Jim Powers
Encyclopedia
James Manley better known by his ring name Jim Powers is a retired American
professional wrestler
. He most notably wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation
in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s. The high point of his career was teaming with Paul Roma
as The Young Stallions
.
(WWF) in late 1984 by Big John Studd
who also had a hand in training him. In 1985, Powers ventured outside the WWF to gain more experience, including two Texas
based promotions: Texas All-Star Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling
where he appeared at a couple of the federation’s featured "Star Wars" events. After gaining more experience, Powers returned to the WWF.
, formed a tag team called The Young Stallions. At first the team had no name, and the original pairing saw Roma and Powers teamed with Tito Santana
in a six-man tag-team match against Don Muraco
, Bob Orton
, and Tiger Chung Lee on Wrestling Challenge
. Surprisingly the team of Powers, Roma, and Santana were victorious, although it would be several months before they would win again. Two brutal losses to Demolition
followed, as well as a defeat in eight-man action against The Heenan Family
in June 1987 (a match that saw the return of Paul Orndorff
to action after a five month layoff to such thunderous applause that he was quickly turned face.
Power and Roma finally gained their first televised victory in regular tag-team action in late July 1987 when they faced another preliminary team, Barry Horowitz
& Steve Lombardi
. The team was dominant and announcer Bobby Heenan
was stunned when Roma unleashed an off the top rope sunset flip. Fresh off of their first win, Powers and Roma were scheduled to face The Hart Foundation
on an August 8, 1987 episode of Superstars
(taped August 4), they scored an upset disqualification victory over WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation
. The team seemingly received their name by accident when color commentator Bruno Sammartino
referred to them once as "a couple of young stallions" thus naming the team.
In October 1987 the Young Stallions became the official moniker of the Powers and Roma tag-team. A storyline playing off of their upset of the Hart Foundation was started as they "stole" the theme song "Crank It Up
" from Jimmy Hart
, who had intended to use it for his team. Later that month they faced The Hart Foundation in a rematch on Saturday Night's Main Event. The Stallions were narrowly defeated and now clearly had momentum. Along with The Killer Bees
, they were also the only survivors in the elimination tag team match at the first annual Survivor Series
pay-per-view on November 26, 1987.
That momentum however seemed to end in January 1988 when the Stallions faced The Islanders in a best out of three falls match in the final bout of the inaugural Royal Rumble
. Powers and Roma were defeated cleanly in two straight falls. The team was placed in featured matches on television and at house show
s, but most times ended up on the losing end to teams such as The Bolsheviks
, The Brain-Busters, and The Rougeau Brothers. Following yet another loss, this time to Demolition
on the March 19, 1989 episode of Wrestling Challenge
, the team began arguing after the match. Their final televised match was a loss to The Powers of Pain in July 1989.
Soon, they were split up off camera without an official announcement. Roma and Powers went their separate ways and both floundered on the undercard afterward, with Powers sustaining an injury that forced him out of action until March 1990.
As Roma began teaming with Hercules
to form the team of Power and Glory
that spring, Powers began to occasionally partner with Jim Brunzell. Powers had an opportunity to face his former partner in August 1990 episode of Prime Time Wrestling when Power and Glory defeated Powers & Brunzell. For the next four years Powers was featured primarily as a singles wrestler. During this time, he most notably became the first WWF wrestler to lose to Ric Flair
when the "Nature Boy" made his Federation debut on the September 30, 1991 episode of Prime Time Wrestling
. While sustaining televised losses to top stars like Curt Hennig
, Ted Dibiase
, The Undertaker he also defeated Al Perez
and Steve Lombardi
. Probably his peak push came in June 1992, when he returned after a several month hiatus from television to pin Lombardi and Bob Bradley
.
From this point on however he was unable to move up the card and finished up his main WWF run in April 1993 with a narrow loss on Monday Night Raw to Jerry Lawler
. Powers had one final WWF appearance in July 1994 when he went up against Jim Neidhart
on Raw. He then departed, a full decade after first signing with the company.
(AWF) on the TV series Warriors of Wrestling where he was a fan favorite
. He also teamed with Johnny Gunn
while in the AWF.
