Barry Windham Reveals Why He Abruptly QUIT the WWF in 1985

[@marcuse2687]

Just want to give a shout out to Barry for providing the entertainment he did for me over the years. One of the greats IMO.

[@battlestarmarc]

Windham was a great talent. Windham was perfect fit for the 4 Horsemen in 1988.

[@Thor-Orion]

That's my pick for the best incarnation of The Horsemen.

[@ryanboman8211]

@@Thor-Orion - Mine, as well.

[@duckeeb8799]

@MikeyXSkyline YES! I remember when he joined them after the match against Arn and Tully. He turned on Lex Luger because JJ Dillon was in his ear. Definitely, the best group of Horseman right there. Those were the days, man.

[@FrankAndrews]

Before he became the Widowmaker

[@MSF2307]

Barry Windham was one of the best ever. I’ve got good memories of watching early 90s WCW on ITV here in the UK with my dad and Barry was always a highlight. His matches with ‘Stunning’ Steve for the TV title and his tag team with Dustin Rhodes were great. When I got older I went back and watched his 80s stuff and it was even better. I’m sure the subject of the short lived ‘Widowmaker’ stint in the WWF will come up in this interview, looking forward to hearing from Barry on that and what the plans were.

[@dreadelectric7745]

The feud with Murdoch and Adonis was awesome.

[@chrismemphis8062]

Love the magazines spilling the beans on him being Blackjacks son. So much 'drama' , it was an exciting time as a fan.

[@billmulligan8537]

Barry wrestled as his son in mid atlantic and Florida

[@j.c.ca.o.l7035]

To Barry, if it's worth anything you didn't miss anything being in that AWA music video. When I got back in to wrestling in 1985 it started with the AWA, and even though Vince had raided the locker room, in 1985 they still had a good roster; but when pro wrestling USA ended it was the beginning of the end, and the AWA was trying to do anything it could to stay relevant, but it just wasn't working.

[@PaulShaw-ex7ri]

Vern was the main event every time they were at the show boat , it was aweful.

[@jasonbink5276]

It's a shame they got burned out. I really liked the US Express, and I wish their run would have been longer.

[@theblueoctopus4494]

They were the Duke boys of wrestling.

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

They could have been huge had they stayed.

[@practicalwerewolf]

Barry Windham was awesome to watch as a kid in the 80s. I remember when he went to WWF and was sure he was going to get a singles push for a title there but he faded out of the picture. I'm not sure he's underrated as just about every wrestling fan I've ever met seems to appreciate him. I always thought he was great ;)

[@Meatball2022]

WWF was way too gimmicky for him. Widowmaker and stalker were ridiculous. He could have been an eternal cowboy type. Make a stable with him. Orton. Bass. He had so much potential and they really wasted him there.

[@mkl62]

February 1986, he took on Flair in Battle of the Belts 2. In 1989, he left the NWA and went back to WWE as The Widowmaker, sort of the first coming of The Undertaker. Then he had a stint there again as The Stalker.

[@stuartmills3005]

Windham in his prime was as good as anyone. Flair puts him up there with Steamboat but he just didnt want it enough. Was more than happy as he was. Didnt want the world title or the schedual that went with it. Fair play to him

[@Meatball2022]

I’ve seen a few live shows where windham and flair went 60 minutes. I remember being on edge the whole time. Great shows. Miami Beach. Around 82-83

[@gregorylevi1826]

True. The only one who didn't want A break was Flair.

[@Thor-Orion]

I always wanted to see Barry vs Bret Hart. One of the very best technical guys from NWA vs best technical guy from WWF.

[@DabsDad]

Growing up in West Palm Beach, Barry was my favorite wrestler. I remember him going 60 min with Harley Race on a Monday night at the Auditorium. I was 9 years old. . He had great matches with Kevin Sullivan and countless others.

[@johnhartley4721]

Legend!!!

[@travisrhoades8074]

As a dude from Baltimore, it's no wonder it blew up there. In the 80's, we were a drinking town with a football problem.

[@DabsDad]

Natty Bo

[@michaels2208]

I remember Barry and Mike as tag team. WWF wrote off Barry by someone throwing fireball in his eye. Then he was out and never came back. But I was just starting to watch NWA at 5 after the hour. Then I saw Barry there and learned a lot about wrestling then. I was still a kid, it didn't ruin kayfabe or anything but it was interesting.

[@BClarke]

I think it was Johnny V’s cigar in his eye, which allowed the Dream Team to regain the titles after he and Rotundo had regained them from Iron Sheik and Volkoff. Could be mid-remembering.

[@bold810]

I remember that tag match, Somebody jammed a lit cigar in his right eye, ending the Match. Barry looked like he was in serious pain.

[@bold810]

​@@BClarkeYou are right, I saw that match.

