Get ready for a lot of concerning, out-of-context conversations about racism and the Confederate flag!
According to PWInsider, the Fabulous Freebirds and Michael P.S. Hayes are rumored to be the top choice for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in Dallas in 2016. WWE management recently celebrated Hayes’ 20th anniversary as part of the company — as mild-mannered interviewer “Dok Hendrix,” and as the current head of the road agents/producers — and that started the conversation. PWInsider says it’s “pretty much considered a lock.”
The location choice couldn’t be better, as Hayes and the Freebirds initially made their name in the Dallas/Ft. Worth-based World Class Championship Wrestling in the 1980s. That run included regular shows at the Dallas Sportatorium, at the time the most famous wrestling venue in Texas. No word on if this would just be the core Freebirds — Hayes, Buddy Roberts and Terry Gordy — or if it would extend out to later incarnations of the group to include Iceman Parsons, Jimmy Garvin or the masked “Badstreet.” Note: Don’t put Badstreet in the Hall of Fame.
It also has to be noted in the wake of recent racism scandals that Hayes has been a controversial figure in WWE for many years. In 2008, he was suspended for calling Mark Henry the N-word, and in 2009 reportedly called Indian-American writer David Kapoor the N-word with no punishment. We’re guessing WWE’s Hall of Fame video will carefully edit around the Freebirds’ Confederate flag iconography, which included carrying flags to the ring, wearing sparkly Confederate flag entrance capes and painting their faces to look like it. Or, you know, that album cover we used at the top of this post.
We’ll keep you updated on whether this becomes confirmed and announced.
