caught my unreasonably large, 12 part "History of the Four Horsemen" column, wherein I laid out every moment in the stable's history (If you missed it, you can catch up in the archives by clicking here) . But yeah, I'm a relatively large fan of the four fingers. More than any one group, the Horsemen took the whole concept of a stable, forged it in solid steel, introduced it to a major market and perfected it. They were absolute heels, the very epitome of what I loved about the monsters of the NWA's golden years. There was nothing they would do alone, were it wrestling a match or going out on a date. They were living the high life, didn't want to share, and because of their undeniable strength (both physical and political), they got away with it.
It's a testament to the impact of that very first lineup that the stable has maintained its legendary status through the years, especially considering the lows they visited in the mid 90s. Paul Roma. Sid. Steve McMichael. Jeff Jarrett. The stable went through the shits on numerous occasions, but still managed to remain iconic, an untouchable title. And, to their credit, Flair and Anderson did manage to pick out a few stars worthy of the honor. Benoit. Malenko. Pillman. Sting. They've had their ups, and they've had more than their share of downs, but they've always been at the top of the heap in my book, as well as many others.
The Fabulous Freebirds
Marcus: This was a faction that stood out like no other of its time. Unlike the Horsemen, the Freebirds all had a flair that was unmatched by any of their opponents. Michael Hayes, Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy, Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin, and Buddy Roberts all comprised this team of men that hailed from Bad Street U.S.A. I am fully aware that Corey may be reading this so I cannot neglect Fantasia himself, Brad Armstrong that played a moderate role in the team's success. They were the ever so popular heels of their generation. They all attained success to varying degrees but clearly Michael P.S Hayes and Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin were the most successful of the group while competing individually. Jimmy Garvin, whose brother Ronnie who was also an active wrestler during this era was about as flamboyant as anyone. He was in many instances a modern day "Gorgeous George"(and not the valet, the wrestler). He was accompanied to the ring with his beloved Precious but his charisma and character was an important element in the Freebirds' success.
The majority of this team?s glory years can be found in Verne Gagne's AWA. Why was this collection of athletes as successful as they were? The answer is quite simple. Each wrestler worked towards their strengths, and the mark in me believes they would do whatever was needed to prevail, which they ultimately did. The late Terry Gordy was about as tough as any wrestler of that or any time. Gordy added the strength to this team. Buddy Roberts was reminiscent of Tully Blanchard in the Four Horsemen. He added technical ability and really that is what tends to go underrated in many wrestling circles. Every group has a leader that was epitomized what the group was intended to be perceived as and Michael Hayes was the leader of this group of anarchists. So as several wrestlers made up the Freebirds over the span of their run only 3 have made this team as major a part of wrestling faction history and Roberts, Hayes and Gordy are them.
drq: I'll admit right now, my memories of the Freebirds are fogged by the passing of time. While they're absolutely one of wrestling's most noteworthy and important stables, they've also become one of its most overlooked. And that's a problem that's been handed down to the stable's members. At the epicenter of the group's fabric were Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Jack Roberts. All three, particularly Gordy, were good-to-excellent workers and charismatic personalities, yet none stand out in any history books today. Hayes works in a limited capacity for the WWE, Buddy has dropped off the face of the Earth, and Gordy passed away. Not really the bang you'd expect such a group to go out with.
More than anything else, the Freebirds should be noted for their ingenuity. They introduced concepts and attitudes that changed the way you see things in wrestling today, probably the most notable being their unique concept behind title defense. With the tag team division the stable's prime focus, naturally their greatest concern was winning, and retaining, the tag team titles. Thus, they introduced the "3 man concept", in which the team's lineup would change with every match. Some nights it would be Gordy and Roberts competing for the gold, others it was Hayes and Gordy. It was a concept more recently used by WCW with The Triad, and served to legitimately throw off their opponents' strategy. How can one prepare for a match if he doesn't know who he'll be fighting? The Freebirds were a loud, obnoxious, extremely violent group, as evidenced by the brutality of their wars with Ted Dibiase and the Von Erich brothers. They were also ages ahead of their time, enjoying their heyday in the early and mid 80s. It's a shame the years haven't been as kind to the 'birds as they have been to the Horsemen.
The Heenan Family
Marcus: During one family, one manager reigned supreme. Bobby Heenan's family consisted of a variety of different athletes at different times. The late Big John Stud, Ken Patera, Hercules, Rick Rude, Haku, Fatu, Harley Race, The Barbarian, Lex Luger(I think he got wet when he first introduced audiences to him, personally), Mr. Perfect, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard are all the names of for the most part legends in the sport itself. To varying degrees these men all were met with some success. Heenan's character always claimed to know exactly the other man was thinking even before they knew. As a fan at the time we were encouraged to boo and hiss, respectfully of course. For every action there is an equal and voluntary reaction. Heenan knew his role perfectly. So while we were growing up during the rise of the Heenan family both drq and I were the fans falling for everything Bobby sold us hook, line and sinker. Call me a Heenan mark, I just don't care!
