Blade Runners

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=The Bladerunners
type=T

---

caption=
members=Rock Sting
names=The Freedom Fighters (Justice & Flash)
former_members=
heights=Rock:
height|ft=6|in=2 Sting:
height|ft=6|in=3
weights=convert|530|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
billed=
hometown=
trainer=Rick Bassman Red Bastien
debut=1985
disbanded=1986
promotions=Continental Wrestling Association UWF|

The Blade Runners were a professional wrestling tag team consisting of future superstars, Steve Borden and Jim Hellwig, that existed in 1985 and 1986. Their name may have been derived from the 1982 neo-noir science fiction film, "Blade Runner".

History

Hellwig and Borden started teaming in 1985 after Powerteam USA, which they were both members of, disbanded. Initially they, they wrestled as The Freedom Fighters (Hellwig was known as Justice and Borden was called Flash) [cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = Power Slam Staff | coauthors = | title = In His Prime: Sting | url = | format = | work = Power Slam | publisher = SW Publishing LTD | id = | page = 36 | date = March 2000 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 | language = English | quote = Known as The Freedom Fighters, Flash (Borden) and Justice (Hellwig)] in Memphis' Continental Wrestling Association [cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = Power Slam Staff | coauthors = | title = In His Prime: Sting | url = | format = | work = Power Slam | publisher = SW Publishing LTD | id = | page = 36 | date = March 2000 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 | language = English | quote = Borden formed a tandem with the remaining member – Jim ”Warrior” Hellwig – and headed to Memphis] under manager Dutch Mantel. Because they were essentially bodybuilders and lacked thorough training, the team was raw and brutal, easily hurting opponents with their stiff maneuvers which led to their stay in Memphis being a short one [cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = Power Slam Staff | coauthors = | title = In His Prime: Sting | url = | format = | work = Power Slam | publisher = SW Publishing LTD | id = | page = 36 | date = March 2000 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 | language = English | quote = the two greenhorns were completely clueless in the ring, and were soon sent on their way] .

The team began working for Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling (renamed the Universal Wrestling Federation shortly after) in early 1986 [cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = Power Slam Staff | coauthors = | title = In His Prime: Sting | url = | format = | work = Power Slam | publisher = SW Publishing LTD | id = | page = 36 | date = March 2000 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 | language = English | quote = Arriving in the Mid-South in 1986] . In Mid-South they became known as The Blade Runners (Hellwig was called Rock and Borden got the name he's most known as: Sting) [cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = Power Slam Staff | coauthors = | title = In His Prime: Sting | url = | format = | work = Power Slam | publisher = SW Publishing LTD | id = | page = 36 | date = March 2000 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 | language = English | quote = as The Blade Runners, Sting (Borden) and Rock (Hellwig)] . The Blade Runners were managed by "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and as part of "Hot Stuff International, Inc." the team feuded with Ted DiBiase and Steve Williams [cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = Power Slam Staff | coauthors = | title = In His Prime: Sting | url = | format = | work = Power Slam | publisher = SW Publishing LTD | id = | page = 36 | date = March 2000 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 | language = English] .

Less than 6 months after arriving in Mid-South, Hellwig and Borden split up with Hellwig moving on to World Class Championship Wrestling, where he became known The Dingo Warrior [cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = Power Slam Staff | coauthors = | title = In His Prime: Sting | url = | format = | work = Power Slam | publisher = SW Publishing LTD | id = | page = 36 | date = March 2000 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 | language = English | quote = When Rock moved on to World Class...] , laying the foundation for his famous Ultimate Warrior gimmick in the WWF.

Sting remained in Mid-South and under the tutelage of Eddie Gilbert for a while before turning face.

Reunion

They reunited, although not officially under the Blade Runners name, for one match on "WCW Monday Nitro" on October 11, 1998 against Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart of nWo Hollywood. Since the two had become very popular on their own and in entirely different promotions, during this event, Mike Tenay referred to them as "teaming up for the first time since 1985." The match was initially boasted as one of the biggest tag team matches in "Nitro" history; however, it featured little variety or in-ring use of Warrior. Sting and Warrior won the match via disqualification due to interference from the nWo [cite web | url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/nitro/1998.html | title=Online World of Wrestling: Nitro Results 1998 | accessmonthday=June 23 | accessyear=2007 | author=Black Pants, Inc | date=October 11 1998 | work=WCW Results | publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com | language=English | quote=Sting and The Warrior b Hollywood Hogan and Bret Hart by Disqualification] .

References