[@ronxxf]

My first live event was in Anaheim 1985 headlined by Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo vs. Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik. A group of drunks jumped in the ring and got hammered by Volkoff, Sheik and security. Other highlights Andre vs Patera and a young Bret Hart. Year later Spivey slapped my hand on the way to the ring and it stung for a week, that prick. Anyways sure wish Barry would have stayed.

[@CP-kb1du]

Slapped by Peanut Head

[@gslide06]

I would have loved to hear about the Widowmaker gimmick. Maybe it's in another video but it wasn't a terrible one compared to the stalker. He had one match against Tito as the Widowmaker which was epic! That would have been a great feud.

[@dantegood2195]

I thought the widowmaker gimmick was terribly dull. In addition, I think Barry was miscast as a heel. His selling, bumping, offense and the fact girls liked him were all tailor made for a babyface role. Just didn’t have the skill sets to be a great heel

[@Thor-Orion]

@@dantegood2195 he had the skill set to be a solid heel, but he was definitely a natural baby face.

[@ddwchamp]

The wives had to make an adjustment when their hubby was injured and stayed home for several weeks or when he finally retired. Many of the boys who grew up in the country missed hunting & fishing.

[@jmg6012]

Not one WWF fan cared about Barry Windham in 1985. He was built for the NWA

[@gregorylevi1826]

Agreed

[@allenm.355]

Naw the U.S. Express was the truth

[@frankmc73]

Really?? Him and Rotundo were by far and away the top baby face tag team in 85.. 2 time tag champs just in that year.. and the song Real American was originally for them. May want to re-assess that comment..lol

[@billsfanbornnbred2091]

So true. I was a kid when him n Rotundo were Champs in wwf. Really caught on to him in Nwa as I learned I loved this shit. When he came back in wwf as widowmaker I thought it sucked. Deserve

[@gregtaylor7206]

Disagree. Big charisma.

[@jamiehaner1754]

Love the outro surf music!

[@Hollman36]

I definitely remember the thin, long blonde hair, flying lariat … sometime in the 80s I guess,

[@zrs1]

Hulk hogan then used their theme entrance "real American ".

[@Difrentstyles]

That works for me brother

[@kryptonianog9418]

Loved seeing Dusty, Black Jack Barry ,Kendall and Co at Eddie Graham sports stadium when I was a kid in the 80's

[@murraykelm5691]

Widow maker and Undertaker would have made a good team.

[@CP-kb1du]

So many greats quit Vince and that crazy schedule Hacksaw Butch Reed ....was slated to win the IC Title ..etc

[@djVenomouslove]

I wonder if Barry remembers racing from Cocoa Beach to the Eddie Graham being chased by FHP and stoping behind the Lil Champ store in Bithlo hiding from the FHP behind our Big 4 wheel drives as the cops flew by with their lights and sirens on We had a big laugh about this We had parked on the side and back of the building and were partying before the matches that night at the sports center He and I believe Steve Kerr where racing each other Anyways they hung out for awhile with us partying together and then when we went to the matches later on they had a match against each other this was 1983 or 84

[@gothard5]

You mean Steve Keirn?

[@djVenomouslove]

Yes my bad on remembering names and how to spell lol

[@shaunclifton5281]

Damn Good story !

[@sasser8487]

Suprised to see them hanging out before the matches, Kayfabe was alive and well back then

[@dacechasinghawk3910]

Barry brought up Mark Callous. Who the hell is Mark Callous? Whatever happened to that loser? LOL

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

I heard he died. A couple times.

[@oldschoolfan420]

McMahon called it the killer calendar...

[@MrK623]

You have to treat your talent a little better. This schedule just contributes to injuries, which leads to drug dependence to be able to work.

[@zt1053]

Had the US Express stayed together longer they would have been the Rock and Roll Express of the WWF

[@gregorylevi1826]

Naw, they were more like The Highflyers of The WWF.

[@ferox965]

Nothing wrong with that.

[@jeffnettleton3858]

I believe Barry's match in the AWA was part of the Pro Wrestling USA co-operative arrangement, where Crockett, Verne and Memphis put on joint shows and tv tapings to try to counter-program the WWF. It quickly fell apart, as Crockett was trying to sign away talent (and did, with the Road Warriors) and it ended up just another AWA show. Memphis already had a relationship with the AWA, since it was easier to book the AWA champion than the NWA champion, and that continued up to Lawler winning the title and the unification with WCCW, until the fall out over the Super Clash III payout. Jarrett splits off and redubs Memphis the USWA, running Memphis and Dallas, while Verne struggles alone. Lawler also did shots for Continental and a couple of other places, with the Unified belt, before it just became the USWA top title.

[@Sargebri]

They also worked Wrestlerock against the Fabulous Ones.

