Koko floundered until September 1981 when he was chosen to referee a Southern Heavyweight Championship title match between Jerry Lawler and The Dream Machine". He was represented by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who was involved in several other lawsuits involving former WWE wrestlers. 2.99 postage. Troy had used racial slurs during an argument after which the dispute turned physical. Later that night the duo defended their title against Taylor and Bill Dundee, losing the title when Sugar "accidentally" kicked Eaton and then left the ring. He made his entrances dancing to the ring to the tune of Morris Day and The Time's "The Bird", flapping his arms and carrying Frankie, who sat on a perch at ringside while Ware wrestled. Most veteran wrestlers seem to maintain a level of activity, even when they are well past their prime. Collect, curate and comment on your files. I wouldn't say Koko was my idol (I currently own a cat), but he was the first old-timer I got to wrestle, so I was a little apprehensive about being a courteous and respectful adversary. On the January 25, 1999, edition of WWF Raw is War, Ware made a short-lived return to the World Wrestling Federation where he put on the "Blue Blazer" mask during the Owen Hart angle and Jeff Jarrett in their victory for the tag team championship. Needless to say, The Patriot realized it at this point. What followed were some sick punches and stomps, before Ware hits a SHOOT BRAINBUSTER(which he called the Ghostbuster) to pick up the win in over a minute, then slapped the Patriot during a pin. After Owen's injury, Ware returned to being a singles competitor before being sent to the United States Wrestling Association as a part of a talent exchange. In 1993, he lost the first Monday Night Raw match to Yokozuna. He is the cousin of fellow professional wrestler and color commentator Jerry Lawler. There are many things to find out about Koko B. Ware, as there is more to the man than just that bird gimmick. J.W. During his WWE run, where he became known as the Birdman, Koko B. Ware would often carry his pet Macaw Frankie. There, they won the AWA Southern Tag Team title twice, both times from The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) as they feuded with the top face team of the promotion. Koko made his debut as a fan favorite on the September 6, 1986 episode of Superstars, teaming with Paul Roma against Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) in a losing effort. During his career, Koko would often appear with a bird named Frankie, the pet that led to Ware having the nickname of "The Birdman" during his time in WWE. His first victory was on the September 7 episode of Wrestling Challenge against Bob Bradley. According to Ware, when he returned his neighbor told him that he couldn't save his child. Copyright 2010-2023 TheSmackDownHotel.com. That's right up there among the stiffest ass-kickings I've seen in a wrestling ring. The same taping later saw Ware defeat Savage by countout in a dark match. Ware, however, would often be on the losing end when he came up against other established stars, such as Butch Reed, Hercules, Greg Valentine, and The Big Boss Man. Santos Escobar Wants To Face Cody Rhodes; Talks Nixed Match Against Rhodes From AAA Show. By Connor Casey - December 21, 2022 06:02 pm EST. The neighbor heard the bird and thought there was a child trapped inside. Koko is on team Hogan in the main event and every time he gets in the crowd goes absolutely nuts. He debuted in 1978 and became widely popular in 1986, in the World Wrestling Federation, where he went from strong mid-carder to jobber to the stars. Matthew Wade Osborne, known professionally as Matt Borne, was an American professional wrestler. When I asked Bix about any possible story he had about this. The song's video featured top wrestlers of the day like Hulk Hogan and the Honky Tonk Man. It's becoming a must listen. That was . He held the title until October, when he lost to Harley Race; he regained the title the following month. He debuted in 1978 and became widely popular in 1986, in the World Wrestling Federation, where he went from strong mid-carder to jobber to the stars. Sammartino was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013, followed by The Ultimate Warrior in 2014, and Randy Savage in 2015. It was not until late in 1980 that Koko's fortune changed when he participated in a battle royal to crown the first ever Mid-American Television Champion. During an interview where Eaton and Jimmy Hart bragged about the victory, Sugar complained that he was unable to win the Southern Title from Terry Taylor. After successfully teaming for a while, Sugar and Eaton started to show signs of dissension, during their last run with the tag-team title Eaton beat Jacques Rougeau for the Mid-American Heavyweight title. He was before my time and just isnt celebrated or brought up as much (on the product) as some others like Slaughter or Backlund. Eaton, along with the rest of