In a heartfelt and revealing interview with Wrestling Shoot Interviews, former WWE Superstar Bill Eadie, famously known as Ax from the legendary tag team Demolition, opened up about his tumultuous experiences with WWE’s road agents during his tenure. Eadie, a three-time WWE Tag Team Champion, didn’t hold back as he recounted the challenges he faced, particularly with WWE Hall of Famers George Steele and Chief Jay Strongbow.
Behind the Scenes Tension
Eadie began by shedding light on the tension-filled atmosphere created by the two road agents. Both Steele and Strongbow, who served in these roles throughout the 1980s after retiring from active competition, were depicted as figures who often exacerbated problems rather than resolving them.
“Strongbow was completely biased towards the company,” Eadie recalled. “There was no middle ground for understanding, and sometimes the guys needed a bit of leniency. He rubbed most people the wrong way and would make up stories too. George Steele was similar, trying to get on the office’s good side when he didn’t need to.”
Misunderstandings and Mistrust
Eadie elaborated on specific incidents that heightened mistrust. He described situations where Steele and Strongbow would falsely accuse wrestlers of creating disturbances, further straining relationships.
“They would say things like this guy is ‘making remarks about the company’. In our case, they claimed we caused a disturbance in the dressing room against the company, which wasn’t true,” Eadie explained. “The company went through a period where they made the guys buy their own tickets to get home. We said that’s not fair, and suddenly we were causing a disturbance.”
Direct Confrontation
Eadie’s frustration led to a direct confrontation with Vince McMahon, where he felt compelled to clear the air. “When it came to a head, we met with Vince, and I explained the real story. After that, I was very careful about what I said in front of George Steele and Jay Strongbow.”
Declining a New Role
In 1990, after a health scare, Eadie faced a pivotal moment in his career. WWE offered him a transition into a road agent role, but the circumstances and the manner of the offer led him to decline.
“I was going to transition from Demolition and move into the office as a road agent,” Eadie recounted. “The first meeting I had was in the locker room in Rochester, NY, and I was told ‘you’re going to do this, you’re going to start on this date, your pay will be this, and oh by the way you’re now going to be an office guy and not one of the boys’. And I told Vince I don’t feel comfortable doing this. So that was that.”
A Definitive Exit
Ultimately, Eadie chose to leave WWE a few months later, with his final appearance taking place at Survivor Series 1990. Since his departure, Eadie has not returned to WWE in any capacity, marking a definitive end to his storied career with the company.
The Legacy of Demolition
While Eadie’s experiences with WWE road agents were fraught with challenges, his legacy as part of Demolition remains untarnished. Alongside Smash, played by Barry Darsow, the duo became one of the most iconic tag teams in WWE history. Their dominance in the ring and memorable personas have left an indelible mark on professional wrestling.
Continuing Stories
Interestingly, Eadie’s tag team partner Barry Darsow also underwent a significant transformation after the Demolition era. Darsow, known as Smash, reinvented himself as the Repo Man, a character that added another memorable chapter to his wrestling career.
Reflection and Resilience
Eadie’s candid interview offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of WWE during his time and underscores the complexities wrestlers often navigate in their careers. His resilience and ability to speak openly about his experiences reflect the strength and fortitude that defined his time in the ring.