Billy Jack Haynes : “Former Pro Wrestler Billy Jack Haynes Accused in Wife’s Shooting Death – KIRO 7 News Seattle”

PORTLAND, Ore. — Former professional wrestler Billy Jack Haynes, also known as William Albert Haynes, was arrested on Friday for the alleged murder of his wife in a Portland, Oregon neighborhood. The 70-year-old Haynes, who wrestled professionally from 1982 to 1986 in Florida, the Pacific Northwest, and the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), is now facing serious charges.

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According to the Willamette Week, Haynes is accused of killing his 85-year-old wife, Janette Becraft, on Thursday, and then engaging in an hourslong standoff with police in the Lents neighborhood of Portland.

The incident began when the Portland Police responded to a residence in the 6000 block of SE 100th Avenue after receiving a call at 9:52 a.m. PST, as reported by KATU-TV.

Upon arrival, the officers discovered that the suspect, later identified as Haynes, was inside the home. In response, they requested assistance from the Special Emergency Reaction Team and Crisis Negotiation Team to handle the situation.

After an intense standoff, Haynes eventually surrendered to authorities and is currently in police custody at an area hospital, according to the Willamette Week. Once released from the hospital, he will be booked into jail and formally charged.

Haynes, who adopted the persona of “Billy Jack” from the 1971 movie of the same name, was a popular wrestler in the 80s. He wrestled as a “babyface” in Florida and the Pacific Northwest before turning into a “heel” in 1990, generating feuds with several wrestlers.

One of Haynes’ notable appearances was at WrestleMania III on March 29, 1987, at the Pontiac Silverdome, where he competed in a Full Nelson Challenge Match against Hercules Hernandez.

Following his retirement from wrestling, Haynes remained in the Portland area and opened a gym as well as a regional wrestling promotion, as reported by the Willamette Week. In 2014, he filed a class action lawsuit against the WWE, claiming that the company failed to protect and educate its wrestlers about serious head injuries.

Unfortunately, Haynes’ lawsuit was unsuccessful, as reported by the Willamette Week.

Haynes, who retired from the ring in the early 1990s, has since been dealing with chronic knee injuries and alleged head injuries resulting from his wrestling career.

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