On a recent edition of the “Wrestling Shoot Interviews” podcast, Barry Darsow (Smash of Demolition) recalled the origins of his Repo Man and Blacktop Bully characters in WWE and WCW.
You can check out the highlights from the podcast below:
On the creation of Repo Man: “Vince [McMahon] called me up and said, ‘Hey, I really want you back up here.’ ‘You’re not gonna be [in] Demolition. … You got any thoughts?’ And I said, ‘I used to repo cars, and I’d get into some situations that were tough to get out of. I think it’d be kind of neat if I was the Repo Man.’”
On enjoying the Repo Man character: “I really enjoyed the gimmick, because I was getting paid good money and I was acting. I ended up working with top guys — Randy Savage, ‘Hacksaw’ Duggan. … And my job was to get these guys over and I didn’t mind doing it at all.”
On moving to WCW and becoming Blacktop Bully: “Ric Flair was the booker then. Ric came up to me and [said], ‘Barry, I want you to be a bully somehow. A trucker. I just want you to be a mean truck driver. Come up with a name for yourself.’”
On Arn Anderson coming up with the name: “Just right out of the blue, [he] looks at me and he goes, ‘You’re the Blacktop Bully.’ And I looked at him and I said, ‘Arn, that’s the greatest name of all time.’”
Barry Darsow, known for his role as Smash in the popular tag team Demolition, recently shared some interesting insights about his time in the wrestling industry. In a recent episode of the “Wrestling Shoot Interviews” podcast, Darsow discussed the origins of his iconic characters, Repo Man and Blacktop Bully, in WWE and WCW respectively.
Darsow revealed that the creation of the Repo Man character came about when Vince McMahon approached him with the idea of bringing him back to WWE. McMahon informed Darsow that he would not be reprising his role as Smash in Demolition and asked if he had any thoughts on a new character. Drawing from his personal experiences, Darsow suggested the idea of a repo man gimmick, inspired by his previous job of repossessing cars. McMahon liked the concept and thus, the Repo Man character was born.
The former WWE superstar expressed his enjoyment of portraying the Repo Man character. He mentioned that he not only received good pay but also had the opportunity to showcase his acting skills. Darsow had the chance to work with top wrestlers such as Randy Savage and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. His role as the Repo Man involved helping these wrestlers get over with the audience, a task he gladly embraced.
After his stint in WWE, Darsow moved on to WCW where he was given the opportunity to create another memorable character. Ric Flair, who was the booker at the time, approached Darsow with the idea of portraying a bully character, specifically a mean truck driver. Flair asked Darsow to come up with a name for this new persona. However, it was Arn Anderson who ultimately provided the perfect moniker. Anderson spontaneously suggested that Darsow be called the Blacktop Bully, a name that instantly resonated with him.
Darsow’s recollection of these characters provides a fascinating glimpse into the creative process behind some of wrestling’s most memorable personas. It highlights the collaborative nature of the industry, with wrestlers and bookers working together to develop characters that resonate with the audience. The success of the Repo Man and Blacktop Bully characters is a testament to Darsow’s talent and the creativity of those involved in their creation.
To hear more about Barry Darsow’s experiences and insights, fans can listen to the full episode of the “Wrestling Shoot Interviews” podcast. The interview offers a deeper understanding of the wrestling industry and the thought processes behind character development. Darsow’s contributions to the world of professional wrestling continue to be celebrated, and his stories serve as a reminder of the enduring impact of these iconic characters.