Koko B. Ware

At 66 years old, Koko B. Ware has this physical status:

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.

He rose in popularity in the mid-1990s, appearing in the World Wrestling Federation, where he began as a solid mid-carder before becoming a jobber to the actors.

While dancing before and after his matches, Ware brought his arms like a bird.

Ware served with several tag teams before joining the WWF, first with Bobby Eaton in Memphis and then with Norvell Austin as one half of the P.Y.T.

Express Express in several promotions.

In a losing effort against Yokozuna, Ware also has the distinction of having participated in the first match on the first episode of Monday Night Raw.

Personal life

On June 20, 1958, Koko was born in Union City, Tennessee.

Ware's wife died in September 2009 after a battle with cancer. He married Pamela James in 2020.

Ware was d as a defendant in a 2015 lawsuit brought by WWE after he sent them a letter announcing that he wanted to sue them for concussion-related injuries sustained during their employment with them. Attorney Konstantine Kyros, who was involved in several other lawsuits involving former WWE wrestlers, represented him. In September 2018, US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed Ware's complaint.

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Professional wrestling career

Ware spent his youth in the Mid-South, Georgia, and other NWA territories. "Koko Ware" (as he was then known) had no success, learning the ropes and paying his dues both in Jerry Jartt's Continental Wrestling Association and Nick Gulas' territory in the south early in his career.

Ware's fortunes weren't changed until he competed in a royal battle to crown the first ever Mid-American Television Champion. Jimmy Valiant, who Ware mistakenly knocked Danny Davis and eliminated him, was the crowd favorite. Davis was thrown to the ground and won his first title a few seconds later. Valiant returned to the ring after the match and defeated Ware down. The feud between Valiant and Tojo Yamamoto was quickly expanded to include Tommy Rich, the heel of Tojo Yamamoto and Ware's ally. When Dutch Mantel returned to the CWA in early 1981, he quickly defeated Ware for the TV series, ending Ware's first run for the gold a short time.

He was on vacation until September 1981, when he was selected to referee a Southern Heavyweight Championship title match between Jerry Lawler and the "Dream Machine." The Dream Machine was unfairly voted out of office by the Ware unfairly, a decision that did not sit well with Lawler nor the fans in Memphis. Koko quickly aligned himself with manager Jimmy Hart and his First Family, renaming his ring name "Sweet Brown Sugar" in honor of his first name. Sugar never had the best of Lawler, but they did have a great deal with Steve Keirn and then Bobby Eaton. The AWA Southern Tag Team Championships were won by Eaton and Sugar.

Sugar and Eaton began to show signs of dissatisfaction with their final run with the Mid-American Heavyweight title, beating Jacques Rougeau for the Mid-American Heavyweight championship after enjoying successfully teaming for a while. Sugar bragged about the victory in an interview in which Eaton and Hart brept about it, but Sugar bragged that he was unable to defend Terry Taylor's Southern title. Hart finally slapped Sugar and brought the sulking superstar back to the dressing room after Eaton said that Sugar had been "whining like a woman." The pair defended their title against Taylor and Bill Dundee on Tuesday night, after Sugar "accidentally" kicked Eaton and then left the contest. Eaton and Sugar engaged in a series of grudge matches centered around the Mid-America title and their conflicts with each other. The feud became so out of hand that it had to be settled in a "loser leaves town" match, which Eaton won, kicking Sugar out of the arena. Later, a masked man named "Stagger Lee" debuted; the fact that he looked and wrestled like a masked version of Sugar helped make him immediately famous. Eaton and the rest of the First Family attempted to depose Lee but they were unable to do so. Bobby Eaton later turned face, as he joined "Stagger Lee" for a string of matches.

The masked Stagger Lee and Norvell Austin teamed up in 1983 to face "Fargo's Fabulous Ones" (Tommy Rich and "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert). During the match, Stagger Lee's mask was revealed to reveal the man underneath, prompting a heel turn for Ware. "The Pretty Young Things" or "The PYT Express"), Austin and Ware joined Austin and Ware as a regular tag team. The two guys were soon sporting red leather jackets and each had a single white glove on, in an apparent reference to Michael Jackson to help raise their "pretty boy" image. In February 1984, the team defeated Elijah Akeem Mohammad for the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship; almost two weeks later, Akeem and Mohammad regained the title.

