Over the years, professional wrestling has seen many unique match types, but only one has ever taken place inside a moving truck. This match, called “King of the Road,” occurred during WCW Uncensored in 1995 and featured AEW’s Dustin Rhodes facing Barry Darsow, who was wrestling as Blacktop Bully at the time. Often remembered as one of the most absurd matches ever and symbolic of the notorious Uncensored 1995 event—widely regarded as one of WCW’s worst—this bout has left a lasting impression on fans.
Despite the match’s infamous reputation, Darsow recently spoke about it on the 83 Weeks podcast, sharing that he holds a positive memory of both his Blacktop Bully persona and the match itself. Darsow and his wrestling partner, Rose, felt the match went well. However, both were fired shortly after by WCW executive and 83 Weeks co-host Eric Bischoff. Darsow recounted a call he received from Bischoff explaining the dismissal, which was not due to the match quality but because Darsow and Rose had bled during the match—something the office wanted to avoid.
Darsow recalled, “The next morning, Eric called me and said, ‘Barry, I have good news, but I also have bad news for you.’ I asked for the good news first, and he said, ‘You had a bad game last night.’ When I asked about the bad news, he said, ‘You’re fired.’ I asked why, and he said, ‘You guys bled in that game, and the office didn’t want that.’ I explained it was something Mike Graham had instructed us to do. Throughout my career, I did whatever my boss wanted. Eric then said, ‘Please don’t be upset; I promise to hire you again if you retire on good terms.’ I told him, ‘If that’s what you have to do, I’m with you.’”
Fan Take: This piece of wrestling history shows how creative risks can sometimes clash with management’s vision, a challenge still relevant in WWE today. For fans, it’s a reminder that behind-the-scenes decisions often shape the matches and characters they love, underscoring the complex dance between performers’ ambitions and company policies.
