After his time with WWE was through, Koko B Ware continued wrestling in independent promotions for years. In August 1984, The Pretty Young Things began wrestling for World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas. [27] US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed Ware's lawsuit in September 2018. Moments later, Koko dumped Davis to the floor and won his first title. The plaintiffs include Paul Orndorff, Jimmy Snuka, Kamala, Demolition, King Kong Bundy, Shane Douglas, and Perry Saturn. He held the title until October, when he lost to Harley Race; he regained the title the following month. Wrestling. [25]. That's right up there among the stiffest ass-kickings I've seen in a wrestling ring. Koko B Ware | Wrestling Data 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. "The Birdman" came to the ring with a blue-and-yellow macaw named Frankie, both flapping and dancing before and after his matches. He gained most of his popularity in the World Wrestling Federation when he was known as the Birdman . He then talks about how spending five years in Memphis taught him how to wrestle and how angles work. Ware's persona was that of a face who entered the ring to the theme of Morris Day's "The Bird", doing an arm-flapping dance. Koko B. Ware Age: 65 years Promotion: Freelancer Personal Data Birthplace: Union City, Tennessee, USA Gender: male Height: 5' 8" (173 cm) Weight: 229 lbs (104 kg) Career Data Alter egos: Koko B. Ware a.k.a. 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. WWE Hall of Famer Koko B. Ware set aside a few minutes of his schedule to answer questions from his fans, courtesy of SLAM! In September 2009, Ware's wife died from cancer. Robert Lawrence Horne is an American semi-retired professional wrestler who is most famous for his time in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1996 under the ring name Mo, where he held the WWF World Tag Team Championship with Mabel as "Men on a Mission". [2] He performed a brainbuster known as the Ghostbuster. Ware made a few appearances for the American Wrestling Federation from 1994 to 1996 but did not become a regular before going into semi-retirement in 1997. Koko quickly aligned himself with manager Jimmy Hart and his First Family and changed his ring name to "Sweet Brown Sugar". He later went on to the World Wrestling Federation, where he went from strong mid-carder to jobber to the stars. Edan is also a big wrestling fan, having watched WWE for over 20 years, and has wrestled several matches himself with local promotions. In a somewhat surprising move, Ware was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, despite spending most of his WWE career in the mid-card. . 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. Unlike in many squash matches, Koko came out still looking strong despite losing the match.. The same taping later saw Ware defeat Savage by countout in a dark match. According to Ware, when he returned his neighbor told him that he couldn't save his child. James W. Ware, Jr. (born June 20, 1958), better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware is an American retired professional wrestler. I couldn't find the match anywhere on Koko's cagematch profile, probably because he had to work really hard to have it expunged from his record. On July 28, 2018, Ware appeared in Eastern Wrestling Federation and teamed with Blackcat Johnson in a winning effort. He gained most of his popularity in the World Wrestling Federation when he was known as the Birdman. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. By Connor Casey - December 21, 2022 06:02 pm EST. Koko lost the first-ever match on Raw to Yokozuna as 1993 would be a banner year for Yokozuna, who would go on to win the Royal Rumble two weeks after squashing Koko. 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. In 1991 Koko made his debut in the USWA. WWE legend Koko B. Ware is in the hospital, suffering from "unspecified medical issues." The 68-year-old wrestling star, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Honky Tonk Man in 2009 following an eight-year WWE run that ended in 1994, is receiving treatment at a Mississippi facility. Ware appeared at the 2010 edition of "Night of Legends", a card promoted by the International Wrestling Cartel (IWC), where he defeated "The Genius" Lanny Poffo. Austin and Ware became a regular tag team dubbed "The Pretty Young Things" or ("The PYT Express"). [5] [11] The team dissolved in July 1985 when Austin left for Continental Championship Wrestling. After that the guy moves like he doesn't have a clue where he is and Koko keeps hammering him to stay down. 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. 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. The best of Koko B. Ware | WWE WWE Network Shows Superstars Tickets Shop WWE Network Subscribe Now WWE Network Sign up on Peacock WWE Network Sign up on SonyLiv languages English German Spanish Arabic Follow WWE on Facebook Follow WWE on Twitter Follow WWE on Instagram Follow WWE on Reddit Follow WWE on YouTube WWE News WWE Photos WWE Videos REVIEW: WWF WrestleFest 91: Contains A Hidden Gem His first victory was on the September 7 episode of Wrestling Challenge against Bob Bradley. