Steve Borden and Jim Hellwig originally teamed as part of
Powerteam USA, a group of four wrestlers who debuted in 1985 after being trained by
Red Bastien and
Rick Bassman. In addition to Borden and Hellwig, the group consisted of Garland Donoho and Mark Miller. The team was managed by Bassman as they tried to break into the wrestling business. After only a short time in the business both Donoho and Miller quit due to lack of success and business savvy. in
Jerry Jarrett's
Continental Wrestling Association initially as
fan favorites then later as
villains, first led by "coach" Buddy Wayne, then later under
manager Dutch Mantel. Because they were essentially
bodybuilders and lacked thorough training, the team was raw and brutal, easily hurting opponents with their
stiff maneuvers which led to their stay in
Memphis being a short one. On December 28 1985, the duo gave a TV interview with
Lance Russell in which they wore black makeup and announced that they would henceforth be known as
The Blade Runners (Hellwig was called Rock and Borden became Sting). Shortly afterwards the team began working for
Bill Watts'
Mid-South Wrestling (renamed the Universal Wrestling Federation soon after) in early 1986. The Blade Runners were managed by
"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and as part of "Hot Stuff International, Inc." the team feuded with
Ted DiBiase and
Steve Williams. Less than six months after arriving in Mid-South, Hellwig and Borden split up with Hellwig moving on to
World Class Championship Wrestling, where he became known as Dingo Warrior, later turning face and laying the foundation for his famous Ultimate Warrior gimmick in the
WWF. Borden remained in the UWF and under the tutelage of Eddie Gilbert for a while before also turning face. As Sting, Borden was among the wrestlers whose contracts were acquired by
Jim Crockett Promotions when it bought the UWF in 1987. In 1990, the Warrior and Sting respectively won the
WWF Championship from
Hulk Hogan and the
NWA World Heavyweight Championship from
Ric Flair. For several months, the two former tag team partners sat atop the wrestling business as World champions of each of the two major league promotions before losing their titles eight days apart in January 1991. Warrior would never regain his title although Sting would enjoy multiple further World championships in
WCW,
World Wrestling All-Stars, and
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. ==Reunion==