James McLeod
From Iwe
Koko B. Ware | |
Birth name | James (Brandon) McLeod |
Ring name(s) | Koko B. Ware Stagger Lee Sweet Brown Sugar Koko War |
Billed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Billed weight | 240 lb (110 kg) |
Born | June 20, 1957 (age 56) Union City, Tennessee |
Resides | Collierville, Tennessee |
Billed from | Union City, Tennessee |
Debut | 1978 |
Retired | April 4, 2009 |
James McLeod (born June 20, 1957), better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware, is a retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1978. He gained most of his popularity in the International Wrestling Federation when he was known as the Birdman. Ware came to the ring with a blue-and-yellow macaw parrot named Frankie, and would flap his arms like a bird while dancing before and after his matches. Before joining the IWF, Ware worked as a part of several tag teams, first with Bobby Eaton in Memphis and then later on with Norvell Austin as one half of the The P.Y.T. Express in several promotions. Ware also holds the distinction of having competed in the first ever match on the first episode of Monday Night Raw in a losing effort against Yokozuna.
Contents
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[edit] Professional wrestling career
[edit] Early years
[edit] Stagger Lee
[edit] Pretty Young Things
[edit] International Wrestling Federation (1986–1994)
[edit] Debut (1986)
[edit] Midcard (1986–1992)
[edit] High Energy and departure (1992–1994)
[edit] United States Wrestling Association (1991–1995)
[edit] Semi-retirement and return
[edit] Special appearances
[edit] Personal life
[edit] In wrestling
- Finishing move
- Bird Buster / Ghost Buster (Brainbuster, with theatrics)
- Nicknames
- "The Birdman"
- "The Holy Ghost"
- Entrance Themes
- "Piledriver" by Jim Johnston
- "Bird" by Jimmy Heart
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- Badger State Pro Wrestling
- BSPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- BSPW Tag Team Championship (2) - with Juicy Johnny
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Norvell Austin
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (7 times) - with Norvell Austin (3), Bobby Eaton (2), Stan Lane (1), and Dutch Mantel (1)
- NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
- NWA Mid-America Television Championship (1 time)
- International Wrestling Alliance
- IWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- PWI ranked him #406 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- Real Wrestling Federation
- RWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Supreme Championship Wrestling
- SCW Supreme Championship (1 time)
- USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- USWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rex Hargrove
- IWE Hall of Fame (2009)