The following are highlights from a recent interview with WWE Hall Of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan:
On winning the first ever WWE Royal Rumble match: “It was really exciting and that is kind of my claim to fame, something a lot of people always remember is the winner of the first ever Royal Rumble match. I was never World Champion, Tag Team Champion or Intercontinental Champion. Winning that first ever Royal Rumble match was a good spot for me, a nice place to hang my hat.”
On comparing working for Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff: “There is no real comparison, that is like comparing a diamond and a chunk of coal. Vince McMahon is an absolute master, he is a brilliant man, you take a look at going up against WCW, Ted Turner and that whole organisation. Turner gave us all no cut contracts; Hulk Hogan, Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake, Bret Hart, and myself all went to WCW. Vince then took all the cast offs like Triple H and Steve Austin and turned them into global superstars and once again he was on top. You’ve got to give Vince credit, he is not your friend, if you want a friend go buy a puppy, Vince is your boss. He will use you and make you money but when the time is right he will flush you down the toilet and won’t think twice about it, welcome to the real world.”
On current WWE Superstars he enjoys watching: “I’ve always thought Dolph Ziggler would be a hot talent from way back when he was still part of the Spirit Squad. Ryback is almost like a throwback to back in the day and I would like to see him doing well. Daniel Bryan, you’ve got to give the guy credit, to look at where he has come from you’ve got to be impressed where he has taken himself. Then of course you’ve got a guy like CM Punk, when I first met Punk I knew he was a great talent but I didn’t think he would ever blossom to be the superstar he has become.”
On what it was like filming WWE’s “Legends House” reality show: “The house was in Palm Springs, California and it was a great opportunity to take part in something like that. I was roommates with Rowdy Roddy Piper for five weeks. You get to know a guy pretty well after spending five weeks with them, the first week we just eye-balled each other but by the second week it was like summer camp. Hillbilly Jim was a renaissance man, he cooks, he sings, reads music, plays music, he was quite a character. Howard Finkel, Pat Patterson were all great. I didn’t get on too well with Tony Atlas, we almost had two fist fights over the five week period. Overall we all had a lot of fun!”
Check out the complete interview online at Wrestling101.com.
