Jimmy Hart - Few people would argue that Jimmy Hart is one of the most colorful, most memorable, and most iconic figures ever to be associated with the world of wrestling. Just mention a megaphone to a group of wrestling fans and see the reaction you get.

Jimmy Hart was born on January 1, 1944 in Jackson, Mississippi. As a young boy, Jimmy’s family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. With Memphis being a hotbed of musical talent, it wasn’t long before Jimmy felt the call as well. While most people recognize Hart as a “rassling manager” (as Jimmy would say), many are unaware of his talents as both as a singer and songwriter. Hart joined several groups over the years, finally striking it big as a member of The Gentrys. The Gentrys sold a million copies of their hit record, “Keep on Dancin’,” an infectious tune that has remained a staple of oldies radio stations across the country. The Gentrys had the opportunity to tour the nation with Dick Clark and artists like Sonny & Cher and The Beach Boys.

While music is Jimmy’s first love, he was always a fan of wrestling. Memphis Wrestling was (and is) famous for its action, intrigue, personalities, and story lines. It was Jimmy’s exposure as lead singer for The Gentrys that brought him to the attention of music lover and wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler. Hart and Lawler had many epic battles during their long running feud, spawning encounters that are still talked about to this day.

One of Hart and Lawler’s most famous interactions was related to Jimmy’s association with the late Andy Kaufman. Andy was a stand-up comedian who was on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live and also well known for his role as Latka, the foreign mechanic on the hit television show Taxi.

Andy toured the country touting himself as the “inter-gender” wrestling champion, known for wrestling (and defeating) women. Jerry Lawler voiced his opinion on this so called “champion” and then the fireworks began. When the feud developed between Lawler and Kaufman, Jimmy Hart was right there in the middle. During this infamous feud, Lawler battled Kaufman, Kaufman battled Hart, and Hart & Kaufman battled Lawler.

Kaufman and Lawler’s feud made it an exciting time for wrestlers and fans alike, but it wasn’t well known outside of the Memphis Wrestling community. This all changed when Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman appeared on an infamous episode of David Letterman’s Late Night program. During the appearance, Lawler slapped Kaufman and Kaufman ensued into an expletive filled tirade. The drama that took place on Letterman’s show had ever been witnessed on television. Once people were able to witness the dynamic relationship between Jimmy Hart, Jerry Lawler, and Andy Kaufman, the three were immediately thrust into the national spotlight.

Thanks to that spotlight, and a good word from friends Hillbilly Jim and Howard Finkel, Hart caught the attention of Vince McMahon and the WWF. At first, Jimmy would not take McMahon’s calls, thinking they were a prank. Once he realized they were indeed real, and he actually spoke with Mr. McMahon, Jimmy found himself as a manager in the big time-the WWF. His association with Vince McMahon still exists today, and Jimmy was named to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Jimmy does not burn bridges. Throughout the years, he has worked not only with the WWF/WWE, but also with WCW, Memphis Wrestling, TNA, and of course the XWF. His reputation as one of the wrestling world’s greatest managers is unparalleled. Wrestlers managed by Jimmy Hart include: Brutus Beefcake, King Kong Bundy, Ric Flair, The Hart Foundation, The Iron Sheik, The Honky Tonk Man, Jerry Lawler, Money Incorporated, The Nasty Boys, Dino Bravo, Adrian Adonis, The Funk Brothers, The Giant, The Rougeau Brothers, The Dungeon of Doom, Austin Idol, Masao Ito, Kamala, Konnan, Rick Rude, The First Family, Big Boss Man, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, and of course, the immortal Hulk Hogan.

Jimmy’s friendship with Hulk Hogan is legendary. He has appeared with Hulk on the television shows Thunder in Paradise, Baywatch, Hogan Knows Best, and Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Wrestling, currently airing on the CMT network.

Music has always remained a part of Jimmy’s life, as he has composed a number of theme songs for wrestlers. Hart was a big part of the wrestling albums Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band and The Wrestling Album. Additionally, Jimmy has composed music for Hulk Hogan’s shows.

Jimmy Hart has touched many lives, and will always be “The Mouth of the South.” He has been a heel and a face and been called “The Colonel.” While his wrestling personality is a huge part of the man he is today, to him he’s just Jimmy Hart- a regular guy from Memphis. Jimmy is proud of his many accomplishments, but considers his marriage to his wife of more than 35 years and the children they share, the most important of them all. He is also extremely proud of his son, Jimmy Hart, Jr., who recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Jimmy Hart is beloved by legions of fans and by anybody whose life he has touched. When he left Memphis, one fan said that Jimmy leaving was “like Barney Fife leaving Mayberry and Sheriff Taylor.”

