At WrestleMania IV, Strike Force was defeated for the WWE Tag Team Championships as Demolition bowled over Rick Martel and Tito Santana to begin their reign of dominance in the promotion. Months later, Martel endured a Demolition Decapitation on the arena floor. It was reported (in the storyline) that he had suffered a severe back injury and a major concussion. He would be out of action for quite some time, before reuniting with Santana just in time for WrestleMania V in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the same city in which they dropped the tag titles nearly 365 days earlier. Martel, who had briefly experienced singles stardom weeks before the Showcase of the Immortals, suffered a flying forearm to the face from his own partner. Frustrated and dismayed, Martel walked out on Santana, completing a story that was told over the course of an entire year. It is hard for fans of today's sports-entertainment product to imagine a story that played out over that length of time, especially encompassing two straight WrestleManias. But there it was, for the world to see. Strike Force lost the tag titles, initiating the downward spiral that would ultimately result in the dismantling of the team. When revisiting the best storylines in WrestleMania history, the demise of Strike Force is one that is rarely, if ever, discussed. It most definitely should be.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