(WCW) in the spring of 1995 hoping to shed his “jobber" image. He was scouted and then managed for a brief time by Teddy Long
as well as being scheduled to form a mid card stable with “Desperado" Joe Gomez
and The Renegade
but nothing ever came of it. He was attacked and spray painted
during a mid-1996 match by the emerging New World Order
(nWo). The reason for the attack was simply that the nWo wanted to address the crowd; it didn't really have anything to do with Jim Powers as he was just an expendable body. Just like in the WWF, WCW saw nothing but “Enhancement Talent" work for Jim Powers who finally left the company in early 1999 after being one of the sixty competitors in the annual WCW World War 3
Pay Per View in 1996.
promoter on March 9, 2007. Since returning to wrestling, Powers has wrestled for several independent based organizations and has appeared, pairing back up with Young Stallions partner Paul Roma, at several wrestling fan fests meeting his fans and signing their autographs.
"First off, hello to all of my fans, supporters, and friends that I have had the pleasure of knowing and meeting throughout my wrestling career. You have no idea how much you all mean to me. Unfortunately, you don't realize these things until you get up in age, and you're not made as accessible as I was fortunate to have been in wrestling.
The other reason I am writing this letter is because I am officially announcing my retirement from pro wrestling. This is not something I just decided to do. For the last few years, retirement has weighed heavily on my mind. Basically, it's taken me this long to come to grips that I can't physically be the performer I once was. I still love wrestling just as I did when I was young, it's just the sad reality that my body can no longer take the abuse, which explains why I have remained dormant over the last few years. Admittedly, I was never a "top guy," although I wrestled my heart out to put on the best show possible for all of you. It's like the cliche goes, without you, there is no me. From when I first got into the business in 1984 until my most major injury in 1998, the 14 years of abuse I put my body through has pretty much left me crippled. From the neck injury I sustained in '98 on WCW Nitro that ended my full-time wrestling career, to a hip that needs to be replaced, to stiff joints, bad knees, bad back, and swollen ankles...my quality of life is almost nill. I used to be able to wrestle for 30+ minutes and not be winded, but now I get light-headed and out of breath just getting out of bed. I have a beautiful daughter, that once she has children of her own, I want to be able to hold my grandchild and be able to get down on the floor with them. I also have some young nieces and nephews, that I want to still be able to toss a softball or football with. I have a gorgeous wife that I still want to be able to go to places as uneventful as the grocery store. The years of wear and tear that wrestling has wreaked on my body, has already taken the ease of mobility, and a painless quality of life. The past few years, my wife, my family, my friends, and even my business manager, have told me that I need to end my career before it ends me. Through these people and prayer, I have finally come to terms with it being time to hang up the boots, as they say in the wrestling business.
I thought I could make a few non-wrestling appearances, but I have canceled them. I accepted them awhile back, because I was hoping I would feel up to it. I am not. My most sincerest apologies to anyone that was hoping to see me. Jim Powers was once on top of the world, but now James Manley is physically broken down and was trying to stay in the spotlight. Sadly for me, that spotlight has faded.
I apologize for the rant, anyone who knows me knows I tend to do it. Please forgive me for not being able to perform for you, or attend any conventions to meet you. It truly saddens me to no end. I love you all, you have given me memories that no one can ever take away from me. If you happen to see me somewhere in my hometown, please say hello, so I can personally thank you myself. God Bless you all, and thank you for giving me some of the best years in my life.
Yours Truly,
Jim Powers"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. He most notably wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s. The high point of his career was teaming with Paul Roma
Paul Roma
Paul Roma is a professional wrestler who is known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling primarily as a tag-team wrestler alongside such partners as Jim Powers, Hercules, Arn Anderson and Paul Orndorff.-World Wrestling Federation :Paul Roma entered...
as The Young Stallions
The Young Stallions
The Young Stallions was a professional wrestling tag team composed of Jim Powers and Paul Roma who competed in the World Wrestling Federation from 1987 to 1989.-Career:...
.
Professional wrestling career
Powers was discovered and brought into the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF) in late 1984 by Big John Studd
Big John Studd
John William Minton was an American professional wrestler and actor who was born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, better known by his ring name, Big John Studd.-Career:...
who also had a hand in training him. In 1985, Powers ventured outside the WWF to gain more experience, including two Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
based promotions: Texas All-Star Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
where he appeared at a couple of the federation’s featured "Star Wars" events. After gaining more experience, Powers returned to the WWF.
Young Stallions
He arguably reached the peak of his career in the WWF when Powers, on March 11, 1987, along with fellow preliminary wrestler Paul RomaPaul Roma
Paul Roma is a professional wrestler who is known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling primarily as a tag-team wrestler alongside such partners as Jim Powers, Hercules, Arn Anderson and Paul Orndorff.-World Wrestling Federation :Paul Roma entered...
