![James Ware](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/tROYqiW6JDzvMOQm19vTltQxNSs.jpg)
James Ware
James Ware, better known by his ring name "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1978. He gained most of his popularity in the World Wrestling Federation when he was known as the Birdman. Ware came to the ring with a blue-and-yellow macaw parrot named Frankie, and would flap his arms like a bird while dancing before and after his matches. 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.
It was not until late in 1980 that Koko’s fortune changed when he participated in a battle royal to crown the first ever Mid-American Television Champion. The crowd favorite was Jimmy Valiant, who Koko accidentally knocked into Danny Davis and eliminated Valiant. Moments later, Koko dumped Davis to the floor and won his first title. After the match, Jimmy Valiant returned to the ring and beat Koko down. Koko’s feud with Jimmy Valiant was quickly expanded to include the heel Tojo Yamamoto and Koko ally Tommy Rich. When Dutch Mantel returned to the CWA in early 1981 he quickly defeated Koko for the TV title making Koko’s first run with the gold a short one.
Koko floundered until September 1981 when he was chosen to referee a Southern Heavyweight Championship title match between Jerry Lawler and “The Dream Machine". Ware unfairly counted Lawler out to give the Dream Machine the victory, a decision that did not sit well with Lawler nor the fans in Memphis. Koko quickly aligned himself with manager Jimmy Hart and his First Family and changed his name to Sweet Brown Sugar. Sugar never got the best of Lawler but did taste tag-team success alongside Steve Keirn and then with Bobby Eaton. Eaton & Sugar won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. On June 8, 2008, Koko made a special appearance at TNA's Slammiversary as a groomsman in the wedding for "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal and So Cal Val, along with George "The Animal" Steele, Kamala the Ugandan Giant, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
On April 4, 2009, Koko was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by The Honky Tonk Man.
On September 5, 2009 Ware's wife died after a battle with cancer.
On February 15, 2011 Koko made an appearance on Tosh.0.
He is one of only three wrestlers to sport 'WWF' on his trunks.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 2.044 |
Birthday | 1957-06-20 |
Place of Birth | Union City, Tennessee, USA |
Also Known As | Sweet Brown Sugar, Stagger Lee, Koko Ware, Koko B. Ware, "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware, The Birdman, |
![WWE Royal Rumble 1990](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rqN2m5eBrv4bCmG2J3alrjkF20m.jpg)
1990
![WWE Royal Rumble 1990](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rqN2m5eBrv4bCmG2J3alrjkF20m.jpg)
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
6.6/5
Royal Rumble (1990) was the third annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took pl...
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1991
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WWE Royal Rumble 1991
7.8/6
The 1991 WWE Royal Rumble was the third annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation, and...
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1989
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WWE SummerSlam 1989
6.5/5
SummerSlam (1989) was the second annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took...
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1990
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8.4/19
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1992
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WWE Survivor Series 1992
8.4/9
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1988
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WWE Survivor Series 1988
8.5/7
Survivor Series (1988) was the second annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF...
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2013
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8.8/11
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2013
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Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
9.3/3
For the first time ever, WWE presents the Legends of Mid-South Wrestling. One of the 1980’s hottest territories, Mid-South garnered national attention...
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2009
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WWE Hall Of Fame 2009
9/2
Inductees into the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame included "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Funk Brothers, Ricky Steamboat, Bill Watts, Koko B. Ware, The Von Eri...
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2011
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8.3/20
It is the most anticipated yearly event in Sports Entertainment, an annual pop culture touch point. For more than 25 years, WrestleMania has hosted th...
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2014
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The Sheik
7.4/23
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1984
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WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '84
0/0
The feud between Kevin Von Erich and Chris Adams gets personal when blood is shed.
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1986
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The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
10/1
The first Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held on April 19, 1986. The tournament featured 24 tag teams.
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1988
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WWE SummerSlam 1988
7.4/7
WWE SummerSlam was the first annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event. It was produced by the World Wrestling Federation and took p...
