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GUEST EDITORIAL
By Paul Lucas, Tallassee, Alabama, PWTorch.com Reader

I was interested to read Bruce Mitchell's column at PWTorch.com talking about the induction of Koko B. Ware into the WWE Hall of Fame. For the most part I agreed with Mitchell's statements about how the Hall of Fame is presented but I take issue with the idea that Koko B. Ware is not worthy of Hall of Fame recognition.

Ever since the buyout of World Championship Wrestling in 2001 and the acquisition of the libraries of a variety of wrestling promotions; World Wrestling Entertainment has gradually increased the profile of the previously unmentionable organizations. Part of that has been to acknowledge superstars who reached their peak in other companies with Hall of Fame inductions – see Verne Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel of the AWA as recent examples.

Koko B. Ware the "bird man" who entertained children in the World Wrestling Federation by flapping his arms and carrying his pet macaw probably isn't worthy of Hall of Fame acknowledgement. This character's career was that of a mid-card act at best losing feuds with more established stars such as Big Boss Man, Greg Valentine, Butch Reed and infamously being the first victim of The Undertaker's vaunted Tombstone Piledriver. His run in the World Wrestling Federation ended shortly after his High Energy tag team partnership with Owen Hart – a team that was used predominantly to put over other acts such as The Headshrinkers and the Nasty Boys.

However, the career of James Ware stretches far beyond the halls of the WWF. He spent much of his early career in the Mid-South and Georgia territories of the NWA and was even proclaimed as the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year in 1979. He won the Mid-American Television Championship in 1980; and embarked on a memorable feud with Jerry Lawler in 1981 that culminated in a name change for Ware to Sweet Brown Sugar and tag title success alongside Bobby Eaton. When that tag team was split up he and Eaton had a notable rivalry.

I don't want this article to turn into a rehash of Ware's career, but the point is there was much more to this performer than just the Bird Man gimmick – albeit that in itself was one of the more memorable portrayals of the 1980s. To say he doesn't deserve his place in the Hall because of his gimmick would be akin to suggesting a polka-dot clad Dusty Rhodes or a comedic Jerry Lawler who has never won a title in WWE or competed at a WrestleMania is also undeserving. Of course we would never suggest that because they were world champions elsewhere – and while Ware never claimed a world championship he was a much more serious and respected act in other promotions.

Are there competitors that should be in the Hall of Fame ahead of Ware? Of course. The names banded around online typically include Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Bruno Sammartino, Ted DiBiase and Rick Rude. Personally I'd add Lou Thesz, Frank Gotch and Bob Backlund as similarly worthy competitors of yesteryear.

However, as Mitchell pointed out in his column there is more to the Hall of Fame than just putting the most worthy entrants in first – it's a show with a "headline" act each year. This year it's Stone Cold Steve Austin with the Funks and Steamboat as the supporting cast. Next year it may well be a Savage or a Roberts or even a Sammartino. Maybe Owen Hart? Maybe The Rock? Who knows? But needless to say that when these men are inducted; they will be treated as the "main event" - just as they were during their careers.

However, just because each of those superstars is "more" deserving, it does not mean that Koko B. Ware is undeserving. This is not a Bastion Booger or an Alex Porteau being inducted. This is a strong mid-card performer, a legitimate fan favorite who was one of the key supporting acts during one of wrestling's most successful periods, a legitimate talent and an endearing character.

Koko B. Ware may not have his own wing in the Hall of Fame, but he does deserve his place in class.

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