U.S. Express
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The U.S. Express | |
 |
|
| Tag Team | |
|---|---|
| Members | Barry Windham Mike Rotunda |
| Heights | Windham: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Rotunda: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Combined weight | 522 lb (237 kg) |
| Debut | 1984 |
| Disbanded | 1986 |
| Promotions | WWF |
The U.S. Express was a professional wrestling tag team composed of Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham in the World Wrestling Federation. Windham was later replaced by Dan Spivey.
Contents |
[edit] Windham and Rotunda
Rotunda and Windham (real life brothers-in-law) had teamed off and on in the Florida territories before both were signed by the WWF in 1984. Once they joined the WWF they were given a patriotic gimmick along with the Bruce Springsteen classic "Born in the USA" as their entrance music[1].
The U.S. Express made their WWF wrestling debut on October 30th 1984 when they defeated the “Enhancement Talent” team of Mohammad Saad & Bobby Bass.[2] On January 21, 1985 the U.S. Express beat the team known as the “North South Connection (Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch) for the WWF World tag-team titles[3]. They would hold the titles for only two months before losing them to the "Evil Foreigner" team of Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik at Wrestlemania I. [3]
The U.S. Express became two-time Tag Team Champions when they regained the titles from Volkoff and the Sheik on June 17, 1985[3] but their second reign would also last about two months before they lost the belts to The Dream Team [3]. The team broke up near the end of 1985 when Barry Windham left the WWF to return to Florida. The team had their last match together under the WWF banner exactly one year to the day after they made their debut[4].
The last real appearance of the U.S. Express was not in the WWF but at the AWA WrestleRock In August 1986. The team was not billed as the U.S. Express since the name was owned by the WWF. The brothers-in-law reunited to defeat the Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane and Steve Keirn) [5] while Rotunda was on a brief break from the WWF between January and May of 1986.
On the March 10, 2008 episode of WWE RAW, U.S. Express made an appearance in a rematch from WrestleMania I against Volkoff & The Iron Sheik. They were interrupted by diva Jillian Hall, who offered to sing "Born in the USA" for them; however, she was given an airplane spin by Rotunda.
[edit] The American Express
| The American Express | |
|
|
| Tag Team | |
|---|---|
| Members | Mike Rotunda Dan Spivey |
| Heights | Spivey: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Rotunda: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Combined weight | 558 lb (253 kg) |
| Debut | 1986 |
| Disbanded | 1987 |
| Promotions | WWF |
Only days after Barry Windham left the WWF Mike Rotunda was linked up with Dan Spivey [6] and they became the American Express, some referred to them as the U.S. Express II since the patriotic gimmick of the original U.S. Express was recycled with Spivey taking Barry Windham's place[1].
The team continued the U.S. Express’ feud with the Dream Team but once they were proven unsuccessful the two did not team from January to May, 1986 as Mike Rotunda briefly left the WWF. Once the American Express reunited they feuded with The Moondogs [7], The Hart Foundation [8] and The Islanders whom the team faced in their last match together on February 9, 1987[9]
After Mike Rotunda left the WWF, Dan Spivey was repackaged as "Golden Boy" Dan Spivey before he left the WWF as well.
[edit] Trivia
Their original team music was "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen. However, Rick Derringer, who was working with the WWF at the time, created a new theme song for them, "Real American." After the team broke up in late 1985, the music was given to Hulk Hogan [1].
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-5502-2683-6.
- ^ Graham Cawthon. /wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm WWF Ring Results 1984. Retrieved on 12 February, 2007. “(October 30, 1984) Barry Windham & Mike Rotunda defeated Mohammed Saad & Bobby Bass when Windham pinned Saad with a bulldog at 2:48”
- ^ a b c d Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Ring Results 1985. Retrieved on 12 February, 2007. “(October 30, 1985) Included Barry Windham, Mike Rotunda”
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. AWA Stadium Shows (WrestleRock). Retrieved on April 16, 2007.
- ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Show Results 1986. Retrieved on April 16, 2007. “(November 1, 1985) Mike Rotunda, Dan Spivey, & Capt. Lou Albano vs. Johnny V & WWF Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake”
- ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Show Results 1986. Retrieved on April 16, 2007. “(June 14, 1986) Mike Rotunda & Dan Spivey defeated the Moondogs at 11:37 when Rotunda pinned Rex following an airplane spin”
- ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Show Results 1986. Retrieved on April 16, 2007. “(July 11, 1986) Mike Rotunda & Dan Spivey defeated Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart when Spivey pinned Bret”
- ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Show Results 1987. Retrieved on 12 February, 2007. “Mike Rotunda & Danny Spivey fought the Islanders to a double disqualification”
