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Honky Tonk Man to shake, rattle and roll into Mobile ... permanently?

Posted: May 21st 2015 By: John Sharp

Whenever Roy Farris comes to Mobile to wrestle for the Alabama Wrestling Federation, he brings his famous Honky Tonk Man character back to its roots.

"The character was created down here," Farris said.

The self-professed "Greatest Intercontinental Champion of All Time" first donned the Elvis Presley jumpsuit during his stint in Southeastern Championship Wrestling while grappling in the independent circuit during the 1980s working for Ron and Robert Fuller.

A wrestling fan in Birmingham, Farris said, took his measurements and presented him with the suit. Then, the guitar ? used many of times as a weapon ? was incorporated into the character.

The rest is Honky Tonk history as one of the most nefarious antagonists of the then-World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) was born.

Twenty-seven years since the Honky Tonk Man's WWE heyday, he's making a return trip to Mobile for Saturday's show outside the Golden Corral. The event brings the wrestling legend closer to what could soon be his new home.

"Every time I come to Mobile and that area, I reminisce about living there and how I would like to do it again," Farris, a long-time resident of Phoenix, Ariz., said. "I'm one of those guys who doesn't like to spend too much time in one place and I'm looking for something new."

Before Honky Tonk Man Shakes, Rattles and Rolls his way to the Golden Corral on Schillinger Road for an annual charity wrestling event, he took a few minutes this week to speak with AL.com about his history wrestling on the Gulf Coast, his famous feud in 1987-88 with "Macho Man" Randy Savage and his thoughts about The Ultimate Warrior.

Q: The Honky Tonk Man character was born down here. Tell me about how that came about?

A: Robert and Ron Fuller were the promoters. Their uncle was the trainer who broke me into the business. I came down here and worked for the Fuller family and went different places, but came back. I created this Honky Tonk Man character (while wrestling in the South). I wasn't the one who came up with the guitar and jumpsuit. I came up with the name and (a) wrestling fan in Birmingham, Alabama, came in here one time and took measurements and gave me (the jumpsuit) as a birthday present. We would hit Mobile every Tuesday night (at the Civic Center). It's a great wrestling town.

Q: What are your thoughts in coming into Mobile now and competing with the Alabama Wrestling Federation and promoter Dwaine Henderson?

A: I enjoy coming for AFW. I've been coming over for several years. It's a yearly thing. I was there last (fall) and we had a really good show. He does a really good job with what he has there. He has a fan base and they enjoy seeing a special attraction like a Bobby Lashley (who competed during an AWF event in Theodore last month) or Chris Masters or me.

Q: The last show in Theodore drew about 1,000 fans.

A: You know there are still a few places (that draw strong crowds) but they are very few and far between. Typically, an independent wrestling show, on a good day, will draw between 200 to 250 people. When you are talking about crowds of 600, 800 to 1,000 people, that's a huge independent event.

Q: The Golden Corral event adds a little charity for the Camp Corral kids. Thoughts?

A: Most of the established independent events, the ones who are established over the years like the Alabama Wrestling Federation, they always have at least a yearly event for charity. They are part of the community. Some of the mom and pop groups (elsewhere), they'll have a wrestling event and you never hear from them again. Dwaine's group has done very well.

Q: WWE.com did a poll a while ago ranking the greatest Intercontinental champions of all time. They listed you at No. 4. Are you still the "Greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time?"

A: Ratings are like an opinion of one person or several people. I'm glad to be a part of any of it. Am I the best? Probably not. Am I the greatest? Probably not. But to be in that group of guys is an honor.

Q: What memories do you have about your time feuding with "Macho Man" Randy Savage?

A: (WWE) didn't have a lot planned, from what I understand. It was like, 'let's put these two guys together and see what these guys can do.' Randy was the good guy that they put him with me. They always had in mind to move him higher on the booking ladder. Then, recognizing I could do something also, they wanted to give me a spot somewhere in there. It worked out fine for both Randy and I. He went on to bigger and better things and he worked hard on it.

Q: Those who've worked with the "Macho Man" have always described how meticulous he is getting ready for his matches. Was that your experience working with him?

A: Not really. When it came to getting the original concept on what to accomplish, we added in things and took things away. It was pretty much like riding a bicycle. There are only a couple of ways of riding it anyways.

Q: What is your current relationship with WWE?

A: I have a nostalgia contract. They put my character on the new (video games) or whatever. It's that kind (of contract) they have of adding me into the products they are promoting as opposed to calling me in for duty.

Q: You inducted Koko B. Ware to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, but you've yet to go in yourself. Is that something you want?

A: I was really proud to do that (with Koko B. Ware). He and I, we trained each other inside a barn in western Tennessee 38 years ago. To go in and induct him ... it was a great honor for him. As far as me, it's one of those things you have no control over, no matter what you do. Why worry or think about it? Until the phone rings and we close the deal, there is no deal.

At Summerslam 1988, the Honky Tonk Man's 454-day reign as Intercontinental Champion ended in memorable fashion when The Ultimate Warrior ran to the ring and pinned him in 31 seconds. Warrior, whose real name was Jim Hellwig, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5, 2014, in New Orleans. He died a few days after.

Q: Any thoughts on the Ultimate Warrior?

A: The sad thing is it's a young man with a young family and children who passed away. As far as being in the business, he had a sense of direction for himself and followed it and his convictions. That's what makes him stand out. When I was (working) with him for six or seven months, I did the things we needed to do and did them well so we built around that. He became a household name.

Q: William Moody (aka, Percy Pringle, Paul Bearer) is a Mobile native who rose to great fame in the business. What kind of memories do you have about him?

A: He and I hit it off right away. We were old school guys around the same promoters and fans in different areas. It was like a fraternity. We talked on Facebook and Twitter all the time. Even up to the week he passed away, I had spoken with him. He was a fabulous guy that, once his wife passed away, he totally grieved himself beyond repair.

Q: Are you the most successful Elvis character/impersonator since Presley died in 1977?

A: Not really, since I've done a lot of characters. As my character evolved and before I (wrestled) in the Mobile and Pensacola area, there are fans right now who think I did not have a life or a career before I was this Elvis character with black hair and sideburns.

Q: For instance, you were involved in one of the first "hardcore" matches ever, the Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl in 1979.

A: I'm glad there is this thing called YouTube. You can go on there and if you don't think (a wrestler) did something before, it's linked up to a video from 30 years ago. (Fans) wonder where this guy came from. I'm glad it's around now.

Q: You play the role of babyface while wrestling in the independents. Do you ever miss the heel (aka, the villain) role?

A: No, I haven't. I don't think so. I do 30-40 of these shows, sometimes around the world. I look back on that as something I used to do. I've been a good guy a lot longer than I've been a bad one.