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http://kayfabememories.com/Stories/mickkarch/mk22.htm

It wasn't all that long ago that one of the AWA's top technical
wrestlers from the 70's, Lord Alfred Hayes, was a strapping, athletic,
ruggedly handsome star of the squared circle. His AWA run took him
from managerial heel/wrestler crowd favorite, from being in the corner
of the AWA's first Super Destroyer (Don Jardine) and then Super
Destroyers II and III (Bob "Sgt. Slaughter" Remus and Neil Guay,
respectively). At the end of his lordship's AWA career, he did the job
to Bobby Heenan in a "Loser Leaves the AWA" match, bidding the fans
goodbye with a simple, "au revoir."

>From there, Alfred had his lengthy stint in the WWF as a color
commentator and also as co-host of "TNT," where more often that not,
he was a comedic foil to various heels. He was surprisingly and
unceremoniously released by the WWF in a rather disloyal
budget-cutting measure.

About six years ago, I had the opportunity to work with Alfred as he
and I were the broadcast team for the now-defunct American Wrestling
Federation out of Tampa. We did one live broadcast together and then
we'd fly into Tampa every month to do voice-overs for the syndicated,
albeit short-lived, AWF "Warriors of Wrestling." The past few years
have not been very kind to Alfred. He was suffering from terrible
arthritis to begin with, and then sustained horrible injuries when he
was struck by a car a few years ago. The damage was so severe that he
had to have a few inches removed from his spine, which left him much
shorter and walking with great difficulty. When I first saw him after
his departure from the WWF, I was dismayed to see the physical toll
that had ravaged his once-stocky, muscular frame.

Unfortunately, the physical decline has continued. He gets around by
wheelchair now, considerably more frail than before. But that's where
the negativity ends. He is as sharp as a tack. He will tell stories
about his days in the business and his life on the road that will
absolute captivate his audience. He is so knowledgeable, so full of
wit and wisdom, it is unbelievable. To this day, he has a hearty belly
laugh that is contagious. He is a learned man with wonderful tales to
tell about his stops literally all over the world.

I well remember how much fun he and I had doing those voice-overs. One
particular verbal volley comes to mind. He was making mention of a
76-year old woman that he wanted to say 'hello' to back in England. My
response to him was, "are you dating younger women again??"

Every time I see him at Cauliflower Alley, it is a great kick. He
always greets me with that twinkle in his eye and his favorite tag
line to me:  "How's it going, Starchie?"

I'm honored to know him. He truly is a wrestling legend, and though he
was a "heel" much of his career, he is definitely one of life's
honest-to-goodness, real life "babyfaces."


--- Internet Rex 2.29