EXCLUSIVE: “Nobody punched me, spit on me” – Hacksaw Jim Duggan Explains The Origin Behind His Iconic 2×4

Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s 2×4 was quite iconic in itself, but it became a necessity for the WWE Hall of Famer. He explained why he had to carry the piece of wood to the ring.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda Wrestling, Duggan detailed the hostility he had to face from fans while making his way to the ring. Hence, he started carrying the 2×4 after taking Bruiser Brody’s advice into consideration.

“Well, actually, the 2×4 came from necessity because back when I broke wrestling before it was sports entertainment. Back then, you think it’s fake? Sign the waiver, you come up in the ring with us and we’ll show you if it’s fake or not tough guy. So every night, you know, just getting back and forth to the ring was dangerous. You know, you’d be in some little armour. They have little tiny ropes, the people would spit at you, punch at you, and kick at you. And we’re in this small town out in West Texas. I’m sitting back in the dressing room, all covered with bruises from the fans, rethinking my career choice and Bruiser Brody, good friend of mine, Brody goes, ‘Duggan, if you carry something to the ring, carry something you can use’. Forget the feathered bows and sequin robes. And I was like, ‘Well, here’s a piece of wood’, and I came out yelling, waving that 2×4. It was like parting the Red Sea. I got to the ring, nobody touched me at all, nobody punched me, spit on me, and kicked at me,” said Jim Duggan.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s Career Was Almost Over After His 1987 Arrest

Hacksaw Jim Duggan and The Iron Sheik were arrested together in 1987. During the same conversation, Duggan explained the consequences he had to face after the arrest.

He revealed his conversation with Vince McMahon and claimed that the incident almost k*lled his career.

“It almost k*lled my career, brother. But the deal was, we were wrestling in Asbury Park, I flew in to Newark. I’m new to the territory, so I didn’t really know when he [The Iron Sheik] said, ‘Give me a ride’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, jump in’. So, even though we were not friends, we were married at the hip for infamy. You can’t go Sheik without going Duggan, man. It was a horrible, horrible mistake. After we got arrested, I called Vince McMahon up, and I’ll remember to the day I die because now the company is just starting to take off. WrestleMania 3, and just weeks before, I’m in front of 93,000 people cheering ‘USA’. I call Vince, I remember what he said to me. He goes, ‘Jim, what have you done to us?’ I’m like, ‘Vince, I’m embarrassed and ashamed’. He says, ‘Turn your tickets in and go home’. Boom! So I went from the penthouse to the shed house in one move, boom boom. It was a lucky survive it career-wise, it would’ve killed a lot of guys’ careers. I was lucky to survive it,” added Jim Duggan.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan called it a career in 2019, ending his in-ring career almost 7 years ago.

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit the source and give an H/T to Sportskeeda for the transcription.

Edited by Soumik Datta