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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'.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
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Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
  • 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
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  • 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
  • 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
  • 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
06-21
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  • Milton Winkelman Jun 21st Today!
  • Super Star Jun 21st Today!
  • Athena Jun 23rd
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
  • X-Storms Jun 25th
  • Jax Samuel Jun 26th
  • Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
  • Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
  • D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
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  • Kenny Mack Jun 28th
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  • Bill Dromo Jun 28th
  • Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
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