A former football player, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan ended up being one of the more popular midcard babyfaces of the Golden Era of WWE thanks to his patriotic leanings, signature two-by-four, and his catchphrase of just shouting “Hoooo!” While he never captured a title in WWE, he did manage to take part in a few notable feuds and made at least one major accomplishment.

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Having debuted in 1979, the 1980s pretty much encompass Duggan’s first decade as an in-ring performer, some of which fans might not be familiar with as they happened before he arrived in WWE. Let’s take a look at this pivotal decade in the career of the Hacksaw.

10 Developed Much Of His Gimmick In Texas

While Jim Duggan doesn’t hail from Texas and didn’t even play football in West Texas like many of his contemporaries, it was in that state that Duggan developed much of what fans know about him today. While wrestling in San Antonio, Duggan began being billed as “Hacksaw,” a nickname that dates back to his ability to break through wedge formations in his college football days. As for his signature prop, it was Bruiser Brody who suggested Duggan use something to fight off the rowdy West Texas fans, and the closest available object as a two-by-four that was lying around.

9 Wrestled For New Japan

Given that the brawling Jim Duggan wasn’t renowned for his in-ring abilities, it may surprise fans to find out that he actually wrestled on a couple of tours for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His first went down in 1981, with Duggan mostly working the undercard, although he did take on NJPW founder Antonio Inoki in his first match on the tour. Duggan returned to NJPW in 1986 to greater success, with bouts against bigger names like Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Choshu, and Kengo Kimura.

8 Brief WWE Run In 1980

While Duggan started his noted run with WWE in 1987, he actually had a brief stint with the company earlier in the decade. After some bouts at the Dallas Sportatorium, Duggan, still early in his career, captured the attention of WWE’s Vince McMahon Sr., who brought Duggan to his New York territory.

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Mostly wrestling opening matches during this 1980-1981 run, the babyface Jim Duggan enjoyed some matches against big name heels at the time like Sgt. Slaughter, Stan Hansen, and even pre-Hulkamania Hulk Hogan.

7 Member Of The Rat Pack In Mid-South

The year 1982 saw “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan make his way to Oklahoma-based Mid-South Wrestling, where he found himself becoming part of a faction. After Ted DiBiase turned heel to capture the Mid-South North American Championship, he formed The Rat Pack, which included Duggan and Matt Borne (a.k.a. the original Doink The Clown). As part of the group, the two were enlisted to help DiBiase keep the belt, with Duggan once famously donning a gorilla suit as a ringside distraction.

6 Bitter Feud With Ted DiBiase

Jim Duggan was loyal to Ted DiBiase, but the feeling wasn’t necessarily mutual. Duggan was skeptical when DiBiase took on the heel manager Skandor Akbar as a manager — partially for patriotic reasons — and proved to be correct in his doubt when DiBiase inevitably turned on him. A huge rivalry between DiBiase and Duggan ensued, with Jim Duggan eventually beating his former friend in a Loser Leaves Town match. However, the exile was only temporary, as DiBiase returned the following year to attack Duggan before a match and rekindle their hot feud.

5 Became A Patriotic Babyface In WWE

As alluded to above, patriotism wasn’t a new aspect of “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan’s character, but in WWE it became a dominant part of his gimmick. Upon arriving in WWE in 1987, one of his first big moments was at WrestleMania 3 when he interrupted Nikolai Volkoff in the middle of his signature rendition of the Russian national anthem. From there, more battles with foreign heels ensued, including the French-Canadian Dino Bravo, the Russian Boris Zhukov, and the Iranian Iron Sheik.

4 Broke Kayfabe By Getting Arrested

WrestleMania 3 happened in March of 1987, and only two months later did Jim Duggan get into trouble with the law and break kayfabe in the process. Upon getting pulled over in New Jersey, Jim Duggan and The Iron Sheik were arrested for DUI and drug charges, which became a bit of a scandal because Duggan and Sheik were on-screen enemies.

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While Duggan continued to wrestle for WWE and earn some accolades as seen below, the arrest may have put a ceiling on his opportunities in the company, as he never rose above the midcard.

3 Feuded With King Harley Race

Autumn 1987 brought Jim Duggan his first big feud since the Iron Sheik incident as he entered a rivalry with King Harley Race. After winning King of the Ring, Race adopted a regal gimmick and an accompanying sense of superiority, forcing his defeated opponents to bow to him. Jim Duggan refused to ever bow to Race, and a “slob vs. snob” rivalry ensued that included Duggan stealing Race’s cape and crown as well as an altercation at the 1987 Slammy Awards.

2 Won The First Royal Rumble

January 24, 1988 brought the first-ever Royal Rumble, kicking off a January tradition that continues today. Entering at #13, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan has the distinction of being the first Royal Rumble winner in history when he low-bridged One Man Gang to cause the monster heel to tumble to the ringside floor — a finish devised by Duggan and Gang themselves. Despite the landmark victory, at the time a Rumble victory didn’t come with any additional price or stipulation, but Duggan still has the honor of winning the first one.

1 Won The “King” Gimmick From Haku

In the summer of 1988, Harley Race sustained an abdominal injury and his manager, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, decided to pass on the King gimmick to another one of his clients in Haku. Nearly a year later, Jim Duggan began to come after the crown himself and in mid-May of 1989 defeated King Haku to win the crown for himself. However, Duggan’s reign as King only lasted about five months before Macho Man Randy Savage dethroned him, becoming Macho King Randy Savage in the process.