James Ware

James Ware

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.

Acting

2021

Biography: WWE Legends

Koko B. Ware (archive footage)

2014

2009

2001

Monsters, Inc.

Koko B. Ware

1993

1993

WWE Bashed in the USA

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1993

1993

WWE Royal Rumble 1993

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1993

Raw

Koko B. Ware

1992

WWE Survivor Series 1992

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1992

1991

WWE WrestleFest '91

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1991

WWE SuperTape: Volume 4

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1991

1990

WWE Survivor Series 1990

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1990

WWE WrestleMania VI

'The Birdman' Koko B. Ware

1990

1989

WWE U.K. PPV

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1989

1989

1989

WWE Royal Rumble 1989

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1988

WWE Survivor Series 1988

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1988

WWE SummerSlam 1988

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1988

WrestleMania IV

Koko B. Ware

1987

1987

1987

WrestleMania III

Koko B. Ware

1987

WWE WrestleMania III

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

1986

1986

1985

1985

1981

1981

1981

1977

1973

WWE Old School

Koko B. Ware

1972

1967

1952

Luna de sangre

Sweet Brown Sugar

1952

Luna de sangre

Koko B. Ware

Infos

Full Name
James Ware
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
6/20/1957
Also Known As

Sweet Brown Sugar

Stagger Lee

Koko Ware

Koko B. Ware

"The Birdman" Koko B. Ware

The Birdman