He is best known by his ring name The Warlord and for his tenures in Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as one-half of the Powers of Pain alongside The Barbarian.

Warlord then competed as a singles wrestler until departing in 1992 and had a small stint in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1996, where he briefly reunited with The Barbarian as the Super Assassins.

[1] In late 1987, Szopinski returned to Jim Crockett Promotions under his Warlord name and began teaming with Ivan Koloff with Paul Jones as their manager.

In 1988, he then formed a permanent tag team with the Barbarian known as the "Powers of Pain", the heel counterparts to the Road Warriors, while retaining Jones as their manager.

[4] To continue the feud, JCP management wanted them to do some scaffold matches against the Warriors, but this was met with opposition from Szopinski and Vailahi over fears of injury.

[7] Their televised debut was filmed later that evening and screened on the July 16 episode of Superstars where they defeated enhancement talents Iron Mike Sharpe and Tony Ulysses.

On February 20 episode of Prime Time Wrestling, Powers of Pain received an opportunity for the Tag Team Championship against Demolition, which they lost via disqualification.

[5] After the team's split, Warlord received an attire change, where he abandoned his Road Warrior-like reverse mohawk and face paint in favor of a shaved head and a silver metallic Cyborg-style Phantom of the Opera-like half-mask and black armor.

In April 1993 Szopinski traveled to another German promotion, World Wrestling Superstars and had considerable success as he dominated Butch Reed in multiple encounters.

Szopinski and Vailahi continued their renewed partnership in 1995, traveling to the NWC where they faced the team Aerial Assault (Bob Bradley and a young Rob Van Dam).

[18] The Warlord was forced to retire from wrestling due to suffering neck injuries in a car accident involving a Pizza Hut delivery van in 1996.

[1][2][4] The accident caused significant life-altering injuries, including nerve damage that left one side of his body permanently disfigured.

[19] Warlord returned for one match teaming with Typhoon as they lost to the Harris Twins at Key West, Florida for Wrestling International Pro on May 31, 1997.

[4] He soon extended his services into bodyguarding, and worked alongside celebrities such as 50 Cent, Thomas Jones and Kimbo Slice, who nicknamed Szopinski the "Wall".

[1] In August 2012, Chikara announced that the Warlord would be making his debut for the promotion in the following month's 2012 King of Trios tournament, where he will reunite with the Barbarian and Meng as the "Faces of Pain".