Barry Darsow is well-known for his dominant run as Smash in Demolition, but his later run as the sneaky Repo Man remains one of the most memorable characters of the era. In a recent interview with Wrestling Epicenter, Darsow discussed his fondness for the role and the physical transformation he underwent for it.
Loving the Gimmick
“I loved it,” Darsow said of the Repo Man character. “I was at the point of my career where I didn’t need to be a top guy. But, I knew I was going to be a part of everything and I was going to get to work with the top workers”.
He was realistic about his position on the card but embraced the role he was given. “But, I knew I wasn’t going to be the next Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, or Bret Hart”.
“I Think I Fooled a Lot of People”
Darsow explained that his specific portrayal of the gimmick was key to its success, as it kept fans guessing.
“The way I portrayed that gimmick was really important to me because it worked,” he said. “I think I fooled a lot of people… I don’t think everybody knew who the heck I was”.
A Major Physical Change
To ensure Repo Man was distinct from his previous persona, Darsow significantly changed his physique. He revealed he lost 60 pounds for the new role.
“I was 320 pounds when I was Smash in Demolition,” Darsow stated. “I was 260 pounds when I was The Repo Man. I wanted it to be a different character which it was”.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Wrestling Epicenter with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can listen to the full interview at WrestlingEpicenter.com.
