Demolition Talk WWE Hall of Fame, Triple H, Breaking Tag Team Records

DEMOLITION are one of the most successful and recognisable tag teams in the history of professional wrestling. A black-leather-clad wrecking crew who dominated the WWF during the height of the Hulkamania era. A walking disaster, pain and destruction was their middle name.

Their iconic entrance theme warned that if you ran, they’d find you. They’d search and destroy you. And they did. Demolition bulldozed their way through WWF’s tag team division and set records that stood for decades.

Before becoming Ax, Bill Eadie had already enjoyed a prosperous main event run as The Masked Superstar. Barry Darsow had worn gold too, competing as Krusher Kruschev. But when the two were brought together, everything changed. The result was lightning in a bottle and a tag team that would change the landscape of the WWF.

In an era defined by larger-than-life characters, Demolition stood out with their black leather, spiked studs, masks, and face paint. Terrifying to their opponents, adored by kids, they looked like they’d stepped straight out of a Mad Max-style wasteland and into the squared circle. Their first taste of WWF gold came at WrestleMania IV, when they defeated Strike Force to win the World Tag Team Championship and they held onto it for a record-setting 478 days. That record wouldn’t be beaten for 28 years.

The Brain Busters eventually dethroned them, but Demolition quickly bounced back, reclaiming the titles just three months later. One of their most memorable feuds came when the gold was captured by The Colossal Connection – managed by the scheming Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan – setting up a high-stakes showdown at WrestleMania VI. Demolition overcame the odds and captured their third World Tag Team Championship at The Grandest Stage of Them All.

They weren’t just dominant – they were over. So popular, in fact, that their Hasbro action figures pulled in over a million dollars in revenue in the first quarter of 1991 alone. When Bill ‘Ax’ Eadie began winding down his WWF run, the team was retooled to include Brian ‘Crush’ Adams. For a time, Demolition became a trio, and then a duo again with Crush and Smash continuing the legacy.

Barry ‘Smash’ Darsow later re-emerged in the ‘90s as the sneaky, skulking Repo Man. One of the most absurdly unforgettable characters of the era. But nothing ever quite matched the magic of the original Demolition pairing. Together, Eadie and Darsow didn’t just win titles – they made history.

On Wrestling Life with Ben Veal episode 58, Wrestling legends Bill ‘Ax’ Eadie and Barry ‘Smash’ Darsow sit down for an exclusive tell-all interview with Ben Veal. The iconic tag team opens up about:

• Reconnecting with the WWE Universe after years away

• What it meant to be part of this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony

• The current-day megastar who went out of his way to welcome them backstage

• Their first meeting with the tag team that broke their 28-year record

• What’s really going on with their new WWE Legends deal and what it means going forward

• Wrestling alongside Andre the Giant and what made him so unique

• Their memories of famous battles with The Hart Foundation, The British Bulldogs, and The Brain Busters

• The toughest opponents they ever faced – and the team they clicked with

• Their brand-new podcast and what’s next for Demolition.
  

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WWE Legends Demolition On Triple H And WWE Hall Of Fame

Every year when the WWE Hall of Fame rolls around, Demolition’s absence sparks debate. Their long-overdue induction remains a hot topic among fans, but this year, the legendary duo were in attendance, receiving a warm welcome backstage from some of the biggest names in wrestling history.

Barry ‘Smash’ Darsow: “I think it was kind of a rib what they did! Because when we got in there, there’s The Warlord, The Barbarian, me, and then Bill – in these little tiny seats. Everybody from WWE, they’re probably laughing their heads off going, ‘Yeah, four of the biggest guys out there sitting next to each other!’

“It was great to see Typhoon in there. We both love him, and it’s terrible that John’s not alive to be able to be there too. It was a good ceremony.

“What was really impressive is, when we got to the Hall of Fame, we were in a room with Triple H. Everybody was in there – [Kevin] Nash, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin – and right away CM Punk came up to us and introduced himself. Just a really, really good guy. Then Bruce Prichard came up, gave him a little hug, and the whole deal. It was just a really good thing, because we’ve been away from it for so long.”

Bill ‘Ax’ Eadie: “It’s nice. The atmosphere has changed considerably. There doesn’t seem to be any animosity towards ex-wrestlers or ex-employees. Like Barry said, it was heartwarming. We were just brought back into the family again, back into the house. That was nice.”