, formed a tag team called The Young Stallions. At first the team had no name, and the original pairing saw Roma and Powers teamed with Tito Santana
Tito Santana
Merced Solis better known by his ring name Tito Santana, is an American professional wrestler whose heyday spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, though he continues to appear on the independent circuit. He is best known from his time in the World Wrestling Federation...
in a six-man tag-team match against Don Muraco
Don Muraco
Donald Muraco , better known by his ring name "The Rock" Don Muraco, is a retired American professional wrestler...
, Bob Orton
Bob Orton
Robert Dale "Bob" Orton was an American professional wrestler. He was also known as Bob Orton, Sr. to distinguish him from his son, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Jr...
, and Tiger Chung Lee on Wrestling Challenge
WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Challenge is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was syndicated weekly and aired from 1986 to 1996. The show premiered as WWF Wrestling Challenge and became simply known as WWF Challenge in 1995. The show featured matches, pre-match...
. Surprisingly the team of Powers, Roma, and Santana were victorious, although it would be several months before they would win again. Two brutal losses to Demolition
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
followed, as well as a defeat in eight-man action against The Heenan Family
The Heenan Family
The Heenan Family was a stable of heel wrestlers managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan beginning in the 1970s. Heenan managed wrestlers under the Heenan Family name in the American Wrestling Association , the National Wrestling Alliance's Georgia Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling...
in June 1987 (a match that saw the return of Paul Orndorff
Paul Orndorff
Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
to action after a five month layoff to such thunderous applause that he was quickly turned face.
Power and Roma finally gained their first televised victory in regular tag-team action in late July 1987 when they faced another preliminary team, Barry Horowitz
Barry Horowitz
Barry Horowitz is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation.-Career:Horowitz, who is Jewish, attended Florida State University, where he studied sports nutrition and wrestled...
& Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi is an Italian American professional wrestler, and road agent. He is also known by his ring name Brooklyn Brawler...
. The team was dominant and announcer Bobby Heenan
Bobby Heenan
Raymond Louis "Ray" Heenan , better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan , is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation...
was stunned when Roma unleashed an off the top rope sunset flip. Fresh off of their first win, Powers and Roma were scheduled to face The Hart Foundation
The Hart Foundation
The Hart Foundation referred to several teams or stables in the World Wrestling Federation , usually consisted of members or close friends of the Hart wrestling family from Canada....
on an August 8, 1987 episode of Superstars
WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It debuted on September 6, 1986...
(taped August 4), they scored an upset disqualification victory over WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation
The Hart Foundation
The Hart Foundation referred to several teams or stables in the World Wrestling Federation , usually consisted of members or close friends of the Hart wrestling family from Canada....
. The team seemingly received their name by accident when color commentator Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation , holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign...
referred to them once as "a couple of young stallions" thus naming the team.
In October 1987 the Young Stallions became the official moniker of the Powers and Roma tag-team. A storyline playing off of their upset of the Hart Foundation was started as they "stole" the theme song "Crank It Up
Crank It Up
Crank It Up may refer to:* "Crank It Up!" a web show starring Crank * "Crank It Up" the fifth single from Hadouken! album Music For An Accelerated Culture.* "Crank It Up", a song by Cash Camp* NASCAR: Crank It Up, a compilation album...
" from Jimmy Hart
Jimmy Hart
James "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
, who had intended to use it for his team. Later that month they faced The Hart Foundation in a rematch on Saturday Night's Main Event. The Stallions were narrowly defeated and now clearly had momentum. Along with The Killer Bees
The Killer Bees (professional wrestling)
The Killer Bees was a tag team composed of "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair in the World Wrestling Federation from 1985 to 1988 and later on in the independent circuit...
, they were also the only survivors in the elimination tag team match at the first annual Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1987)
Survivor Series was the first Survivor Series pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1987 and was held at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio....
pay-per-view on November 26, 1987.
That momentum however seemed to end in January 1988 when the Stallions faced The Islanders in a best out of three falls match in the final bout of the inaugural Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every January by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1988, with its inaugural event taking place on January 24, 1988 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario...
. Powers and Roma were defeated cleanly in two straight falls. The team was placed in featured matches on television and at house show
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
s, but most times ended up on the losing end to teams such as The Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks were a professional wrestling tag team in the World Wrestling Federation from late 1987 until the spring of 1990.The team was composed of Nikolai Volkoff and Boris Zhukov portraying a pair of Russian Communist bad guys. Volkoff was born Josip Peruzovic on October 14, 1947. Although...
