The Killer Bees (professional wrestling)
Encyclopedia
The Killer Bees was a tag team composed of "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair
in the World Wrestling Federation
from 1985 to 1988 and later on in the independent circuit. The team name is a play on the name of the Miami Dolphins
' defensive unit known as the Killer Bs, which was dominant and popular in the NFL at that time, as both team members' last name started with a "B", as did the last names of several Dolphin players.
as “The High Flyers" in the American Wrestling Association
, where the two won the AWA World Tag Team Championship
on two occasions .
B. Brian Blair was trained by Hiro Matsuda and made his debut in 1977, competing in various territories (including the WWF) before 1985.
. The team had a special gimmick referred to as Masked Confusion where both wrestlers would put on identical masks during the match to confuse the opponents and referee and usually win that way—despite this normally being a tactic used by the heels
. The “Masked Confusion" idea was given to Blair by Billy Red Lyons
, who had used it in Maple Leaf Wrestling
.
One of the most amusing highlights of the team's career came in 1987 at a house show at California University of Pennsylvania
. With Blair unable to appear for the team's match against Demolition, he was replaced by S.D. Jones, an African-American journeyman who wore the Bees' black and yellow tights for the day. During the match, the two used the "Masked Confusion" tactic and the referee, as usual, pretended to be unable to tell the two apart, despite Brunzell being very light-skinned.
The team debuted on June 17, 1985, defeating the team of Steve Lombardi and Dave Barbie . After facing several makeshift teams, the Killer Bees started a long-running feud with the Hart Foundation (Bret Hart
and Jim Neidhart
). The Bees also had a running feud with the Funks (Hoss
, Terry
and Jimmy Jack). In August 1986, they faced Hoss and Jimmy Jack Funk in front of 70,000 people at The Big Event in Toronto , a card headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff
. The team also received a couple of unsuccessful shots at then-WWF tag team champions The Dream Team
.
The Killer Bees were a part of a battle royal involving wrestlers and NFL
players at WrestleMania 2
and next got the spotlight at WrestleMania III
, where they faced Nikolai Volkoff
and The Iron Sheik, losing by disqualification because of the interference of Jim Duggan
. After WrestleMania III, the Killer Bees moved on to a feud with WWF newcomers Demolition
. By this point, the Bees' stock was clearly slipping in terms of their card placement, though they were one of two teams (with the Young Stallions
) to "survive" the 10-team elimination match at the inaugural Survivor Series
on Thanksgiving Day 1987. The Bees' last Wrestlemania appearance would be at Wrestlemania IV
, where they once again competed in a battle royal.
The Killer Bees’ last prominent appearance was at “WrestleFest" in summer 1988, where they lost to The Fabulous Rougeaus
. In the fall of 1988, B. Brian Blair left the WWF after repeated promises of winning the tag team titles never came to fruition, thus (at least temporarily) ending the yellow and black days of the Bees. The duo's last WWF match as a team came on August 24, 1988, against the Young Stallions . Brunzell remained with the WWF into the 1990s, mainly being used to make younger stars look good in the ring.
Although they wrestled as faces throughout their WWF run, it didn't stop rival heels from impersonating the Bees. During a televised WWF at The Philadelphia Spectrum, two wrestlers dressed in Killer Bee masks and T-shirts appeared as lumberjacks during a lumberjack match between Hulk Hogan
and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
, frequently attacking Hogan until Hogan got the upper hand and unmasked one of the Bees ... only to reveal another mask beneath and the unidentified wrestler to escape.
Universal Wrestling Federation
, winning that promotion's tag team titles before the federation folded . While there, they were unable to use the WWF-trademarked name "Killer Bees" and were instead known as Masked Confusion.
Brian Blair
Brian Leslie Blair is a local politician in Florida, who gained fame as a professional wrestler especially as a part of the Killer Bees.-Career:...
in the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
from 1985 to 1988 and later on in the independent circuit. The team name is a play on the name of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' defensive unit known as the Killer Bs, which was dominant and popular in the NFL at that time, as both team members' last name started with a "B", as did the last names of several Dolphin players.
Before the Bees
Jim Brunzell had made his debut in the early 1970s, achieving most of his fame along with Greg GagneGreg Gagne (wrestler)
Gregory Alan "Greg" Gagne is a former professional wrestler and the son of Verne Gagne. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he achieved his biggest success as one half of the tag team The High Flyers with Jim Brunzell...
as “The High Flyers" in the American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
, where the two won the AWA World Tag Team Championship
AWA World Tag Team Championship
The American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
on two occasions .
B. Brian Blair was trained by Hiro Matsuda and made his debut in 1977, competing in various territories (including the WWF) before 1985.
World Wrestling Federation
The two men were signed by the WWF as it continued its national expansion through 1985, debuting under the “Killer Bees" name right away. The teaming of Blair and Brunzell was suggested by Hulk HoganHulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. The team had a special gimmick referred to as Masked Confusion where both wrestlers would put on identical masks during the match to confuse the opponents and referee and usually win that way—despite this normally being a tactic used by the heels
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
. The “Masked Confusion" idea was given to Blair by Billy Red Lyons
Billy Red Lyons
William Snip was a Canadian professional wrestler, who used the stage name Billy Red Lyons. He was an active wrestler between 1956 and 1984, and won numerous championship throughout his career. He worked for promotions in both Canada and the United States, particularly in Ontario, California,...