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1989
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WWE Royal Rumble 1989
5.5/6
The 1989 WWE Royal Rumble was the second annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation, and the first on...
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1991
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WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
0/0
"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig faces Rocker Shawn Michaels in a Prime Time dream match on The Road To WrestleMania on March 17, 1991 from The Civic Center...
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1993
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WWE Royal Rumble 1993
7.9/9
Royal Rumble (1993) was the sixth annual Royal Rumble. It took place on January 24, 1993 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. The main event w...
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1991
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WWE WrestleFest '91
0/0
Macho Man Randy Savage hosts this explosive WWE extravaganza...his first Coliseum assignment since his retirement!
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1993
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WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches
0/0
See the greatest World Wrestling Federation Superstars against their most hated rivals!
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1993
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WWF Bashed in the USA
0/0
While Mr. Perfect goes on search for the 'perfect' stamp, enjoy some exciting matches filmed exclusively for the WWE Universe, including Virgil challe...
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1991
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0/0
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1990
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WWE Survivor Series 1990
8.2/9
Survivor Series (1990) was the fourth annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF...
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1987
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WWE WrestleMania III
7.7/35
Hulk Hogan goes up against André the Giant for the WWE Championship, while Randy "Macho Man" Savage battles Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat for the WWE I...
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1984
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WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '84
0/0
Its turkey time in Texas with all the stars of World Class Championship Wrestling.
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1987
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0/0
Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II is the second soundtrack album released by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It was released on Septem...
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1993
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WWF: WrestleFest '93
0/0
Wrestling Matches From 1993
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1989
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0/0
Never before seen! WWF fan requested match-ups!
• Koko B. Ware vs. The Brooklyn Brawler
• Greg Valentine vs. Dusty Rhodes
• The Twin Towers vs. The...
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1987
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The Best of the WWF: volume 13
0/0
Coliseum Video brings you the biggest and baddest WWE suoerstars!
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1987
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The Best of the WWF: volume 14
0/0
Coliseum Home Video Exclusives! Rare footage never shown anywhere else!
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2005
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World Wrestling Legends: 6:05 - The Reunion
0/0
World Wrestling Legends was a professional wrestling event produced by Mirabilis Ventures and promoted by Sal Corrente, which was held on March 5, 200...
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2011
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JCW Legends and Icons
0/0
Oh those crazy clowns. Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that the Insane Clown Posse has been a very successful music and wrestling act over...
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![WWE U.K. PPV](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1989
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WWE U.K. PPV
8.2/4
The first WWE U.K. PPV was held on October, 10, 1989 in London, England at the London Arena. The main event featured Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage for...
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1987
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WWE Houston Wrestling: November '87
0/0
WWE's biggest superstars converge in the Lone Star State for some incredible mat action. Features "The Macho Man" Randy Savage battling The Honky Tonk...
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1988
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WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: December '88
0/0
The Superstars come out in the city of angels as Hulk Hogan and The Big Boss Man collide in an epic rematch.
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1987
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WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87
0/0
Catch all the excitement and action as WWE's most powerful superstars take to the ring. Featuring an all-star tag team match as Hulk Hogan and Ricky "...
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1987
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
0/0
The biggest superstars in WWE head to the great white north for some incredible action. Featuring a Steel Cage Showdown between Hulk Hogan and Kamala...
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
![WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1988
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
0/0
The biggest superstars in WWE head to the great white north for some incredible action. Featuring a showdown between "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and André th...
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1988
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88
0/0
The biggest superstars in WWE head to the great white north for some incredible action. Featuring Hulk Hogan and "King" Haku in combat.
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![WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '88](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1988
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '88
0/0
The biggest superstars in WWE head to the great white north for some incredible action. Featuring WWE Champion "The Macho Man" Randy Savage taking on...
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1988
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WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '88
0/0
The biggest superstars in WWE head to the great white north for some incredible action. Featuring Hulk Hogan battling The Big Boss Man.
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