Terry Szopinski

Infobox Wrestler
name=Terry Szopinski

170px
names=The Warlord
Super Assassin 2
height= 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
weight= 323 lb (147 kg)
birth_date = birth date and age|1962|3|28|
death_date =
birth_place = Pompano Beach, Florida
resides=Pompano Beach, Florida
billed=
trainer=Eddie Sharkey
debut=1986
retired=|

Terry Szopinskicite book | title = Batista Unleashed | first = Dave | last = Batista | authorlink = Dave Batista | coauthors = Roberts, Jeremy | isbn = 1-4165-4410-4 | publisher = WWE Books | origmonth = October | origyear = 2007 | pages = p. 19-20] (born March 28, 1962 in Pompano Beach, Florida) is a professional wrestler better known as The Warlord.

Career

Szopinski started wrestling as The Warlord in 1986 for the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, after being encouraged by the original Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) to get involved with professional wrestling. He was managed by Baby Doll and was supposed to be her protection against Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers. He was so inexperienced that he had only a couple of confrontations before Bubba knocked him out with a roll of quarters. Jim Crockett, Jr. then sent him to the Kansas City territory for more seasoning.

While in Central States Wrestling, he teamed with Killer Karl Kovac and won the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship. He also learned more about wrestling.

He returned to the NWA in late 1987 and associated with Ivan Koloff and manager Paul Jones. He was immediately teamed with another big man, The Barbarian, with whom he formed The Powers of Pain.

They feuded heavily with the Road Warriors and won the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with Ivan. Management wanted them to do some scaffold matches against the Warriors (they would have had to fall off the scaffold) which caused him and Barbarian to head to the WWF.

World Wrestling Federation

Upon arrival, they were faces managed by The Baron and feuded with Demolition (Ax and Smash). At the 1988 Survivor Series, the manager for Demolition (Mr. Fuji) double-crossed them and joined the Powers of Pain. They continued the feud as heels but could not win the tag team titles. They then feuded with The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart).

The Powers of Pain split in 1990 and Warlord went under the management of Slick. He would have his image tweaked, changing from his Road Warrior-like reverse mohawk and face paint to a shaved head and wearing a metal cyborg-like phantom of the opera half-face cover to the ring. He feuded with Jimmy Snuka, The British Bulldog, The Texas Tornado, Bret Hart, Greg Valentine, and Tito Santana.

He once bench pressed 500 lbs 19 times on an episode of WWF Prime Time Wrestling. His goal was to rep it 20 times; Slick excused the Warlord by saying that he had a cold at the time.

The Warlord holds the record for the quickest elimination in Royal Rumble history. He was eliminated from the 1989 Royal Rumble match by Hulk Hogan after just 2 seconds.

Retirement

Warlord left the WWF in 1992 for the independent circuit. He had to retire for a few years after a car wreck in 1996. He briefly wrestled in WCW as Super Assassin 2 with Barbarian as Super Assassin 1. They were managed by Col. Rob Parker but did not get a decent push.

During his time away from wrestling, he trained as a security guard, providing his services for several businesses in the Florida area. He also worked as a bodyguard for rapper 50 Cent during an overseas tour.

Wrestling return

In 2002, Warlord returned to wrestling in Florida Championship Wrestling and won their Heavyweight title. He still wrestles there today, while continuing to run his security company.

In January 2003, Warlord made an appearance for Nick Mayberry's Hardkore Championship Wrestling in Lauderhill, Florida. He refereed a match between then HCW Champion "The King of The Indies" Reckless Youth and ECW Superstar Christian York. Youth defeated York with his feet on the ropes, and post-match received a huge chokeslam from The Warlord.

In 2005, The Warlord started teaming with The Barbarian again in Gladiator Championship Wrestling. In 2006, Warlord joined TNT Pro Wrestling and wrestles on their TV show.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*Full nelson:*Running powerslam:*"Warlord Lariat" (Diving lariat):*Bearhug:*Chokeslam:*Front facelock followed by a forearm shot to the back:*Overhead gutwrench dropped into a release powerbomb:*Two handed chokelift slam

*Previous managers:*Baby Doll:*The Baron:*Sonny Blaze:*Mr. Fuji:*Paul Jones:*Ivan Koloff:*Killer Karl Kovac:*Col. Robert Parker:*Zoogz Rift:*Slick:*Patricia Steinman:*Harvey Wippleman

Championships and accomplishments

*Central States Wrestling:*NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Killer Karl Kovac
*Maximum Xtreme Pro Wrestling:*MXPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*National Wrestling Alliance
*Regional:*NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ivan Koloff and The Barbarian:*NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him #296 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003:*PWI ranked him #97 of the best tag teams during the "PWI Years" with The Barbarian
*Ultimate Wrestling Supreme:*UWS Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*World Wide Wrestling Association:*WWWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Barbarian
*Wrestle Association R:*WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob Backlund and Scott Putski

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards:*Worst Tag Team (1989) with The Barbarian

References