, who had used it in Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
.
One of the most amusing highlights of the team's career came in 1987 at a house show at California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
. With Blair unable to appear for the team's match against Demolition, he was replaced by S.D. Jones, an African-American journeyman who wore the Bees' black and yellow tights for the day. During the match, the two used the "Masked Confusion" tactic and the referee, as usual, pretended to be unable to tell the two apart, despite Brunzell being very light-skinned.
The team debuted on June 17, 1985, defeating the team of Steve Lombardi and Dave Barbie . After facing several makeshift teams, the Killer Bees started a long-running feud with the Hart Foundation (Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
and Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
). The Bees also had a running feud with the Funks (Hoss
Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional...
, Terry
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
and Jimmy Jack). In August 1986, they faced Hoss and Jimmy Jack Funk in front of 70,000 people at The Big Event in Toronto , a card headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff
Paul Orndorff
Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
. The team also received a couple of unsuccessful shots at then-WWF tag team champions The Dream Team
The Dream Team (professional wrestling)
The Dream Team was a World Wrestling Federation tag team from 1985 to March 29, 1987 consisting of Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine managed by ”Lucious” Johnny Valiant...
.
The Killer Bees were a part of a battle royal involving wrestlers and NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
players at WrestleMania 2
WrestleMania 2
WrestleMania 2 was the second annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation...
and next got the spotlight at WrestleMania III
WrestleMania III
WrestleMania III was the third annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . The event was held on March 29, 1987 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan....
, where they faced Nikolai Volkoff
Nikolai Volkoff
Josip Nikolai Peruzović , better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, is a professional wrestler who is best known for his performances for the World Wrestling Federation...
and The Iron Sheik, losing by disqualification because of the interference of Jim Duggan
Jim Duggan
James Edward Duggan , better known by his ring name "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1980s, when it was known as World Wrestling Federation , and World Championship Wrestling...
. After WrestleMania III, the Killer Bees moved on to a feud with WWF newcomers Demolition
Demolition (professional wrestling)
Demolition is a professional wrestling tag team most prominent during the late 1980s / early 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation made up of Ax , Smash , and later Crush . In WWF, Demolition were three-time Tag Team Champions, and hold the records for both the single longest tag title reign...
. By this point, the Bees' stock was clearly slipping in terms of their card placement, though they were one of two teams (with the Young Stallions
The Young Stallions
The Young Stallions was a professional wrestling tag team composed of Jim Powers and Paul Roma who competed in the World Wrestling Federation from 1987 to 1989.-Career:...
) to "survive" the 10-team elimination match at the inaugural Survivor Series
Survivor Series
The Survivor Series is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event held in November by WWE. It is one of the "Big Four" events, along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and SummerSlam, as It is one of the original four pay-per-views produced by WWE....
on Thanksgiving Day 1987. The Bees' last Wrestlemania appearance would be at Wrestlemania IV
WrestleMania IV
WrestleMania IV was the fourth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on March 27, 1988 at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey....
, where they once again competed in a battle royal.
The Killer Bees’ last prominent appearance was at “WrestleFest" in summer 1988, where they lost to The Fabulous Rougeaus
The Fabulous Rougeaus
The Fabulous Rougeaus was the professional wrestling tag team of real-life brothers, Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau, best known from their time in the World Wrestling Federation , from 1986 to 1990....
. In the fall of 1988, B. Brian Blair left the WWF after repeated promises of winning the tag team titles never came to fruition, thus (at least temporarily) ending the yellow and black days of the Bees. The duo's last WWF match as a team came on August 24, 1988, against the Young Stallions . Brunzell remained with the WWF into the 1990s, mainly being used to make younger stars look good in the ring.
Although they wrestled as faces throughout their WWF run, it didn't stop rival heels from impersonating the Bees. During a televised WWF at The Philadelphia Spectrum, two wrestlers dressed in Killer Bee masks and T-shirts appeared as lumberjacks during a lumberjack match between Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Ted DiBiase
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career...
, frequently attacking Hogan until Hogan got the upper hand and unmasked one of the Bees ... only to reveal another mask beneath and the unidentified wrestler to escape.
After the WWF
In the early 1990s, the Bees reformed in Herb Abrams'Herb Abrams
Herb C. Abrams was an American professional wrestling promoter from New York.-Career:Abrams founded the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1990 and remained CEO of the company until his death...
Universal Wrestling Federation
Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)
The Universal Wrestling Federation was an American wrestling promotion based out of Marina del Rey, California.-History:Herb Abrams founded the UWF in 1990 with hopes of returning professional wrestling back to its roots...
, winning that promotion's tag team titles before the federation folded . While there, they were unable to use the WWF-trademarked name "Killer Bees" and were instead known as Masked Confusion.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Bee Stinger (Double leaping hip attack)
- Double dropkick
Championships and accomplishments
- Universal Wrestling FederationUniversal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)The Universal Wrestling Federation was an American wrestling promotion based out of Marina del Rey, California.-History:Herb Abrams founded the UWF in 1990 with hopes of returning professional wrestling back to its roots...
- UWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time)