The Eliminators

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=The Eliminators
type=T


members=Perry Saturn
John Kronus
names=The Eliminators
heights=5 ft 10 in (178 cm) - Perry Saturn
6 ft 3 in (191 cm) - John Kronus
weight=
debut=1993
disbanded=1997
promotions=USWA
WAR
ECW|

The Eliminators were a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of Perry Saturn and John Kronus who were most well known for their time in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 1997 before breaking up.

History

While working as the manager of a nightclub in Boston, Perry Satullo met bouncer George Caiazzo, who expressed an interest in becoming a wrestler. Satullo sent Caiazzo to Killer Kowalski's school to train, and then offered to form a tag team with him. At this point, Satullo adopted the surname Saturn and Caiazo called himself after the Greek equivalent Kronus. As Saturn and Cronus were their cultures' respective gods of the harvest, Satullo proposed that the team be known as "The Harvesters of Sorrow". Promoter Jerry Lawler advised Satullo that the significance of the name would not be evident to many fans, so they became known as "The Eliminators" instead.

USWA

The Eliminators wrestled their first match together at a United States Wrestling Association house show in 1993. They were hired at a starting salary of $40 a week, and shared an apartment with Brendan Shanahan and James Lewis. After working with the USWA for a while, gaining experience as a team the two managed to negotiate a 100% pay rise. The team’s first brush with tag-team gold came when they made it all the way to the finals of a tournament to crown new USWA Tag-Team Champions but lost in the finals to Brian Christopher and Saturn’s mentor "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert in April 1994. The team kept pursuing the titles and a few weeks later on May 2, 1994 Saturn and Kronus beat Christopher & Gilbert for the titles.

The Eliminators held the gold for about 6 weeks until they came up against PG-13 on June 13, 1994 who beat them for the titles. The Eliminators stuck around the USWA for the remainder of 1994 working both as a tag-team and in individual competition.

In 1995 Saturn and Kronus branched out and travelled to Japan to work for the Japanese wrestling federation WAR. On one WAR card they tangled with wrestling legends Mil Mascaras, Bob Backlund & Jimmy Snuka.

ECW

During their tour of Japan the compactly-built and heavily-tattooed Saturn and the high-flying Kronus caught the attention of booker Paul Heyman. Heyman signed the two with Extreme Championship Wrestling when they were originally brought in to job to the Steiner Brothers when he thought they were staying with the company for a lengthy period, however they would later defeat The Steiner Brothers and Taz at "Gangstas Paridise" on September 16, 1995. [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1995#gangsta95 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: Gangsters Paridise 1995 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Heyman initially planned on giving the Eliminators a sadism and masochism gimmick and but soon changed his mind and presented the duo as an unstoppable force ala the Road Warriors. He also gave them a manager, Jason Knight, to compensate for their weak interview skills.

The Eliminators started a violent feud with The Pitbulls whom they clashed with repeatedly between October 1995 and April 1996 losing to them at the supercard "November To Remember '95" [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1995#nov95 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: November To Remember 1995 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] although they would defeat them in rematches at "December to Dismember" [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1995#dec95 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: December To Dismember 1995 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and "Holiday Hell". [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1995#hell95 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: Holiday Hell 1995 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

During their feud, the teams clashed in both in regular tag-team competition such as during "December To Dismember" when teaming with Raven, Stevie Richards and The Heavenly Bodies in an Ultimate Jeopardy Steel Cage match against the Pitbulls, Public Enemy and Tommy Dreamer on December 9, 1995. After The Pitbulls' manager Francine cut Saturn's hair, he shaved his head completely in a homage to Mickey Knox, the character depicted by Woody Harrelson in "Natural Born Killers" (in reality, Saturn was beginning to go bald).

On February 2, 1996 the Eliminators beat Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck to win the ECW Tag Team Championship at a house show in Queens, New York. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#020396 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: January-March 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Prowrestlinghistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] After disposing of the longtime rivals the Pitbulls at "Big Ass Extreme Bash" on March 8 [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#030896 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: Big Ass Extreme Bash - March 8, 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Prowrestlinghistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] (although the team defeated the Pitbulls in later house shows), the Eliminators were targeted by The Gangstas setting off a bloody feud between the two teams facing them in a 6-man tag team match with Brian Lee against The Gangstas and Tommy Dreamer at "A Matter of Respect" [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1996#respect96 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: A Matter of Respect 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and later faced them in title defences at "Fight The Power" [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1996#power96 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: Fight The Power 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and "Hardcore Heaven '96", [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1996#hard96 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: Hardcore Heaven 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] the latter a resulting in a no contest.