the First Family, tried in vain to unmask Lee but could not manage to do so. James Ware (June 20, 1957), better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware, is a retired American professional wrestler. [12] Ware also sang the title track of the 1987 WWF album Piledriver , which then became his entrance music. Later that night the duo defended their title against Taylor and Bill Dundee, losing the title when Sugar "accidentally" kicked Eaton and then left the ring. From the Philadelphia Spectrum, February 1987. Santana comes back into the ring diving into Koko's midsection with a headbutt, but Ware keeps the advantage. The show featured matches involving The Undertaker, The Steiners, and saw Shawn Michaels defend his Intercontinental Championship against Max Moon. After that the guy moves like he doesn't have a clue where he is and Koko keeps hammering him to stay down. After dropping the gold in Florida, the Pretty Young Things returned to the Continental Wrestling Association in April 1985. Add a Comment. In 1999, Koko made a short-lived return to the World Wrestling Federation where he put on the Blue Blazer" mask during the Owen Hart angle. Ware garnered his first big win of his initial WWF run when he upset Harley Race at a house show in East Rutherford, NJ, on October 13. Hopper and Uncle Cletus. WWE's current flagship show, Monday Night Raw, made its debut in January 1993. [21] He would then appear on the April 9 episode of Superstars in a loss to Irwin R. Schyster. On September 5, 2009 Ware's wife died after a battle with cancer. and with the encouragement of his best friend Frankie, Koko decided to try his hand at Wrestling. Ware made his debut as a fan favorite on the September 6, 1986, episode of Superstars , teaming with Paul Roma against Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) in a losing effort. [29][2][1] He used a wide range of signature moves including the Missile dropkick, bulldog. On July 28, 2018, Ware appeared in Eastern Wrestling Federation and teamed with Blackcat Johnson in a winning effort. After successfully teaming for a while, Sugar and Eaton started to show signs of dissension, during their last run with the tag-team title Eaton beat Jacques Rougeau for the Mid-American Heavyweight title. She doesn't know a single current wrestler In a precursor to what would become a regular team years later, Ware occasionally teamed with Owen Hart, wrestling as The Blue Blazer at the time, throughout 1988 and 1989. Primarily a tag team wrestler, Lane held championships including the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship, NWA United States Tag Team Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship, and SMW Tag Team Championship as part of The Fabulous Ones, The Midnight Express, and The Heavenly Bodies. [27] US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed Ware's lawsuit in September 2018. He's working in CWA against the Patriot, who is referred to on commentary as "The Masked Patriot." I can't blame the dude. Ware, Jr. (born June 20, 1958), better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware is an American retired professional wrestler. On May 19, he defeated The Genius and followed it up a night later with three more wins over Poffo later that month. Ware made his debut as a fan favorite on the September 6, 1986, episode of Superstars, teaming with Paul Roma against the Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) in a losing effort. Wrestling. Wallace Stanfield "Stan" Lane is an American retired professional wrestler and color commentator. Hailing from the Australian Capital of Sport, Melbourne, Edan is a fan of Carlton, AC Milan, The New York Giants. . He was born on June 20, 1957 and his birthplace is Union City, TN. He is currently signed to WWE, although he has not performed as a full-time commentator since April 2020. Koko B. Ware (born James Ware on June 20, 1957) is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1979. Perfect on the January 7, 1989, episode of Saturday Night's Main Event XIX , while at the 1990 Survivor Series, Ware became the first wrestler to fall victim to The Undertaker's Tombstone piledriver in the Undertaker's WWF debut match. Moments later, Koko dumped Davis to the floor and won his first title. At the Survivor Series in 1990, Koko became the first wrestler to fall victim to The Undertakers Tombstone piledriver in the Undertakers debut match. After dropping the gold in Florida, the Pretty Young Things returned to the Continental Wrestling Association in April 1985. At the same time, Ware made appearances in the USWA as part of a talent exchange program with WWF. Ware garnered his first big win of his initial WWF run when he upset Harley Race at a house show in East Rutherford, NJ, on October 13. Edan is an Australian currently living in the Middle East. If anyone tells you Koko B. Ware doens't belong in the Hall of Fame, show them this and tell them to shut the hell up. [37]. In 1998 to 1999 he wrestled