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Fresh off his appearance at RAW Reunion, “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart sat down with the hosts of the Wrestling with History podcast to talk his career in WWE and beyond. Here are a few quotes from the show, with transcripts provided by the Wrestling with History podcast.
On working with WWE
I’ve been so blessed to be doing this my whole life. If it wasn’t for WWE I wouldn’t be sitting talking to you right now. (I’ve worked with) some of the greatest names in wrestling: Bret Hart, Neidhart, Hulk Hogan, Brutus Beefcake…The Honkytonk Man….I managed 23 different people. This past Wrestlemania I inducted the Honkytonk Man into the Hall of Fame, and Hillbilly Jim the year before. When I left the building I told them, ‘don’t forget me next year, I have 17 more! It’s so great doing the Hall of Fame every year.
On how his relationship started with WWE
I was working in Memphis and I received a phone call from Hillbilly Jim. He said that Howard Finkel saw my tapes and that they’d love to have me up there. I had been receiving calls from New York before that but I thought my guys were playing a rib on me. So I finally went to New York City and I got to work with King Kong Bundy and Greg the Hammer Valentine at the first Wrestlemania.
On AEW being able to compete with WWE
I’m not Kreskin, I can’t predict anything… Everything is about production. Kevin Dunn works magic with the WWE (television product). He can take 10,000 people and make it look like 20,000. A lot of promotions will take 10,000 people and make it look like 100. A lot of people have tried to knock WWE off but they haven’t done it yet. TNA tried but couldn’t do it; WCW did it and then finally had to throw the towel in. There is so much great talent all over the world…one good thing (about AEW) is that it gives everyone a chance to work.
On discovering AJ Styles
When WCW broke up, we started a company called the XWF. We shot it out of Universal Studios. Sable was the GM, Roddy Piper was the (commissioner), we had the Road Warriors, the Nasty Boys, Curt Henning, Hulk Hogan…but one of the talents that I found years before that (and wanted to bring in) was a guy named AJ Styles. We had him at 8 of our tapings because I thought this guy was unbelievable. I’m just happy to see him finally get with the WWE so the whole world can see what he can really do.
On his favorite WWE Talent
I love watching Seth Rollins, I love watching Roman Reigns, and I love watching the women – they are tremendous… I would like to team up Liv Morgan and Amber Rose and call them ‘If Looks Could Kill’. All of the girls are just so good; Charlotte Flair, Lacey Evans…they’re all so good.
