"I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through” 

Well, not quite on the “come through” part. The Hippy, under the name of Mike Bowyer, briefly in Mid-South in 1980, working the early matches, doing jobs for guys like Iron Mike Sharpe. While in GCCW, the Hippy had befriended a youngster who dreamt of being a cross between Ric Flair and Ronnie Van Zant. This young fellow, who would sometimes carry the Hippy’s bags (all legal, I think) after matches was none other than Michael P.S. Hayes. I still have a hard time picturing ol’ P.S. as some kind of wrestling roadie. In any event, the protégé, along with his Freebird brethren Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts, had taken over as the promotion’s elite heel group, arguably the best “bad guys” in wrestling, upon their historic signing of wrestling first million dollar contract. I’m guessing that Hayes didn’t forget his mentor and was influential in getting Boyette a place in the UWF. It was also Hayes that came up with an idea of a streak, a streak that would live on in our kayfabe memories, a legendary streak that began when Bill Goldberg was still spearing kids on his elementary school playground in Tulsa…   

“But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before
The whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose”

Guess again, Freddy Mercury. The Streak started, as far as I can tell, at a UWF card I attended at the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston on February 6, 1987. That night, the Hippy was pinned by Rick Steiner. Soon, the losses started to mount. Steve Cox, Savannah Jack, Sam Houston, Chavo Guerrero, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams—these were but a few of the UWF roster who were triumphant during The Streak. The Hippy tried to change his luck by returning to his old forte, tag team competition, but the Streak wasn’t broken. Several bouts pairing him with the Red Shadow couldn’t help the hippy crack into the win column. The Hippy and Mike George even received a UWF Tag Team Title shot against reigning champs Chris Adams and Terry Taylor. Anybody wanna guess the outcome of that one?… 

“Even the losers, keep a little bit of pride, they get lucky sometimes.”

“Even the Losers,” Tom Petty.

There are several defining moments that live on in my kayfabe memories of the Mid-South/UWF promotion. In Mid South, Ted DiBiase’s amazing heel to face switch. In the UWF, Bill Watts walking tall for America against the “K” Russians (Korchenko and the Koloffs) and that dirty commie traitor bastard Eddie Gilbert. Terry Taylor completing his masterful heel turn by clocking Chris Adams with his briefcase. Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s head nearly being impaled on a Sam Houston Coliseum ring bolt by the One Man Gang. Terry Gordy becoming the first UWF Heavyweight champion by defeating a bloodied Duggan minutes later. Ah, memories. 

Even Mike Boyette has a place in this highlight reel. His bright, shining moment was no less special than any of the aforementioned events. What, you may ask, is this moment? It is not the collective greatness that is The Streak. It isn’t his appearance, complete with a perm fixed by a second week beauty school student. It isn’t his futile bravado, nor his well-meaning if ultimately hapless entusiasm. No, the Hippy is remembered by some of a truly unique accomplishment. The Hippy’s special feat? Being knocked  unconscious by a basic arm drag…  

“Wake me when it's over
Wake me when it's over, not before”

“Wake Me When It’s Over,” Willie Nelson.

The opponent? Gary Young. The place? The Monroe Civic Center. The date? Spring 1987. Let KM UWF Message Board poster V Cool Tunes take it from there…

“I was watching Mike Boyette during what I believe was his famous losing streak and I believe it was against Gary Young…Gary hip tossed him and he landed on his neck/head and didn't get up. Aside from being scary it was funny looking in that it was during one of those hip toss, get up, hip toss, lather, rinse, repeat as needed moments and Gary jumped up ready to deliver another hip toss and kind of looked lost for a second before falling on Boyette for the pin. I believe even when they came back from the commercial Mike was still unconscious in the ring. He was back the next week I believe so it must have not have been as bad as it looked....”

Fellow poster jgw1966 was there live and in person and posted this…

“I was  there when it happened. It was at a TV taping at the Monroe Civic Center. We thought it was really bad, but it must have been a stinger, because Mike did come back, but I don't think it was during that same taping though. It could have been serious, though, with the way he hit.”

So there you have it. Not every wrestler can claim to be KO’ed on television by a arm drag take down. I remember seeing this on UWF TV. Young gave him the armdrag, pinned him, and the show cut to a commercial. When they returned, Boyette was being stretchered out of the arena (consistent with the Bill Watts’ “realism” approach, I suppose) The announce team of Jim Ross and Michael Hayes put over the fact that wrestling is “dangerous’ and that “anyone can be hurt at any time.” 

“Sometimes You Just Can’t Win”-George Jones.

You got that right, Possum.

Well, that’s it for this one. Thanks to all for taking the time to read. Any comments, compliments, complaints, corrections, etc. should be sent to CL11@txstate.edu.  

NEXT MONTH: 

We complete the Hippy’s Tale, plus a little reader feedback/participation, if you will. Could this type of angle work today? What made it so successful in 1987? The threads that have mentioned Mike Boyette on the KM UWF Board have really piqued my interest in these two questions. If you’ve got any thoughts on this send ‘em my way!