U.S. Express

U.S. Express
Tag team
Members	Barry Windham Mike Rotunda
Billed heights	Windham: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Rotunda: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Combined billed weight	523 lb (237 kg)
Debut	1983
Disbanded	2008
Years active	1983–1987

TheU.S. Expresswas aprofessional wrestlingtag teamcomposed ofMike RotundaandBarry Windhamin theWorld Wrestling Federation.Windham was later replaced byDan Spiveyand the team was renamed theAmerican Express.

History

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1983–1984)

In September 1983, Windham and Rotunda formed the U.S. Express inChampionship Wrestling from Florida.They feuded with the Zambuie Express (Elijah AkeemandKareem Muhammad), the Long Riders (Ron BassandBlack Bart) andHector GuerreroandChavo Guerrero Sr.On March 14, 1984, they defeated the Long Riders forNWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version).They dropped the titles back to the Long Riders on March 27. Afterwards they won the titles three more times until losing to Hector and Chavo Guerrero on July 14.

World Wrestling Federation (1984–1985)

Rotunda and Windham (real life brothers-in-law as Rotunda was married to Windham's sister Stephanie) had teamed off and on in the Florida territories before both were signed by the WWF in 1984. Once they joined the WWF they were given a patriotic gimmick along with theBruce Springsteensong "Born in the U.S.A."as their entrance music."Captain" Lou Albanoalso became their manager.During this time Mike Rotunda would often be referred to as "Mike Rotundo" by WWF commentators.

The U.S. Express made their WWF wrestling debut on October 30, 1984, when they defeated the team of Mohammad Saad & Bobby Bass.On January 21, 1985, the U.S. Express beat the team known as the “East West Connection (Adrian Adonis&Dick Murdoch) for theWWF World tag-team titles.They would hold the titles for two months before losing them to the team ofThe Iron Sheik and Nikolai VolkoffatWrestleMania IatMadison Square GardeninNew Yorkwhen the Sheik hit Windham over the head withFreddie Blassie's cane allowing Volkoff to get the pin.

The U.S. Express became two-time Tag Team Champions when they regained the titles from Volkoff and the Sheik on June 17, 1985 inPoughkeepsie,New Yorkon an episode ofWWF Championship Wrestling.Their second reign would also last about two months before they lost the belts toThe Dream Team(Greg "The Hammer" ValentineandBrutus Beefcake) atThe SpectruminPhiladelphiaafter Beefcake rubbedLucious Johnny V's lit cigar in Windham's eyes, blinding him and getting the pin.The team broke up near the end of 1985 when Barry Windham left the WWF to return to Florida. They had their last match together under the WWF banner exactly one year to the day after they made their debut.

Initially,Rick Derringer,who was working with the WWF at the time, wrote the track "Real American" for the team. When Windham left the WWF and the team split, the music was passed on toWWF ChampionHulk Hogan,with the song going on to still be associated with Hogan.

Japan and various promotions (1986)

In January 1986 they went to Japan to work forAll Japan Pro Wrestling.Participated at theAWA'sWrestleRock 86in April 1986. The team was not billed as the U.S. Express since the name was owned by the WWF. The brothers-in-law reunited to defeatthe Fabulous Ones(Stan LaneandSteve Keirn)while Rotunda was on a brief break from the WWF between January and May 1986. They returned to Florida on May 6 as they defeatedLex LugerandRon Bassby disqualification.

The American Express (1986–1987)

Only days after Barry Windham left the WWF, Mike Rotunda was linked up withDan Spiveyand they became the American Express. Some referred to them as the U.S. Express II since the patriotic gimmick of the original U.S. Express was recycled with Spivey taking Barry Windham's place.

After the conclusion of their feud with the Dream Team, Mike Rotunda briefly left the WWF. After his subsequent return, the team reunited, feuding withThe Moondogs,The Hart FoundationandThe Islanderswhom the team faced in their last match together on February 9, 1987.After Mike Rotunda left the WWF, Dan Spivey was repackaged as "Golden Boy" Dan Spivey before he left the WWF as well.

Spivey would wrestle inWorld Championship Wrestling(reuniting with Rotunda for a time as a member ofKevin Sullivan'sVarsity Clubin 1988–1989) and returned toWorld Wrestling Federationas Waylon Mercy in 1995. He retired from wrestling that year.

Universal Wrestling Federation (1987) and aftermath

On October 7, 1987, they reunited forBill Watts'sUniversal Wrestling Federationas they teamed withBrad ArmstrongandTim Horneras they lost toThe Four Horsemen.

Rotunda went to wrestle forWorld Championship Wrestling.In 1991, he returned to the WWF as Irwin R. Schyster, with his gimmick being a ruthless accountant. He left WWF in August 1995 and returned to WCW as VK Wallstreet and Michael Wallstreet. He left WCW in 2000 and wrestled forNew Japan Pro-WrestlingandAll Japan Pro Wrestling.

Windham as well wrestled forWorld Championship Wrestlingbecoming a member ofThe Four Horsemen.In 1989 he returned to WWF as the "Widow Maker" which as short lived. He returned to WCW in 1990 and retired in 1994. In 1996 he came out of retirement and returned to the WWF as the "Stalker" a wild game hunter gimmick with camouflage on his face. He later formed a tag team withBradshawas theNew Blackjacks.In 1998 he left WWF and returned to WCW. This time he teamed with his brotherKendall Windhamwith theWest Texas Rednecks.He left WCW in 1999 and went toAll Japan Pro Wrestling.

Reunions (2001, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2024)

After both men worked for WCW they worked forAll Japan Pro Wrestlingand reunited on January 28, 2001. They teamed withCurt Hennigas they lost toJohnny Smith,Jim SteeleandGeorge Hines.

On May 5, 2004, forIWA Japanthey teamed withRyo Miyakeas they defeatedJim Duggan,Animal WarriorandKeizo Matsudabeing refereed byTed DiBiase.

They participated atWrestleReunionas they lost toLarry ZbyszkoandRon Basson January 28, 2005.

On the March 10, 2008 episode ofWWE RAW,U.S. Express made an appearance in a rematch from WrestleMania I against Volkoff & The Iron Sheik.Before the match could begin, they were interrupted by divaJillian Hall.She offered to sing "Born in the USA" for them before being given an airplane spin by Rotunda.

On April 5, 2024, The U.S. Express was inducted into theWWE Hall of FamebeforeWrestleMania XL.

Championships and accomplishments

• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship(Florida version)(4 times)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked them #48of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with in 2003
• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF World Tag Team Championship(2 times)
  • WWE Hall of Fame(Class of 2024)

See also

• The Blackjacks
• Money Inc.
• The Varsity Club
• The West Texas Rednecks
• The York Foundation