World Wrestling Insanity interview with Hillbilly Jim
Host: James Guttman
Interview available at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com via ClubWWI.

You don't go messing with ClubWWI.com. Why? Because we have a country boy here! That's right. WWE Legend, Hillbilly Jim joins ClubWWI.com for a 57 minute shoot that's hotter than Granny's home-cookin'!

Everyone knows Hillbilly Jim. Everyone. As one of WWE's biggest stars during it's biggest times, Jim was the country boy with a smile on his face and boot for his opponent's face. Now hear his take on wrestling's current state with a ton of topics including: Having Heat With WWE, Turning Down The N.W.O., Who Came Up With The Hillbilly Jim Gimmick, "I Don't Want To See Old People Wrestle," How The Business Is Working Ric Flair, Being Eddie Gilbert's Designated Driver, Why Uncle Elmer and Cousin Junior Were Brought In, Vince McMahon's Reaction To Mud Lick, Why UFC Is Taking Wrestling Fans, His Gold Records, King Kong Bundy Squashing Little Beaver, Hornswoggle vs. Chavo, Committing Wrestling's Cardinal Sin, Managing The Godwins To The Tag Team Titles, His Unique Spot With Coliseum Home Video, The Harley Davidson Gimmick, What TNA Needs To Be Careful Of, Andre The Giant vs. Big Show, Hulk Hogan's Age,Tommy Rich, Gordon Solie, Gorilla Monsoon, Tito Santana, Rick Rude, His XM Radio Show, HillbillyJim.com, and More. (Full List at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com)

Fans all over are familiar with Hillbilly Jim from his WWF days and that alone seemed to be a criteria for new N.W.O. members during WCW's Nitro era. James Guttman asks Jim if he was ever approached about joining the New World Order.

"Absolutely I was. But you know what? I've used this analogy many times and I think you'd understand this. This is how I felt. I'm a guy - and it's a strange word in this business that's not used enough and it don't really mean anything - loyalty. That's ingrained in me. I have a little bit of loyalty. I would never do anything bad or say anything bad about the people at WWF or WWE now. 'Cause they were good to me. They took a boy that didn't have a whole lot and they made it possible for me to have a whole lot."

That doesn't mean that everything's been rosy. Jim tells ClubWWI.com members about the heat he has with WWE right now, why that is, being contacted by them, why he won't return, what he could have had if he was a squeaky wheel, and more.

One of the main reasons is that Hillbilly doesn't want to see "old people wrestle." Jim is one of the rare stars who's been able to transition from life after wrestling. He speaks about the pitfalls of older stars who can't seem to get out of the business. One topic he says he's asked about all the time is Ric Flair's age. Not wanting that for himself, he's decided to stay out of the ring. Flair, though, isn't the same case:

"You gotta decide. Are you gonna work the business or is the business gonna work you? I decided I was gonna work the business. Now, my brother Ric Flair - I think the business is working him. I love Ricky. He's one of the greatest legends. Listen, I can't tell you how many times he's been world champion here and there. NWA, WCW, WWE, whatever. But you know something? It's like Chief Jay Strongbow told me one time. It's not what you make. It's what you keep."

James brings up Tito Santana as someone who found life after wrestling and how well he's doing now. A school teacher, Tito was able to let go and allow his legacy to be preserved.

"I know my friend Wayne Ferris, The Honky Tonk Man, he lives down there in the Arizona area. He's a school teacher as well. And George The Animal Steele, good buddy of mine, he was a school teacher for many years…My point is, like me and you talked about earlier off-air. We were talking about that movie, "The Wrestler." There's nothing sadder than to see an old guy who's still trying to hang on. And everybody can say what they want to say about "he's a has-been." Well, listen. For you to be a has-been, that means you had to be something at one point."

Hillbilly talks in-depth about wrestlers who can't walk away and how it's hurting the business. He also speaks about Chief Jay Strongbow and the other WWF names who came up with his Hillbilly Jim character. It's just one of many topics you can hear unfiltered from the Country Boy on ClubWWI.com.

James Guttman's two books, "World Wrestling Insanity" and "World Wrestling Insanity Presents: Shoot First, Ask Questions Later," are available at BarnesandNoble.com or wherever books are sold.

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