The XWF would not exist today without the efforts of Jimmy Hart, and for that we are forever grateful. This sounds like a eulogy, but it is only a beginning. As Jimmy is fond of saying “Don’t bring us flowers, baby, because we ain’t dead yet!”

Curt Hennig- was born a wrestler on March, 28th 1958 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father is legendary Hall of Fame Wrestler, Larry “The Axe” Hennig. With genes like that, his future was almost predestined.

At the age of twelve, Curt began to learn the ropes of the family business. He began his career in the AWA in 1979 as a tag team wrestler, teaming with Scott Hall to win the AWA World Tag Team Championship. Hennig had two stints with the AWA, from 1979 to 1982, and again from 1984 to 1988. Between the two AWA stints, Curt was a member of the WWE for the first time, teaming with Eddie Gilbert, son of wrestling legend Tommy Gilbert.

Upon his return to the WWE in 1988, “Mr. Perfect” was born, and the legend grew. His famous promotional clips were filmed during this time, showing how perfect “Mr. Perfect” was. The clips were designed to prove just how great an athlete Hennig was, showing him bowling a 300 game, sinking a long putt, hitting big three point baskets, clearing the pool table, and even catching a Hail Mary pass, thrown by none other than “Mr. Perfect” himself. He cut promos with sports stars of the day, including Wade Boggs.

“Mr. Perfect” was undefeated for more than a year, but he was beaten in the 1990 Royal Rumble by Hulk Hogan, after destroying Hogan’s WWE Title Belt with a hammer. In a classic match at Wrestlemania VI, Hennig was defeated by Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, resulting in his first televised one-on-one loss. Following this event, he teamed with manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, winning the Intercontinental Title several times. Heenan retired as a manager in 1991, and Hennig turned to “Coach” John Tolos for a brief time. Sustaining a back injury, he became Ric Flair’s “executive consultant” during his recovery and helped guide Flair to two WWE Championships. He became a color commentator in 1991 and 1992, pairing with Vince McMahon and acting the heel foil role.

In 1992, “Mr. Perfect” returned to the ring after an infamous altercation with his former manager Heenan, and had memorable bouts with Ric Flair, Lex Luger, and Shawn Michaels. Hennig left in 1993, but returned the following year as a special guest referee for a match between Lex Luger and Yokozuna, disqualifying Luger. The plan was to re-ignite the feud and have them two of them battle at the next Wrestlemania, but “Mr. Perfect’s” imperfect back acted up again, and Hennig left the WWE that spring. He returned once again in 1995 and 1996 as a commentator.

In 1997, Hennig joined WCW. No longer “Mr. Perfect,” he wrestled simply as Curt Hennig and his impact was felt immediately, joining the Four Horsemen for a time and then hooking up with the nWo. He also captured the United States Title and defended it many times, beating the likes of Steve McMichael, Ric Flair, Lex Luger, and Chris Benoit in the process. Hennig was injured for much of 1998, and the rest of his tenure was stormy. He was attacked by nWo, joined the West Texas Rednecks, recorded the hit song “Rap is Crap” and had feuds with Harlem Heat and Shawn Stasiak.

Hennig left the WCW at the end of his contract in the summer of 2000. In 2001, he joined the XWF, and his never before seen match with Hulk Hogan is available on the DVD release In Your Face- The Lost Episodes of the XWF. Hennig returned to the WWE as “Mr. Perfect” for a brief time in 2002, feuding with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Rob Van Dam. He also formed a television tag team with The Big Boss Man.

Curt Hennig was released from the company on May 5, 2002, after the well documented incident with former WWF Champion, Brock Lesnar that occurred during a plane ride. Hennig then joined TNA and also signed on with Jimmy Hart and his All Star Wrestling.

On February 10, 2003, Hennig was found dead in a Tampa, Florida hotel room after failing to show up at a scheduled event. He left behind his wife, Leonice, and four children (son Joe, is currently wrestling with FCW in Tampa, FL). Curt was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 by his good friend Wade Boggs, and was also elected to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Iowa that year. The XWF is proud to have Curt Hennig as part of its legacy, and while he was not officially “Mr. Perfect” with us, he will forever be “Mr. Perfect” in the hearts of wrestling fans everywhere.