On August 13, 1996 the Gangstas beat the Eliminators for the tag-team titles in a four corners elimination match with the Bruise Brothers and the Samoan Gangsta Party at the supercard "The Doctor Is In" [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1996#doctor96 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: The Doctor Is In 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and, although defeated in subsequent rematches, The Gangstas managed to hold on to the gold until the Eliminators regained the titles at a house show in Middletown, New York on December 20, 1996. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#122096 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: October-December 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Prowrestlinghistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

As the Eliminators/Gangstas feud continued into 1997 another team entered the fray making it a three way between the Eliminators, the Gangstas and the Dudley Boyz. After defences against teams such as Axl Rotten and D-Von Dudley and Sabu & Rob Van Dam, the Dudley Boys won the tag-team titles from the Eliminators at "Hostile City Showdown" on March 15, 1997 [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1997#hostile97 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: Hostile City Showdown 1997 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] only to lose them back to the Eliminators at ECW’s first PPV "Barely Legal" on April 13, 1997. [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/ecw/1997#bare97 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: Barely Legal 1997 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author=Nelson, Phil |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Karlsson |date=2005-08-23 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On May 31, 1997 in Trenton, New Jersey, during a three way dance with the Dudley Boyz and PG-13, Saturn tore his ACL when he landed on a crutch while executing a kick on Big Dick Dudley. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#053197 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: April-June 1997 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Prowrestlinghistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Despite the injury, Saturn continued to compete and defeated the Dudley Boyz at "Wrestlepalooza '97" [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#060797 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: January-March 1996 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Prowrestlinghistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and Kronus continued defendiing the title in handicap matches against the F.B.I before Saturn competed in a match that saw the Eliminators drop the tag-team titles back to the Dudley Boyz at a house show in Waltham, Massachusetts on June 20, 1997. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#020396 |title=Extreme Championship Wrestling: April-June 1997 |accessdate=2007-05-07 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Prowrestlinghistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

After intense reconstructive surgery, Saturn was given a recovery time of as much as a year. He began rehabilitating after two months and returned to action in August although in a diminished capacity due to his knee problems. Saturn had become impatient with what he regarded as Kronus' lack of motivation and dedication, and refused to reform the Eliminators. Paul Heyman offered to release him from his contract if he could find alternate employment. Saturn entered into negotiations with World Championship Wrestling and signed a contract with WCW while not being 100% recovered from his knee injury.

After Saturn left Kronus began teaming with various wrestlers including former enemy New Jack to form The Gangstanators but never achieved the same success as he did together with Perry Saturn

In wrestling

*Finishing moves
** "Total Elimination"

*Signature Moves
** Vertical Suplex / Top Rope Crossbody
** Assisted springboard moonsault
** Various Kick Combos

*Managers
**Jason Knight

Championships and accomplishments

*Extreme Championship Wrestling
**ECW World Tag Team Championship (3 times)
*United States Wrestling Association
**USWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)

References

Further reading

*Funk, Terry and Scott E. Williams. "Terry Funk: The Hardcore Legend". Champaigne, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 2005. ISBN 1-58261-991-3
*Loverro, Thom. "The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling". New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006. ISBN 1-4165-1058-3
*Williams, Scott E. "Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW". Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing L.L.C., 2006. ISBN 1-59670-021-1
* Shoot with Ian Rotten. Perf. Ian Rotten. DVD. RF Video, 2005.
* Shoot with Team 3-D: Brother Ray & Devon. Perf. Dudley Boys. DVD. RFvideo, 2006.
* Shoot with Sabu. Perf. Sabu. DVD. RF Video, 2006.
* Shoot with Scott Steiner. Perf. Scott Steiner. DVD. RF Video, 2006.

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/e/eliminators.html The Eliminators at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/johnkronus/ The Unofficial Eliminators Tribute Site]