Tag: Barry Windham

U.S. Express To Be Inducted To The 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame

The U.S. Express, the tag team of Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham, are entering the WWE Hall of Fame. The news was first reported by the website The Ringer, with a video posted by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque on social media of him sharing the news with Rotunda and Windham.

In the video, Levesque discussed Windham and Rotunda’s roles at the inaugural WrestleMania, where they defended the then-World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championships against The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. Levesque acknowledged their significant contributions to WWE’s success before informing them of their induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

“It’s been a great journey, you know,” said a teary-eyed Rotunda. “I mean, watching WWE grow, so it’s pretty damn cool to be part of it in any aspect.”

In the early 1980s, Rotunda and Windham, the respective father and uncle of deceased WWE superstar Bray Wyatt, were one of wrestling’s hottest acts. The duo was especially popular in Florida, where they first debuted before steamrolling their way into WWE as the U.S. Express in 1984.

Under the tutelage of legendary manager Capt. Lou Albano, Rotunda and Windham won the company’s historic tag team titles on two occasions. They first dethroned the team of Dick Murdoch and Adrian Adonis. Windham and Rotunda claimed the titles a second-time months after they dropped them to the Sheik and Volkoff at Madison Square Garden during the inaugural WrestleMania.

The brother-in-law combo will join Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano as part of the 2024 Hall of Fame class. For Windham, this marks his second induction, having been previously honored in 2012 as part of the Four Horsemen stable.

The induction ceremony will take place after the April 5 SmackDown at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, just before night one of WrestleMania at Lincoln Financial Field.

Source: SB Nation

Barry Windham Out of ICU

After suffering a heart attack at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last week, Barry Windham is now out of ICU, according to his niece Mika Rotunda.

Rotunda wrote:

“Thank you to all who have reached out, prayed, contributed and sent well wishes to my Uncle Barry this week.

I wanted to give an update! I’m grateful to say he is stabilized & out of ICU. Talking & able to stand.

Thanks again everyone! There absolutely is power in prayer.”

A GoFundMe to help Windham with medical expenses has raised nearly $30,000 as of this writing. Windham doesn’t have health insurance.

https://twitter.com/MikaRotunda/status/1601201642941997056

Source: EWrestlingNews

Barry Windham Hospitalized After Suffering A Heart Attack

Barry Windham, the uncle of Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas, is in the hospital. 

The WWE Hall Of Famer suffered a heart attack over the weekend while traveling through the Atlanta airport. 

Barry’s niece Mika Rotunda announced the news when she set up a GoFund Me Campaign for him: 

“With deep sadness I regret to inform that my uncle, WWE Hall of Famer, Barry Windham suffered a massive heart attack Friday evening. While traveling through the Atlanta airport, his darkest fear became a horrific reality as he went into cardiac arrest. He is currently in the ICU and has undergone an emergency procedure to save his life. As a family, we are impatiently waiting to hear that he will be okay. But as of now, the future is uncertain.

As is the future for many in his position. And for those who have formerly devoted their lives to their craft. Barry Windham, has an iconically, decorated resume as an American professional wrestler. He traveled all over the world for decades, entertaining people of all ages with his athleticism and undeniable charisma.

After those countless years of wrestling matches, traveling and entertaining world wide, he experienced a number of taxing injuries and ended up undergoing multiple surgeries. That led to other health complications. Barry hung his boots for the last time in the early 2000’s. Since then he has been limited with work due to his medical history as well as left without health insurance.

To face these times is one of great stress and hardship. As well as one that comes with extensive medical expenses he is taking on. That is overwhelming to say the least.

We are politely asking for any increment of financial assistance to help cover his medical expenses and bills and see him through this time.”

Source: EWrestlingNews