Barry Hardy

Infobox Wrestler
name=Barry Hardy
names="Bad Boy" Barry Hardy
Executioner #2
Agony
height=
weight= convert|250|lb
birth_date =
death_date =
birth_place = Rochester, New York, United States
death_place =
resides=
billed=
trainer=Larry Sharpe
Charlie Fulton
debut=1989
retired=c. 2002
website=|

Barry Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and trainer who has competed in North American independent promotions including the East Coast Wrestling Association, Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, the National Wrestling Alliance and the World Wrestling Alliance during the 1990s. Hardy also had stints in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of the Lords of Darkness and the second incarnation of The Executioners with Duane Gill from 1989 to 1994.

Career

Early career

Born in Rochester, New York, Hardy eventually contacted Larry Sharpe and tried out at Sharpe's "Monster Factory" wrestling school. Training under Charlie Fulton for a year, he eventually made his professional debut in 1989. On February 15, he also made his WWF debut appearing on "WWF Superstars" with Barry Horowitz against WWF World Tag Team Champions Demolition (Ax & Smash) at the Broome County Arena in Binghampton, New York. He would appear three more times teaming with Sonny Austin against The Bushwhackers (Bushwhacker Butch & Bushwhacker Luke) in Rochester and losing to the The Ultimate Warrior in Niagra Falls, New York on June 27 and Jake "The Snake" Roberts in Wheeling, West Virginia on October 2, 1989. [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/roberts-jake.html |title=Wrestlers Results Archive: Jake "The Snake" Roberts |accessdate= |author=Nevada, Vance |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-05-12 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Sports |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/superstars.htm |title=WWF Superstars (1986-1997) |accessdate= |author=Cawthon, Graham |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] On October 3, he and Alan Reynolds lost to The Rockers at the Toledo Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio. [ cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/challenge.htm |title=WWF Wrestling Challenge (1986-1995) |accessdate= |author=Cawthon, Graham |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Lords of Darkness (1989-1993)

Meanwhile on the independent circuit, Hardy was initially managed by Larry Sharpe. He later began teaming with Duane Gill as The Lords of Darkness and competed in Mid-Atlantic independent promotions eventually winning the Atlantic States and WWA Tag Team titles. The two would also start the Baltimore Monster Factory. Hack Myers met Axl Rotten while at the wrestling school and, introducing him to promoter Paul Heyman, eventually brought him into Extreme Championship Wrestling. [ cite web |url=http://www.inyourheadonline.com/print.php?autoid=419 |title=Interview Recap - Hack Meyers |accessdate= |author=Jones, Neal |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-03-24 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=InYourHeadOnline.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Although Axl Rotten was largely involved in training Meyers, they would be his opponents in his debut match with Colt Starr as The Texas Longhorns in Odenton, Maryland on October 19, 1990. cite web |url=http://www.deathvalleydriver.com/Benaka/Hardy.html |title=The Lee Banaka Interviews: Barry Hardy |accessdate= |author=Benaka, Lee |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-07-25 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=DeathValleyDriver.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

They also began appearing on WWF television, although used as preliminary wrestlers, he and Gill had matches on "WWF Primetime Wrestling" against the Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal), The Orient Express, The Rockers (Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels) and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan & Sgt. Slaughter between 1989 to late 1991. On June 5, 1990, he and Gill faced WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition at the War Memorial Auditorium in Rochester, New York. They also faced Rythem & Blues (The Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine) in Hershey, Pennsylvania on August 28. [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/valentine-greg.html |title=Wrestlers Results Archive: Greg Valentine |accessdate= |author=Nevada, Vance |authorlink= |coauthors=Jim Zordani, Mark Eastridge, Gount Grog, Becky Taylor, Robert Van Kavelaar and Ron Witmer |date=2008-04-27 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Sports |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] As well as teaming with Gill, Hardy occasionally teamed with different partners such as with Paul Perez against WWF World Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) and with Ross Lindsay against Power & Glory (Hercules & Paul Roma). Hardy also faced a young Shane Douglas at the Onondaga War Memorial in Syracuse, New York on December 23, 1990.

The following year, Hardy and Gill defeated Cream Team (Dino Casanova & Rip Sawyer) to become the first MEWF Tag Team Champions on August 2, 1991. In the WWF that year, he also wrestled "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich, Big Bully Busick and WWF Million Dollar Champion Virgil.

