A huge thank you goes out to Toonie Bet (https://tooniebet.ca/ca/) for helping set up this special all-wrestling edition of the Ringside/Rinkside podcast. In this edition, Haley Taylor Simon interviewed WWE Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
The pride of Glens Falls, New York, Duggan was a local high school football star and then a standout at SMU. When injuries prevented his NFL dreams from becoming reality, Duggan accepted an invitation from the legendary Jack Adkisson (Fritz Von Erich) to break into pro wrestling.
Back in the old-school territory days, everyone had to pay dues even football stars like Duggan, Ernie Ladd, Merced Solis (Tito Santana) and Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Hacksaw was not an overnight sensation in the business. Like most he started out as enhancement talent. One of his early matches saw him do a WWF television taping job for a young Hulk Hogan. (The match can still be found on YouTube).
When he got his first territory pushes, Duggan worked as a heel. It took a few more years for his babyface persona to become a calling card. However, being the “good guy” is much more in line with Duggan’s natural personality. He’s as friendly as he is charismatic (whether he’s wielding a 2X4 of not!)
In this special interview, the WWE Hall of Famer sits down with Haley for a rare and heartfelt conversation. He opens up about his storied journey through the world of professional wrestling. From his early days breaking into the business to his greatest national (and international) Fame in WWF/WWE, Duggan never took success — or the fans — for granted.
Hacksaw shares the grit, determination, and the ultra-energetic personality that helped shape his legendary career. He dives deep into what it was really like to be a heel during the height of wrestling’s territory days. Duggan never went looking for real-life fights. However, he never back down from one. Anyone who made the mistake of forcing a battle on Duggan immediately regretted that decision. Left to his own devices, few wrestlers were friendlier or more approachable than Jim Duggan.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan came of age in a time when characters blurred the line between reality and performance. In his era, Kayfabe wasn’t just expected. it was sacred.
For Hacksaw’s collectibles, click here.
