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What's the story?
WWE Hall of Famer Koko B. Ware recently spoke with Wrestling Inc. over WrestleMania 35 weekend.
He revealed that Vince McMahon allowed him to bring in his bird 'Frankie', which eventually helped him get over with the fans as "The Birdman".
In case you didn't know...
Koko B. Ware made his professional wrestling debut in 1978 and came into WWE in the mid-80s. Initially, he was pushed as a strong mid-carder, but was quickly turned into a jobber to the stars.
Ware was known as "The Birdman" in Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling. He brought in the gimmick to WWE and came out with a macaw named 'Frankie'. He was positioned as a babyface and made his debut on an episode of WWE Superstars, teaming with Paul Roma to take on The Hart Foundation in a losing effort.
During the early 90s, Koko B. Ware was put into a makeshift tag team alongside Owen Hart, with the duo being dubbed "High Energy". After his exit from WWE, Ware wrestled for a string of indie promotions. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
The heart of the matter
While speaking with Andy Malnoske of Wrestling Inc, Koko B. Ware talked about how the gimmick had already taken off in Mid-South. He added that Vince McMahon allowed him to bring in Frankie during his entrances.
His colorful persona, complete with the macaw, made him one of the most loved babyfaces during his initial years in WWE.
I was already 'The Birdman,' but you know with just a little help from WWE and Vince McMahon, he was the one who gave me the okay to bring the bird in. It went over well and I'm so happy for the company that gave me the opportunity to share that gimmick of 'The Birdman' so I could share it all over the world.
What's next?
Vince McMahon, after all these years, still has a hold on the product that he created and popularized.
Although he is currently in hot water for his booking decisions, the fact can't be discounted that WWE wouldn't have become the global phenomenon if it hadn't been for his efforts, and he will be handing over a corporate giant to Triple H and Stephanie in the near future.
Were you a fan of Koko B. Ware's gimmick?
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