Pro Wrestling Insider: One on one with the Mouth of the South
The wrestling and entertainment brand of WWE causes people to have different opinions. One thing I don't think can be denied is the extensive history the company has and the wonderful production use of its video library.
The latest production is a DVD called “The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment.” It features in-depth interviews covering a long list of chapters in the growth of the company.
Relating to the project, I recently got to speak to legendary manager Jimmy Hart. He worked with WWE through part of the 1980s and '90s. He then went to work for WCW in 1994 and later returned to work with WWE on a legends deal once WWE acquired WCW.
I spoke to him on a number of topics. The full audio interview will be available Thursday on “Wrestling Reality” on TribLIVE Radio. The following are some highlights from the conversation:
LaBar: WWE is documenting its great 50 years where the business has gone. What is the most significant time period for you? WrestleMania 1?
Hart: Well, I was so grateful to be there coming from Memphis where every trip you made was car trips. ... I never dreamed I would have a chance to go to New York city and be on the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden. It was such a thrill just being there. All the people I got to manage: The Hart Foundation, Hulk (Hogan) and Brutus (The Barber Beefcake); the Honky Tonk Man ― the greatest Intercontinental Champion, if I don't say it, he'll probably hit me with a guitar. I've been so blessed to be with so many different people.
The years I was there were so exciting to me because I don't know if we really realized what we had going. The Saturday Nights Main Events and it was seven days a week with shows for us.
Can you imagine going into a dressing room, which I called my office at the time and you see Andre (the Giant) playing cards. Over in the corner, Honky Tonk Man tuning the guitar. Bobby Heenan telling jokes. Mr. Fuji playing tricks on people. Jake “The Snake” Roberts feeding the snake. The British Bulldogs taking care of Matilda. It was a who's who of wrestling back then. Everyone was so colorful.
LaBar: Say too much, say too little? Being a good manager.
Hart: I always felt like my guys were the Cadillac and the managers were like the hood ornament on the Cadillac. You weren't going to buy the Cadillac if that old hood ornament was gone. I made them special. They were my ride. They were my ticket. I made sure they knew that. I never did anything unless we went over it and they approved of what they wanted me to do.
I felt so lucky and when I went up there, I used to carry a cane, but Mr. Fuji already carried the cane. Vince (McMahon) came back from Japan one day and said this is going to be your new gimmick you take to the ring, and it was the megaphone. He let me paint it up, fix it up and I used it accordingly to what we needed it for. It played such a major part in my career which I didn't realize until now because whenever I do personal appearances, everyone wants to see the megaphone and take pictures with it.
I made sure everybody I had was special. If they needed me to jump in on the end of an interview ... and I always felt like we were short story tellers. Back in the day, no scripts for us. Everything was off the cuff. We would know if it was three minutes, two minutes or 30 seconds. We got the town in (the promo), who we were fighting in and anything else we had to mention.
LaBar: A lot of rumors lately with a guy you know so well, what's the future hold for Hulk Hogan?
Hart: I've known Hogan for 32 years. We date back to the Memphis territory days. We've done New York (WWE) together, our side projects together, Thunder in Paradise, Hogan Knows Best, and we've always been together. He knew I was doing this interview. He said you know the number one question they're going to say is what's your buddy Hulkster going to do? I said what do you want me to tell them?
He said you tell them I'm going to be at WrestleMania if I have to buy a ticket and sit at ringside. So I told him, Hulkster, that's exactly what I'm going to do. So let's hope everything works out and he'll be there.
