Demolition speaks on HOF induction, on what made them bow out and more

Demolition says the tag team division in WWE isn’t what it once was

Legendary WWE team Demolition (Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow) was featured on the latest episode of Jim Ross’s The Ross Report, and the subject of their WWE run ending came up. It is to be noted that this is a rare interview for Jim Ross as it’s not taking place over the phone, but in England with all three men in the same location.

For those who don't know, Demolition is a professional wrestling tag team most prominent during the late 1980s and the early 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation(WWF) made up of Ax (Bill Eadie), Smash (Barry Darsow), and later Crush (Brian Adams). In WWF, Demolition were three-time tag champions, and hold the records for both the single longest tag title reign and the most combined days as reigning champions.

On what made them bow out of the company:

JR asked what lead to the end of Demolition after their seven-year run in WWE and Eadie said that he had an allergic reaction to shrimp; after traveling to Japan so much, he developed a "toxic build-up of iodine." Just prior to a WrestleMania, he had shrimp for dinner which triggered an anaphylactic reaction. Eadie said he had an "out of body experience" and had to take some time off.

That's when WWE brought Crush into the mix and Eadie took on more of a managerial role. Eadie also said that some "promises were made that weren't kept" so he decided it was time to leave the company. Darsow added that the matches Demolition had against The Road Warriors just before disbanding were some of the worst matches they ever had.

“ I had an allergic reaction to shrimp, after traveling to Japan so much that I developed a toxic build-up of iodine,” Bill says. “Some promises that were made weren’t kept, so it was time to leave”, Bill adds

On their favorite opponents:

JR asks who Demolition’s favorite opponents were. They all agree that the tag team division in WWE isn’t what it once was; with Bill adding tag teams used to drive the company at one point of time. They talk about Pat Patterson, and Barry Darsow says that Patterson and Ray Stevens are the greatest tag team of all time. Bill says that the biggest difference between “then and now” is how tag teams are put together. They say that they were lucky because of how close they were with Fuji.

“Tag teams used to drive that company. The British Bulldogs, the Hart Foundation, the Twin Towers, Strike Force, and others”. Back then tag teams were put together to stay together. Whereas nowadays tag teams are booked with the hopes that something else will open up down the road, “ says Bill.

On how Demolition came about:

The Machine gimmick created a trust between Vince McMahon and Bill Eadie, so when the idea of Demolition came around, Eadie was first in mind. Having that kind of trust with Vince also gave Bill the stroke needed to book his own partner. Eadie picked Barry because he knew he had integrity, he was reliable, and he valued the same aspects of the business as Eadie.

JR asks who was suggested to Eadie before they decided on Darsow. Eadie says that he doesn’t want to mention anyone specifically, but he does say he was given about 4 or 5 different names. He says that they were all competent wrestlers, but they were all too recognizable, and the team of Demolition had to be fresh.

“When you spend that kind of time with someone—as most tag team partners do—you “don’t want to be around a butthead.”, Bill said.

“I’m going to blow the other guy up. I’m going to make his tongue hang out so he knows that he was in the ring. I’m not going to sacrifice my career just to make it easy on somebody else. And Barry’s the same way.”

On Barry playing Repo Man and working with Austin in WCW:

Jim asks Barry whether he enjoyed being the Repo Man. Barry responds by saying he absolutely loved it. He says he wanted to be a babyface and wanted to do all the Make-A-Wish stuff. He also mentioned his desire of ending his career in the WWE. Barry remembers working with Steve Austin in WCW; Austin walked up to Darsow and asked what he thought of the WWE, to which Barry gave some stellar reviews.

“I loved being the repo man. I wanted it to be a babyface, and I wanted to do all the Make a Wish stuff. I wanted to finish my career in the WWE. That’s the only place I ever wanted to work.”, Barry mentions. “You have got to go there. It’s the best place to work.” Barry told Steve Austin.

On whether they want to be inducted in WWE Hall Of Fame:

Ross also asked if the duo thinks a WWE Hall of Fame induction would be a big deal. Darsow said it would be a huge deal but also said there are a number of other guys worthy of being inducted.

Eadie is already a member of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame as The Masked Superstar but said a WWE induction would be nice. He said everyone likes to be recognized for their contributions to the business. JR believes they are a shoe-in for a future class.

“It would be a huge deal, but there are a number of other guys worthy of being inducted, and everyone needs to wait their turn,” Bill says.