for Power Pro Wrestling in Memphis. [17], In 1992, Ware teamed up with Owen Hart to form the high-flying team known as High Energy, well known in wrestling circles for their gigantic baggy brightly colored pants and checkered suspenders. Free shipping for many products! All Rights Reserved. Since they both disappeared from our screens, most fans may have forgotten about the pair. [5] After the match, Valiant returned to the ring and beat Ware down. In 2009 he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. here's a humorous take on that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Z3G389ybY. Profile Info Gender Male Real Name James Ware Ring Names Koko B. Ware Stagger Lee Sweet Brown Sugar Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Weight 228 lbs (103 kg) Born June 20, 1957 (age 65) Birth Place Union City, Tennessee Billed From Union City, Tennessee Nicknames The Birdman Career History Roles It turned out that the child that the neighbor was referring too was Frankie. [22] Koko faced his former partner Owen Hart on the June 18 episode of Superstars. The event occurred when Ware was wrestling for the Continental Wrestling Association in 1986. Always resplendent in eye-catching, colorful outfits, he was accepted immediately by WWE fans around the world, especially the younger generation. The same taping later saw Ware defeat Savage by countout in a dark match. [30] dropkick, headbutt or monkey flip. In February 1986, Koko moved on to Bill Watts' Mid-South/UWF territory, where he started calling himself Koko B. Ware. Ware's feud with Valiant was quickly expanded to include the heel Tojo Yamamoto and Ware's ally, Tommy Rich. Right hand from Koko, Santana back with a couple forearm shots. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. WWE Hall of Famer Koko B. Ware is currently hospitalized in Mississippi with an "unspecified medical issue," according to The Wrestling . On May 18, 2001, Ware returned to wrestling and defeated Brickhouse Brown at Galaxy Championship Wrestling in Little Rock, Arkansas. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. [26] In 2020 he married Pamela James. Later, a masked man calling himself "Stagger Lee" debuted; the fact that he looked and wrestled like a masked version of Sugar helped make him instantly popular. Find Koko B. Ware stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Schyster. [7] [8] Bobby Eaton later turned face, he teamed with "Stagger Lee" for a series of matches. After High Energy ended Koko was mainly used as an enhancement talent until he left the WWF in 1994. The two men soon began wearing red leather jackets, and each had a single white glove on, in an obvious imitation of Michael Jackson to further enhance their pretty boy image. He started in the territories, working in Georgia, Mid-South, Memphis and elsewhere. Ware finished the match by slapping his opponent hard while pinning him, which seemed incredibly unnecessary after a short match. Koko B. Ware keeps his personal and love life private. The match also included former WWE wrestler James Ellsworth, and it was Ware's team that picked up the victory. Edan has previously written for WhatCulture, SportsKeeda, and The Roar. He debuted in 1978 and became widely popular in 1986. Press J to jump to the feed. According to Ware, the idea of bringing his pet Macaw to the ring came from his wife. He debuted in 1978 and became widely popular in 1986, in the World Wrestling Federation, where he went from strong mid-carder to jobber to the stars. By 2003 Ware began to wrestle full time again. 1 comment. Well they never said what kind of BIRD man Ware was so there may be something to . He also competed at the "World Wrestling Legends" PPV on March 5, 2006, where he defeated Disco Inferno. Moments later, Koko dumped Davis to the floor and won his first title. Koko B. Ware is best known for his role in WWE as a mid-card wrestler. By 1992 the WWF and the United States Wrestling Association started a talent exchange agreement which saw Koko B. Ware return to Memphis. Koko B. Ware is a WWE Hall of Famer who's best remembered for putting over a ton of talent and also his pet parrot, Frankie. [27] US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed Ware's lawsuit in September 2018. Ware was the first wrestler on television to fall victim to the Perfect-plex of newcomer Mr. William Fritz Ensor was an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel. Who is Koko B. Ware Dating? KOKO WARE YOU SHOULD WATCH: v Bill Dundee (Memphis, 6/21/82) w/Bobby Eaton v Dutch Mantell & King Cobra (Memphis, 7/19/82) w/Bobby Eaton, Rick McGraw & Sabu v Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee, Dutch Mantell & Terry Taylor (Memphis, 12/4/82) w/Norvell Austin v Tommy Rich & Eddie Gilbert (Memphis, 5/18/84) v Ric Flair (11/18/85) Quote Reply to this topic. On that very same night that The Rockers went crazy, Ware found himself on the outs with the WWF, after getting into a physical altercation with company executive Jim Troy. He started working for the independent circuit. Although he never helda championship in his WWE tenure, "The Birdman" attained great success in 1992when he joined forces with the late Owen Hart and formed the tag team known as High Energy. [5] The feud got so out of control that it had to be settled with a "loser leaves town" match, a match that Eaton won, driving Sugar out of the arena. Bobby Eaton along with the rest of the First Family tried in vain to unmask Stagger Lee but could not manage to do so, winding up frustrated at every turn. Watch WrestleMania and other WWE Premium Live Events on Flow. Ware's induction into the Hall of Fame was surprising, given some of the names he was inducted ahead of. