WWE Hall of Fame 2009 Koko B. Ware
The Birdman is the sixth Inductee in the Class of 2009
Mar 31, 2009
Adored by young fans around the world during the late 80's and early 90's, The Birdman was always a firm favorite with the WWE audiences due to his unique combination of colourful ring attire, charismatic wrestling style and long time sidekick Frankie the macaw.
Koko Ware Early Career
Making his debut in 1979 Koko Ware (as he was then known) quickly gained recognition and was announced as Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Rookie of the Year, an accolade that had already been bestowed upon such Superstars as Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat, and in later years would be awarded to Steve Austin, Kurt Angle and Randy Orton to name just a few.
His first taste of title gold came in late 1980 when he won a Battle Royal for the brand new Mid-American Television Championship and also an added bonus, a brand new T.V set. However Jimmy Valiant, who was the favourite going into the match, took exception to Ware's involvement in his elimination and destroyed his T.V set on two separate occasions setting up a feud between the two.
Sweet Brown Sugar, Stagger Lee, The Pretty Young Things and Title Reigns
Later the following year, after dropping the T.V Title Ware joined Jimmy Hart's 'First Family' stable where he changed his name to Sweet Brown Sugar and began teaming initially with Stan Lane and then with Bobby Eaton, winning the AWA Southern Tag Team Championships with both on separate occasions.
After falling out with the First Family and walking out on partner Bobby Eaton during a Tag Title defence the two feuded over the Mid-America Heavyweight Championship, with Ware claiming the title for the first time from Eaton in February of 1983. Ware changed his name for a second time shortly afterwards, when he lost a 'loser leaves town' match against Eaton and then returned in disguise as Stagger Lee.
Before finally joining the WWE in 1986 Ware held the Mid-America Heavyweight Championship a total of six times, before joining up with Norvell Austin to form 'The Pretty Young Things', a tag team that had four tag title reigns across two promotions.
Koko B. Ware's Career in the WWE
Instantly repackaged as 'The Birdman', a wildly dressed, fun loving character who came to the ring flapping his arms and accompanied by a pet macaw named Frankie. Despite being insanely popular with the fans during his nine year stint with the WWE, Ware never won a single piece of WWE gold and often sportingly lost in an attempt to put whomever he was facing over.
Despite not having the best of success inside the ring, Ware does have two claims to fame during his WWE career. The first came in 1987 when he sang the title track of the WWE Album 'Piledriver', the second came in 1990 when he faced the debuting Undertaker at Survivor Series and became the first person to fall victim to the Tombstone Piledriver.
He also appeared on three WrestleMania cards (III, IV and VII) although his only victory came at WrestleMania VIII against the Brooklyn Brawler, which was in a non-televised dark match before the show had begun.
Towards the end of his WWE career Ware began participating in a talent sharing arrangement with the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) and had considerably more success with them, winning the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship twice and the USWA World Tag Team Championships once with Rex Hargrove.
Ware's final act of note in the WWE was teaming with Owen Hart in the tag team 'High Energy'. Memorable more for their baggy attire and chequered braces than their win/loss record, High Energy garnered a very positive response from the fans due to their high flying style. The team broke up in 93 when Owen was sidelined with an injury, leaving Koko to pad out the mid-card before finally leaving the company in 1995.
Koko B. Ware after the WWE
After leaving the WWE in 95 Koko announced his semi-retirement, making a handful of appearances for the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) and did not compete actively until 2003 when he began working for Memphis Wrestling and made a handful of appearances at 'Legend' Pay Per Views.
Koko is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by fellow wrestler and mucisian The Honkey Tonk Man.
To find out who else is set to join The Birdman in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Click Here.
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