Apr 30th 2026 11:57pm

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

WWE Hall of Famers The Fabulous Freebirds always marched to their own beat

WWE Hall of Famers The Fabulous Freebirds always marched to their own beat

Posted: May 30th 2022 By: Ryan K. Bowman

Southern 'Rasslin' just wouldn't have been the same if The Freebirds never existed. Without the Fabulous trio, who would have been around to raise all that hell?

WWE Hall of Famers The Freebirds consisted of original members Michael P.S. Hayes, Buddy Jack Roberts and Terry Bam Bam Gordy, although they would add some ancillary members over the years. However, the only other actual member was Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin, who was aligned with the group for years before officially joining.

Their legacy and the mark they left on professional wrestling isn't even up for debate. They changed the industry in so many ways, both in and out of the ring. They may have seemed like just a bunch of southern fried simpletons, but they were innovators who shaped not only their era, but generations to come.

Hayes, Roberts, Gordy and Garvin would eventually be elected as a faction to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016

Unfortunately, only Hayes and Garvin were on hand to accept the accolade, as Roberts and Gordy were inducted posthumously. The recognition of their greatness extended even beyond that night, as we see their influence on sports entertainment is still being felt today.

Every time a three-man group defends a tag team championship with any combination of its members, it is referred to as The Freebird Rule. The group introduced this concept and its still being imitated to this day. It was very prevalent in later years with teams like Demolition in the WWF and The Wolfpac in WCW.

Hayes was the spokesman and established leader of the group. His real-life, wild persona is what defined the Fabulous Freebirds, as they took on the image of all-night partiers and beer drinking bar fighters. And in many ways, it's more a reflection of who they really were rather than the characters they were portraying.

Known for their love of Jack Daniels, The Fabulous Freebirds represented what the world would be like if you never grew up and stayed 21 for life

The stories of their crazy antics and raucous reputation are somewhat legendary. Lots of women, booze and destroyed hotel rooms were the norm for them at the time.

So in essence? The Freebirds backed up everything they purported to be: They worked hard, and they played even harder.

When they eventually made their way to the Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling, they made the perfect antagonist for the legendary and heroic Von Erichs. To say that the war between the family and The Freebirds blew the roof of the Sportatorium on many occasions would be an understatement. It had emotions running high in The Lone Star State.

David, Kevin and Kerry Von Erich all had a reputation for being the squeaky clean boys next door (although behind the scenes, the boys were far from it). It was an incredible storyline and bitter war. The idea that these vagabonds from Georgia thought they could conquer Texas' favorite sons was downright appalling to fans. This heated environment would set the professional wrestling world on fire and put the Freebirds on the map for good.

It was also around this time that Hayes recorded what would go on to become the faction's theme song, "Badstreet U.S.A.", which was a nod to the group's supposed upbringing. In the lyrics, Hayes' rough-as-sandpaper voice narrates their existence growing up on the 'wrong side of the tracks'.

The song, which became a minor hit in the mid-1980s, was really as much a part of linking wrestling with rock and roll as Cyndi Lauper and Hulk Hogan were in the WWF at the time. Hayes relished the rock star image and cultivated it throughout the rest of his career.

Buddy Roberts was a technical stylist and mat veteran. He provided The Freebirds with a ton of stability as a ring general, but tended to let Hayes do most of the talking during interviews. The same goes for the strong and silent Terry Gordy, who was the heavy hitter of the group.

Today, Jimmy Garvin is retired and living a quiet life away from the glitz and glamor of sports entertainment. For many years after leaving the ring, he was an Airline Transport Pilot.

Michael Hayes, on the other hand, has never left pro wrestling; he's been a part of WWE since 1995. He's currently a Vice President and Senior Producer for the promotion.


Still? It's hard to look back at old pictures of The Fabulous Freebirds and imagine them as any other way than as the roughnecks that they once were. Their devil-may-care, rock 'n' roll attitude was groundbreaking. Their use of their own entrance music and the Freebird Rule was innovative. But most of all? This group of men came together to forever be known as 'Fabulous'.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

1
The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS A&E starts back on Sundays with a WWE block. From 7-9pm will be part one of a two part biography series on the Von Erichs, followed by “LFG”... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
04-30
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th Today!
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th Today!
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th Today!
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th Today!
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Dave Ryda May 13th
  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Lars Manderson May 13th
  • Karl Krupp May 13th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Maggie Rae May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
  • Payton Scott May 13th
  • Pete Maguire May 13th

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1

Tag Cloud

MSWUWFBill WattsJim RossWWEWCCWAWADutch MantellJunkyard DogErnie LaddBeth Phoenix