In March 1992, Hardy appeared at a "Live" St. Patrick's Day special for MCW Wrestling where he and Denny Kass defeated The Nightmares (Danny Davis & Ken Wayne). He also faced "Dirty" Dan Kanareck in a singles match and was pinned after using a neckbreaker. Held at the Continental Cable studios in Madison Heights, Michigan, these matches were later aired on the promotion's weekly television show. [ cite web |url=http://detroitsports-mcw.com/mcwwrestling.php?NewsID=2048 |title=MCW TV tapings at Continental Cable studios, Madison Hgts., MI |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=DetroitSports-MCW.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

During mid-1992, he faced Bret Hart, Crush, Bob Backlund and Lance Cassidy. During his matches with Backlund and Cassidy, Doink played practical jokes on his opponents after the match setting up Backlund to slip on a banana peel and putting a "kick me" sign on Cassidy's ring jacket. When Cassady put the jacket back on after the match, Doink kicked him. Hardy later appeared in single matches against Tatanka and "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith on "WWF Superstars" and teamed with Kato of the Orient Express losing to The Bushwhackers on May 5, 1992.

He and Gill also participated in two of three 40-man battle royals held that year. The first, on June 2, included Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & IRS), The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs), The Beverly Brothers (Beau & Blake Beverly) and High Energy (Koko B. Ware & Owen Hart) as well as Sgt. Slaughter, Bret Hart, British Bulldog, Virgil, Tito Santana, Rick Martel, "The Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich, Skinner, Repo Man, Jim Powers, Jim Brunzell, Glen Ruth, Phil Apollo, Barry Horowitz, Bobby Star, Dublin Destroyer, Rick Johnson, Al Hunter, Bob Knight, Rick Danger, Jerry Davis, Scott Antonio, Tony Ulysses, Bruce Mitchell, Joe Milano and several others. The battle royal was later featured on "WWF Rampage '92".

The second battle royal took place two months later. He and Gill (as The Executioners) took part in a 40-man battle royal won by Tatanka and which included Tito Santana, Bret Hart, Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustafa, Shawn Michaels, Crush, Kerry Von Erich, Virgil, Skinner, Repo Man, Barry Horowitz, Jim Powers, Brooklyn Brawler, Reno Riggins, Dale Wolfe, Brian Costello, Chuck Casey, Dom Jones, Burt Spears, Thor Anderson, Tom Cumberland, Mark Kordis, Legion of Doom, Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & IRS), The Beverly Brothers (Beau & Blake Beverly), The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs), High Energy (Koko B. Ware & Owen Hart) and The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Typhoon). The battle royal was the first and largest held in WWF history and was later profiled in "WWF Magazine". These were considered the largest battle royals held at a professional wrestling event until the introduction of the annual three ring 60-man battle royal at "World War 3" three years later. [ cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/26395/Ask-411-07.09.01:-Yokozuna,-Vader,-Tanaka,-Billy-Jack-Haynes.htm |title=Ask 411 07.09.01: Yokozuna, Vader, Tanaka, Billy Jack Haynes |accessdate= |author=Letawsky, Craig |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2001-07-09 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=411mania.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] He made his last WWF appearances on "WWF Primetime" losing to Davey Boy Smith on September 28 and Bret Hart on October 5, 1992. [ cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1992/primetime100592 |title=WWF Prime Time Wrestling: October 05, 1992 |accessdate= |author=Zimmerman, Christopher Robin |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2002 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=tOa: the Other Arena |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On January 23, 1993, Hardy and Gill lost the WWA Tag Team titles to ECW Tag Team Champions The Super Destroyers in an interpromotional event between the World Wrestling Alliance and Eastern Championship Wrestling at the Radisson Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1993a.html#012393 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling January - March 1993 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070906234520/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1993a.html#012393 |archivedate=2007-09-06 |quote= ] they briefly regained the titles before losing them to Chris Candido & Chris Evans and left for the WWF shortly after.

The Executioners (1992-1994)

He and Gill would begin wrestling in the World Wrestling Federation as The Executioners in early 1993. On March 9, only three days after losing their tag team titles, he and Gill also made an appearance as Timmy & Tommy Turtle at the sold-out Augusta Civic Center with 8,000 in attendance. Their match was later taped for "WWF Challenge". In singles matches, Hardy faced Tito Santana in his last WWF television appearance and was pinned by Santana in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on July 6, 1993. [ cite web |url=http://www.titosantana.net/Santana_Matches.html |title=Match History of Tito Santana |accessdate= |author=Frederick, David |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2006 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=TitoSantana.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] He wrestled against Tatanka, Jim Duggan, Virgil, Mr. Perfect, [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/hennig-curt.html |title=Wrestlers Results Archive: Curt Hennig |accessdate= |author=Nevada, Vance |authorlink= |coauthors=Brad Dykens, Graham Cawthon, Mike Rodgers, Ron Witmer and Jim Zordani |date=2008-05-19 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Sports |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and Razor Ramon as well as teaming with Reno Riggins, the Brooklyn Brawler, Bert Centeno and Barry Horowitz.

