Psycho yuppie manages Samoan savages. Yep, even for pro wrestling, makes no sense. But of course, when you consider that The Wild Samoans were managed by a slovenly ex-gansgster (Captain Lou Albano) and a former football All-Pro (Ernie Ladd), it's again proof that in wrestling, anything is possible. The SST were far ahead of their time. Joining up with Paul E. Dangerously when Condrey (again) left the NWA, Samu and Fatu (later known as Rikishi) entered the ring to the strains of the theme of the film Halloween and had incredibly entertaining matches both in high profile feuds but especially against enhancement talents on television broadcasts. Progenitors of he high-flying, yet hard-hitting style now made famous by the likes of now deceased SST-relative Umaga or TNA-stalwart Samoa Joe, their matches were exciting and while yes, the duo wrestled with the usual barefoot Samoan savage gimmick, it was in being paired with the straight-laced and businesslike Heyman that gave the Samoans something less stereotypically Samoan about their presence which aided to the level of danger and intrigue surrounding their impressive and groundbreaking in-ring style.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
