Michael Hayes (wrestler)
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Michael Seitz (born March 29, 1959 in Marietta, Georgia) is an American retired professional wrestler. Seitz is best known for leading the Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." ("Purely Sexy") Hayes and for the World Wrestling Federation as the announcer Doc Hendrix.
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. They used entrance music to come to the ring and started that trend in the United States.Hayes became Michael "P.S." Hayes, P.S. meaning "Purely Sexy," 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.
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.
World Class Championship Wrestling
In 1982, they left for WCCW, where they would have one of their most famous feuds. They attacked Fritz Von Erich and started a feud with his sons, David, Kerry, Kevin and Mike, that would include many exciting matches on and off for the next 6 years. The Freebird-Von Erich feud ended for good in 1994 during a memorial card in tribute to Kerry Von Erich.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 1984. (The video to the song features all three of the Fabulous Freebirds as well as Jim 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.
In 1984, The Freebirds had a brief stint in the WWF but left when management wanted to split them up.
The Freebirds spent a few months in the AWA in 1985, feuding with The Road Warriors over the AWA World Tag Team Titles. They interfered in the match that the Warriors finally lost the titles in and went back to Texas.
They also spent several months in the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1986 and early 1987 with Sunshine as their manager. They feuded with "The Fantastics" (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) and with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.
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 ringrobe.
Their final run in WCCW was in 1988 and Roberts and Gordy left the group forcing Hayes to team with the Von Erichs against them and Iceman Parsons.
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 "Yamasaki Corporation" and joined them. This stable included Ric Flair, Barry & 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.At Clash of Champions 7, on June 14, 1989, Jimmy Garvin showed up as the newest Freebird and he and Hayes won the tournament. They immediately feuded with "The Midnight Express", Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane. Gordy left in late 1989 and Hayes and Garvin feuded with Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson (The Rock 'N Roll Express).
World Championship Wrestling
In 1991, Jim Crockett Promotions became WCW and the Freebirds feuded with "The Young Pistols", Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers. They soon added another Freebird, Badstreet. He helped them win the U.S. Tag Team Titles and they all three won the Six-Man Titles. They also had two managers briefly, Big Daddy Dink and Diamond Dallas Page.In late 1991, Badstreet was gone and they really had no direction. The Freebirds turned face, and Garvin's wife Precious became their offscreen manager and they won the U.S. Tag Titles again but The Freebirds disbanded by late 1992.
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 leaving WCW in 1994. He went to the Global Wrestling Federation and reunited with Garvin and Gordy as the Freebirds.
World Wrestling Federation
In 1995, he retired from active competition due to an injury. He became Dok Hendrix, WWF Action Zone co-host with Todd Pettengill. He was there for comedic relief, as he was always goofy and lusted over Sunny and Sable when they would be on the show.In 1998, he was attacked by Kane and was injured.
He returned to active competition in 1999 for Power Pro Wrestling, where he won the title. He soon came back to WWF TV as the manager for The Hardy Boyz, Matt & Jeff Hardy. He was fired by them in August and 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 - 2001 although he was mostly used on the international broadcasts of that show.
At WrestleMania X-7 on April 1, 2001, he competed in his last match in the gimmick Battle Royal.
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's hair was cut by drunken wrestlers and then glued on the wall of an arena the WWF was performing at the next day. The out of order incidents that took place on that plane also resulted in Curt Hennig being fired.
Today, Hayes is a road agent for World Wrestling Entertainment and can sometimes be spotted breaking up brawls.
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, who often behaved like a tweener but was extremely popular nonetheless. Despite opposition to the idea from the remainder of the creative team, all of whom felt that this would confuse the fans, Hayes went to Vince McMahon and convinced him to allow the storyline to go forward. After the live crowd reacted badly to the storyline, it was cut from the SmackDown! broadcast.
An incorrect rumor has it that Hayes taught Stone Cold Steve Austin the "Stone Cold Stunner." The move originally called the Ace Crusher after WWE road agent and Director of Talent Relations (and Road Warrior Animal's little brother) Johnny Ace. Hayes did show Austin how to perform the move, however, as Austin detailed in his book, The Stone Cold Truth.
During the December 5th 2005 episode of RAW, Hayes appeared during the Cutting Edge along with Sergeant Slaughter, a show designed for Edge and Lita to present while Edge is out with injury. He became involved in verbal sparring with Edge which turned into a worked shoot, with Edge verbally low blowing Hayes by taunting him about the death of his former partner Terry Gordy while Hayes retaliated by attacking Edge's lack of main event experience and the details of his love life in regards to Matt Hardy and Lita. This broke down into a brawl with Slaughter being low blowed and Edge attacking Hayes. Hayes soon began to fight back until Lita jumped on his back and raked his eyes and Edge smashed him over the head with his briefcase, leaving Hayes unconscious in the ring while Edge and Lita celebrated.
Wrestling facts
Finishing and signature moves
- DDT
- Front facelock drop
Managers
Championships and accomplishments
- *1-time AJPW United National Champion
- Power Pro Wrestling
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
External links
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