Appearing on "Monday Night Raw" throughout the year, he and Gill would face The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner), The Quebecers (Jacques & Pierre) and Men on a Mission (Mo & Mabel). [ cite web |url=http://www.nyprowrestling.com/results/1993.html |title=Results: 1993 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=NYProWrestling.com Results |publisher=NYProWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1993/raw122093 |title=WWF Raw: December 20, 1993 |accessdate= |author=Zimmerman, Christopher Robin |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2002 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=tOa: the Other Area |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] They had previously faced Men on a Mission in their WWF debut on "WWF Challenge" several months before. [ cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/93.htm |title=WWF: 1993 |accessdate= |author=Cawthon, Graham |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] before splitting up with Gill in early 1994. Prior to their breakup, they also faced the The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) in a non-sanctioned match for the SMW Tag Team Championship at a special co-promotional event hosted by the WWF. Hardy himself soon left the WWF after losing to The Steiner Brothers in a tag team match with Mike Khoury on April 18, 1994.

World Wrestling Federation & World Championship Wrestling

Hardy returned to the WWF for a short time facing The Bushwhackers, The Headshrinkers (Samu & Fatu) and The Smoking Gunns (Bart & Billy Gunn) with various tag team partners before leaving in late 1994. During this time, he also wrestled single matches against Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart. [ cite web |url=http://www.nyprowrestling.com/results/1994.html |title=Results: 1994 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=NYProWrestling.com Results |publisher=NYProWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Early the next year, Hardy appeared in World Championship Wrestling with he and Marcus Watson taking on then WCW United States Champion Big Van Vader in a handicap match at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida on February 5, 1995. Later that month, he and Scott Armstrong faced Colonel Robert Parker's Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck & "Dirty" Dick Slater) on February 25. Two months later, Hardy faced Meng at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Georgia and was knocked out in 39 seconds after a superkick. [ cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw95.htm |title=WCW: 1995 |accessdate= |author=Cawthon, Graham |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] On May 13, Hardy teamed with Chris Speaker and lost to Stars & Stripes (Marcus Alexander Bagwell & The Patriot) on WCW Saturday Night. He also continued making appearances for independent promotions including Mid-West Championship Wrestling losing to Kuku the Wild Samoan at the Lincoln Park Community Center in Lincoln Park, Michigan on June 10, 1995. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/indy/mwcw-icw/mwcwcards.html#061095 |title=Midwest/Insane Championship Wrestling Cards |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Extreme Championship Wrestling and the independent circuit

Returning to the United States, Hardy wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling during the summer facing Mikey Whipwreck in Buffalo, New York on July 27, 1997. [ ECW Fancam (7/26/97) Buffalo, NY. Perf. Barry Hardy. 1997. VHS. RF Video ] He also teamed with Super Nova against The Dudley Boys (Bubba & D-Von Dudley) on August 2 [ ECW Fancam (8/02/97) Monaca, PA. Perf. Barry Hardy. 1997. VHS. RF Video ] and later faced Super Nova in a single match later that month. [ ECW Fancam (8/19/97) Rostraver, PA. Perf. Barry Hardy. 1997. VHS. RF Video ] [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997c.html |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling July - September 1997 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In early 2000, he began wrestling for the National Wrestling Alliance and soon won the NWM Heavyweight Championship defending the title against some of the top wrestlers on the independent circuit including his former tag team partner Duane Gill and Killer Kowalski, Jr., the kayfabe son of Killer Kowalski, [ cite web |url=http://www.afro-squad.com/39.html |title=Killer Kowalski, Jr. |accessdate= |author=Donavan. James IV, ed. |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work=The No More Kings Issue (#39)
publisher=Afro-Squad.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] whom he defeated in a no-holds-barred street fight.

He made his last appearance in 2002 and, as of 2006, Hardy remains inactive in professional wrestling.

Championships and accomplishments

*Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation :*MEWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Duane Gill (first champions) [ cite web |url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttmewf.html |title=MEWF Tag Team Title History |accessdate= |author=Westcott, Brain |authorlink= |coauthors=Eric Roelfsema |date= |year=2004 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Solie's Title Histories |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

*New Midwest Wrestling:*NMW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=4th Edition 2000 | id=ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 ]

*New York Championship Wrestling:*NYCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*World Wrestling Alliance:*WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Duane Gill

*Other titles:*MWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him # 468 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1992.

References

External links

* [http://cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=4214&gimmick=Barry+Hardy CageMatch.de - Barry Hardy] ger