The Assassins

Every promotion had an "Assassin" at one time or another and many Indy groups still do, but the original pair consisted of two brothers, Joey and Larry Hamilton. The latter preferred working as a single and was replaced by one Tom Renesto, who teamed with Joey for years.

These two Assassins traveled the USA, decked out in their traditional yellow and black masks, with matching body wardrobe. Though the Atlanta area would become established as their main base, they were seen from Seattle to Miami at one point or another throughout the 1960s into the 1970s.

The dastardly duo made various trips in Arizona, usually when traveling between California and Texas. Some of their appearances included main eventing in a makeshift arena converted from a closed supermarket.

The longest stay for the two Assassins came in 1966, where for something different, they actually found themselves being cheered as they faced the equally hated tag team of Gorgeous George Jr and perpetual  Arizona villain, Don Arnold. After the masked men prevailed, it was business as usual, where they disavowed their newly gathered fans, any concept of fighting by the rules and again became heels.

The Assassins then feuded with Ray Gordon and Tito Montez, two of the most popular stars in Arizona at the time. In their early encoutners, the masked men increased the heat with a series of underhanded victories, but in the end the good guys won out. The heels went packing, while peace and harmony ruled...for a time. Other tag teams of equable viciousness were soon to be on their way in.

There would also be a number of other Assassins, though all avoided the patented yellow and black masks, in the decades to come. These "Assassins" also worked suspiciously, as single attractions and never a tag team, perhaps to steer clear of a lawsuit. Ernie Muhammad passed a mask around to varied wrestlers who did the routine on the undercard or televised tapings, where whoever wore the hood usually lost. In 1980, John Ringer was an Assassin for a while, wearing brown gear and a matching mask with an "A" on the front. He only did the routine for a while, before going back to being Ringer and refused to admit to ever wrestling under a hood.

"The Assassin died" Ringer would snarl when asked about the role by fans or writers, denying it was him behind the mask.

  In the 1990s, Asasinos 1,2 & 3 came in for a lucha promotion running near the border that did not last long.

I am sure even now, as an "extra body" is needed on an Indy card, someone will don a mask and become  an Assassin. None, however, will match the originals.