The Pretty Young Things began competing in Texas for the World Class Championship Wrestling championships in August 1984. They stayed with the organization until about November 1984.

The Pretty Young Things, 1984, began wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Florida. The NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship was won by Austin and Ware on February 26, 1985. The team regained the title to the Youngbloods two weeks later on March 5, 1985. In March 1985, they left the service.

The Pretty Young Things returned to the Continental Wrestling Association in April 1985 after losing the gold in Florida. They captured the AWA Southern Tag Team championship twice, both from The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) as they feuded with the promotion's top face team. When Austin left for Continental Championship Wrestling in July 1985, the team disbanded.

Ware triumphed in 1985 for the vacant NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship. He held the title until October, when he lost to Harley Race in October; the following month, he regained the title. In January 1986, his final reign came to an end as he lost to Buddy Landel. Ware left the Continental Wrestling Association in order to join the Universal Wrestling Federation later that month.

Koko moved to Bill Watts' Mid-South/UWF territory in February 1986, where he began identifying himself as Koko B. Ware. Ware's appearance was that of a face who participated in the "Brown" theme, which was followed by a arm-flapping dance. Since joining the World Wrestling Federation in August 1986, he left the service.

Ware, a kid from August 1986, joined the World Wrestling Federation, where he continued his "Birdman" Koko B. Ware" persona, complete with a macaw named "Frankie." On the September 6, 1986, Battlee made his debut as a fan favorite, teaming with Paul Roma against the Hart Foundation in a losing effort (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart). On the September 7 episode of the Wrestling Challenge against Bob Bradley, he was his first victory. He arrived dancing to the tune of Morris Day and The Time's "The Bird," flapping his arms and carrying Frankie, who sat on a ringside seat as Ware fought. Ware was characterized by bright clothing, vivid sunglasses, a vivacious smile, and his vivacious singing voice, particularly among the younger crowd that the WWF mainly attended to during the 1980s. Ware also sang on the title track of the 1987 WWF album Piledriver, which later became his entrance music. The song's video featured top wrestlers of the day, including Hulk Hogan and The Honky Tonk Man, as well as WWF founder Vince McMahon wearing a red "Hulkamania" shirt and a hard hat.

Ware defeated Harley Race at a house show in East Rutherford, NJ, on October 13, giving him his first big win of his debut WWF career. On television, his first major showcase was at the Main Event VIII on Saturday Night, where he defeated Nikolai Volkoff. On the November 16 edition of the Wrestling Challenge, he was then granted an Intercontinental Title match against champion Randy Savage, which ended in a double countout. Ware defeated Savage by a countout in a dark match later on the same taping.

Ware, on the other hand, would often be on the loser when he faced other well-known celebrities, such as Butch Reed, Hercules, Greg Valentine, and The Big Boss Man. Ware appeared on several WWF PPVs (including WrestleMania III, where he lost to Reed) and a number of Saturday Night's Main Event mainly to make established or rising celebrities look good. Ware was the first wrestler on television to fall victim to Mr.'s "Perfect-plex" pherom. Ware became the first wrestler to be injured in the Undertaker's WWF debut match on January 7, 1989, during Saturday Night's Main Event XIX. Ware occasionally teamed with Owen Hart, nicknamed The Blue Blazer at the time, in a precursor to what would be a regular squad years later.

Ware was fired during his 1989 European tour for his involvement in a physical altercation with WWF executive Jim Troy. During an argument in which the controversy erupted physical, Troy had used racial insults. Ware was recalled a little over a month after Troy resigned.

Ware formed High Energy in 1992, becoming well-known in wrestling circles for their huge baggy brightly colored pants and checked suspenders. High Energy rivals (and ultimately lost to) The Nasty Boys, The Headshrinkers, and Money Inc. They made only one PPV appearance as a team, a loss to the Headshrinkers at the 1992 Survivor Series. Ware appeared in his first match on Monday Night Raw's very first episode on January 11, 1993, where he was defeated in a squash match by Yokozuna. After Hart's knee injury, the team was forced to leave in March 1993. At a live event on March 10, High Energy's last match was a loss to The Headshrinkers.