, The Brain-Busters, and The Rougeau Brothers. Following yet another loss, this time to Demolition
Demolition (professional wrestling)
Demolition is a professional wrestling tag team most prominent during the late 1980s / early 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation made up of Ax , Smash , and later Crush . In WWF, Demolition were three-time Tag Team Champions, and hold the records for both the single longest tag title reign...
on the March 19, 1989 episode of Wrestling Challenge
WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Challenge is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was syndicated weekly and aired from 1986 to 1996. The show premiered as WWF Wrestling Challenge and became simply known as WWF Challenge in 1995. The show featured matches, pre-match...
, the team began arguing after the match. Their final televised match was a loss to The Powers of Pain in July 1989.
Soon, they were split up off camera without an official announcement. Roma and Powers went their separate ways and both floundered on the undercard afterward, with Powers sustaining an injury that forced him out of action until March 1990.
As Roma began teaming with Hercules
Ray Fernandez
Raymond Fernandez was a professional wrestler who primarily wrestled in Florida and Texas before joining the World Wrestling Federation. He was best known by the ring name Hercules Hernandez or simply Hercules...
to form the team of Power and Glory
Power and Glory
Power and Glory was a professional wrestling tag team in the World Wrestling Federation from 1990 to 1991. The team consisted of Hercules and Paul "Romeo" Roma...
that spring, Powers began to occasionally partner with Jim Brunzell. Powers had an opportunity to face his former partner in August 1990 episode of Prime Time Wrestling when Power and Glory defeated Powers & Brunzell. For the next four years Powers was featured primarily as a singles wrestler. During this time, he most notably became the first WWF wrestler to lose to Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
when the "Nature Boy" made his Federation debut on the September 30, 1991 episode of Prime Time Wrestling
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
WWF Prime Time Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It aired on the USA Network from 1985-1993. A precursor to Monday Night Raw, Prime Time Wrestling was a two-hour long, weekly program that featured stars of the World Wrestling...
. While sustaining televised losses to top stars like Curt Hennig
Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig , also known by the ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who worked for, among other promotions, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World...
, Ted Dibiase
Ted DiBiase
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career...
, The Undertaker he also defeated Al Perez
Al Perez
Al Perez is a retired American professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:Perez began wrestling as an amateur in high school and was one of the top athletes in his home state of Florida. He started professional wrestling in 1982.He formed a team in ICW with Joe Savoldi known as the "New...
and Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi is an Italian American professional wrestler, and road agent. He is also known by his ring name Brooklyn Brawler...
. Probably his peak push came in June 1992, when he returned after a several month hiatus from television to pin Lombardi and Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley
Robert "Bob" Bradley is an American soccer coach and the current manager of the Egypt national football team, taking over in September 2011. He previously managed the United States men's national soccer team...
.
From this point on however he was unable to move up the card and finished up his main WWF run in April 1993 with a narrow loss on Monday Night Raw to Jerry Lawler
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional...
. Powers had one final WWF appearance in July 1994 when he went up against Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
on Raw. He then departed, a full decade after first signing with the company.
American Wrestling Federation
In 1994, he competed for the short lived American Wrestling FederationAmerican Wrestling Federation
The American Wrestling Federation was a national professional wrestling federation founded by Paul Alperstein.-History:Alperstein, a promoter from Chicago, founded the AWF in 1994 and was on-air president of the company....
(AWF) on the TV series Warriors of Wrestling where he was a fan favorite
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
. He also teamed with Johnny Gunn
Tom Brandi
Tom Brandi is a professional wrestler known for his work in World Wrestling Federation as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East...
while in the AWF.
World Championship Wrestling
Powers resurfaced in World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) in the spring of 1995 hoping to shed his “jobber" image. He was scouted and then managed for a brief time by Teddy Long
Theodore Long
Theodore R. "Teddy" Long is an American professional wrestling manager and former referee who currently works for WWE on its SmackDown brand as its General Manager.-National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling:...
as well as being scheduled to form a mid card stable with “Desperado" Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez is an American professional wrestler who competes in Southeastern independent promotions including Florida Championship Wrestling, Maximum Pro Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance....
and The Renegade
Rick Williams
Richard C. "Rick" Williams was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Renegade, where he was a one time World Television Champion.-Professional wrestling career:After a stint as a male stripper, Williams began...
