WrestleZone Radio is proud present this exclusive interview with WWE Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Jim’s interview is to promote his upcoming appearance for Legends of Wrestling this Saturday in Miami, Fl.
You can find the full audio from the interview as well as some transcribed quotes from it below:
On whether he thinks the fans, fellow wrestlers and WWE are ready to forgive Hulk Hogan and allow him to continue working in the pro wrestling business:
JD: Yeah, I would hope so. I think it was a shame that the guy got branded like that. I know Hulk Hogan, he’s a friend of mine and the guy is definitely not a racist. I would hate to have people tape me at home when I go off about something (laughs). I cover everybody! I’m like Blazing Saddles! (Laughs) Ask everybody! To tape some guy at home saying something he said seven or eight years ago and blowing it totally out of proportion. The way the WWE reacted… I was kind of… I felt sorry for the guy. You would hope that the WWE would bring him back. The guy said something in the heat of the moment. Who doesn’t?
On becoming close friends with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper on the WWE Network show Legend’s House:
JD: When I got there they said, “Everybody has to have a roommate.” I’m like, “I haven’t had a roommate since college! You got to be kidding.” They said, “You’re rooming with Piper!” I’m like, “Oh, Jesus!” I didn’t really know Piper. The first two days were just like, “Yeah? How you doing, buddy?” Funny, we hit it off. The fans called it a “Bromance”. We became very close in a short period of time. Our families became close. Obviously, our hearts were broken just like every body else with his sudden passing.
On whether or not we could see him pop up in this Sunday’s Royal Rumble match:
JD: You never know. With WWE I’ve had them not be able to get you a ticket so they get you a first class. The most expensive ticket because it’s the day of the deal. You get on the plane. You get to the show and by the time you get there it’s changed. You never know what’s going to happen. Everything is very fluid in wrestling. I figure what a lot of folks don’t understand about wrestling is how competitive the business is. I do a lot of Comic-Cons and autograph sessions and stuff. They say, “My son really wants to be a wrestler!” I say, “Well, that’s great. Chase your dreams because who ever would have thought Daniel Bryan would become a star?” There’s a guy that had “it”. He’s got the desire and the heart. Look at him. They said, “There’s no way this guy is going to make it.” He worked hard enough to get it done. I say, “Chase your dream but realize there’s 1,500 NFL players playing this year. 1,000 NBA players. There’s maybe, what? 100-110 on the WWE roster?” It’s an extremely competitive business. We all compete. We all compete for the same money. We’re real good friends. (Laughs)
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During the interview some of the topics Jim talks candidly about include:
- How today’s pro wrestling style compares to the pro wrestling style from his generation
- His upcoming stand up comedy shows
- Performing for the troops in conjunction with Wounded Warriors
- Whether or not he thinks fans and the public are willing to give Hulk Hogan another chance
- Becoming close friends with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper on the set of Legend’s House
- His thoughts on the other Legends on Legend’s House
- Whether or not he has been contacted about appearing at this Sunday’s Royal Rumble PPV
- Daniel Bryan’s success against all odds
- Whether or not he thought that the Royal Rumble match would become the phenomenon it is after he won the first one ever
- How not making it in the NFL led to his pro wrestling career
- His feelings on the concussion issues in the NFL and WWE
- If he is a fan of how pro wrestling training has changed
- His love of chess
- The surprising name who he used to play chess with backstage at shows
- More…
We will have more transcribed quotes from Jim’s interview with WrestleZone Radio coming out later this week. You can listen to the full archives for WrestleZone Radio including our recent three part interview series with Mick Foley in the embedded audio player below:
