Barry Windham

Infobox Wrestler
name=Barry Windham
names=Blackjack Mulligan, Jr.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/barry-windham.html|title=Barry Windham Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-08] cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/bwindham.html|title=Barry Windham Bio|work=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|accessdate=2008-06-08]
Barry Windham
Dirty Yellow Dog
The Widowmaker
The Stalker
Blackjack Windham


caption=Windham in 1996
height=height|ft=6|in=6
weight=convert|275|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=birth date and age|1960|7|4
death_date =
birth_place =Sweetwater, Texas, U.S.
death_place=
resides=Homerville, Georgia
billed=
trainer=Blackjack Mulligan
Harley Race
debut=January 7 1980
retired=|

Barry Windham (born July 4 1960) is a professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He is currently employed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a producer. WWE was previously known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

In NWA/WCW, he was a 1 time NWA World Heavyweight Champion,cite web|first=Richard|last=Lopez|date=2008-06-16|url=http://wrestlertitles.blogspot.com/2008/06/barry-windham_16.html|title=Barry Windham's Title History|work=Blogger|accessdate=2008-06-16] a 1 time United States Heavyweight Champion, a 1 time Television Champion, a 1 time Western States Heritage Champion, a 1 time NWA World Tag Team Champion "(Mid-Atlantic version)" with Lex Luger, a 3 time World Tag Team Champion and a 1 time United States Tag Team Champion with Ron Garvin. In WWF, he was a 2 time Tag Team Champion with Mike Rotunda.

Career

Early career

Barry Windham was trained by his father Blackjack Mulligan and popular world champion Harley Race. He debuted on January 7 1980 when he was 19 years old. Much of his early career was in the NWA's Championship Wrestling from Florida territory where Gordon Solie was the head announcer. He was a fan favorite for most of the early and middle periods of his career, having great success in singles and tag action. With his brother-in-law Mike Rotunda, Windham formed a tag team in 1984. The duo captured the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship three times between March and May 1984.

World Wrestling Federation (First run, 1984-1985)

Rotunda and Windham were signed by World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in October 1984. They debuted in WWF as babyfaces on November 17, 1984 edition of "Maple Leaf Wrestling" defeating Mohammed Saad and Bobby Bass. [cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1984|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-08|date=October 30, 1984|quote=Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo defeated Mohammed Saad & Bobby Bass when Windham pinned Saad with a bulldog at 2:48] Their tag team was named U.S. Express. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/u/us-express.html|title=US Express Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-08] They quickly made impact in WWF's tag team division as they beat [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/n/northsouth-connection.html North South Connection] (Dick Murdoch and Adrian Adonis) for their first WWF Tag Team Championship on January 21 1985. [cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/85.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1985|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-08|date=January 21, 1985|quote=Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch to win the titles when Windham pinned Murdoch with a sunset flip as Windham was assaulting Rotundo] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212122|title=US Express' first World Tag Team Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-08] At the first-ever WrestleMania, US Express dropped the titles to Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm1/results/|title=WrestleMania 1 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-08|quote=World Tag Team Championship: Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik w/ Classy Freddie Blassie def. Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham to become new champions] On July 13 edition of "Championship Wrestling", they beat Sheik and Volkoff for their second and final WWF Tag Team Championship, [cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/85.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1985|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-08|date=June 17, 1985|quote=Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo (w/ Captain Lou Albano) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Nikolai Volkoff & the Iron Sheik (w/ Freddie Blassie) to win the titles at 3:13 when Rotundo pinned Sheik after both Volkoff and Windham reversed the pin position behind the referee's back] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321111112|title=US Express' second World Tag Team Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-08] which they lost to Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) at a television taping on August 24. [cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/85.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1985|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-08|date=August 24, 1985|quote=Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine (w/ Johnny V) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) to win the titles at the 19-minute mark when Valentine pinned Windham after Beefcake stuck Johnny V's lit cigar into Windham's eye]

National Wrestling Alliance (First run, 1986-1989)

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1986)

