Michael Hayes (wrestler)
Michael "P.S" Hayes was born Michael Seitz on March 29, 1959 in Marietta, Georgia. He was a professional wrestler and was famous for his group, The Fabulous Freebirds.
Table of contents |
Profile
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 270 lbs.
- Birthday: March 29, 1959
- Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
- Billed From: Badstreet, USA
- Trainer: Afa Anoia
- Finishing / Signature Moves: DDT, Front Facelock Drop
- Manages: Sunshine, Oliver Humperdink, Paul E. Dangerously, Hiro Matsuda, Little Richard Marley, Diamond Dallas Page
- Other Gimmicks: Dok Hendrix
Career
Early Days
Michael Hayes started wrestling in 1977 in the Tennessee regional promotions. In 1979, he formed a tag team with Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy called the Fabulous Freebirds. They used entrance music to come to the ring and started that trend here in the United States.
Hayes became Michael "P.S." Hayes, P.S. meaning Purely Sexy, and they strutted their way to many tag team titles along with Buddy "Jack" Roberts. Hayes also started moonwalking in the ring like Michael Jackson used to do in concert.
The Freebirds spent 1980 throught 1982 in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions where they won the National Tag Team Titles a few times, split and feuded, then mended fences.
WCCW
In 1982, they left for WCCW, where they would have one of their most famous feuds. They attacked Fritz Von Erich and started a feud with his sons, David, Kerry, Kevin and Mike, that would include many exciting matches for the next 6 years.
Hayes was always the leader of the group with his exceptional mic skills and he recorded the team's new theme song, Badstreet USA, in 1984. They had used the Lynyrd Skynyrd song Freebird up to that point and would on occasion in the future.
In 1984, The Freebirds had a brief stint in the WWF but left when management wanted to split them up.
The Freebirds spent a few months in the AWA in 1985, feuding with the Road Warriors over the AWA World Tag Team Titles. They interfered in the match that the Warriors finally lost the titles in and went back to Texas.
They also spent several months in the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1986 and early 1987 with Sunshine as their manager. They feuded with "The Fantastics" (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) and with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.
Their final run in WCCW was in 1988 and Roberts & Gordy left the group forcing Hayes to team with the Von Erichs against them and Iceman Parsons.
NWA/WCW
In 1989, Hayes went back to Jim Crockett Promotions, where he wrestled as a face. He turned on U.S. Champ Lex Luger during a match with Hiro Matsuda's "Yamasaki Corporation" and joined them. This stable included Ric Flair, Barry & Kendall Windham and Butch Reed. Hayes feuded with Luger and won the U.S. Title from him after Terry Gordy suprised everybody and interfered in the match. Hayes soon lost the title back to Luger and the Freebirds entered the tournament to crown new NWA World Tag Team Champions.
At Clash of Champions 7, on June 14, 1989, Jimmy Garvin showed up as the newest Freebird and he and Hayes won the tournament. They immediately feuded with "The Midnight Express", Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane. Gordy left in late 1989 and Hayes and Garvin feuded with Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson (The Rock 'N Roll Express).
In 1991, Jim Crockett Promotions became WCW and they feuded with "The Southern Boys", Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers. They soon added another Freebird, Badstreet. He helped them win the U.S. Tag Team Titles and they all three won the Six-Man Titles. They also had two managers briefly, Big Daddy Dink and Diamond Dallas Page.
In late 1991, Badstreet was gone and they really had no direction. Garvin's wife Precious became their offscreen manager and they won the U.S. Tag Titles again but The Freebirds disbanded by late 1992.
Hayes then started managing Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton, who were still members of the Dangerous Alliance. He became a member of sorts and even helped Paul E. Dangerously in his feud with Missy Hyatt.
In 1993, Hayes became a fan favorite and feuded with Paul Orndorff over the TV Title and then with Johnny B. Badd and also did some commentating before leaving WCW in 1994. He went to the Global Wrestling Federation and reunited with Garvin and Gordy as the Freebirds.
WWF/WWE
In 1995, he retired from active competition due to an injury. He became Dok Hendrix, WWF Action Zone co-host with Todd Pettingill. He was there for comedic relief, as he was always goofy and lusted over Sunny and Sable when they would be on the show.
In 1998, he was attacked by Kane and was injured.
He returned to active competition in 1999 for Power Pro Wrestling, where he won the title. He soon came back to WWF TV as the manager for The Hardy Boyz, Matt & Jeff Hardy. He was fired by them in August and became a backstage road agent for the WWF.
At Wrestlemania X-7 on April 1, 2001, he competed in his last match in the gimmick battle royal. He did not win though.
Today, Hayes is a road agent for World Wrestling Entertainment and can sometimes be spotted breaking up brawls.
Hayes received some attention when it became known that, prior to the November 13, 2003 episode of SmackDown! he had canvassed for John Cena (then a face) to attack his tag team partner Chris Benoit (also a face) after they had won their match. Hayes believed that adding an "edge" to Cena's character could recreate the popularity of Stone Cold Steve Austin, who often behaved like a tweener but was extremely popular nonetheless. Despite opposition to the idea from the remainder of the creative team, all of whom felt that this would confuse the fans, Hayes went to Vince McMahon and convinced him to allow the angle to go forward. After the live crowd reacted badly to the angle, it was cut from the SmackDown! broadcast.
Championships/Accomplishments
- 2-Time WCW United States Tag Team Champion (with Jimmy Garvin)
- 1-Time WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Jimmy Garvin & Badstreet)
- 1-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
- 2-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Jimmy Garvin)
- 4-Time NWA National Tag Team Champion (with Terry Gordy 3 times and Otis Sistrunk once)
- 1-Time NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (with Terry Gordy)
- 1-Time AJPW United National Champion
World Class Championship Wrestling
- 2-Time WCCW Tag Team Champion (with Steve Cox)
- 1-Time WCCW American Tag Team Champion (with Terry Gordy)
- 6-Time WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts 5 times and with Kerry & Kevin Von Erich once)
Other Titles
- 1-Time PPW Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time Mid-South Tag Team Champion (with Terry Gordy)
- 2-Time Mid-American Tag Team Champion (with Terry Gordy)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 71 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 3 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Terry Gordy.
- Hayes won the PWI Tag Team of the Year Award in 1981 with Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts.
External Links
- Fan Page: http://wccw2001.tripod.com/id13.html
Categories: Professional wrestlers | 1959 births | Professional wrestling performers