WWE History Vol. 5: Brothers in Paint

#3 The Powers of Pain

The Warlord and the Barbarian, the Powers of Pain.

WWE had their own version of the Road Warriors with Demolition, but they were far from the only ones to copy the success of Hawk and Animal.

The Warlord and the Barbarian, known collectively as the Powers of Pain, were put together with the sole purpose of being villains for the Road Warriors to fight in the NWA territories. However, fate would intervene and the Powers of Pain would wind up working for the WWE.

Warlord and Barbarian took exception to be booked in dangerous 'scaffold' matches, in which the wrestlers would have to work a match on a twenty-foot high armature hanging over the ring. They got out of their contracts with the NWA and were eagerly signed by the WWE.

Initially, they were heels working for Mr. Fuji to dethrone the now babyface Demolition. Eventually, they were split up and worked as singles stars, usually as gatekeepers for the mid-card.