KoKo B Ware Speaker & Booking Information

Better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware, James Ware was born June 20, 1957 and is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1979. He gained most of his popularity in the World Wrestling Federation when he was known as the Birdman. Ware came to the ring with his macaw, Frankie, flapping his arms like a bird before and after his matches while dancing. 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.

In 1986, Ware signed with the World Wrestling Federation, where he was repackaged as the fun loving "Birdman" Koko B. Ware. He would make his entrances dancing to the ring to the tune of Morris Day and The Time's "The Bird," flapping his arms and carrying his pet macaw "Frankie", who sat on a perch at ringside while Koko wrestled. Bright outfits, colorful sunglasses, a constant smile and his trademark vibrato voice instantly made Koko a big hit, especially with the younger crowd that the WWF mainly catered to during the 1980s. Koko also sang the title track of the 1987 WWF Album "Piledriver". The song's video featured top wrestlers of the day like Hulk Hogan and the Honky Tonk Man.

Koko's first major showcase in the WWF was at the November 29, 1986 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event where he defeated Nikolai Volkoff.[ Koko, however, would often be on the losing end when he came up against other established stars, stars as Butch Reed, Greg Valentine, and The Big Boss Man. From 1987 to 1993 Koko appeared on several WWF PPVs and Saturday Night's Main Events being used mainly to make established or rising stars look good. At the Survivor Series in 1990, Koko became the first wrestler to fall victim to The Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver in the Undertaker's debut match.

In 1991 the WWF and the United States Wrestling Association started a talent exchange agreement which saw Koko B. Ware return to his old stomping grounds in Memphis (same area, different promotion). In the USWA Koko was more successful than in the WWF, winning the USWA World Title twice, once from Kamala "The Ugandan Giant" and once from USWA icon Jerry Lawler. Koko also hooked up with Rex Hargrove and won the USWA Tag Team Championship once. Koko B. Ware competed in the USWA until his semi-retirement in 1995.

In late 1991 Koko was fired from the WWF for an overseas fight with Executive Jim Troy, who was also fired. Koko had long claimed that Troy had called him racial slurs prompting the violent reaction. Hired back in 1992, Koko B. Ware also got a bit of a push in the WWF; he 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. High Energy feuded with (and generally lost to) The Nasty Boys, the Headshrinkers, and Money Incorporated. The team made only one PPV appearance as a team, a loss to the Headshrinkers at the 1992 Survivor Series. The team ended in 1993 after Owen Hart injured his knee. After High Energy ended Koko was mainly used as a low carder until he left the WWF in 1994.