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, stiffing the everloving weewee out of a jobber, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Z3G389ybY. Jimmy Garvin's mid 80's brainbuster was a nasty one too. Elbowdrop from Ware, cover gets two. Multi-talented and multi-dimensional, "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware flapped his way into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. James Ware was born in Union City, Tennessee on June 20, 1957, and he is currently 65 years old. Ware was later rehired, a little over a month later, when Troy resigned. Despite his longevity, it appears that Ware isn't slowing down any time soon. [4], It was not until late in 1980 that Ware's fortunes changed when he participated in a battle royal to crown the first ever Mid-American Television Champion. [24] He fought (and was defeated by) Rob Conway on the October 28, 2005, edition of WWE Heat . His time in the Golden Era didn't include a ton of accolades,. The PYT Express remained in Memphis for a period of time after this before moving on to other promotions such asMid-South Wrestling, World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas and Championship Wrestling from Florida. On the January 25, 1999, edition of WWF Raw is War, Ware made a short-lived return to the World Wrestling Federation where he put on the "Blue Blazer" mask during the Owen Hart angle and Jeff Jarrett in their victory for the tag team championship. In 1999, he retired from wrestling and took a couple of years off. In August 1985, Ware won a tournament for the vacant NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship. After World Class, Koko went back to Memphis and worked a series of gimmick matches, including the first scaffold match. He was basically the jobber to the stars. Sign up for BINGE to watch. On April 4, 2009, Koko was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by The Honky Tonk Man. [5] [11] The team dissolved in July 1985 when Austin left for Continental Championship Wrestling. The crowd favorite was Jimmy Valiant, who Ware accidentally knocked into Danny Davis and eliminated. Ware was inducted by The Honky Tonk Man, with whom he feuded in 1987, including two contests for the Intercontinental Championship. James W. Ware, Jr. (born June 20, 1958), better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware is an American retired professional wrestler. Koko is one of the guys thats just a blind spot to me. For most of his career, Morton has performed with Robert Gibson as The Rock N' Roll Express, described as "the consummate baby face tag team". Koko B. Ware vs. Butch Reed: WrestleMania 3 In September 2009, Ware's wife died from cancer. Giant Baba", "Next Official Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony", "Independent Wrestling Results - August 2003", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koko_B._Ware&oldid=1141222651, African-American male professional wrestlers, NWA North American Tag Team Champions (Florida version), NWA United States Tag Team Champions (Florida version), The First Family (professional wrestling) members, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, BSPW Tag Team Championship (2) - with Juicy Johnny, NWA Mid-America Television Championship (1 time), The Texas Outlaws (Bonecrusher and Crowbar), The Dog Catchers (Dog Catcher #1 and Dog Catcher #2), The Shooting Stars (Troy Haste and Jerry Faith, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 00:09. Related Article. 10 Forgotten WWE Hall Of Famers: Where Are They Now? AEW Rampage: St. Patrick's Day Slam (2023), 1 BSW Tag Team Championship - with Juicy Johnny, 1 NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) - with Norvell Austin, 7 AWA Southern Tag Team Championship - with Norvell Austin (3), Bobby Eaton (2), Stan Lane (1), Dutch Mantel (1), 6 NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship, 1 NWA Mid-America Television Championship, 2 USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, 1 USWA World Tag Team Championship - with Rex Hargrove, WWE Hall of Fame induction (class of 2009), Legends Pro Wrestling induction (class of 2007). I think the guy tried to call the match with that start.
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