You are here: Home>Regional Territories>UWF>#11


Search Kayfabe Memories

Regional Territories 4

This section contains monthly articles on over two dozen territories. To relive those wonderful days of old, click here.

Wrestlers 4

Enter this section for bios/profiles of various wrestlers from the regional days. To find more out about your favorite pro wrestler, click here.

Stories 4

This section contains stories from the pros themselves told exclusively to Kayfabe Memories. Want to know more as told from the wrestlers themselves? Click here.

Old School Book Reviews4

Click here to find various book reviews from old school wrestlers. 

KM Links 4
For tons of links to old school related sites, click here.
KM Micro Wrestlers4
What are Micro Wrestlers?  Click here  
to find out.
KM Interviews... 4
Click here to read exclusive interviews with stars from the regional territories.
 

View Old Guestbook

 
 

www.kayfabememories.com is © 2004 AtomDesigns. All promotional art, characters, logos and other depictions are © their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.

All contents save Wrestler Stories are © Kayfabe Memories.

Website designed and maintained by  AtomDesigns © 2004 . If you experience any problems with this site or have any questions, please contact the Webmaster.

 

 - Charles Laffere

UNIVERSAL 'BIRDS II

Did you know…?

That Buddy Roberts wrestled in Southwest Championship Wrestling as Dale Valentine, before he was a Freebird. Who was his “older brother” and manager? Johnny Valentine.

Rest in peace, Mr. Valentine.

“Badstreets, Atlanta, GA,
 
Badstreets in the whole USA,
 
Badstreets, nasty and hot,
 
The further down the block you went
 
The badder it got!”

“Badstreets USA,” as performed by the velvet-voiced Michael Hayes from the “Off the Street” album.

Hello and welcome back to another installment of my UWF memories.  I am Charles Laffere, and this week we will be continuing our look at the Freebirds’ wild flight through the promotion in 1986-7.

The last time we met, the Freebirds had begun their second tenure in Bill Watts’ Mid-South/UWF promotion. We ended that piece with one mad Oklahoman looming on the horizon-none other than the big Cowboy from Bixby, Bill Watts. Watts’ macho, tough talking persona was the perfect foil for the authority flaunting, wild-eyed Southern boy trio of Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Jack Roberts.

As of 1986, Hayes was one of the best heels in the business, trailing only Ric Flair and Arn Anderson in my book. Despite his lack of great wrestling skills, Hayes could stir up trouble and always have two guys to back him up. The Freebirds were undoubtedly at their collective and individual bests. They also were creating a rock and roll aura that was heretofore unseen (or unheard) in pro wrestling.

The Freebirds had all the dynamics of a rock band. A name taken from a Lynyrd Skynyrd anthem celebrating life, individuality and freedom. A charismatic front man/lead singer in Hayes. Two terrific sidemen in Gordy and Hayes. A bodyguard in the Dark Angel. A groupie, er, valet in Sunshine. All the guys were missing was a tour bus. Instead, the fellows had the legendary “Freebirdmobile,” a beat-up old junk car they would drive to gigs to shield them from debris tossed at them as they were leaving arenas.   More...

If you'd like to discuss the UWF region with other fans, please visit the KM Message Board

KM DVD/VHS Store 4
Click here to purchase DVD or VHS products direct from the official distributors.
KM Replica Masks 4
Click here to purchase pro quality replica wrestling masks of all your favorite old school masked wrestlers.   
KM Store 4
The KM Store now features products featuring the GCW logo as well as some other very cool images.  To see what's new and to purchase T-Shirts, ball caps, mouse pads and more, click here
KM Message Board 4

Want to chat with other fans of regional wrestling? This message board has forums for over two dozen promotions. Click here.

KM Belt Gallery 4

This section contains an extensive title belt gallery... images of heavyweight, tag, U.S. and various regional title belts.  To view it, click here.

Old School Tape Review 4

Reviews of various PPV's, commercial tapes and regional wrestling TV shows are available in this section. To read more, click here.

 

Website designed & maintained by

 

 

Thanks for visiting!