Michael Hayes says he is not done going under the knife. The WWE producer and Freebirds legend revealed on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story? podcast that he needs to undergo more surgeries after already enduring multiple joint replacements in recent years.
Hayes, 67, detailed a timeline of operations during the conversation, explaining that he had his hip replaced in 2020 before undergoing additional procedures afterward. According to Ringside News, Hayes said he is growing tired of the painful recoveries that accompany each surgery, a reflection of the physical toll decades in the wrestling business have taken on his body.
The appearance marked an extensive sit-down between Hayes and McMahon, who has used her podcast to dig into the personal and professional histories of wrestling figures. For Hayes, the discussion offered a rare, candid look at the ongoing health challenges he has faced away from the WWE production truck, where he has long been a trusted backstage voice shaping televised matches and storylines.
Specific details about which joints or areas will require the upcoming surgeries, along with timing, were not disclosed in the excerpts provided from the podcast. Hayes did not indicate any plans to step back from his WWE producer role as he prepares for further treatment.
Hayes rose to prominence as a member of the Fabulous Freebirds alongside Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts, becoming one of the most recognizable factions in Southern wrestling before transitioning into a long and influential career behind the scenes in WWE. His ongoing health struggles underscore the physical price many veteran performers and producers continue to pay long after their in-ring careers have wound down.
No further comment from WWE regarding Hayes’ medical situation or any adjustments to his production duties has been reported. We Are Wrestling will continue to follow updates on Hayes’ recovery as more information becomes available.