Demolition – The Real Story Behind WWE LEGENDS Deal

Demolition were long absent from WWE programming, and fans often speculated why. Bill Eadie had sued Vince McMahon for unpaid royalties in the ’90s, resulting in a broken relationship that once looked beyond repair. But under a new regime, the landscape has shifted. There’s a renewed appreciation for the stars of the past, and bridges once thought burned have been quietly rebuilt. Demolition are now back where they belong, having signed a Legends deal with WWE.

“A number of guys – Koko B. Ware, Tito Santana – had told us they had just been approached," shares Bill ‘Ax’ Eadie: "Then we got a call from the office.

“They were discussing various things, signing a contract that would include making some appearances, action figures, various figures not only for Demolition, but Repo Man, Krusher Kruschev, Masked Superstar, and The Machines. They presented it, it sounded interesting, possibly very lucrative for us.

“Right now we’re at a wait and see. They did announce some action figures when we were at WrestleCon, which got a very positive response. We signed the contract over multiple years – I believe it was six years – so we’ll see what the next six years leads to.”

Demolition Share WrestleMania VI and Andre The Giant Memories

WWF WrestleMania VI marked the end of many things: the symbolic fall of Hulkamania, Jesse Ventura’s final ‘Mania commentary, and Andre the Giant’s last televised WWF match in America – a significant passing of the torch that few realised was taking place at the time. Demolition's Ax and Smash reflected on what it meant to share that moment with a legend and be crowned tag team champions for a historic third time.

Bill ‘Ax’ Eadie: “We weren’t aware that was his last match. We knew that he wasn’t feeling well, but he was scheduled to go to Japan after that.

“Every time we had the opportunity to get in the ring, it was fun. Anyone that knows Andre knows that if he doesn’t like you, you’re not gonna get anything done. But he did like us, and consequently we had good matches with him. He trusted us.”

Barry ‘Smash’ Darsow: “We’d worked with him many times before that, and we always worked the same with him. He was so easy – he would do anything for you. It wasn’t like you were working around him, it was just... that was his gimmick, and that was our gimmick.”

Demolition: WWE’s Kofi Kingston Apologised To Us

Ax and Smash dominated the WWF tag team division, and their first reign as World Tag Team Champions lasted an incredible 478 days. That record stood untouched for 28 years, until The New Day surpassed it with a 484-day run in 2015–16. It didn’t ruffle any feathers – Barry Darsow couldn’t have been more gracious. He shared what happened when he bumped into Kofi Kingston at the 2025 Hall of Fame.

Barry ‘Smash’ Darsow: “When the Hall of Fame was done, I came up and tapped Kofi Kingston on the shoulder. I said, ‘Are you Kofi?’ And he says, ‘Yeah… Demolition!’ And I said, ‘Congratulations on beating our record, you son of a gun!’ We laughed. Really, really good guys, him and his partner.

“He said, ‘I’m sorry we broke it.’ I said, ‘Don’t be sorry, be excited. I’m excited for you, because somebody had to break it.’ It’s great that a couple of good guys took it from us.”

"Is It Still Fun?" - Demolition On The Current State Of Pro Wrestling

While Ax and Smash aren’t glued to the modern product, they saw first-hand during WrestleMania week just how much today’s stars resonate with fans. Bill Eadie reflected on the passion of the current audience – and the simple joy of still being recognised alongside the new generation, decades after their final match.

Bill ‘Ax’ Eadie: “I think they’re great athletes, but I’m not able to critique it too much because I don’t watch that often and I don’t know the storylines. When we were out in Vegas, there were a lot of people that were excited about meeting them. I’m sure that they’re larger than life to some people.

“It was nice because they could remember us too. It was really nice to be remembered. Barry and I were talking, and I think that we probably had our biggest WrestleCon signing this past one.”

Demolition’s place in wrestling history is undeniable. They were menacing, magnetic, and massively over – a team that defined an era. Barry Darsow and Bill Eadie have lived an incredible wrestling life. After years on the outside looking in, it’s fitting that Ax and Smash are finally being recognised, celebrated, and welcomed back into the spotlight. For a whole generation of fans, they weren’t just tag team champions, they were tag team wrestling. Now, with their new WWE Legends deal signed, their story isn’t finished yet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Herbert is the author of the forthcoming book Rampage — a heartfelt tribute to the glory days of the WWF’s first UK boom. Packed with moments, merch, and memories, it explores how a golden era of American wrestling turned a generation of British kids into lifelong fans. Lee’s writing is a celebration of everything that’s great about professional wrestling. Follow the book's progress at @wwframpagebook.

WRESTLING LIFE ONLINE: REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT

Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.

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