Hulk Hogan- Terry Bollea was born on August 11, 1953 in Augusta, Georgia but was raised in Tampa, Florida. As a youngster, Bollea played little league baseball and was a big wrestling fan who regularly attended matches at the Tampa Sportatorium. He admired Dusty Rhodes and “Superstar” Billy Graham.

Terry became an accomplished bass guitar player, and spent ten years in various Florida based rock bands. While spending time at a local gym, Bollea met Mike Graham, who introduced Terry to Hiro Matsuda, one of the greatest trainers in wrestling history. Matsuda prepared Bollea well (after supposedly breaking his leg), and Terry made his pro debut on August 10th, 1977 in Fort Myers, Florida against Brian Blair. He was not yet known as “Hulk Hogan.”

In the early stages of Terry’s career, he was one of several “The Super Destroyer” wrestlers, a character who donned a mask. Shortly thereafter, Bollea teamed up with Brutus Beefcake, and the two were known as the tag team “Terry and Ed Boulder.” Bollea was a guest on a talk show with Lou Ferrigno, who was starring on television as “The Incredible Hulk” and the host said that Terry Boulder actually dwarfed “The Hulk.” It was during this time that Bollea took the moniker “Hulk.” Soon after, Terry began wrestling as Terry “The Hulk” Boulder. He also appeared as Sterling Golden.

In 1979, former NWA World Champion, Terry Funk, introduced Terry to Vince McMahon Sr., who ran the WWF. McMahon Sr. gave him the last name “Hogan.” Hulk wrestled Bob Backlund and started feuding with legendary wrestler Andre the Giant, meeting him in two matches- one in White Plains, New York, and the other as part of a Bruno Sammartino card at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York.

Hulk Hogan was released from the WWF after filming Rocky III against McMahon Sr.’s wishes. Hogan quickly joined the AWA, starting as a heel but soon turned face based on audience reaction. From 1981 to 1983 Hulk was the top draw of the AWA. During that period, Hogan also found great success in Japan as part of New Japan Pro Wrestling. His nickname was “Ichiban” which translates to “Number One.” Meanwhile, Vince McMahon, Jr. purchased the WWF from his father and immediately turned the territorial WWF into a nationwide wrestling promotion. He chose Hulk Hogan to be the big gun.

Hulk returned to the WWF as a heel in December, 1983 with “Classy” Freddie Blassie as his manager. This association was short lived, because by January 23, 1984 Hogan was a face again and won his first WWF Championship, beating The Iron Sheik in a match at Madison Square Garden. There was nowhere to go from there but up. Professional wrestling took off and hit heights never before seen or imagined in the sport with Hulk Hogan as the face of the franchise. Television ratings soared, pay-per-view events drew record numbers, and buy rates for advertising revenues increased.

In March 1985, the very first “Wrestlemania” was held, with Hogan and good friend Mr. T beating “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. Hogan’s celebrity echoed outside of wrestling and he was considered a real live American Hero and role model. Hogan’s success spawned the birth of “Hulkamania” with Hulk Hogan action figures, t-shirts, and other items popping up everywhere. He received massive press coverage, appeared all over magazine covers, and had constant television exposure. Hogan appeared on talk shows, co-hosted Saturday Night Live, had his own Saturday Morning Cartoon Show, and his own 900 number. Not to mention, he also wrestled- and did he ever! Hulk fought the likes of Nikolai Volkoff, Terry Funk, King Kong Bundy, and Paul Orndorff.

The biggest match of his career and the absolute pinnacle of wrestling popularity came in 1987 at Wrestlemania III in Pontiac, Michigan. Hogan wrestled Andre the Giant, who had resurrected wrestling in the 1970’s. The hype for the match was feverish, and when Hogan body slammed the 500 plus lb. Andre, a torch was truly passed. Hogan was the WWF Champion for 1, 474 days, which was the third longest tenure in history behind Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. He lost the title in a scam match orchestrated by “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and referee Earl Hebner.