After leaving the WWF in 1985, he was outspoken in his criticism of the WWF's "Rock and Wrestling" style, which deemphasized traditional wrestling. He joined the NWA and enjoyed success there as one of the top draws (off-and-on) for the next decade. After departing from the WWF, Windham worked an extended stint in National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He worked in NWA's territory Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) as a babyface, where most notably he wrestled in the main event of Battle of the Belts II for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/florida/battle.html#II|title=Battle of the Belts II results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=NWA World Champ Ric Flair DCO Barry Windham (41:41)] and feuded over the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship with Ron Bass. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/florida/battle.html#III|title=Battle of the Belts III results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=Barry Windham pinned Ron Bass to win the Florida Title]

Mid-Card Battles (1987)

In the fall of 1986, he shifted to NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) territory as a babyface where he had many memorable matches with "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. These included matches going to 60 minute time limit draws and even some extending beyond an hour of action. He shifted back to tag team division. On December 9 1986, Windham and Ron Garvin defeated Ivan Koloff and Khrusher Khruschev. Their biggest feud as a team was with The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane), managed by Jim Cornette. The Midnight Express were never able to beat Windham and Garvin for the titles. Windham and Garvin eventually lost these titles to Ivan Koloff and Dick Murdoch in the spring of 1987, shortly before the annual Jim Crockett Memorial Tag Team Tournament (also known as the Crockett Cup). At this time, Windham also formed an alliance with Lex Luger, who would turn his back on Windham when they were both in the NWA shortly afterward when Luger had aspirations of joining The Four Horsemen.cite web|url=http://www.kayfabememories.com/Wrestlers/WLbwindham-2.htm|title=Barry Windham Page 2|work=Kayfabe Memories|accessdate=2008-06-13] Rather than enter the tournament as a team, the NWA split up Windham and Garvin. Ronnie Garvin instead teamed up with his stepson Jimmy Garvin (in the storyline of the NWA, they were called the Garvin brothers, but Ronnie was actually Jimmy's stepfather). Windham instead of partnering up with someone in the tournament, was booked to face Ric Flair for the NWA World Championship in what would be another classic match between the two. Flair defeated Windham with a controversial pinfall after a little over 25 minutes of action. [cite web|date=2007-10-21|url=http://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/crockett-cup-87/|title=Crockett Cup '87|publisher=The Powerdriver Review|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=NWA World Champ Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham. Windham flips out of a back suplex and rolls Flair up for 1-2-NO!! Flair rolls through with a handful of tights and gets 1-2-3]

Windham spent the rest of 1987 in NWA's mid-card division. On June 20 1987, Windham defeated Black Bart in a tournament final to win the short-lived NWA Western States Heritage Championship, becoming first champion. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/midsouth/tourney.html#western|title=Western States Title Tournament 1987|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13] He defended the title against the likes of Rick Steiner, [cite web|date=July 4|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#87|title=The Great American Bash 1987 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=UWF Western States Champ Barry Windham pinned Rick Steiner (5:00)] Big Bubba Rogers [cite web|date=July 18|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#87b|title=The Great American Bash 1987 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=UWF Western States Champ Barry Windham beat Bubba Rogers] and Incubus. [cite web|date=July 31|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#87c|title=The Great American Bash 1987 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=UWF Western States Champ Barry Windham beat Incubus] The title was also recognized by Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF). He began climbing up the ranks of UWF. At NWA's first pay-per-view (PPV), , he lost to UWF Heavyweight Champion "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#87|title=Starrcade 1987: Chi-Town Heat results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=UWF Champ Steve Williams pinned Barry Windham (7:02)] In 1988, Windham began rising up in the NWA ranks again. He started off by dropping the Western States Heritage Title to Larry Zbyszko at Bunkhouse Stampede. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/miscppv.html#bunkhouse|title=Bunkhouse Stampede results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=Larry Zbysko pinned Barry Windham (19:16) to win the UWF Western States Title]

Four Horsemen (1988-1989)

On March 27 1988 edition of "Clash of the Champions", he teamed up with Lex Luger to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship from Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#I|title=Clash of the Champions I results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=Lex Luger & Barry Windham beat Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (9:35) to win the NWA Tag Title when Luger pinned Anderson] A few weeks later, a swerve took place where Windham betrayed Luger causing the team to lose the titles back to Blanchard and Anderson. [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MSQg4RAaJ4|title=Barry Windham's Heel Turn|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=2008-06-13] Windham turned heel and joined Ric Flair's stable Four Horsemen (which also consisted of Anderson and Blanchard) and his heel turn was considered shocking at the time. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/f/four-horsemen.html|title=Four Horsemen Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-13] In addition, he began using a black glove as well as the Iron Claw as his finisher, which was a signature move of his father Blackjack Mulligan. He went back to singles competition and defeated Nikita Koloff in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA United States Heavyweight Championship when NWA suspended then-champion Dusty Rhodes. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/3044541232|title=Barry Windham's first United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-13] [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/worldus.html#us88|title=NWA U.S. Title Tournament 1988|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13] Windham was a dominant US Champion, who reigned for nine months. He defended the title against the likes of Brad Armstrong, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#II|title=Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=NWA U.S. Champ Barry Windham pinned Brad Armstrong (13:35)] Dusty Rhodes, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#88|title=The Great American Bash 1988: Price of Freedom results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=NWA U.S. Champ Barry Windham pinned Dusty Rhodes (15:55)] Sting [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#III|title=Clash of the Champions III: Fall Brawl results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=Sting beat NWA U.S. Champ Barry Windham (21:14) via DQ] and Bam Bam Bigelow [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#88|title=Starrcade 1988: True Gritt results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=NWA US Champ Barry Windham beat Bam Bam Bigelow (16:17) via countout] before dropping to Lex Luger at Chi-Town Rumble in February 1989. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/miscppv.html#chi|title=Chi-Town Rumble results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=Lex Luger pinned Barry Windham (10:43) to win the NWA U.S. Title] His contract with NWA expired.

World Wrestling Federation (Second run, 1989)

Windham returned to the WWF in 1989 as the Widowmaker. Despite the nickname, Windham did not change his image much, portraying a heel cowboy type character. The Widowmaker was to have been on Randy Savage's Survivor Series team, but he left the company due to undisclosed personal reasons; he was replaced by Earthquake in the match. On March 16 1990, he attempted to challenge AJPW Triple Crown champion Jumbo Tsuruta, but was defeated.

National Wrestling Alliance/World Championship Wrestling (Second run, 1990-1994)

Rejoining Four Horsemen (1990-1991)

In May 1990, Barry Windham returned to WCW and rejoined the Four Horsemen which at that point consisted of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Sid Vicious, and Ole Anderson. He defeated Doug Furnas on June 13 1990 of "Clash of the Champions". He spent most of the time that year in tag team matches with the other Horsemen as partners. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#XI|title=Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-13|quote=Barry Windham pinned Doug Furnas (5:40)] At Halloween Havoc 1990, Windham was involved in a controversial match between Sid Vicious and then NWA World Champion Sting. Sid appeared to pin Sting and win the championship, but it was actually Windham who was dressed like Sting. Once the hoax was noticed, the match was restarted and the real Sting defeated Sid Vicious. [cite web|date=2008-02-28|url=http://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/halloween-havoc-1990/|title=Halloween Havoc 1990|publisher=The Powerdriver Review|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=NWA World Champion Sting vs. Sid Vicious. Sid and Sting return to the ring where Sting tries for a slam but Sid falls on him for the three-count much to the confusion of the crowd. We get fireworks and everything as the REAL Sting comes out from the back with a rope nicely tied around his wrist. He cradles Sid for the real three-count to retain the title. (12:38) In case you didn't know, the fake Sting was Barry Windham] Windham spent the rest of the year teaming with Arn Anderson in the continuation of a feud between the Four Horsemen and then NWA World Tag Team Champions, Doom. At , Windham and Anderson wrestled Doom to a no contest in a Street Fight when a member of each team was pinned. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#90|title=Starrcade 1990: Collision Course|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=NWA Tag Champs Doom NC Arn Anderson & Barry Windham (7:19) in a "street fight" match when Windham pinned Simmons and Reed pinned Anderson simultaneously]

In 1991, Windham continued teaming with Arn Anderson and Sid Vicious. Windham feuded with Brian Pillman in the spring of 1991, culminating in a taped fist match at , which Windham won. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#I|title=SuperBrawl I: Return of the Rising Sun results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|quote=Barry Windham pinned Brian Pillman (6:08) in a "taped fist" match] As the middle of the year approached, controversy erupted in the WCW (which the NWA became fully known as from then on) when WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Ric Flair was fired by the company causing the title to be vacant. Windham was then elevated to the number 2 contender spot and faced Lex Luger in a steel cage match to declare the new champion. At The Great American Bash 1991, Windham lost the match to Luger in a double turn as Luger became the top bad guy of WCW and Windham becoming one of the most popular. This got Windham over in terms of popularity with the fans again despite still not winning the world championship. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#91|title=The Great American Bash 1991 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=Lex Luger pinned Barry Windham (12:25) in a "steel cage" match to win the vacant WCW World Title]

Face Turn (1991-1992)

In October 1991, Windham formed a tag team with Dustin Rhodes and feuded with WCW Tag Champions The Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko). At , Anderson and Zbyszko slammed a car door on Windham's hand, breaking it, and putting him out of action for a while (including that night's Chamber of Horrors match, where he was replaced by El Gigante). That also led to Ricky Steamboat stepping in as the mystery partner for Rhodes at the Clash of the Champions that November. Steamboat and Rhodes won the titles. Windham, meanwhile, would come back a couple of months later to feud with Anderson, Zbyszko, and the rest of what was now the Dangerous Alliance. Windham would feud with TV Champion "Stunning" Steve Austin in the spring of 1992. On the May 9, 1992 edition of "Saturday Night", he defeated Austin in a two out of three falls match to win the WCW World Television Championship. [cite web|date=April 27|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw92.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1992|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=Barry Windham defeated WCW TV Champion Steve Austin at around the 18-minute mark to win the title in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-1] He dropped the title back to Austin on June 13 edition of "WorldWide". [cite web|date=May 23|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw92.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1992|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=Steve Austin (w/ Paul E. Dangerously) pinned WCW TV Champion Barry Windham to win the title after hitting him with the title belt; after the bout, Jesse Ventura interviewed Paul E. on the podium who gloated about Austin's victory and talked about Larry Zbyszko quitting the Dangerous Alliance]

On a taped edition of "Saturday Night" on September 2, Windham teamed with Dustin Rhodes to defeat Steve Williams and Terry Gordy for the unified WCW World Tag Team Championship and NWA World Tag Team Championship (their NWA title reign is not recognized by NWA). They held the belts for about two months before losing them to Steamboat and Shane Douglas in a memorable match on November 18 edition of "Clash of the Champions". Windham turned on Rhodes after the match when Rhodes refused to pin Steamboat after an accidental low blow. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXI|title=Clash of the Champions XXI results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas beat Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes (15:52) to win the NWA & WCW Tag Title when Douglas pinned Windham]

Heel Turn (1992-1994)

At the end of the year, Windham teamed with Brian Pillman to pursue the titles he and Rhodes lost, but ended up losing to Steamboat and Douglas at . [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#92|title=Starrcade 1992: Battlebowl/The Lethal Lottery II results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=NWA & WCW Tag Champs Shane Douglas & Ricky Steamboat beat Barry Windham & Brian Pillman (20:02) when Douglas pinned Windham]

Windham became a full time singles wrestler in January 1993 and pursued the NWA World Championship held by The Great Muta. He defeated Muta for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at SuperBrawl III. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#III|title=SuperBrawl III results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=Barry Windham pinned The Great Muta (24:10) to win the NWA World Title] Ric Flair, who returned to WCW that night, tried to present Windham with the belt, but when Windham saw it was Flair trying to put the belt around his waist, he took the belt and walked away. [cite web|date=2008-03-19|url=http://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/superbrawl-iii/|title=Superbrawl III|publisher=The Powerdriver Review|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=NWA World Heavyweight Champion The Great Muta vs. Barry Windham. Ric Flair hand-delivers and puts the NWA belt on Windham] Flair and Anderson tried to recruit Windham to join the Horsemen again, but Windham declined and became the "Lone Wolf," feuding with Flair and Anderson. He successfully defended the title against Anderson at . [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/slambore.html#93|title=Slamboree 1993: A Legend's Reunion results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=NWA World Champ Barry Windham pinned Arn Anderson (10:55)] After a successful title defense against 2 Cold Scorpio, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghsitory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIII|title=Clash of the Champions XXIII results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=NWA World Champ Barry Windham pinned Too Cold Scorpio (12:53)] Windham dropped the NWA belt to Flair at Beach Blast 1993, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/miscppv.html#blast93|title=Beach Blast 1993 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=Ric Flair pinned Barry Windham (11:15) to win the NWA World Title] then disappeared from wrestling for almost a year, where he took on Flair again at for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Flair won again and Windham dropped out of sight for over two years. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/slambore.html#94|title=Slamboree 1994: A Legend's Reunion results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-15|quote=WCW World Champ Ric Flair pinned Barry Windham (13:21)]

World Wrestling Federation (Third run, 1996-1998)

The Stalker (1996)

Windham would again return to the WWF in late 1996, this time as The Stalker, wearing camouflage face paint. For a short time, he renewed his feud with Dustin Rhodes (Goldust), only this time, Windham was the babyface and Rhodes was the heel. In Windham's only pay-per-view appearance with this gimmick, he was eliminated from a Survivor Series match at Survivor Series 1996 by Goldust. However, Stalker's teammate, the debuting Rocky Maivia, became the sole survivor of the match. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1996/results/|title=Survivor Series 1996 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-16]

The New Blackjacks (1997-1998)

He later formed The New Blackjacks with Justin Hawk Bradshaw in 1997. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/blackjacks-new.html|title=New Blackjacks Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16] That team didn't last long, as Barry turned on Bradshaw to join Jim Cornette's "NWA faction" in 1998 (at the time, the NWA had become just a group of smaller independent promotions, and they cooperated with the WWF for this storyline). The angle was scrapped months later, and Windham left for WCW again.

World Championship Wrestling (Third run, 1998-1999)

In his last WCW run, Barry Windham was originally brought back to WCW by Eric Bischoff who had him turn on Ric Flair. Barry was then loosely associated with Bischoff's nWo Hollywood for a while before forming a tag team with Curt Hennig. At SuperBrawl IX, Hennig and Windham defeated Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko in the finals of a tag team tournament to win the vacant WCW World Tag Team Championship. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#IX|title=SuperBrawl IX results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-16|quote=Barry Windham & Curt Hennig beat Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (1:52) to win the vacant WCW Tag Title when Windham pinned Malenko]

Barry reinjured his knee during this period but would return as part of The West Texas Rednecks in mid 1999. They were supposed to be a heel group to feud with rapper Master P's "No Limit Soldiers" but the southern fans of WCW cheered the Rednecks, going against what WCW management and booking had hoped for, and the angle was eventually dropped. The group consisted of his brother Kendall Windham, Curt Hennig, and Bobby Duncum, Jr.; Duncum was replaced by Curly Bill after he was injured and shortly before the group was disbanded and the Rednecks storyline was dropped. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/w/west-texas-rednecks.html|title=West Texas Rednecks Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16] On August 23 1999 edition of "Nitro", the Windham brothers defeated Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) to win their final WCW World Tag Team Championship, [cite web|date=1999-08-23|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1999084m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro - Monday, 08/23/99|work=DDT Digest|accessdate=2008-06-16|quote=Barry Windham and Kendall Windham vs. WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat. Curt Hennig comes in, and brains Booker in the back of the head with the cowbell. Kendall covers Booker. The ref slowly comes back in. One...two....THREE???? Oh my....the Windham brothers are the NEW World Tag Team champions] before losing the titles back to Harlem Heat at Fall Brawl 1999. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/fall.html#99|title=Fall Brawl 1999 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-16|quote=Harlem Heat beat Barry & Kendall Windham (13:05) to win the WCW Tag Title when Booker pinned Kendall] Both Barry and Kendall were shortly after released by WCW.

TCW and Semi-Retirement

By 2001, photos of a rejuvenated Windham began to surface on the internet of the now defunct Dusty Rhodes' Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling Website. A group of fanatical internet wrestling fans known as "The Barry Windham Revolution" rallied behind Windham and his seemingly miraculous physical comeback. While other competitors might have simply retired, Barry had worked very hard and gotten back down to 236 lb (107 kg) as he had been for much of his early career. During this time, on the American independent scene in the Florida-based TCW, Barry won their heavyweight championship and held it for the better part of a year. He also became part of the Xtreme Horsemen in stable with Steve Corino and C.W. Anderson. They feuded with Dusty & Dustin Rhodes.

Barry's last appearances were at MLW's War Games, [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/mlw/030919.html|title=War Games & J Cup USA results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16|quote=WAR GAMES: The Funkin Army defeated The Extreme Horsemen. The Funkin Army = Terry Funk, Sabu, Steve Williams, and Sandman... The Extreme Horsemen = Steve Corino, CW Anderson, Simon Diamond, PJ Walker (aka Justin Credible) & Barry Windham... Terry Funk used a branding iron and a fireball to make Steve Corino quit] a one time U.S. Express Reunion with Mike Rotunda at "WrestleReunion I", [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/wrestlereunion-tampa.html|title=WrestleReunion results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16|quote=TAG MATCH: "Outlaw" Ron Bass & Larry Zbyszko defeated Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham] and on the "WrestleMania Rewind" episode of RAW on March 10 2008 in a rematch from the first WrestleMania. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/080310.html|title=RAW results - March 10, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16]

Barry now resides in community of Fargo in the city of Homerville, Georgia and competes infrequently.

Currently, Windham works as a producer for WWE. In 2007, he appeared on the "Ric Flair & the Four Horsemen" DVD. Barry was also seen during the 2007 WWE Hall of Fame broadcast, sitting next to former partner John "Bradshaw" Layfield. In June 2007, Barry did the introduction of SuperBrawl III for WWE 24/7.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**Skull vice
**Lariat
**Superplex
**Elbow drop
**Figure four leglock
**Implant DDT
**Vertical suplex

Championships and accomplishments

*Championship Wrestling from Florida
**NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ron Bass [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/global-t.html NWA Global Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (6 times) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-h.html Florida Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-south-h.html NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida) history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mike Graham (1) and Scott McGhee (1) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-t.html Florida Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA Florida Television Championship (3 times) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-tv.html NWA Florida Television Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Mike Rotunda [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-us-t.html NWA United States Tag Team Title (Florida version) history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA North American Tag Team Championship "(Florida version)" (1 time) – with Mike Graham [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-na-t.html NWA North American Tag Team Title (Florida) history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*Jim Crockett Promotions | World Championship Wrestling
**NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-h.html NWA World Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates|title=WWE United States Championship official title history|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-08]
**WCW World Television Championship (1 time) [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-tv.html NWA/WCW World Television Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA Western States Heritage Championship (1 time) [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/jcp/ws-her-h.html NWA Western States Heritage Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com] (First)
**WCW World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Dustin Rhodes (1), Curt Hennig (1), and Kendall Windham (1) [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html WCW World Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA World Tag Team Championship "(Mid-Atlantic version)" (1 time) - with Lex Luger [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-nwa-t.html NWA World Tag Team Title (Mid-Atlantic/WCW) history] At wrestling-titles.com]
**NWA United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ron Garvin [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-t.html NWA/WCW United States Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*Music City Wrestling
**NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/others/na-h.html NWA North American Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*NWA All-Star Wrestling (North Carolina)
**NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Tully Blanchard¹ [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-t.html NWA World Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*NWA New England
**NWA New England Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/cwa/nwa-ne-h.html NWA New England Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*NWA Southern Championship Wrestling
**NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship "(Tennessee version)" (2 times) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/knoxville/scw/scw-h.html NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Knoxville) history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1982)

*Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
**BTCW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

*World Wrestling Council
**WWC World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kendall Windham [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pr/wwc/wwc-t.html World Wrestling Council World Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*World Wrestling Federation
**WWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mike Rotundacite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam|title=World Tag Team Championship official title history|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-08]

*"'Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Rookie of the Year (1980)
**Match of the Year (1986) vs. Ric Flair on February 14
**5 Star Match (1987) vs. Ric Flair at the Crockett Cup Tournament on April 11
**5 Star Match (1991) with Ric Flair, Larry Zbyszko, & Sid Vicious vs. Brian Pillman, Sting, Rick Steiner, & Scott Steiner (February 24, WarGames match, WrestleWar)
**5 Star Match (1992) with Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Sting & Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, & Larry Zbyszko (May 17, WarGames Match, WrestleWar) ¹The title was won by Windham and Blanchard in a small North Carolina NWA affiliated promotion. However, it should not be confused with the more prominent NWA All-Star Wrestling promotion that operated out of Vancouver, British Columbia from the early '60s to the late '80s.

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/barry-windham.html Barry Windham's Online World of Wrestling Profile]
* [http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/bwindham.html Barry Windham's Accelerator 3359 Bio]