WWE’s 5 Greatest Double Turns
By Tim Sherry
credit: wwe.com
5. Demolition, Mr. Fuji, and The Powers of Pain
Ax and Smash, better know as Demolition entered the then-WWF in January of 1987 and immediately began to run roughshod over the tag team division’s elite. The destructive duo laid waste to teams like the Hart Foundation, The British Bulldogs, and Strike Force, the latter of which was in a tag team title winning performance at Wrestlemania IV in March of 1988. The team would then go on a remarkable, record-breaking 478-day title reign as champs and firmly entrench themselves as one of the best tag teams in WWF history.
Like many others in the past and future, with this massive success, came fanfare. Although portrayed as a vicious heel tandem, Demolition slowly but surely started to get some followers. The WWF took full advantage of the budding support and at Survivor Series 1988, as Mr. Fuji, their manager, and lifetime heel betrayed his team in favor of the newer, younger Powers of Pain, a babyface duo.
The turn worked to perfection as the villainous Fuji masterminded the Powers of Pain all the way to a tag team title shot at Wrestlemania V. And although unsuccessful in their quest, the feud between the 2 powerhouse teams was must-see television for about 4 months and added yet another name to Demolition’s resume. Although not the most important of the double turns as far as the big picture goes, this was one of the first examples of the rare angle and proved it could be successful.