Person
James Ware
Union City, Tennessee, USA
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…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2021
Biography: WWE Legends
TV show Koko B. Ware (archive footage)
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2014
The Sheik
Movie Self
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2013
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
Movie Koko B Ware
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2013
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Movie Koko B. Ware
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2011
JCW Legends and Icons
Movie
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2009
WWE Hall Of Fame 2009
Movie Koko B. Ware
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2005
World Wrestling Legends: 6:05 - The Reunion
Movie Koko B. Ware
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2005
WWE Hall of Fame
TV show Self
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1999
Beyond the Mat
Movie Self - Coco B. Ware
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1995
AWF Warriors of Wrestling
TV show Koko B. Ware
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1993
WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1993
WWE Bashed in the USA
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1993
WWE WrestleFest '93
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1993
WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1993
WWE Royal Rumble 1993
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1993
Raw
TV show Koko B. Ware
More credits
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1992
WWE Survivor Series 1992
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1992
WWE World Tour 1992
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1991
WWE WrestleFest '91
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1991
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1991
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1991
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1990
WWE Survivor Series 1990
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1990
WWE WrestleMania VI
Movie 'The Birdman' Koko B. Ware
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1990
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1989
WWE U.K. PPV
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1989
WWE SummerSlam 1989
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1989
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1989
Fan Favorites
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1989
The Brains Behind the Brawn
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1989
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1988
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: December '88
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1988
WWE Survivor Series 1988
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '88
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: October '88
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1988
WWE SummerSlam 1988
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1988
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
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1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
Movie Koko B. Ware
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1987
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '87
Movie "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware
