Michael Hayes (wrestler)

For other uses, see Michael Hayes.

Michael Seitz
Hayes at the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony
Ring name(s)	Dok Hendrix[1] Lord Michael Hayes[1] Michael "P.S." Hayes[1] Screaming Eagle[1]
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Billed weight	255 lb (116 kg)[1]
Born	March 29, 1959 (1959-03-29) (age 52) Pensacola, Florida[1]
Billed from	Badstreet U.S.A., Atlanta, Georgia
Trained by	Afa Anoa'i
Debut	1977[1]
Retired	1995

Michael Seitz^[1] (born March 29, 1959) is a retired American professional wrestler and former musician. Seitz is best known for leading The Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." ("Pure Sexy") Hayes and for his role as the announcer Dok Hendrix in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He is currently with the company (now known as WWE) as its head creative writer for the SmackDown brand.

Career

Early career

Hayes started wrestling in 1977 in the Tennessee regional promotions. In 1979, he formed a tag team with Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy called The Fabulous Freebirds. Hayes became Michael "P.S." Hayes, and they strutted their way to many tag team titles along with Buddy "Jack" Roberts. Hayes also started moonwalking in the ring like Michael Jackson used to do in concert.^[2]

The Freebirds spent 1980 through 1982 in the NWA's Georgia Championship Wrestling area, where they won the National Tag Team Titles a few times, split and feuded, then mended fences.^[2]

World Class Championship Wrestling

In 1982, they left for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where they had one of their most famous feuds. During Christmas night in 1982, Hayes was chosen by the fans to be the special guest referee during the Ric Flair-Kerry Von Erich NWA World Heavyweight Championship match inside a steel cage. Hayes at one point knocked Flair out so Von Erich could get the pin and the title. Von Erich refused to pin him after the dirty deed which ultimately led to Gordy slamming the cage door on Von Erich's head. As this later cost him the title, it triggered the legendary feud between The Fabulous Freebirds and The Von Erichs and ended a good respectful friendship between both groups. The Freebird-Von Erich feud ended for good in 1993 during a memorial card in tribute to Kerry Von Erich.^[2]

Hayes was always the leader of the group with his exceptional mic skills and he recorded the team's new theme song, Badstreet USA, in 1983. The video to the song features all three of The Fabulous Freebirds as well as Jimmy Garvin, who was often considered the fourth Freebird. They had used the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Free Bird" up to that point and would on occasion in the future.^[2]

In 1984, The Freebirds had a brief stint in the WWF but left when management wanted to split them up. The Freebirds then spent a few months in the AWA in 1985, feuding with The Road Warriors over the AWA World Tag Team Championship, winning the belts temporarily at the inaugural SuperClash event before the AWA overturned the decision. The Freebirds interfered in the match where the Warriors lost the belts to Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal, and subsequently returned to Texas.^[2]

In 1986, Hayes appeared in the opening credits of Highlander alongside The Fabulous Freebirds, working his Purely Sexy gimmick on the turnbuckle while writhing free of his ring robe.^[2]

UWF

The Freebirds also spent several months in the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1986 and early 1987 with Sunshine as their manager. There they feuded with The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) and with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.^[2]

In 1986, Hayes' partner in the Freebirds, Terry Gordy, became the first holder of the UWF heavyweight title. After losing the title by default to One Man Gang, the Freebirds engaged in a major heel vs heel feud with General Skandor Akbar's Devestation Inc. group. The feud continued even after Akbar double-crossed Gang and helped Big Bubba Rogers win the title from him, and saw the Freebirds form an alliance with their former enemy Williams against Devestation Inc.^[2]

As a consequence of this, after the breakup of the Freebirds, Hayes remained in the UWF now evolved into a fully-fledged babyface. At the NWA/UWF co-promoted pay-per-view event Starrcade '87 Hayes teamed with Jimmy Garvin (also now a babyface after reconciling with kayfabe brother Ron Garvin) and Sting to face the team of Eddie Gilbert, Rick Steiner and Larry Zbyszko whom they wrestled to a time-limit draw. He also challenged NWA World Champion Ric Flair and frequently teamed with Jimmy Garvin.^[2]

Music Career and return to World Class Championship Wrestling

In 1987, on the back of the popularity of the Badstreet USA theme, Hayes recorded and released an album, Off The Streets. He also performed live concerts to promote the album with his backing band, the Badstreet Band. The July 1988 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated (written circa March 1988) contained a (possibly kayfabed) column by writer Dave Rosenbaum in which he visited the box office for a Badstreet Band show and surveyed what sort of people would actually go to Hayes' concerts.

At around this time, Hayes returned to World Class Championship Wrestling to find that his former Freebird partners Gordy and Roberts, in alliance with Iceman Parsons and The Angel of Death, had resumed their feud with the Von Erichs. After Gordy and Roberts helped Parsons win the World Class heavyweight title from Kerry Von Erich by bashing Kerry with socks loaded with weights while the arena lights were mysteriously turned off, a disgusted Hayes allied himself with the Von Erichs against his former Freebird 'brothers'.^[2]

At the 1988 World Class Parade of Champions, Gordy defeated Hayes in a hair vs hair "triple dome of terror" (three vertically stacked cages) match. After the match, however, Gordy refused to cut Hayes' hair and instead turned babyface on Roberts and cut his hair. Subsequently, Hayes and Gordy reunited as babyfaces and feuded with Roberts and his Samoan Swat Team as well as old Freebird enemies Devastation Inc, of whom Parsons was now a member.^[2]

While all this was going on, Hayes continued with his music career, often playing concerts with his Badstreet Band at the Dallas Sportatorium, World Class's main arena. Inevitably, the music career overlapped with World Class' storylines when, at one such concert, Roberts appeared onstage and hit Hayes over the head with a guitar. Hayes also formed a new tag team with "Do It To It" Steve Cox and together they twice briefly beat the Samoan Swat Team for the World Class tag team titles, on September 12–16, 1988 and October 15–17, 1988.^[2]

National Wrestling Alliance

In 1989, Hayes went back to Jim Crockett Promotions, where he wrestled as a face. He turned on U.S. Champ Lex Luger during a match with Hiro Matsuda's "Yamazaki Corporation" and joined them. The stable included Ric Flair, Barry and Kendall Windham, and Butch Reed. Hayes feuded with Luger and won the U.S. Title from him after Terry Gordy surprised everybody and interfered in the match. Hayes soon lost the title back to Luger and The Freebirds entered the tournament to crown new NWA World tag team champions.^[2]

At Clash of the Champions 7, on June 14, 1989, Jimmy Garvin showed up as the newest Freebird and he and Hayes won the tournament and titles (thus reuniting their old tag team from the NWA circa 1987).^[3] The new champions immediately feuded with The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane). Gordy left in late 1989 and Hayes and Garvin feuded with The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson).^[2]

World Championship Wrestling

In 1991, Jim Crockett Promotions became World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and The Freebirds feuded with "The Young Pistols" (Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers). They soon added another Freebird, Badstreet.^[2] He helped them win the U.S. Tag Team Titles and they all won the Six-Man Titles.^[4][5] They also had two managers briefly, Big Daddy Dink and Diamond Dallas Page. Once Badstreet departed from the group in late 1991, The Freebirds were left with no real direction. The Freebirds turned face, and Garvin's wife Precious became their off-screen manager. Although they won the U.S. Tag Titles again, The Freebirds disbanded by late 1992.^[2]

Hayes then turned heel again and started managing Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton, who were still members of the Dangerous Alliance. He became a member of sorts and even helped Paul E. Dangerously in his feud with Madusa. In 1993, Hayes became a fan favorite again and feuded with Paul Orndorff over the TV Title and then briefly teamed with Johnny B. Badd and also did some commentating before quitting WCW in January 1994, after being offered a $75,000 a year contract. He went to the Global Wrestling Federation and reunited with Garvin and Gordy as The Freebirds.^[2]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment/WWE

In 1995, Hayes retired from active competition due to a serious back injury he suffered, while in WCW. He signed with the WWF in early 1995 and became Dok Hendrix, WWF Action Zone co-host with Todd Pettengill.^[2] As "Dok Hendrix", Hayes would interview wrestlers before their matches. His most famous interviews include "The birth of Austin 3:16," "The Super Soaker DX commercials, and hosting most of WWF's products. Hayes also worked as a color commentator in 1995 with Vince McMahon on WWF Superstars of Wrestling and on the In Your House 1 and the 1995 King of the Ring pay-per-view events.

Hayes returned to active competition in 1999 for Power Pro Wrestling, where he won the promotion's title. He soon came back to WWF TV as the manager for The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff Hardy). The Hardy Boyz lost the Tag Team Titles to The Acolytes at Fully Loaded when Hayes was pinned in a handicap match; he was fired by them in August.^[2] He then became a backstage road agent for the WWF. Hayes became a color commentator on Sunday Night Heat alongside Michael Cole and Kevin Kelly from 2000 to 2001, although he was mostly used on the international broadcasts of that show. At WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1, 2001, he competed in the gimmick Battle Royal.^[6]

In 2002, Hayes hit the wrestling headlines after an incident took place during a UK tour which was dubbed the "plane ride from hell". Among other things, Hayes' hair was cut by drunken wrestlers and then glued on the wall of an arena the WWF was performing at the next day. Incidents that took place on that flight also resulted in Curt Hennig and Scott Hall being fired.

Hayes received some attention when it became known that, prior to the November 13, 2003 episode of SmackDown! he had canvassed for John Cena (then a face) to attack his tag team partner Chris Benoit (also a face) after they had won their match. Hayes believed that adding an "edge" to Cena's character could recreate the popularity of Stone Cold Steve Austin. After the live crowd reacted badly to the storyline, it was cut from the SmackDown! broadcast.

During the December 5, 2005 episode of Raw, he became involved in verbal sparring with Edge in which Hayes attacked Edge's lack of main event experience and the details of his love life (with regard to Matt Hardy and Lita). Hayes was later attacked by Edge.^[7]

In October 2006, Hayes became the head creative writer for the SmackDown! brand after Alex Greenfield's departure from the company. He can be seen on the second season of WWE Classics On Demand series Legends of Wrestling. On the December 7, 2007 episode of SmackDown!, Hayes made another one-time appearance, as a guest of MVP's VIP Lounge. Hayes' appearance was to promote the new Triumph and Tragedy of WCCW DVD and reinforce its anti-drug message. However, Hayes ended up being attacked by MVP before being saved by Rey Mysterio.^[8]

On June 28, 2010 edition of Raw, Hayes was one of several Legends who accompanied Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, who was out to promote his new DVD, only to be attacked by the NXT season 1 graduates, collectively known as The Nexus.

On the May 12, 2011 episode of WWE Superstars, Hayes accompanied Tyson Kidd to the ring.Then on the May 19, 2011 episode of WWE Superstars, Hayes hits Tyson Kidd in the face after Kidd lost his match to Yoshi Tatsu. He said that he has better things to do than hang around losers.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves

• DDT
• Bulldog

• Managers

• Sunshine
• Hiro Matsuda
• Diamond Dallas Page^[9]
• Big Daddy Dink^[10]
• Little Richard Marley
• Paul E. Dangerously

Championships and accomplishments

• Georgia Championship Wrestling

• NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Terry Gordy^[11]
• NWA National Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Terry Gordy (3) and Otis Sistrunk (1)^[12]

• Mid-South Wrestling Association

• Mid-South Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Terry Gordy^[13]

• NWA Mid-America

• NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Terry Gordy^[14]

• Power Pro Wrestling

• PPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Tag Team of the Year award in 1981 – with Terry Gordy
• PWI ranked him #3 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Terry Gordy in 2003^[15]
• PWI ranked him #71 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003^[16]

• World Championship Wrestling¹

• NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[17]
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time) – with Jimmy Garvin^[3]
• WCW United States Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jimmy Garvin^[4]
• WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jimmy Garvin and Badstreet^[5]
• WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jimmy Garvin^[3]

• World Class Championship Wrestling / World Class Wrestling Association

• NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Terry Gordy^[18]
• NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (6 times) – with Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts (5 times) and Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich (1)^[19]
• WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts^2[19]
• WCWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Steve Cox^[20]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• Match of the Year (1984) with Buddy Roberts and Terry Gordy vs. the Von Erichs (Kerry, Kevin, and Mike) in an Anything Goes match on July 4
• Tag Team of the Year (1980) with Buddy Roberts as The Fabulous Freebirds

¹Hayes' reigns with the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship and the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship occurred after Ted Turner purchased the promotion and renamed it World Championship Wrestlling. The reigns also occurred prior to the titles being renamed as WCW championships.
²During The Freebirds 5th reign, WCCW withdrew from the NWA and was renamed World Class Wrestling Association. Their fifth reign carried over as reign after the title's name was changed to the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship because they were the champions at the time of the name change.

Discography

Single

• Badstreet USA Grand Theft Records 1984 ^[21]

Album

• Off The Streets - Grand Theft Records 1987^[21]

Tracklist:
1. Everything Is Alright (4:00) ^[22]
2. When The Love Comes Down (3:55) ^[22]
3. The Night You Can't Remember (4:14) ^[22]
4. Ain't Superstitious (3:46) ^[22]
5. Touch My Level (3:32) ^[22]
6. I Gotta Have It (3:35) ^[22]
7. The Boys Are Back In Town (4:49) ^[22]
8. You Made Me The Way I Am (4:49) ^[22]
9. Blue Jean Queen (5:25) ^[22]
10. Heartbeat Away (4:42) ^[22]
11. Badstreet USA (4:21) ^[22]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "Michael Hayes Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/michael-hayes.html. Retrieved 2008-05-03. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s} Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "Top 20: 7 The Fabulous Freebirds". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. pp. 46–51. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "WCW World Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 16–18. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "WCW United States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 18–19. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 20–21. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
6. ^ "WRESTLEMANIA X-SEVEN". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm17/results/. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 
7. ^ "McMahon to Bischoff: "You're fired!"". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12052005/. Retrieved 2007-12-13. 
8. ^ "December to disrespect". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/results/. Retrieved 2007-12-13. 
9. ^ Davies, Ross. Diamond Dallas Page. p. 31. ISBN 0823934934. 
10. ^ Matt Mackinder (January 17, 2008). "Sir Oliver Humperdink recalls career of yesteryear". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/05/12/4175841.html. Retrieved 2008-04-04. 
11. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "NWA Georgia Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
12. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "NWA National Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 145–146. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
13. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "UWF World Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 234. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
14. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 194–196. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
15. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 100 Tag Teams of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi100tg.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
16. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-15. 
17. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "WCW United States Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 21. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
18. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "NWA American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 267–268. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
19. ^ ^{a b} Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 271–272. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
20. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). "WCWA World Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 268. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
21. ^ ^{a b} http://www.discogs.com/lists/Badstreet-USA/27069
22. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} http://www.wrestlingmedia.ws/music_tracks.php?id=161

External links

Professional wrestling portal

• Accelerator Profile

Persondata
Name	Hayes, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 29, 1959
Place of birth	Pensacola, Florida
Date of death
Place of death