Who Is The Honky Tonk Man? Age, Biography, and Wiki
The Honky Tonk Man, born in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 25, 1953, is a legendary figure in professional wrestling. He made a significant impact on the industry during the late 1980s and early 1990s with his charismatic persona and unique gimmick as a rock-and-roll inspired wrestler. Also known as Wayne Farris, he captivated audiences with his vibrant performances and catchy theme music, "Honky Tonk Man," securing his place as one of the most memorable characters in wrestling history. As of 2025, The Honky Tonk Man is 72 years old and remains an active presence in the wrestling community, making appearances at events and conventions.
| Occupation | Wrestlers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 25, 1953 |
| Age | 72 Years |
| Birth Place | Bolivar, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
The Honky Tonk Man's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
The Honky Tonk Man stands at an impressive height of 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) and weighs approximately 228 pounds (103 kg). His physique is a testament to his years in the ring, showcasing the strength and agility that allowed him to thrive in professional wrestling.
On July 27, 2008, Honky almost had the index finger of his right hand severed during a public appearance in Canada before an Ultimate Championship Wrestling show in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
He was making an appearance at Boston Pizza in Charlottetown several hours before the show when someone wanted to take a photo with him with both men clashing guitars. When the guitars collided, the neck of Honky's guitar turned and sliced into Honky's finger, almost severing it.
Honky was immediately taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where doctors stitched the finger and bandaged it. Honky made his appearance at the Ultimate Championship Wrestling show several hours later. He was unable to wrestle his scheduled match due to the injury and was replaced by Trash Canyon, whom he managed from ringside.
Honky, although injured and in obvious pain, sang his theme song twice in the ring.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
While The Honky Tonk Man has maintained a relatively private life when it comes to his personal relationships, it is known that he has been married. His wife, who has supported him throughout his wrestling career, often accompanies him to events. There have been no publicly known relationships or affairs aside from his marriage, allowing the focus to remain on his career and legacy.
On the June 13, 1987, episode of Superstars, in Buffalo,NY Honky defeated Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat for the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship; Honky reversed Steamboat's inside cradle and grabbed onto the bottom ropes for extra leverage to get the pinfall win. Butch Reed was originally scheduled to win the title, but was a no show.
Honky was originally meant to be a transitional champion to only hold on to the title for a short period of time, until Roberts failed several drug tests following WrestleMania and Honky was booked to remain champion for what would be a record-setting run.
In a later interview, Honky remarked that Hulk Hogan, whom he then had a friendly, collaborative relationship with outside of the ring, had helped give Honky a chance at the title after a coincidental meeting between Hogan, Honky, and Vince McMahon took place. Hogan stuck up for Honky, even though McMahon had someone else in mind.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, The Honky Tonk Man's net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. This wealth has been accumulated through various streams, including his wrestling career, appearances in independent promotions, merchandise sales, and a significant presence on the autograph circuit. His earnings from wrestling as well as his business ventures have contributed to his financial success.
Universal Wrestling Federation promoter Herb Abrams immediately set about signing Ferris to his growing roster of former WWF stars, adding to a burgeoning roster which also included recent signings Andre the Giant, Greg Valentine, and Rick Rude. He (as well as Rude and Valentine) made their debuts on the January 9, 1991 tapings of UWF Fury Hour.
Appearing as The Honkytonk Man, Ferris did an in-ring segment with Captain Lou Albano where he was prevented from singing for the fans in attendance. The WWF filed a lawsuit claiming trademark to the Honkytonk Man character, with the segment subsequently not airing.
This would also extend to Rick Rude and Greg Valentine, who would never actually appear on UWF television. Ferris left the promotion following a pay dispute with Abrams, and the latter refused to pay him or Valentine.
Career, Business, and Investments
The Honky Tonk Man made his professional wrestling debut in the late 1970s, but he rose to fame after joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in the mid-1980s. He held the Intercontinental Championship for an impressive 454 days, a record that stood for years. Beyond his wrestling career, he has explored opportunities in entertainment, including music and on-screen appearances.
