History Wrestling / HonkyTonkMan

[[quoteright:202:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thehonkytonkman_2478.jpg]]

Having wrestled in various independent leagues since 1978, The Honky Tonk Man made his debut in the WWF in 1986. Originally planned to be a fan-favorite face, the initial negative reaction to the character caused a reinvention of the character as a smarmy heel, managed by Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart. His first major feud would be against [[Wrestling/JakeRoberts Jake "The Snake" Roberts]]. Of note, during this feud, according to Roberts, Honky Tonk Man was supposed to hit him with a gimmicked balsa wood guitar. Roberts believes Farris accidentally grabbed a real, non-gimmicked guitar and smashed it across Roberts' back, injuring him, and starting him on his dependence of prescription pain medication. Farris disputes this.

* DefeatMeansFriendship: With Lord Zoltan, after he declared his manager, Mayor Mystery, a failure for costing him a victory to Honky Tonk Man.

* DefeatMeansFriendship: With Lord Zoltan, after he declared his manager, Mayor Mystery, a failure for losing to Honky Tonk Man.

* LongRunner: Held the IC title for '''454 days''' (June 2, 1987 - August 29, 1988), [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WWE_Intercontinental_Champions which]] '''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WWE_Intercontinental_Champions still]]''' [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WWE_Intercontinental_Champions stands to this day (December 4, 2013) as the longest IC title reign in WWE history.]]

Roy Wayne Ferris, better known by his stage name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American pro wrestler, best known for his run in the then-WWF playing the character of a cocky ElvisImpersonator.

Throughout 1989 and 1990, Honky Tonk Man would make appearances as a mid-card wrestler and teaming up with Wrestling/GregValentine as the "Rhythm and Blues" tag team. He would also on occasion serve as a heel color-commentator, until leaving the company in January 1991. Ferris would bounce around various other promotions, including a short stint in WCW, before returning to WWF as a color commentator and manager in 1997. From that point on, Ferris would make sporadic appearance on WWF programmings, including at the 1998 and 2001 Royal Rumble as a JokeCharacter entry, as well as numerous appearances at independent promotions (including one Ultimate Champion Wrestling event where an accident at a photo-op nearly severed Ferris' right index finger).

Honky Tonk Man was originally scheduled to take on Beefcake at the 1988 Summerslam Pay-Per-View event. However, right before the event, Beefcake was written into a feud against "Outlaw" Ron Bass, and was to be replaced in the match by a mystery opponent. That mystery opponent would end up being the then-red-hot Wrestling/UltimateWarrior, who defeated Honky Tonk Man for the belt in a SquashMatch that only lasted 31 seconds.

** Midnight Express Inc.

Throughout 1989 and 1990, Honky Tonk Man would make appearances as a mid-card wrestler and teaming up with Greg Valentine as the "Rhythm and Blues" tag team. He would also on occasion serve as a heel color-commentator, until leaving the company in January 1991. Ferris would bounce around various other promotions, including a short stint in WCW, before returning to WWF as a color commentator and manager in 1997. From that point on, Ferris would make sporadic appearance on WWF programmings, including at the 1998 and 2001 Royal Rumble as a JokeCharacter entry, as well as numerous appearances at independent promotions (including one Ultimate Champion Wrestling event where an accident at a photo-op nearly severed Ferris' right index finger).

In 1987, Honky Tonk Man would defeat [[Wrestling/RickySteamboat Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat]] for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html WWF Intercontinental title]] (by shadily using the bottom ropes for extra leverage on his pin). He would remain Intercontinental Champ for the next year and three months, fending off challenges from wrestlers such as [[Wrestling/RandySavage Randy "Macho Man" Savage]] [[Wrestling/GeorgeSteele George "The Animal" Steele]], and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake (often by forcing a loss by disqualification or count-out whereupon the belt would not switch hands).

* WouldHitAGirl: Pushed '''[[Characters/WWEDivas Elizabeth]]''' down right before he smashed Randy over the head with a guitar, at a time when WWE guys NEVER hit women, and ESPECIALLY not Liz.

** (in Memphis): The First Family, led by Jimmy Hart

** (in Mid-South): Devastation Inc.

* Website/{{WrestleCrap}}:
** Rhythm and Blues
** Rockabilly (Billy Gunn as his protégé.)

In 1987, Honky Tonk Man would defeat [[Wrestling/RickySteamboat Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat]] for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html WWF Intercontinental title]] (by shadily using the bottom ropes for extra leverage on his pin). He would remain Intercontinental Champ for the next year and three months, fending off challenges from wrestlers such as [[Wrestling/RandySavage Randy "Macho Man" Savage]] George "The Animal" Steele, and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake (often by forcing a loss by disqualification or count-out whereupon the belt would not switch hands).

* ArchEnemy: Jake Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage

** (in Stampede): Foley's[[note]]John Foley, no relation to those [[Wrestling/JimRoss other]] [[Wrestling/MickFoley guys]][[/note]] Army

----

Roy Wayne Ferris, better known by his stage name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American pro wrestler, best known for his run in the then-WWF playing the character of a cocky ElvisImpersonator.

Having wrestled in various independent leagues since 1978, The Honky Tonk Man made his debut in the WWF in 1986. Originally planned to be a fan-favorite face, the initial negative reaction to the character caused a reinvention of the character as a smarmy heel, managed by Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart. His first major feud would be against Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Of note, during this feud, according to Roberts, Honky Tonk Man was supposed to hit him with a gimmicked balsa wood guitar. Roberts believes Farris accidentally grabbed a real, non-gimmicked guitar and smashed it across Roberts' back, injuring him, and starting him on his dependence of prescription pain medication. Farris disputes this.

In 1987, Honky Tonk Man would defeat Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat for the WWF Intercontinental title (by shadily using the bottom ropes for extra leverage on his pin). He would remain Intercontinental Champ for the next year and three months, fending off challenges from wrestlers such as MachoManRandySavage, George "The Animal" Steele, and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake (often by forcing a loss by disqualification or count-out whereupon the belt would not switch hands).

Honky Tonk Man was originally scheduled to take on Beefcake at the 1988 Summerslam Pay-Per-View event. However, right before the event, Beefcake was written into a feud against "Outlaw" Ron Bass, and was to be replaced in the match by a mystery opponent. That mystery opponent would end up being the then-red-hot UltimateWarrior, who defeated Honky Tonk Man for the belt in a SquashMatch that only lasted 31 seconds.