At the height of the Fabulous Freebirds’ fame in the 1980s, Michael P.S. Hayes, along with Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts, were on top of the world. becoming one of the first wrestling acts to use rock and roll as an entrance theme. Throughout and after that, Hayes struggled with alcohol abuse, as detailed “What’s your story? With Steph McMahon.”
“(I) probably (started drinking) at 11 or 12, but consistently. 14, 15: I drink, everything,” he said, before noting that he had been sober for two years. “When I was 14, I could go have a beer. Nobody ever, it was the 70s, nobody said anything.”
Hayes joked that he always wanted to grow up fast, and when it came to wrestling, he quickly started living off his gimmicks. “So if you’re going to be a wild rock ‘n’ roller, sign me up.” he exclaimed. “Yeah, it wasn’t hard.”
The veteran later claimed that he was able to hold down the job for so long because he was a “active drinker” and his appetite never bothered him. “We didn’t mix that much before the games. Sometimes we did. I have, but it wasn’t the norm.
Michael Hayes is struggling to get sober
Hayes also admitted how often Stephanie McMahon booked him into rehab to help him kick the habit, but admits that the only thing that got him over his addiction was his faith and willingness to try. “Whenever I went to rehab, I always had it in the back of my mind as to how and when I was going to start drinking again,” he said.
The WWE executive emphasized that a mindset change is critical to getting sober, and while it starts with knowing you need to make the change, it ends with wanting to make the change. The journey wasn’t easy, as Hayes recounted several wild parties in rehab before finally breaking through.
“I will say this. the last one I went to, in Riverside, was really, really great, and it was very helpful,” Hayes continued. “There was Shannon Moore, who used to wrestle for us. He helped me immensely. He really helped a lot of people. and he was in a really bad place.”
The veteran explained that he’s “California sober” and doesn’t want people to think he’s somehow become a saint.
If you use any quotation from this article, please write “What’s Your Story?” With Steph McMahon” and credit ah/t Wrestling Inc. for the transcript.
