Many villains have come together to form teams. Some are sophisticated groups with ambitious plans that take weeks to execute, while some have direct goals of procuring money as quickly as possible. Then there’s the Grapplers, a group of professional wrestlers and mercenaries who are pretty happy just smashing stuff and fighting.

The Grapplers were introduced in Marvel Two-in-One #54 (August 1979) by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, and John Byrne. Auntie Freeze organized the original lineup that included Titania, Letha, Poundcakes, and Screaming Mimi. They were hired by Roxxon Oil to invade Project: Pegasus, but were defeated by Giant-Man and Quasar. Their next move was to attack Dazzler, whom they almost defeated before she summoned a light blast big enough to neutralize the whole team.

Once they escaped prison, the Grapplers tangled with the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the X-Men. Following several defeats by hero teams, the Grapplers decided to give up their criminal careers to become legitimate wrestlers. The lineup went through some changes with new members coming in and the original lineup leaving. Titania and Letha were killed by the Scourge of the Underworld, Screaming Mimi joined the Thunderbolts, and Poundcakes became a freelance mercenary.

Years later Titania and Letha were resurrected with new powers. Letha could now inspire rage through telepathy, and Titania gained the ability to create lust in others, and she changed her name to Lascivious. They were joined by Poundcakes and Screaming Mimi, and together they fought old teammate, Songbird. From there, they worked together and on solo missions, joining the Masters of Evil and similar figures like Titania. Eventually, they were hired by Janet Van Dyne to be the bodyguards for her and Nadia Pym’s Genius In action Research Labs (G.I.R.L.) initiative.