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Honky Tonk Man Talks WWE In 1987

Honky Tonk Man Talks WWE In 1987

Posted: Mar 4th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Timeline: The History of the WWE 1987
(As told by The Honky Tonk Man)
Kayfabe Commentaries
Kayfabecommentaries.com
$20.00
Reviewed by Joe Babinsack

HTM. The Honky Tonk Man. (Roy) Wayne Farris. ?The Greatest Intercontinental Champion of all Time?

Who better to chronicle the year 1987 for the then WWF, in an ongoing effort by Kayfabe Commentaries to provide the history of the industry?s 800 lb gorilla, by the characters and voices who were at the center of the storm in the year in question?

And, who better to provide in-depth details than a man who has an old school soul, even to this day, and an understanding of the inside and outside perceptions of the WWE/F?s business?

Why Honky Tonk and 1987?

Well, because on June 2nd of that year, the supposed Elvis-impersonator snatched gold from Ricky Steamboat and launched a title reign so immensely legendary that even Santino Marella aspired to his lofty numbers in days the Intercontinental Belt was held.

Honky Tonk was the man in 1987, and his character still maintains a cult-like attraction. Equal parts comedy, Elvis, determined wrestler and knowledgeable, the tongue-in-cheek aspect of the cartoon character thrives to this day.

Recent rumors of HTM to TNA weren?t taken with laughter as much as they were taken with plausibility. And pause.

Recent suggestions that the HTM was going to be enshrined in the mythical WWE Hall of Fame were readily rebuffed, not by an inherent inability to reconcile him in that makeshift apparatus of Vince McMahon?s imagination, but by the reality that the restrictions of entering that honor would significantly lower Wayne Farris?s income and use of the character he made worldly famous.

He?

Certainly. Because while the WWF at the time imbued gimmicks upon adequate performers, the WWF at the time can boast of few true success stories as it can with the Honky Tonk Man himself. Few guys of the era had the swagger, the mainstream appeal, the hidden talent and the sheer presence of Farris.

I mean, seriously, how can you be The Honky Tonk Man, wear that smile on your face, and take yourself so seriously?

Watch the DVD and find out.

Because, short of Jimmy Cornette or New Jack, the HTM is the man of Kayfabe Commentaries. He has an understanding that goes beyond his years, an approach as unimpeachable as any, and a melding of character and real life that defies description.

Honky doesn?t just know it, he dismisses immediately any retort about what he presents.

You want his take on things, just ask.

C?mon, do you really want to compare Honky Tonk and The Snake? Does Jake complain about getting hit by a real guitar and that being the ruination of his career, sending him down the dark and evil path of addiction to pain pills? Sure he does. And what does the Man say about that?

Please!

And it?s not what he says about it, it?s how. It?s not that he disputes it, but the attitude that he conveys. It?s not just his indignity, but how he expresses it. And his retort to the research capabilities of the great writer Mick Foley is equally priceless.

I mean, this is a clinic on being a professional wrestler, but one of the most underrated greats.

Honky is a storyteller, who can spill the beans about the locker room, explain the nuances of the storylines, and never miss a beat in analysis.

I was impressed by his approach to the various things going on in 1987, from Bruno Sammartino to Jake Roberts, from WrestleMania to the Iron Shiek/Jim Duggan situation, from Paul Boesch to what was going on with the paydays for those dolls.

Was Outback Jack all he wasn?t cracked up to be?

Was Jimmy Hart a great manager?

And how did The Honky Tonk Man manage to cut those excellent promos and videos on his introduction to the WWF?

The story of how he went from up-and-coming heel to taking Butch Reed?s spot in dethroning Ricky Steamboat, and more interesting, how Steamboat asked for a sabbatical mere weeks after gaining the belt at WrestleMania II is a story that should sell the DVD all by itself!

But this is the year 1987, and star who screamed ?I?m cool, I?m cocky, I?m bad? had an indelible mark upon the industry that year.

At WrestleMania, he scored a great win over Jake Roberts, and tells funny stories about Jake?s snake, and dealing with Alice Cooper.

It was dealing with Jake throughout the year that put this Man on the map. Jake?s inability to make dates brought in a variety of legends to fill that spot, and Farris had to work with guys like the Crusher and Bruno Sammartino.

(As an aside, I spoke with Bruno, and he respected the HTM in the ring. I guess Farris figured he?d have to carry the nearly 50 Sammartino in the ring, and was quite impressed that Bruno gave him a workout instead, as Bruno wasn?t someone who took it easy in the ring and especially not when he was surrounded by a wrestling culture being dismantled by drugs and nonsense.)

Honky eventually rose to main event status, and was integral to the formation of the ?Mega Powers? and the face turn of Randy Savage, with the assistance of the Hart Foundation.

Funny how that one shove created the memorable angle.

But that was a simpler time, and one where a so-called Elvis impersonator could rise to the top as an awesome heel, manage to establish himself as a main eventer with the ?Shake, Rattle and Roll? and otherwise dominate a time frame when Hulk Hogan was a wee bit stale, and the transition to Randy Savage was very much played out with the Honky Tonk Man?s interventions.

Kayfabe Commentaries continues to dole out interesting perspectives on its Timeline, and 1987 is one DVD that?s a can?t miss addition to the project.

 

Tags: Honky Tonk Man, 1987, WWF, Jim Cornette, Jake Roberts, Mick Foley, Jim Duggan, Butch Reed

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Spotlight in History

  • 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

  • 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
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  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
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  • 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
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  • 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
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  • 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
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  • 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
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