but nothing ever came of it. He was attacked and spray painted
Spray painting
Spray painting is a painting technique where a device sprays a coating through the air onto a surface. The most common types employ compressed gas—usually air—to atomize and direct the paint particles. Spray guns evolved from airbrushes, and the two are usually distinguished by their size and the...
during a mid-1996 match by the emerging New World Order
New World Order (professional wrestling)
The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
(nWo). The reason for the attack was simply that the nWo wanted to address the crowd; it didn't really have anything to do with Jim Powers as he was just an expendable body. Just like in the WWF, WCW saw nothing but “Enhancement Talent" work for Jim Powers who finally left the company in early 1999 after being one of the sixty competitors in the annual WCW World War 3
WCW World War 3
World War 3 was an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Championship Wrestling. The pay-per-view's title also was the name of its signature match, a three-ring, sixty-man battle royal which was their answer to the World Wrestling Federation's Royal Rumble. The event...
Pay Per View in 1996.
Semi-retirement
After spending several years in semi-retirement and rehabbing a neck injury that forced him out of the squared circle in the first place, Jim Powers returned to wrestling for an independentIndependent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
promoter on March 9, 2007. Since returning to wrestling, Powers has wrestled for several independent based organizations and has appeared, pairing back up with Young Stallions partner Paul Roma, at several wrestling fan fests meeting his fans and signing their autographs.
Retirement
On Feb. 3, 2010, Jim Powers announced his retirement. Here is the letter he wrote for his announcement:"First off, hello to all of my fans, supporters, and friends that I have had the pleasure of knowing and meeting throughout my wrestling career. You have no idea how much you all mean to me. Unfortunately, you don't realize these things until you get up in age, and you're not made as accessible as I was fortunate to have been in wrestling.
The other reason I am writing this letter is because I am officially announcing my retirement from pro wrestling. This is not something I just decided to do. For the last few years, retirement has weighed heavily on my mind. Basically, it's taken me this long to come to grips that I can't physically be the performer I once was. I still love wrestling just as I did when I was young, it's just the sad reality that my body can no longer take the abuse, which explains why I have remained dormant over the last few years. Admittedly, I was never a "top guy," although I wrestled my heart out to put on the best show possible for all of you. It's like the cliche goes, without you, there is no me. From when I first got into the business in 1984 until my most major injury in 1998, the 14 years of abuse I put my body through has pretty much left me crippled. From the neck injury I sustained in '98 on WCW Nitro that ended my full-time wrestling career, to a hip that needs to be replaced, to stiff joints, bad knees, bad back, and swollen ankles...my quality of life is almost nill. I used to be able to wrestle for 30+ minutes and not be winded, but now I get light-headed and out of breath just getting out of bed. I have a beautiful daughter, that once she has children of her own, I want to be able to hold my grandchild and be able to get down on the floor with them. I also have some young nieces and nephews, that I want to still be able to toss a softball or football with. I have a gorgeous wife that I still want to be able to go to places as uneventful as the grocery store. The years of wear and tear that wrestling has wreaked on my body, has already taken the ease of mobility, and a painless quality of life. The past few years, my wife, my family, my friends, and even my business manager, have told me that I need to end my career before it ends me. Through these people and prayer, I have finally come to terms with it being time to hang up the boots, as they say in the wrestling business.
I thought I could make a few non-wrestling appearances, but I have canceled them. I accepted them awhile back, because I was hoping I would feel up to it. I am not. My most sincerest apologies to anyone that was hoping to see me. Jim Powers was once on top of the world, but now James Manley is physically broken down and was trying to stay in the spotlight. Sadly for me, that spotlight has faded.
I apologize for the rant, anyone who knows me knows I tend to do it. Please forgive me for not being able to perform for you, or attend any conventions to meet you. It truly saddens me to no end. I love you all, you have given me memories that no one can ever take away from me. If you happen to see me somewhere in my hometown, please say hello, so I can personally thank you myself. God Bless you all, and thank you for giving me some of the best years in my life.
Yours Truly,
Jim Powers"
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Running powerslam
- Signature moves
- DropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
, sometimes from the top rope - Knee lift
- Dropkick
Championships and Accomplishments
- NWA Jersey
- NWA New Jersey Television Tag Team Championship (1 Time)- with Danny Inferno
- Northeast Championship Wrestling (Tom Janette)
- NCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ray Apollo
- Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling
- PCW Americas Championship (1 Time)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #197 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
in 1996
- PWI ranked him #197 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500