The newest addition to the WWE Hall Of Fame can not believe that this has happened to him.
Mud Lick, Kentucky's favorite son, Hillbilly Jim was recently announced as the newest addition to the WWE Hall Of Fame class of 2018. Hillbilly Jim spent seven years in the WWF and although he was never able to capture gold in the company, this accomplishment is the ultimate validation. While speaking with TMZ Sports, he would describe the feeling of knowing that he will be standing in front of the crowd in New Orleans accepting his invitation into the WWE Hall Of Fame.
“I say wow and that sounds like something you hear on a antiques road show. But really, I wasn’t expecting it, it hit me from the clear blue and its just beyond belief to think that this has happened to me and really, its like the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae man. Its as good as I could ever hope for." He said. "This is just above and beyond my dreams to get put in this Hall Of Fame because, I've already reaped all the benefits from having this business and from being in this industry and for…. To have this happen to me is just more than I needed because this has been a wonderful ride for me. Something that I could have never envisioned. It's one of them kinda things that somebody sits up and dreams about, but you never dream it quite like this. So for it to come full circle like this and for me to be in the Hall Of Fame with people like my dear friends and mentors of mine like Andre The Giant and Classy Freddie Blassie, and the great Gorilla Monsoon, Lord Alfred Hayes, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. I think about buddies that aren’t here anymore like……. the one and only Captain Lou Albano, my dear friend The Fabulous Moolah, all the way up to my buddy "Macho Man" Randy Savage and finally the guy that I’m thinking about a lot is of course, Roddy Piper, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. So, to be able to be thought of in same name for those guys is just a lil’ bit overwhelming."
As many WWE Hall Of Famers who have gotten the call, Hillbilly Jim was extremely surprised and was at a lost for words. He stated that WWE continuously called him for several days prior before he actually picked up the phone. His initial thoughts were to tell said caller that he would not be attending WrestleMania this year, but was hit was some very surprising news.
"The phone call came on a Sunday morning and to be honest with you, they had been calling me for several days prior to that to try to get me and I had not responded and I was sitting down at my house getting ready to have me a cup of action coffee, and I was going to the gym and they started calling me again and I said, “Ive got to take this phone call”. And I really was taking a phone call because I was gonna tell them that I was not going to be coming to WrestleMania this year. I was gonna take off a year or so because I had a rough ride last year at the one we did in Orlando. And with transportation, I feel lke the whole weekend I was just behind brother. So I said, ‘I’m gonna take off a year or so’ and I was telling him that. I said listen, ‘I appreciate it. Tell everybody I said have a great time In New Orleans and tell all the boys hello’, and he said 'Jim, all that’s good, but Vince wants you to go in the Hall Of Fame'. And I went like *makes a funny face* ... started wobbling…. I actually was not expecting it. I mean you could’ve really done this [plucked him] and knocked me over because that was the last thing on my mind. And then all of the memories and the ramifications of this started floating into my brain and its been like, crazy.
Hillbilly Jim will now be joining: Goldberg, Ivory, The Dudley Boyz, Jeff Jarrett and Jarrius "JJ Robertson (Warrior Award) in the 2018 WWE Hall Of Fame class. We will have coverage of that event on April 6th, that will be held in the Smoothie King Center from New Orleans, Louisiana.
If you are going to use any of the quotes above, please credit TMZ Sports with an H/T to Fightful.com for the transcriptions.
