10 Most Shameless Wrestling Ripoffs Ever

8. The Powers Of Pain

Ultimate Warrior Renegade
WWE

Ripped Off: The Road Warriors

The Powers of Pain were not the only team to closely resemble the Road Warriors. WWE created their own version of Hawk and Animal while the trendsetting tandem prospered elsewhere, though Demolition would eventually accomplish enough to make the gimmick their own and achieve at least some differentiation.

There are others, too, with the most recent example being The Ascension, who wore full shoulder pads upon graduating from NXT to the main roster, and were then immediately buried in a disastrous storyline that saw JBL and co. constantly remind the audience that Konnor and Viktor were not, in fact, the Legion of Doom.

The Warlord and Barbarian came together as The Powers of Pain as part of Paul Jones' Army in 1987. Jim Crockett Promotions intended to build a team capable of credibly challenging and defeating The Road Warriors, so up stepped the Powers. Unfortunately, all Crockett accomplished was crafting a tribute act that immediately looked like a B-tier version of Hawk and Animal with their big, bulging muscles and near-identical facepaint, leading to a career-long association the duo has never been able to escape.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.