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. Troy had used racial slurs during an argument after which the dispute turned physical. [29][2][1] He used a wide range of signature moves including the Missile dropkick, bulldog. In 1986, Ware signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) where he was repackaged as the fun loving Birdman" Koko B. Ware. He defeated Billy Maverick for the SCW Supreme Title for Supreme Championship Wrestling on August 22. Koko B. Ware's height is 1.75m & weight is 103kg. He was basically the jobber to the stars. 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. He fought (and was defeated by) Rob Conway on the October 28, 2005 edition of WWE Heat. 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. Santana comes back into the ring diving into Koko's midsection with a headbutt, but Ware keeps the advantage. Koko B. Ware - Uncyclopedia Many pointed out how the inclusion of Ware, while names like Savage, Sammartino, and Koloff were not there invalidated the legacy of WWE's Hall of Fame. He also competed at the World Wrestling Legends" PPV on March 5, 2006 where he defeated Disco Inferno. High Energy's final match came in a loss to The Headshrinkers at a live event on March 10. For the simple fact that WWF was more popular during Koko's time that makes him he his more over or well known that almost every wrestlers today save for a couple. 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 Sweet Brown Sugar out of the arena. When Dutch Mantel returned to the CWA in early 1981 he quickly defeated Ware for the TV title making Ware's first run with the gold a short one. In the modern era, where there are more shows, more titles, and the title reigns are usually shorter, most wrestlers leave WWE with at least one title reign under their belt, even if it is with the 24/7 title. Koko B. Ware was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. He is the cousin of fellow professional wrestler and color commentator Jerry Lawler. Warlord vs. Koko B. Ware. Harley Race vs KoKo B Ware - YouTube From WWF wrestling, January 1987. Koko was interviewed briefly during the 1999 wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat. [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. Ware was later rehired, a little over a month later, when Troy resigned. The match also included former WWE wrestler James Ellsworth, and it was Ware's team that picked up the victory. Elbowdrop from Ware, cover gets two. . "The Birdman" came to the ring with a blue-and-yellow macaw named Frankie, both flapping and dancing . In one of those wrestling coincidences" a masked man calling himself Stagger Lee debuted; the fact that he looked and wrestled like a masked version of Sweet Brown Sugar helped make him instantly popular. 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. James Ware (born June 20, 1957), better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1978. The team ended in March 1993 after Hart injured his knee. Koko broke every single flying record with 'Lou' in the 1920's. He was the first man to eat corn while flying a plane, first man to fly around the world in 5 hours, and the most unreccord that he broke was that he was first man to fly naked while drinking RC Cola. Koko's feud with Jimmy Valiant was quickly expanded to include the heel Tojo Yamamoto and Koko ally Tommy Rich. He was born on June 20, 1957 and his birthplace is Union City, TN. After being fed up, Hart finally slapped Sugar and sent the sulking superstar back to the dressing room after which Eaton commented that Sugar had been "whining like a woman". Koko B. Ware was a world famous wrestling technician in WWF before leaving his flock to join Ring of Honor. The first match between Yokozuna and Koko B. Ware was a highlight to be a squash match. His first victory was on the September 7 episode of Wrestling . Ware was fired for his part in the chaotic . He was most famous for his work in tag teams, especially as one-half of The Midnight Express. That was . Ware's last WWE appearance came in 2005 when he was defeated by Rob Conway on an episode of Heat. He defeated stars like Harley Race (at a house show) and Nikolai. We would like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates. If he gets his ass stomped like this on a regular basis, I wouldn't want my face seen, either. 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 a 1989 European tour, Ware was fired for his part in a physical altercation with WWF executive Jim Troy. 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. The team lasted until March 1993, but were broken up after Hart suffered a knee injury during a match against The Headshrinkers. Koko returned to WWF in 1994 when he appeared on the March 21 episode of Monday Night Raw and faced Jeff Jarrett. On April 4, 2009, Ware was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by The Honky Tonk Man. Midcard Faces: Flying Through History With 'The Birdman' Koko B. Ware [ citation needed ] Ware was interviewed briefly during the 1999 wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat . [5][7] Eaton and Sugar contested a series of grudge matches centered around the Mid-America title and their issues with each other. While Cook defended his Hall of Fame status since he was very over and some of his losses were historic, Pantoja described him as "the floor for inductees". [21] He would then appear on the April 9 episode of Superstars in a loss to Irwin R. Schyster. At the same time, Ware made appearances in the USWA as part of a talent exchange program with WWF. It turned out that the Macaw was stuck inside the house in his cage as the fire roared around him. 