Jim Powers
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Jim Powers (James Manley) (born January 4, 1958) was a professional wrestler who, most notably wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-to-late 1980's. Throughout most of his career, he was recognized as a preliminary wrestler - someone used as fodder for a more well known wrestler who the audience knows does not stand a chance to win the match. This is also referred to as "enhancement talent".
Powers was discovered and brought into theWWF in 1984 by Big John Studd.
He arguably reached the peak of his career in 1987 when, along with fellow preliminary wrestler Paul Roma, he formed a pretty-boy tag team called The Young Stallions. The team seemingly received their name by accident when color commentator Bruno Sammartino referred to them once as "a couple of young stallions".
Powers and Roma were stilled viewed as enhancement talent when, during an epidode of Saturday Night's Main Event, they scored an upset non-title victory over the WWF Tag Team Champions, Hart Foundation. The victory launched their brief run as featured performers and the team was even one of only two surviving teams (the other being The Killer Bees) in the tag team match at the first annual Survivor Series,
It wasn't too long before WWF owner Vince McMahon semed to lose interest in the idea of pushing the Young Stallions. This may have been due, in part, to the fact that Powers had an impressive physique but was not the most skilled wrestler. The team was placed in featured matches on television and at house shows, but most times ended up on the losing end. Following yet another loss, this time to Demolition in late 1988, the team began arguing after matches.Soon, they were split up (off camera). After being hit in the head with a megaphone by Dino Bravoduring a 1990 match on WWF Superstars, Roma (who accused the Rockers of attacking him rather than Bravo) formed a heel Tag Team with fellow wrestler Hercules named Power & Glory. Powers, in the meatime, faded back into the enhancement scene.
After falling off the map completely for a couple years, Powers resurfaced in WCW in 1995. He was scouted and then managed for a brief time by Teddy Long. Unfortunately, the highlight of his WCW run was arguably the time he was attacked and spray-painted during a match by the NWO. The reason for the attack was simply that the NWO wanted to address the crowd. It didn't really have anything to do with Jim Powers. Not much else did either and Powers eventually faded off the scene entirely.
Jim Powers is retired from wrestling and is currently employed by Parsons, a motor vehicle inspections company in New Jersey.