[@jonathanhensley6141]

Heard back then was 355 days a year on the road because that is was how the territories and all the others were

[@smof1]

I remember the Widowmaker suddenly vanishing when the survivor series came, and then later he was listed as being in the royle rumble and didn't show there either. Was a shame because I had gotten into his character and wanted to see where it went.

[@larrylightle9108]

Barry wighdam and Tommy rich are my two favorites of all time

[@catyear75]

I remember going to a card at MSG that Windham had originally been advertised for . I was SO disappointed- he was one of my favorites! I saw him live ( finally ) years later when he was in WCW . Then in WWF when he was briefly there as the “ Widowmaker” . He’s one of the all time greats !

[@mr.perksy]

Yes so odd he was in the WWF for three different runs and all were fairly short. Widowmaker being the shortest of the 3.

[@gregorylevi1826]

@@mr.perksy Barry really didn't like all that traveling WWF had wrestlers doing from one end of the country to the other. An also bouts of Canada in-between. 🇨🇦

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

Mike Rotunda's take on this was rather simple: "We were young and dumb. But also that schedule was brutal." I think he clearly understands what they both could have become had they been there when WWF really exploded around 1987-88. As it is they both had great careers and US Express could have been way bigger. But one really does wonder how big Barry could have become had he stayed in the WWF. He had it all.

[@freddyvidz]

Hogan should send him a gift every year on his birthday

[@stacyhamilton2619]

He didn't have it ALL. He didn't have Hogan's gift of gab. Can you imagine Barry talking his way into America's heart on the Tonight Show? Nope.

[@emilemarie3804]

I luvd barry, hi Barry I use to watch u wrestling when I was 9 yrs old luv u still 🥰🥰🥰🥰😘😘😘😘😘

[@audreycraig3362]

One of the best there was❤

[@johnreece5540]

Windham and Rotunda would have greatly enhanced the tag team scene with the world wrestling federation. Imagine the revenue being created with Rotunda and Windham facing the Bulldogs, Demolition, Killer Bees, Hart Foundation, The Rogues, The Dream Team, The Young Stallions.

[@officialbrucewayne]

Are you serious I love WWE and I love Barry Windham his matches were the best thing in the world to watch

[@dakidfromknowhere765]

This dude was great fr If I can compare him to anyone today it is Randy Orton Both of them move in the ring so effortlessly, like they not even trying hard and it looks great.

[@headninjadog8120]

One minute I was watching Barry and Mike wrestle Studd and Bundy - "Man that guy is almost as big as Studd! He must be 6'9" 🙃. Then nest thing I know Danny Spivey is there and I can't tell the difference. 😅

[@gregorylevi1826]

Same with me, took me awhile to realize I was looking at two different wrestlers.

[@yomommaahotoo264]

C'mon.....we wanna hear some Buzz Sawyer stories.

[@insurancemann1]

Barry is a tough interview

[@jameschilders7423]

Windham was a pure talent, trust me!

[@josephmiller9424]

Barry is one of the most under rated big men you never hear his name like Scott Hall is match ladder with HBK was great and Barry would go move for move with cruiserweight coming off the top rope he made it look smooth so maybe that's why I don't know Barry's actual height he must have been around 6/6 or 6/7 he was a little smaller then his DAD who doesn't get talked about being one of the giants that didn't look small next to Andrea The Giant.

[@yakadoodledongywongy8718]

Barry Windham is not what I expected lol.

[@DonMyers29497]

No knock on Barry but as a fan watching back then I'd notice he'd bounce around a lot or just be suddenly gone lol

[@gregorylevi1826]

Yeah, there was someone in NWA who said that once A woman caught his eye he take off for awhile and come back later. That's why he couldn't be trusted to be the NWA World Champion. I can't remember who told that, it was either JJ, Ric, Dusty, or Cornette.

[@apuestasfutbol]

Loved the Widowmaker 😮

[@CT-nb5lm]

Barry Windham is a LEGEND to Gen-X & BOOMERS. He's the son of Blackjack Mulilgan and was popular af during his tag team days & legendary Flair matches.. I looooved 80's wrestling when i was a kid.. We had all these weird cable channels at my best bros house cause his dad was like that. I stopped watching Wrestling right when Attitude era startedbut from the time i saw The Iron Shiek break Bob Backlunds back in that looong Camel Clutch to win the belt LIVE on tv= i was hooked.. lol we knew all this stuff pre internet too. Magazines & BS'ing with friends etc I LOVED THE small territory days of wrestling. Like FLOIDA= Von Erichs ~Memphis= Jerry LAWYER ~Th eBloody Alabama or wherever that gross Abdulah the butcher guy was. Road Warriors & Fabyulous Freebirds were cool & My favorite was Florida for sure. Gino Terette & Chris Evans & tht Von Erich family Texas i think was Dusty Rhodes. ~Minnesota was Harley Race & AWA Bockinkel*i think) Harley Race was my favorite when i saw him Slam Andre The GIant YEARS before Hulk Hogan did it i liked him.. He was sooo strong but without the LexLugar muscles. He slammed ANdre on the concrete too lol.. GenX FTW! Thank You Barry Windham, Know this, you are soo popular with Gen-X and our generation is when Wrestling peaked in popularity. Your Draw match with RicFlair mad ethe local news in SOuth Florida lol.