The success of a faction, during the 80's, in the WWF was measured by that of what Bobby Heenan had created. A great deal of that success, regardless of the individual measuring sticks that the talent themselves had created were based largely around Heenan's character. The faction rose to prominence not just because it was scripted as so but that he captivated the interest of the audience alone. He was witty, articulate and earned the right be called the manager of the century. We fans of the 80's appreciate what Bobby Heenan paved the way for before us. So before I leave my look at the Heenan family I am reminded of a quote. "It's not until you fully embrace your past that you can truly move forward". Thank you Bobby, we now can safely look forward to what stands before us.
drq: Even the title "manager of the century" doesn't go far enough to explain the role Bobby Heenan played in the WWF during the 80s. He was the premiere mouthpiece, loud and evil enough to turn anyone on him within minutes. My mom hated Bobby Heenan, and she's watched maybe 20 minutes' worth of wrestling in her entire life. Heenan must've had a gland dedicated to producing the aura of a slimeball, yet he still managed to attract an extremely talented list of athletes to work underneath his banner. He slid right into relationships with the Horsemen, managing Blanchard & Anderson as the Brainbusters, as well as Ric Flair during his short stint. He was the intellect behind Rick Rude's rocketship to the top, as well as his eventual downward spiral. He gave legs to Harley Race's sagging career. The man could do almost anything with a nobody, which made his biggest coup all the more impressive.
When Heenan landed Andre the Giant, leading him into perhaps the biggest feud in wrestling history, there was no denying the man's importance. While the big-name impact of Hogan and Andre got fans interested, it was Heenan and Ted Dibiase who did all the talking. The Giant and the Hulkster attracted the curious, but Heenan made the hard sell. Fifteen years later, the match remains the most well attended in North American history. That's one hell of a sale.
Eventually "The Brain" saw his roster slowly growing weaker and weaker and cut his losses, diving full time into a role as an announcer, where he was every bit as at home as he was beside the ring. Over the years, the man managed Tag Team Champions, Intercontinental Champions, and (for a brief moment) a World Champion. It's a record that remains impressive even today, and only further solidifies his position as ringleader of the greatest stable in the WWF during the 80s.
Slick's Stable o' Style
Marcus: So the WWF wasn't perfect at the time, but they sure could make drq and I laugh. ?He's a jive soul bro, a jive soul bro and he didn't get anything in the end. Oh he got it in the end.? The Doctor of Style was really the WWE?s first attempt at a pimp only without giving it a title per say. He literally created a family of misfits. The One Man Gang magically denounces his Mohawk and becomes African. Does that sound fair? Nope. Slick gave birth metaphorically speaking to Akeem the African Dream. A man that was way too big to be flying for a white guy. Then we took a trip down to Cobb County, Georgia where Ray Traylor whipped out his night stick,(not the one your thinking about drq, you sick freak) and became the Big Boss Man, a correctional officer with a fetish for men behind bars. Together Akeem and the Bossman were the Twin Towers. United they stood, divided the fell... oh, they fell alright.
The family also included the Warlord, a man that had a strikingly similar resemblance to Road Warrior Hawk. Maybe? I don?t know maybe it was just me. We cannot forget "The Natural" Butch Reed. See at the time Butch Reed was known as "Hacksaw" and that name was being used by Jim Duggan. Do you care? Probably not. Reed was nicknamed "The Natural" because he had blond hair. Which most people would have bought if we weren't blind? Sheesh.. For goodness sake anyone could see the man....had black roots. Slick's band of wrestling?s version of the Misfits of Science collectively was very successful. So maybe they didn't capture our hearts of our imagination but at least they entertained us and really isn't that we look for in wrestling at the very least is to be entertained? Thanks Slick, you made us smile.
drq: To this day, I'll still quote "the master of style" on occasion, especially while trash talking my way through a multiplayer video game session. Visions of purple suits filling my head, I'll sing to no particular melody, "Turn off the lights.... the party's overrrr..." Yeah, that gives you a pretty good idea of what kind of a dork I really am. I quote obscure managers from the WWF's past while playing video games against friends. Sometimes I'll even trash talk the computer. It's sad.
But I'm getting off track! Slick, Slick, Slick... the older I get, the more I appreciate the humor involved with this man. Is it wrong for me to laugh at the mere mention of Akeem, the African Dream? Is it worth even mentioning that the "Twin Towers" Marc mentioned just above actually defeated the team of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage? Oh, poor Slick, what a tangled web you wove.
On a more serious note, it's in remembering men like Slick that I realize how empty the ringside area has become more recently, as the manager has become something of an endangered species. When a match slowed down, Slick was always there to do a dance, make a face, or shout some encouragement. While Akeem gyrated somewhere in the background, Slick was filling all the big man's interview time for him. He was there to goad audiences into hating or enjoying a wrestler. And, most importantly, he was there to take a punch when the time was right. All that, and he loved fried chicken. Seriously, the image I used above is all the reason I need to go back through some of my old tapes of Saturday Night's Main Event, scouring for the Slickster.
And that should wrap us up. We'll be back sometime in the next few weeks with part two of this two part series, covering the dominant stables of the 1990s and today. It's been a blast, and we'll hope to see you there. Marc, any closing words?
Marcus : I have several closing words drq. In fact I have several ways in which to say them also. Where do I ever begin? The most important words I have to say my friend is thank you. Thank you for taking time out from your incredibly hectic schedule to finally put this concept to paper. Readers should know that this idea was discussed by drqShadow and myself close to a year ago. Finally, we have brought home the honey with our fish net stocking loving appreciation of factions through the 80's. Part 2 won't take us that long, unless drq begins his on again off again relationship ship with llamas and I take time out of my schedule of searching through warez sites for interesting and thought provoking reads outside the world of organized calamity that is wrestling.
drq: ...and I've sworn off the long necked, goat resembling mammals. We'll be back sooner than you'd suspect. Take it easy, and we'll see you in the 90s. Me, I'll be off gleaming the cube somewhere.
Marc and drq
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