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. The song's video featured top wrestlers of the day like Hulk Hogan and The Honky Tonk Man, as well as WWF owner Vince McMahon wearing a red "Hulkamania" shirt and hard hat. During the course of the match Stagger Lee's mask was removed to reveal the man beneath it, prompting a heel turn for Ware. Ware would use the ring names Sweet Brown Sugar and Stagger Lee throughout the early 1980's while aligning himself with legendary manager "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart. The class-action lawsuit involved a list of former WWE wrestlers. Later that night the duo defended their title against Terry Taylor and Bill Dundee, losing the title when Sugar accidentally" kicked Eaton and then left the ring. The macaw garnered instant recognition, which only heightened "The Birdman's" soaring popularity. [30] dropkick, headbutt or monkey flip. RELATED: 10 Forgotten WWE Hall Of Famers: Where Are They Now? Matthew Wade Osborne, known professionally as Matt Borne, was an American professional wrestler. Austin and Ware became a regular tag team dubbed "The Pretty Young Things" or ("The PYT Express"). He's working in CWA against the Patriot, who is referred to on commentary as "The Masked Patriot." I can't blame the dude. The team made only one PPV appearance as a team, a loss to the Headshrinkers at the 1992 Survivor Series. 10 Forgotten WWE Hall Of Famers: Where Are They Now? And here's Koko in Memphis circa 1985 just stiffing the everloving weewee out of a jobber who must have done something to piss him off in the dressing room before the match. Possibly none. If the item you received doesn't match . Good for the era wrestler, but basically Jobber to the Stars in the WWF, If he were 4 inches taller he probably would have had a better career. Many of the other wrestlers on the list were wrestlers that were only in WWE for short stints and never reached any major milestones. He ended his WWF run with three straight victories as he teamed with Bushwhacker Luke Williams in house show matches in Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore against Reno Riggins and Barry Horowitz. Koko B. Ware - - Depthbio So much so that, for most of the match, Hogan EXCLUSIVELY tags himself in after Koko has been working. IMPACT Wrestling/NJPW Multiverse United: Only The Strong Survive. Richard Erwin Rood, better known by his ring name "Ravishing" Rick Rude, was an American professional wrestler who performed for many promotions, including World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). ago. 4.99. Eaton and Sugar won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship.[5]. Reddit's largest professional wrestling community. [24]. There are many things to find out about Koko B. Ware, as there is more to the man than just that bird gimmick. 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. Richard Wendell Morton is an American professional wrestler, currently performing on the independent circuit. He appeared at "WWE Homecoming", Raw's return to the USA Network, on October 3, 2005. Koko B. Ware - Wikipedia Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. He later went on to the World Wrestling Federation, where he went from strong mid-carder to jobber to the stars. While Cook defended his Hall of Fame status since he was very over and some of his losses were historic, Pantoja described him as "the floor for inductees".[37]. [10] The team defeated Elijah Akeem and Kareem Mohammad for the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship in February 1984; almost two weeks later, Akeem and Mohammad regained the title.[5]. Koko is also best known as, The Birdman of the WWF who entered the ring wth a bright blue and yellow macaw. Koko B Ware Hospitalized With Unspecified Medical Condition Koko B. Ware is no exception to that rule. Koko B. Ware - CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database [22] Koko faced his former partner Owen Hart on the June 18 episode of Superstars. 1 comment. WWF @ Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena - December 25, 1986 (8,500) Barry O defeated Jerry Valiant Lanny Poffo defeated Jack Kruger Edan has previously written for WhatCulture, SportsKeeda, and The Roar. To hear the entire episode, check out Prime Time with Sean Mooney. 1. [27] US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed Ware's lawsuit in September 2018. Ware's feud with Valiant was quickly expanded to include the heel Tojo Yamamoto and Ware's ally, Tommy Rich. Then it looks like Koko knocks him out with the big clothesline. On July 14, 2017, Ware appeared in Big Time Wrestling in Newark, CA, and teamed with Shane Kody to defeat the Ballard Brothers. Koko B. Ware By 2003 Ware began to wrestle full time again. Ware wrestled for WWE from 1986 to 1994 but made special appearances in the late 1990s and 2000s. 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. Ware wrestled his last match on August 10, 2019 for Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling, teamed with John Wes and Matt Turner to defeat James Ellsworth, RJS and Alexander Bateman. Le's argue even the 90's AJPW guys couldn't put a Brainbuster as brutal as The Ghostbuster. Copyright 2023 Fightful, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Honky Tonk Man vs KoKo B Ware - YouTube He ended his WWF run with three straight victories as he teamed with Bushwhacker Luke Williams in house show matches in Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore against Reno Riggins and Barry Horowitz.