Hogan helped his sometimes friend Randy “Macho Man” Savage win the belt, and formed “The Mega Powers” along with Savage and his manager, Miss Elizabeth. The alliance was short lived and exploded in a match with “The Twin Towers” as Miss Elizabeth was thrown through the ropes and Hogan rushed her off for medical attention, leaving Savage alone in the ring. When Hogan returned, Savage slapped him, and ended the relationship, setting up the main event at Wrestlemania V where Hogan defeated Savage and won back the belt. He would win and lose the title several times until his departure from the WWF in 1993. During that stretch, Hulk Hogan had memorable matches with The Ultimate Warrior, Earthquake, Sgt. Slaughter, The Undertaker, and Sid Justice.

In June, 1994, Hogan joined the WCW. In 1996, in a stunning move that took the wrestling world by surprise, Hogan turned heel, turning his back on Hulkamania and forming the “New World Order of Wrestling.” Hogan grew a beard, gave up his trademark red and yellow outfits, and renamed himself “Hollywood Hogan.” Wearing black, he wrestled such names as Sting, Lex Luger, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, and WCW United States Champion, Bill Goldberg. He also participated in celebrity matches with people like Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone, and Jay Leno.

In August, 1999, after a backstage scene between Hulk and his son Nick, Hulk Hogan came out for the main event dressed in his familiar yellow and red. Hogan departed the WCW in February, 2000. He did some acting and had his knees operated on. This allowed him to wrestle again pain free.

In 2001, Hulk Hogan joined the new XWF. His match with the late Curt Hennig is a never before seen classic that is available as part of the DVD release In Your Face-The Lost Episodes of the XWF. In February of 2002, Hogan returned to the newly renamed WWE. He started out as “Hollywood Hogan,” then returned to the Hulk Hogan persona, and briefly wrestled as “Mr. America.”

Hogan left WWE in 2003, after unmasking and showing fans that he truly was Hulk Hogan. He returned in 2005, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his good friend Sylvester Stallone. While Hulk Hogan still wrestles, his recent fame has come through movies and the television shows Hogan Knows Best, American Gladiator, and his current CMT show, Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling.

While events in the past year have been hard on Hulk, Hulkamania is still very much alive. Hulk Hogan is an iconic figure; an actor, showman, wrestler, and to those who know him, friend. He is an industry unto himself and a beloved figure who is still welcomed into the living rooms of millions of adoring fans. We at the XWF are proud to have the immortal Hulk Hogan as a part of our rich heritage, and who knows? As Hogan said in December, 2007 “never say never.”

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper- of Scottish descent, was born on April 17, 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. “Hot Rod,” as he is called, is considered to be one of the youngest wrestlers in the history of professional wrestling, turning pro at the tender age of fifteen. Piper was expelled from school at an early age and was out on his own, living on the streets and making do as best he could. He was a boxer and amateur wrestler before he turned pro, and actually won a Golden Gloves Championship.

Piper’s first professional match lasted all of ten seconds and resulted in a loss. Since then, Roddy Piper has held over thirty-eight professional wrestling titles and is credited with over seven thousand wins as a pro wrestler. Piper is also the recipient of a Black Belt, awarded to him by Gene Bell, the noted American Judo Champion and instructor.

Piper wrestled for the AWA, NWA, and the Mid-Atlantic territory before joining the WWF in late 1983. He began his WWF stint as manager for Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff. Piper quickly moved into full time wrestling, and started hosting the popular “Piper’s Pit” segment, which was unscripted and led to Piper insulting various superstars, such as Andre the Giant, Mr. T, and Hulk Hogan.

Piper’s memorable interview with Jimmy Snuka had far reaching results; the feud carried over to the XWF and can be seen on the DVD release, In Your Face: The Lost Episodes of the XWF. Piper quickly became one of the superstars of wrestling, alternating as a heel and face. Roddy was part of many of the classic matches in wrestling history, battling the likes of Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Jimmy Snuka, and people such as Mr. T and Cyndi Lauper.

Roddy Piper took stretches of time off from wrestling to act, appearing in movies such as They Live, Body Slam, and Immortal Combat and on television in series such as RoboCop, Highlander, Zorro, and even The Love Boat. He joined the WCW in 1996 and stayed through the fall of 2000.

Piper became a part of the XWF in 2001, acting as Commissioner. In 2002, he released the best selling autobiography, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy and briefly returned to the WWE. He joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2004, and in 2005 was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In 2007, Piper was also inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. “Hot Rod” still makes appearances, doing One-Man Shows. Piper continues to be one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time, and we are proud to have Rowdy Roddy Piper as a treasured part of the XWF.