With Owen Hart out of action, Koko will return to singles competition and immediately enters a house show series with Skinner. Ware also appeared in the USWA as part of a talent exchange with WWF. He continued to fight in the promotion throughout the year.

Koko appeared on WWF in 1994 when he met Jeff Jartt on Monday Night Raw's March 21 episode. In a loss to Irwin R. Schyster, he will then appear on the April 9 episode of Superstars. On the April 16, 1994 episode of WWF Mania, Koko won his first victory of his return by defeating Bastion Booger. Koko then embarked on a house show tour in England, where he met Jartt and Kwang. He beat The Genius on May 19 and followed it up a night later with three more victories over Poffo later that month. On the June 18 episode of Superstars, Koko met his ex partner Owen Hart. With three straight victories against Reno Riggins and Barry Horowitz, he brought together with Bushwhacker Luke Williams to face Bushwhacker Luke Williams in house show matches in Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Koko made his first appearance in the United StatesWA in 1991. By 1992, the WWF and the United States Wrestling Association established a talent exchange deal that culminated in the return of Koko B. Ware to Memphis. In the USWA World Championships, the Koko was more popular than in the WWF, winning the USWA World Championship twice, once from Kamala "The Ugandan Giant" and then from USWA legend Jerry Lawler. Koko competed with Rex Hargrove and gained the USWA Tag Team Championship in 1993. He and Brian Christopher and Jerry Lawler feuded in 1996. He joined in 1997 before the company closed later this year.

Ware made several appearances for the American Wrestling Federation from 1994 to 1996, but before moving to semi-retirement in 1997, he did not become a regular. During the 1999 wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat, Ware was briefly interviewed.

Ware did not wrestle as much as the others did not wrestle as much as they did in USWA. He began working for the free circuit. He competed in Memphis from 1998 to 1999. In 1999, he resigned from wrestling and took a few years off.

Ware made his return to the World Wrestling Federation on January 25, 1999, where he wore the "Blocker" mask during the Owen Hart incident and Jeff Jarrett's triumph in the tag team championship. The angle was dropped when Hart was dead, and Ware's services were no longer needed.

Ware returned to wrestling and defeated Brickhouse Brown at Galaxy Championship Wrestling in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 18, 2001.

Ware returned to combat full time in 2003. On August 22, he defeated Billy Maverick for the SCW Supreme Championship Wrestling Championships. Ware began competing in the Memphis Wrestling promotion from 2003 to 2007. He also competed at the "World Wrestling Legends" PPV on March 5, 2006, where he defeated Disco Inferno.

On October 3, 2005, Raw's return to the USA Network as "WWE Homecoming" appeared on Raw's return to the USA Network. On the October 28, 2005, WWE Heat defeated (and was defeated by) Rob Conway.

He wrestled in a tag match in April 2007 (while managed by special guest Slick) and lost to Bill Dundee and Dutch Mantel (managed by Jimmy Valiant) at Ultimate Clash of the Legends, which was headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Wight (Big Show).

At the Ottawa SuperEX in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, he defeated his former nemesis Greg Valentine for Great North Wrestling.

Ware made a special appearance in the TNA's Slammiversary as a groomsman, alongside Ian "The Animal" Steele, Kamala the Ugandan Giant, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts on June 8, 2008.

Ware was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by The Honky Tonk Man on April 4, 2009.

Ware appeared on "Night of Legends," a card distributed by the International Wrestling Cartel (IWC), where he defeated "The Genius" Lanny Poffo.

Ware appeared on Tosh.0 on February 15, 2011.

Ware was in attendance at Valour Wrestling's special event on May 31, 2014, raising money for Lou Gehrig's disease.

Ware appeared in Big Time Wrestling in Newark, CA, on July 14, 2017 and teamed with Shane Kody to defeat the Ballard Brothers.

Ware competed in the Eastern Wrestling Federation on July 28, 2018 and partnered with Blackcat Johnson in a successful effort.

Ware played his last match for Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling on August 10, 2019, teaming with John Wes and Matt Turner to defeat James Ellsworth, RJS, and Alexander Bateman.

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