[@joegausch]

Some people just cant live in their own heads-they always have to be with someone or be somewhere. Like their going to miss something..

[@timsullivan4687]

HEY JAMES!!! (sorry bout all caps but I want to get your attention) YOU SHOULD TRY AND GET ROMEO ROSELLI AND ANTONIO THOMAS ON AND FINALLY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT LED TO THEIR FIRING FROM WWE

[@bendavidson7122]

Barry is My Favorite HORSEMAN!!!!!!!

[@vripper2678]

Wait. Did he just say howdy bray

[@Turner.1]

I liked him,I kept wondering, if he had,had an accident or something got hurt, doing a stunt

[@gregorylevi1826]

Barry probably tripped over A woman and forgot to come back. 😂🤣

[@gregorylevi1826]

Honestly, it took me sometime to realize Barry got replaced with Spivey, I really couldn't tell the difference. I just thought Barry put on weight, but eventually I started to see the difference.

[@johnreece5540]

Vincent Kennedy McMahon blew a great opportunity allowing Windham and Rotunda to leave.

[@1950Grendel]

Wyndham, Callaway, and Spivey - If you're 6'5" you're the little guy.

[@BriansVinylRecords1]

Worst thing of his departure- a great anthem called REAL AMERICAN got put on to you know who

[@1974ADHDer]

Strongly disagree, Barry and Mike were over as a tag team. They had a great run with the company. They both improved dramatically after leaving the WWF.

[@Jwjmcc]

He probably heard Vince talk about a stalker gimmick and ran for the hills

[@JuniorLewingKoo]

Windham should of remain a heel. I believe he tend to try to be a baby face on too much occasions. Windham is a natural heel.

[@q2rawgaming247]

Rotunda went home because he actually cracked on the road due to travel 💯

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

You know its bad when Rotunda cracks. He has been repeatedly praised as one of the most professional and dedicated workers of the era. His reliability was his biggest selling point according to Cornette and Ross.

[@radioVHS149]

​@@crownprincesebastianjohano7069Rotundo certainly craked when they told him he was going to portait an evil tax counselor.. 😆😂

[@adamgod4209]

Uncle Howdy

[@mathiasdahmen2550]

Beach Crying gold AEW Beachbreak WINDHAM vs Sullivan Barry vs Kevin

[@bipolarkeith1427]

rip barry

[@georgeplagianos6487]

Barry didn't pass away did he? You had a massive heart attack December 5th in Atlanta Georgia. It was taken out ofICU December 9th wonder how he's doing now it's already January 3rd 2023, hoping and praying that he vastly improves

[@mathiasdahmen2550]

EDGE Otis Undertaker Kane BRAY WYATT BRAUN AttacksAEW

[@mathiasdahmen2550]

Barry whindham vs Tyson Kidd Kevin Sullivan vs Edge Barry whindham vs EDGE Barry whindham vs SETH ROLLINS Barry whindham vs ROMAN REIGNS Barry whindham vs SETH ROLLINS Barry whindham vs Nick Stevens Barry whindham vs Bary hall Barry whindham vs Brodie HOLLAND Barry whindham vs Stephen MILNE World heavyweight championship WWE Championship INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP tag team championship Windham attacks Sullivan pink green milk hot dogs Green pink pink red saucer gold Sauer lcerb sauce Green eksy Hawthorn beach 2001 2023 GEELONG beach 2001 2023

[@garymunyak6753]

Barry signs a contract and immediately has an injury, Vince paying by the match doesn't mesh with that style

[@gregorylevi1826]

Vince wasn't giving out contracts back in those days.

[@garymunyak6753]

@@gregorylevi1826 I said that, Vince paid the the match. That's why Barry couldn't hang.

[@br549junior]

Barry looks like another heart.attack is in his future

[@paulsmith9192]

Did he leave the business finically good.not broke

[@acefromspace2727]

Barry married a wealthy woman.

[@gregorylevi1826]

I've never heard any stories of him struggling for money.

[@CrackTube1]

Make dem widows

[@Ishidanfarded2370]

Bray Wyatt's uncle

[@radioVHS149]

You mean an I.R.S agent is related to an UncleHowdy?.. and you tought Jerry Springer had some weird families on the show?.. 😆