James Ware

James Ware

Born:6/20/1957
Place of Birth:Union City, Tennessee, USA

Biography

James Ware, better known by his ring name "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1978. He gained most of his popularity in the World 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 WWF, 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. 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. The crowd favorite was Jimmy Valiant, who Koko accidentally knocked into Danny Davis and eliminated Valiant. Moments later, Koko dumped Davis to the floor and won his first title. After the match, Jimmy Valiant returned to the ring and beat Koko down. Koko’s feud with Jimmy Valiant was quickly expanded to include the heel Tojo Yamamoto and Koko ally Tommy Rich. When Dutch Mantel returned to the CWA in early 1981 he quickly defeated Koko for the TV title making Koko’s first run with the gold a short one. Koko floundered until September 1981 when he was chosen to referee a Southern Heavyweight Championship title match between Jerry Lawler and “The Dream Machine". Ware unfairly counted Lawler out to give the Dream Machine the victory, 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 and changed his name to Sweet Brown Sugar. Sugar never got the best of Lawler but did taste tag-team success alongside Steve Keirn and then with Bobby Eaton. Eaton & Sugar won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. On June 8, 2008, Koko made a special appearance at TNA's Slammiversary as a groomsman in the wedding for "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal and So Cal Val, along with George "The Animal" Steele, Kamala the Ugandan Giant, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts. On April 4, 2009, Koko was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by The Honky Tonk Man. On September 5, 2009 Ware's wife died after a battle with cancer. On February 15, 2011 Koko made an appearance on Tosh.0. He is one of only three wrestlers to sport 'WWF' on his trunks.

Filmography

Biography: Booker T

Biography: Booker T

20217.0
The Sheik

The Sheik

20147.3
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment

The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment

20138.8
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

20139.3
JCW Legends and Icons

JCW Legends and Icons

20110.0
The True Story of WrestleMania

The True Story of WrestleMania

20118.3
WWE Hall Of Fame 2009

WWE Hall Of Fame 2009

20099.0
World Wrestling Legends: 6:05 - The Reunion

World Wrestling Legends: 6:05 - The Reunion

20050.0
WWF Bashed in the USA

WWF Bashed in the USA

19930.0
WWF: WrestleFest '93

WWF: WrestleFest '93

19930.0
WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches

WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches

19930.0
WWE Royal Rumble 1993

WWE Royal Rumble 1993

19936.6
WWE Survivor Series 1992

WWE Survivor Series 1992

19928.3
WWE WrestleFest '91

WWE WrestleFest '91

19910.0
WWE SuperTape vol. 4

WWE SuperTape vol. 4

19910.0
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII

WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII

19910.0
WWE Royal Rumble 1991

WWE Royal Rumble 1991

19917.0
WWE Survivor Series 1990

WWE Survivor Series 1990

19908.0
WWE WrestleMania VI

WWE WrestleMania VI

19908.4
WWE Royal Rumble 1990

WWE Royal Rumble 1990

19906.0
WWE U.K. PPV

WWE U.K. PPV

19898.2
WWE SummerSlam 1989

WWE SummerSlam 1989

19896.6
Fan Favorites

Fan Favorites

19890.0
WWE Royal Rumble 1989

WWE Royal Rumble 1989

19895.1
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: December '88

WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: December '88

19880.0
WWE Survivor Series 1988

WWE Survivor Series 1988

19888.2
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '88

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '88

19880.0
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '88

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '88

19880.0
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88

19880.0
WWE SummerSlam 1988

WWE SummerSlam 1988

19887.2
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88

19880.0
WrestleMania IV

WrestleMania IV

19880.0
The Best of the WWF: volume 14

The Best of the WWF: volume 14

19870.0
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '87

WWE Houston Wrestling: November '87

19870.0
The Best of the WWF: volume 13

The Best of the WWF: volume 13

19870.0
The Wrestling Album II: Piledriver

The Wrestling Album II: Piledriver

19870.0
WWE WrestleMania III

WWE WrestleMania III

19877.5
WrestleMania III

WrestleMania III

19877.0
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87

19870.0
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87

19870.0
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

198610.0
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '84

WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '84

198410.0
WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '84

WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '84

19840.0