Debuting in 1987, Ax and Smash (first portrayed by Moondog Rex) were to be Vince McMahon's answer for the Road Warriors. Inspired by Lord Humungus from the film Mad Max, the team really took off a few months after their debut when Barry Darsow (known as Krusher Kruschev or Repo Man) took over as Smash. The team would wrestle from 1987-1991 in the WWE, and thought the team added a third member (Crush) in the later years evoking the 'Freebird Rule'. However, for the purposes of this discussion we are focusing on Ax and Smash. Equipped with an amazing entrance song, Ax and Smash began their career as heels running over the WWE competition destroying all of the face tag teams like the British Bulldogs, Killer Bees and The Young Stallions eventually winning the World Tag Team championship at Wrestlemania IV from Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana). Demolition eventually turned face at the 1988 survivor series when manager Mr Fuji, decided to switch allegancies from Demolition to the Powers of Pain, whom Demolition would defeat at Wrestlemania V. Holding the titles for a record 487 days Ax and Smash traded title wins with the Colossal Connection, winning the titles back at Wrestlemania VI. Eventually, due to Ax's deteriorating health, Crush joined the team and they turned heel. Engaging with a very short term feud with the Legion of Doom, the team eventually disbanded in 1991 after an embarassing loss at Wrestlemania VII to Genichiro Tenryu and Koji Kitao. Demolition lasted 4 years, and were dominant in the WWE for over 3 of them. With their patented Demolition Decapitation, and double ax handle smashes they were always a force to be reckoned with. Putting aside the 487 day title reign, amazing theme song and iconic attire (including masks for their entrance) Ax and Smash worked atop the WWE tag team division during it's most competitive time and deserve to be recognized as one of the toughest tag teams of all time.
