Super Powers (professional wrestling)
Encyclopedia
The Super Powers were a tag team in the NWA
's Jim Crockett Promotions
in the 1980s. The name was because an American
and a "Russia
n" made up the team while the Cold War
was still going strong.
had been teaming with Magnum T.A.
in the NWA for most of 1986. They were battling The Four Horsemen
and were scheduled for a cage match against Tully Blanchard
and Ole Anderson
on October 24, 1986. Magnum had a car wreck that ended his career before the match and Jim Crockett, Jr.
needed a replacement.
On the night of the match, James J. Dillon
(Blanchard was injured) and Ole Anderson were waiting in the cage to see who Dusty would bring out. It turned out to be "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff
, a top heel in the promotion, with whom Magnum had previously been feuding. Koloff was actually American but was billed as being from Russia. Koloff and Rhodes defeated Dillon and Anderson in minutes and The Super Powers were born.
Rhodes and Koloff participated in the 1987 Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. They received a bye
into the second round before defeating the teams of Bill Dundee
and The Barbarian
, Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez
, and The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton
and Stan Lane
) to advance to the finals. In the final round, they defeated Lex Luger
and Tully Blanchard, two members of the Four Horsemen, to win the tournament and its kayfabe
prize of one million dollars.
They participated in several WarGames match
es, teaming with The Road Warriors
against The Four Horsemen. The Super Powers teamed with several partners for the four-on-four matches, which took place in 1987 and 1988, and won each time.
Dusty and Nikita feuded with the Horsemen until early 1988, when they stopped teaming. They also feuded with Nikita's "uncle" Ivan Koloff, who was mad that Nikita turned on him, along with Ivan's partners Vladimir Petrov
and Dick Murdoch
.
In 2003, they had a reformation in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
when Nikita was unmasked as "Mr. Wrestling IV" after attacking Rhodes several times. He then rejoined Dusty in fighting Vince Russo
's Sports Entertainment Xtreme
(S.E.X.) stable during a ladder match
between Rhodes and S.E.X. member Brian Lawler
. Koloff interfered by climbing the ladder to retrieve the belt that was suspended above the ring. He then presented it to Rhodes, and the former partners hugged in the ring.
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
's Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
in the 1980s. The name was because an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and a "Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n" made up the team while the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
was still going strong.
History
Dusty RhodesDusty Rhodes (wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE...
had been teaming with Magnum T.A.
Magnum T.A.
Terry Wayne Allen is a retired American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Magnum T.A..-Early years:...
in the NWA for most of 1986. They were battling The Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)
The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
and were scheduled for a cage match against Tully Blanchard
Tully Blanchard
Tully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
and Ole Anderson
Ole Anderson
Alan Robert Rogowski , better known by his ring name of Ole Anderson, is a retired professional wrestler and a promoter. He held numerous NWA World Tag Team Championships with Gene Anderson, who was portrayed as his brother...
on October 24, 1986. Magnum had a car wreck that ended his career before the match and Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr. is a former professional wrestling promoter. From 1973 to 1988, he owned Jim Crockett Promotions , a wrestling company affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance...
needed a replacement.
On the night of the match, James J. Dillon
James J. Dillon
James J. "J.J." Dillon is a retired American professional wrestler and manager.He is best known for being the strategic leader of the original Four Horsemen that consisted of Nature Boy Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn and Ole Anderson. He is most remembered as a manager in pro wrestling...
(Blanchard was injured) and Ole Anderson were waiting in the cage to see who Dusty would bring out. It turned out to be "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff
Nikita Koloff
Nikita Koloff is a retired American professional wrestler,. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he wrestled as "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff, which was a play on the nickname of fan favorite "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes .Nikita was brought into the National...
, a top heel in the promotion, with whom Magnum had previously been feuding. Koloff was actually American but was billed as being from Russia. Koloff and Rhodes defeated Dillon and Anderson in minutes and The Super Powers were born.
