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James Manley

James Manley, widely recognized in the wrestling world as Jim Powers, is a retired American professional wrestler known for his time in the WWE from 1987 to 1994. Born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, Powers was captivated by wrestling from a young age, frequently attending events at Madison Square Garden.

After stepping away from the ring, Powers made a comeback on March 9, 2007, wrestling for various independent promotions. He rekindled his partnership with Paul Roma, his former tag team ally, participating in numerous fan conventions where he connected with wrestling enthusiasts and signed autographs.

In 2007, Powers had discussions with WWE regarding a potential role in their developmental territory, meeting with WWE booker John Laurinaitis. However, despite his aspirations, he did not receive a contract. Powers expressed disappointment in interviews, stating that Laurinaitis repeatedly claimed there were no openings available.

On November 15, 2008, he achieved a victory over Johnny LeDoux at FCW Broken Bones 2008. He later participated in the Wrestling Legends Tour 2009, facing notable wrestlers like Joe E. Legend and Tatanka. After a lengthy hiatus, he returned to NWA New Jersey, teaming with Danny Inferno as Fire Power, clinching the NWA New Jersey Tag-Team Championship from The Spirit Squad.

Powers' final match occurred on January 23, 2010, before he announced his retirement on February 3, 2010. After undergoing two hip surgeries in 2012, he faced health challenges. In July 2016, he became part of a class action lawsuit against WWE concerning traumatic brain injuries suffered by wrestlers, which was dismissed in September 2018. Currently, he resides in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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