One of WWE’s most legendary in-ring moments, the Survivor Series 1988 double turn involving Demolition and The Powers of Pain, was a last-minute surprise even to those directly involved. On their recent “DEMOPOD” podcast, Demolition members Ax (Bill Eadie) and Smash revealed they were informed about the drastic creative shift only on the evening of the event, minutes before hitting the ring[1].

At the time, Demolition reigned as dominant heel Tag Team Champions, feared and booed by fans. Meanwhile, The Powers of Pain (The Warlord and The Barbarian) were positioned as their heroic adversaries. However, WWE officials noticed that the crowd had begun cheering Demolition despite their villainous roles. Ax explained on the podcast that the company misread the audience’s reaction, believing the cheers meant fans wanted to see Demolition as heroes rather than heels.

“The people that make the decisions listen to the crowd… They were cheering for us, but it wasn’t because we were good guys,” Eadie said. “When the music hit and we came to the ring, they knew something was going to happen, and they respected us. And I think that the office got confused. ‘Well, they’re cheering for them. They like them. We have to turn them good guys’”[1].

The infamous turn happened during Survivor Series 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio, when Mr. Fuji, Demolition’s manager, shockingly betrayed the champions by aligning himself with The Powers of Pain. This betrayal launched Demolition into babyface status, while The Powers of Pain, now backed by Fuji, transitioned into villains. Wrestling historian Scott Keith notes that the Powers of Pain were struggling to make an impact as babyfaces and that the double turn revitalized both teams’ personas while serving WWE’s storyline needs[2].

This double turn is often regarded as one of the earliest—and arguably most effective—instances of a “double switch” in WWE history. While the Austin-Bret Hart switch at WrestleMania 13 often gets more mainstream attention, the Survivor Series 1988 moment arguably set the precedent for executing a heel-face exchange within the same match[3].

WWE.com’s archives confirm the chilling moment: After Mr. Fuji’s defection to The Powers of Pain, fans erupted in cheers for Demolition as they returned to fight off their former protégé team[4]. Despite the overnight nature of the decision, the crowd’s reaction validated the creative gamble, firmly cementing Demolition as fan favorites going forward.

In a rare backstage insight, The Warlord recently recounted in an interview how the teams had little time to prepare for their new roles. “We really didn’t know anything about it till that night,” Warlord said, recalling the shock of suddenly becoming heels while Demolition morphed into faces. The confusion extended beyond the locker room as fans initially struggled to discern the new alignment. “People didn’t realize that we were going bad and Demolition was going good,” he said, reflecting on how the story took weeks to fully land with audiences[5].

Sources close to WWE creative have indicated that the impetus behind the last-minute decision stemmed from Vince McMahon’s desire to freshen the tag team scene and capitalize on Demolition’s growing untapped popularity. According to Fightful reports, Demolition’s ability to cut their own promos and connect with fans also played a role in the company’s confidence to flip their roles on such short notice.

This unexpected double turn not only reshaped Demolition’s trajectory—leading to some of their most celebrated runs—but also profoundly impacted how WWE booked characters based on fan reactions thereafter. It demonstrated WWE’s willingness to pivot stories in real time to best entertain and engage audiences.

For wrestling fans and historians, Survivor Series 1988 remains a landmark event, showcasing how a bold creative gamble executed under tight time constraints can become a lasting piece of wrestling lore. As Demolition co-host Ax put it on DEMOPOD, “Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t see coming”[1].

Key Takeaways:

• Demolition learned about the Survivor Series 1988 double turn only on show day, illustrating how WWE’s creative process can be fluid and reactive[1][5].
• The double turn was catalyzed by Mr. Fuji’s unexpected betrayal and realigned both Demolition and The Powers of Pain’s roles[1][4].
• WWE misinterpreted crowd cheers for Demolition, assuming fans wanted heroes, prompting the switch[1].
• This moment is considered one of WWE’s first major double turns, influencing future storytelling dynamics[2][3].
• Behind the scenes, the change provided new momentum to both teams and highlighted WWE’s adaptability in character development[5].

This episode from WWE history remains frequently discussed among fans and professionals alike for its daring execution and lasting impact on tag team wrestling storytelling.