Professional wrestling is unpredictable. One day, you are at the centre of the lights and luxury, and the next day, you are pinned down in the dark corner of the forgotten. Michael Hayes is one such name in the WWE. Once behind the creative operations of the company, his sudden disappearance from the scene has raised eyebrows within the wrestling community.
Michael Hayes was popularly known in the WWE as part of the Fabulous Freebirds. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 as part of the same group. An important executive in the company, the WWE universe is still wondering: What happened to him? His disappearance from the scene and subsequent allegations have stirred the world for the veteran wrestler.
Why did Michael Hayes suddenly leave WWE?
Michael Hayes was much more in the WWE than a Hall of Famer. He was responsible for writing some of the most emphatic storylines in the company and took care of the talent management aspect of the WWE for a long time.
The earlier speculation behind the sudden disappearance of Hayes was unclear. However, it was widely speculated that Hayes might be dealing with some personal or medical issue that needed urgent attention. WWE universe expected him to return soon, but it wasn’t until February this year that his name emerged as a major talking point in the WWE.
Michael Hayes has been away from the company, along with Bruce Pichard, since November 6, 2024. His name popped up in the infamous Janel Grant lawsuit, in which former head of the WWE Vince McMahon and his associate John Laurinitis were already under investigation.
In February this year, Janel Grant, the former employee of the WWE, made amendments to her initial lawsuit. The 35-page addition to the initial accusation named former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar and Michael Hayes in the lawsuit. The accusations against Michael Haye were particularly appalling.
In the subsequent addition to her initial lawsuit, Janel Grant alleged that Vince McMahon ordered her to create customized pornographic content for ‘Hayes and his crew’. The amendment also includes text messages from Grant to Hayes asking if he’s enjoying the pictures and assuring him that she lives up to McMahon’s hype.
These allegations sent shockwaves through the WWE universe. The wrestling community is now wondering whether this was known to those in charge of the WWE back then, and whether he was sent on leave on purpose.
These speculations grew stronger, particularly because the employment status of the Hall of Famer is still unclear. Hayes is still officially a part of the WWE, and the company has not yet provided any clarification on whether he will be fired or return to work.
The emphatic career of Michael Hayes and his downfall
Michael Hayes’ legacy in the world of professional wrestling is unparalleled. He has worked in the WWE both inside and outside the ring. Hayes was the lead singer of the renowned band The Fabulous Freebirds, which transformed tag team wrestling alongside Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts.
The group established what is now known as the “Freebird Rule,” which allowed any two members to defend the tag titles. With victories like the WCW United States Championship and the NWA Tag Team Titles, Hayes also found success in the NWA and WCW. In the mid-1990s, he took on a new role in the WWE as Dok Hendrix, where he worked as a backstage commentator and interviewer.
A living legend in his own right, his biggest contribution was as a creative mind in the WWE. He was the creative brain behind some legendary feuds, like between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels and The Rock and Triple H. The world of wrestling has never been the same ever since his inclusion in the backstage operations of the WWE back in 1999.
Despite his impressive career, Michael Hayes now finds himself at risk of losing everything he’s built, most notably, the respect and admiration he’s earned from fans over the years. With his name being involved in Janel Grant’s lawsuit, how will his future pan out in the long run? Only time has the answer to this question.
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