'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Hillbilly Jim did a recent interview with TMZ Sports. They discussed the news of the week where Hillbilly Jim was announced as part of the 2018 class for the WWE Hall of Fame, and before that call, Jim stated he was planning on skipping the weekend festivities altogether.
In case you didn't know...
Hillbilly Jim got his start in the WWF in 1984 when he appeared on Piper's Pit. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper offered to train Hillbilly Jim to be a professional wrestler, but instead, Jim decided he wanted to be trained by Hulk Hogan instead of the heel.
The heart of the matter
Hillbilly Jim told TMZ Sports that being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame was the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae. He wasn't expecting the call and says it's "beyond belief" that is going to be immortalized in New Orleans.
Jim also mentioned that the WWE had been trying to reach him over the past few days, but he didn't answer the call. He picked up the phone to let them know he wouldn't be making it to New Orleans due to rough travel this year, but that was when he found out he was going to go into the Hall of Fame.
He would explain the conversation he had with the WWE below:
"So I said, 'I'm just going to take off a year or so.' And I was telling him that, I said, 'Listen, I appreciate it, tell everybody to have a great time in New Orleans and tell the boys hello, and I'm going to take off.' He said, 'Well Jim that's good but Vince McMahon wants you to go into the Hall of Fame.' I actually was not expecting this because this was the last thing on my mind. Then all the memories and ramifications of this started floating in my brain, and it's just been crazy."
The entire interview can be seen below:
What's next?
Hillbilly Jim will be travelling to New Orleans for the Hall of Fame ceremony. It takes place on the Friday before WrestleMania, i.e., 6 April.
Author's take
I think it is safe to say that Hillbilly Jim is happy he took that call now. Looking at the interviews he's done this week, you can tell how genuinely happy he is with this honour.
Though he didn't win championships in the WWE, his worth was more in helping the WWF grow into mainstream popularity in the 1980s. He's one of the good guys in professional wrestling, and I'm glad he's going into the Hall of Fame. I cannot wait to hear his speech.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
