The Warlord (wrestler)

File:Warlord.jpg

The Warlord

Terry Szopinski (born March 28, 1962 in Pompano, Florida) is a professional wrestler better known as The Warlord.

Career

Terry Szopinski started wrestling as The Warlord in 1986 for the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions. He was managed by Baby Doll and was supposed to be her protection against Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers. He was so green that he had only a couple of confrontations before Bubba knocked him out with a roll of quarters. Jim Crockett, Jr. then sent him to the Kansas City territory for more seasoning.

While in Central States Wrestling, he teamed with Killer Karl Kovac and won the NWA Central States Tag Team Titles. He also learned more about wrestling.

He returned to the NWA in late 1987 and hooked up with Ivan Koloff and manager Paul Jones. He was immediately teamed with another big man, The Barbarian, with whom he formed The Powers of Pain.

They feuded heavily with the Road Warriors and won the NWA World Six-Man Titles with Ivan.

Management wanted them to do some scaffold matches against the Warriors (they would have had to fall off the scaffold) and they packed their bags and he and Barbarian headed to the WWF.

Upon arrival, they were faces managed by The Baron and feuded with Demolition (Ax and Smash). At the 1988 Survivor Series, the manager for Demolition {Mr. Fuji) double crossed them and joined the Powers of Pain. They continued the feud as heels but could not win the tag team titles. They then feuded with The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart).

Management split them up in 1990 and Warlord went to the manager named Slick. He feuded with Jimmy Snuka, Davey Boy Smith, Kerry Von Erich, Bret Hart, Greg Valentine and Tito Santana.

Warlord left the WWF in 1992 for the independent circuit. He had to retire for a few years after a car wreck in 1996. He briefly wrestled in WCW as "Super Assassin 2" with Barbarian as "Super Assassin 1". They were managed by Col. Rob Parker but did not get a decent push.

In 2002, Warlord returned to wrestling in Florida Championship Wrestling and won the title. He still wrestles there today along with running a security company.

In 2005, The Warlord started teaming with The Barbarian again in Gladiator Championship Wrestling.

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The Powers of Pain

Profile

• Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
• Weight: 360 lbs.
• Birthday: March 28, 1962
• Hometown: Pompano, Florida
• Billed From: Chicago, Illinois
• Trainer: Eddie Sharkey
• Managers: Baby Doll, Paul Jones, Ivan Koloff, Patricia Steinman, Sonny Blaze, Downtown Bruno, Slick, The Baron, Mr. Fuji, Killer Karl Kovac, Col. Rob Parker

Championships and accomplishments

• 1-time NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champion with (Ivan Koloff & The Barbarian)
• 1-time NWA Central States Tag Team Champion (with Killer Karl Kovac)
• 1-time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with The Barbarian)
• 1-time WAR Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Bob Backlund & Scott Putski)
• 1-time UWS Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time FCW Heavyweight Champion
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 296 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 97 of the best tag teams during the "PWI Years" with The Barbarian.
• In an interview, Dave Batista once said that The Warlord was his favorite wrestler, although he did admit that people gave him strange looks when he said this.