Rhodes and Koloff participated in the 1987 Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. They received a bye
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
into the second round before defeating the teams of Bill Dundee
Bill Dundee
William "Bill" Cruickshanks is a Scottish born-Australian professional wrestler better known by his stage name Bill Dundee. Cruickshanks is the father of Jamie Dundee and the father-in-law of wrestler Bobby Eaton....
and The Barbarian
Sione Vailahi
Sione Havea Vailahi is a professional wrestler best known in wrestling as The Barbarian.-Life and career:Born and raised in Tonga, Sione was one of five teenagers sent by the King of Tonga to Japan to study Sumo wrestling in the mid 1970s. Tonga Fifita was one of the other teenagers...
, Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez
Manny Fernandez (wrestler)
Emanuel "Manny" Fernandez is an American professional wrestler currently wrestling for different independent promotions. He is best known by the his ring name "The Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez.-Professional wrestling career:...
, and The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton
Bobby Eaton
Robert Lee "Bobby" Eaton is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, who made his debut in 1976. Eaton is most famous for his work in tag teams, especially his days as one-half of the team the Midnight Express. Under the management of Jim Cornette, Eaton originally teamed with Dennis...
and Stan Lane
Stan Lane
Wallace Stanfield "Stan" Lane is an American professional wrestler, trained by Ric Flair, who started wrestling in 1974 in Championship Wrestling from Florida. For a brief time in Florida, he was nicknamed Nature Boy...
) to advance to the finals. In the final round, they defeated Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
and Tully Blanchard, two members of the Four Horsemen, to win the tournament and its kayfabe
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
prize of one million dollars.
They participated in several WarGames match
WarGames match
The WarGames match was a gimmick match used originally in the National Wrestling Alliance and later held annually in World Championship Wrestling , usually at their Fall Brawl pay-per-view event in September.-History:...
es, teaming with The Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
against The Four Horsemen. The Super Powers teamed with several partners for the four-on-four matches, which took place in 1987 and 1988, and won each time.
Dusty and Nikita feuded with the Horsemen until early 1988, when they stopped teaming. They also feuded with Nikita's "uncle" Ivan Koloff, who was mad that Nikita turned on him, along with Ivan's partners Vladimir Petrov
Al Blake
Al Blake is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Vladimir Petrov, who wrestled in North American regional promotions including the Universal Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance, most notably as a member of...
and Dick Murdoch
Dick Murdoch
Hoyt Richard "Dick" Murdoch was an American professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:A second-generation wrestler, the son of 1950s Texas wrestler Frankie Hill Murdoch, Dick Murdoch grew up with fellow second-generation wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk, watching their fathers...
.
In 2003, they had a reformation in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
when Nikita was unmasked as "Mr. Wrestling IV" after attacking Rhodes several times. He then rejoined Dusty in fighting Vince Russo
Vince Russo
Vincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
's Sports Entertainment Xtreme
Sports Entertainment Xtreme
Sports Entertainment Xtreme was a heel professional wrestling stable in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, once led by Vince Russo. It debuted in December 2002, but disbanded in mid-2003.-History:...
(S.E.X.) stable during a ladder match
Ladder match
A ladder match is a type of match in professional wrestling that is most commonly used to describe a match where an item is hung above the ring, and the winner is the contestant who climbs a ladder and retrieves the item...
between Rhodes and S.E.X. member Brian Lawler
Brian Lawler
Brian Christopher Lawler is a professional wrestler. He is the son of color commentator and professional wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler and brother of wrestling referee Kevin Christian...
. Koloff interfered by climbing the ladder to retrieve the belt that was suspended above the ring. He then presented it to Rhodes, and the former partners hugged in the ring.
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team TournamentJim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team TournamentThe Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was a tag team professional wrestling tournament held annually in the month of April from 1986 through 1988. Jim Crockett Promotions , headed by Jim Crockett, Jr., hosted the Crockett Cup, held in honor of Crockett's father, JCP founder Jim...
(1987) - 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 Feud of the Year (1987) - with the Road WarriorsRoad WarriorsThe Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
vs. the Four HorsemenFour Horsemen (professional wrestling)The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
.