In addition to wrestling, The Honky Tonk Man has invested in various small businesses, further diversifying his income. His experience in the industry led him to mentor upcoming wrestlers, passing on his knowledge and expertise.
He also performed for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994, and for Stampede Wrestling between 1982 and 1986. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2019 induction ceremony.
A heel for the majority of his active professional wrestling career, he has been described by Bleacher Report as "one of the greatest villains to ever grace a professional wrestling ring". His 454-day reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion was the longest reign in the history of the title until it was broken by Gunther in 2023.
Social Network
The Honky Tonk Man maintains a strong presence on social media platforms, connecting with fans and sharing updates about his life and career. You can find him on:
- Twitter: @honkytonkman
- Instagram: @thehonkytonkman
- Facebook: The Honky Tonk Man
To preserve his title, which could only be taken by pinfall or submission, Honky often got himself deliberately counted out or disqualified against challengers such as Steamboat, Billy Jack Haynes, Bruno Sammartino, and George "The Animal" Steele.
Also during this time, Honky began using a 50s-styled, themed entrance song performed by Farris (included on Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II, the WWF's second album of wrestling themes).
By September 1987, "Macho Man" Randy Savage was in the midst of a fan favorite turn and began challenging Honky for the title (after Honky had made comments about himself being "the greatest Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion of all time" and making disparaging comments about former champions, particularly Savage).
Although they had several matches beforehand – they had also met in 1986, when the then-villain Savage was champion and challenged by the fan favorite Honky – the first Savage-Honky match to air on national television was on the October 3, 1987 Saturday Night's Main Event XII, which was taped on September 23 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
During that match, Savage nearly defeated Honky until Honky's allies in Jimmy Hart's stable, The Hart Foundation (who had interfered throughout the match), ran into the ring and attacked Savage, getting Honky disqualified.
Savage's manager, Miss Elizabeth, attempted to stop the attack on Savage, but Honky shoved her down and she fled to the locker room; meanwhile, Honky completed his attempt to break his guitar over Savage's head.
Shortly thereafter, Miss Elizabeth returned with Savage's former rival, Hulk Hogan, who aided Savage in running off the heels (leading to the formation of The Mega Powers).
Honky continued his bitter feud against Savage, as Honky would frequently make advances toward Miss Elizabeth – including one such incident at the 1987 Slammy Awards – to agitate his challenger. The last high-profile Savage-Honky match, aired as part of the undercard to Hulk Hogan vs.
Andre the Giant on the 1988 The Main Event I, saw Honky lose by countout after Savage rammed him into the ring post on the outside of the ring.
Their feud was blown off in the weeks before WrestleMania IV through a series of tag team-style steel cage matches, involving various allies of both Honky and Savage on their respective sides and Savage usually emerging victorious.
Education
Although specific details about The Honky Tonk Man's educational background are limited, it is known that he pursued various interests before delving into professional wrestling. His dedication and commitment to the sport have been evident throughout his life, contributing to his success and longevity in the business.
In conclusion, The Honky Tonk Man remains a beloved figure in professional wrestling, with a storied career and a life full of achievements. His contributions to the industry will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
In August 2008, Honky appeared at Wrestling Supershows across Canada. Honky also made appearances in SWCW in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On October 24, 2008, he wrestled for Big Time Wrestling (his first match in four months), beating L'Empereur.
On January 7, 2009, he appeared in a World Pro Wrestling event in Colusa, California, teaming with Doink The Clown (a new masked version) to face WPW World Tag Team Champions The First Class Express, Jerry Grey and Mighty Henrich. The match ended in a no contest as Doink turned on Honky and the three triple-teamed him.
On May 7, 2009, Honky and Bushwacker Luke defeated "Kowboy" Mike Hughes and "Wildman" Gary Williams for the UCW Tag Team Championship. On January 31, 2011, Honky made his Dynamic Wrestling Alliance debut defeating Col. Jonathan James at the "Golden Opportunity II" event in Middletown, Ohio.
