Total Elimination: The History of The Eliminators

They're one of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling history. For three years, they dominated the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) tag team ranks, defeating such teams as The Dudley Boyz, The Gangstas', and Rob Van Dam & Sabu. They are two of the top pure wrestlers in the business, and their spectacular high-flying manuevers prove that big men can fly. Before, though, they were doing moonsaults and 450's in ECW rings, they were...well...rookies.

The roots of the Eliminators' legacy can be traced all the way back to the early 1990's. Perry Saturn, who, from 1988-1990, had been trained by the legendary Walter "Killer" Kowalski, had recently made his pro wrestling debut on October 27, 1990 for the United States Wrestling Federation (USWF). As the scrawny, 165 lb. "Iron Horseman," he had found considerable success, winning the International Wrestling Federation (IWF) Light-Heavyweight Championship. Click HERE for a photo of Saturn dressed as The Iron Horseman.

At the time, he was managing a local rock-and-roll club in Boston, and it was here that he met a young fellow named John Kronus. Kronus, one of the bouncers at the club, was genuinely interested in becoming a professional wrestler. The two immediately clicked, as they would regularly go to the back of the bar and watch videotapes of matches and critique them. Both seemed to have good knowledge of the industry, and, Saturn, seeing Kronus' interest, referred to Kowalski's school in Massachussetts.

After a year or so, the two were both trained professional wrestlers, and it wasn't long before Saturn asked Kronus to be his tag team partner. Kronus agreed, and, from then on, as a tag team, the duo was was known as, "The Eliminators." Click HERE and HERE for some early photos of The Eliminators. The duo debuted as a team in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) (which is also where superstars like The Rotten Brothers (Axl & Ian), Brian Christopher/Grandmaster Sexay, Chris Adams, Jeff Jarrett, Steve Austin, The Rock, and tons more first called home), which was headquartered in Memphis, TN and was, at the time, somewhat of a developmental territory of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). They quickly found their niche as top contenders for the USWA World Tag Team Titles, along with teams like Badd Breed (Axl & Ian Rotten), Brian Christopher & Jeff Jarrett, and PG-13 (JC Ice & Wolfie D). Click HERE for a picture of The Eliminators in the USWA.

On April 23, 1994, the duo participated in a tag team elimination tournament to crown new USWA World Tag Team Champions. Their first round opponents were Jeff Gaylord & Spellbinder, who they defeated. Next up were The Moondogs, who also found defeat at the hands of The Eliminators. In the final round, they faced off against what was probably the USWA's top tag team, at the time, Brian Christopher & the late, great Eddie Gilbert. The rookie experience of Kronus & Saturn showed, as they were defeated, and Christopher and Gilbert won the USWA Tag Titles.

The Eliminators got their revenge, though, as, just 10 days later, on May 2 of that same year, they unseated the champions, winning their first (and what would turn out to be their only) USWA World Tag Team Title. They held the gold for about a month and a half, eventually losing it to another pair of veterans, JC Ice & Wolfie D, collectively known as PG-13, on June 13 in Memphis. By now, most fans saw Kronus as the premier grappler of two, with his unique spinkicks, spectacular planchas, and trademark high-flying manuevers. Saturn, though, wasn't far behind, and that soon began showing...

It was around late-'94 - early '95 that owner of Philadelphia, PA-based Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) Paul E. Heyman bagan showing interest in the duo. They were still very young, solid mat wrestlers, and always found a way to get a high spot or two in each match. Heyman soon invited the two to come over a few states to ECW, which both young studs happily obliged to. The earliest trace of them competing in ECW that I could find was on September 16, 1995, which sounds about right. It was called, "Gangstas' Paradise," (named after Mustafa & New Jack, collectively known as "The Gangstas'") and it was at the ECW Arena in Philly. Taz was teaming up with The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott, who were making a rare appearance in ECW) against Jason & the (I'm assuming) debuting Eliminators (they were obviously allowed to keep the name they had been using), comprised of John Kronus & Perry Saturn.

The match was exactly 20:00, and Jason and The Eliminators won when Too Cold Scorpio attacked Taz (who he had been feuding with), kicking him in the neck and putting Jason on top for the pinfall win. Kronus and Saturn didn't get much time in the ring, but it was still a nice debut, considering they beat three seasoned veterans. On October 7, The Eliminators defeated Chad Austin & Tony Stetson. At another arena show on October 28, 1995, they scored a shocking pinfall win over Rick Steiner & Taz, only helping their already-great ECW run. On November 18 at November To Remember, they lost to the colossal Pitbulls (comprised of Pitbull #1 & Pitbull #2) when Kronus was pinned by both giants. On December 9, though, they gained a measure of revenge when they defeated the Pitbulls.

On May 11, at A Matter of Respect, The Eliminators teamed with Brian Lee to take on what was probably their biggest challenge yet, The Gangstas' and Tommy Dreamer. They eventually lost the match when New Jack pinned Saturn at 20:46. On September 14, along with Brian Lee, they beat Steve Williams, Terry Gordy, and Dreamer.

At November to Remember '96 (November 16, 1996), The Eliminators wrestled twice. In their first match, they took on Rob Van Dam & Sabu. The winners would be granded a Tag Team Title shot against The Gangstas later on in the night. The Eliminators and RVD & Sabu put on an incredible classic, as most who've seen it rate it about ****1/2 (stars) (out of a possible *****). Both teams exchanged several high flying manuevers, catching eachother with Moonsaults, Planchas, Somersault Senton Splashes, and Springboard Leg Drops, making for quite a showing. There was actually a spot where a table was set up at ringside, forming a bridge between the fan guardrail and the ring apron. Sabu used that to his advantage, DDT'ing Saturn through the table and onto the concrete floor. The match eventually went to a Time Limit Draw, though, so it was decided that an Elimination Three-Way Dance for the Tag Titles would take place later that night, pitting The Eliminators against RVD & Sabu and The Gangstas.

The Tag Team Title Match was a brawl all around the building, as Sabu and Saturn fought at the top of the entrance ramp, RVD and Mustafa brawled into the crowd, and Kronus and New Jack used various weapons on eachother at ringside. Just a few minutes in, Kronus was bleeding pretty badly, as Jack was using a chair to bust him wide open. A sick spot saw Sabu crash through a ringside table after Kronus and Mustafa moved away, causing Sabu's flying somersault senton to completely miss. He crashed through the table and onto the concrete floor. The Eliminators eventually hit a distracted Sabu (he was yelling at Taz, who had interfered and was beating up RVD at ringside) with Total Elimination, eliminating he and Sabu. However, as Saturn turned around, New Jack came off the top-rope with his 1-8-7 Chairshot, which connected, for the pin, allowing The Gangstas to retain their titles.

 

The Eliminators' Awards & Titles Held:

Six-Man Tag Teams that The Eliminators have defeated in ECW:

Tag Teams that The Eliminators have defeated in ECW:

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