“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Explains Why He Has To Give Credit To Vince McMahon

WWE Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan shared his thoughts on Vince McMahon, recognising his contributions to the wrestling industry while also criticising how he treated talent.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Jim Duggan looked back on his experiences working under McMahon during WWE’s golden era in the 1980s. While he credited McMahon for providing him with a lifelong career in wrestling, he didn’t hold back when discussing the former WWE chairman’s treatment of his performers.

“As everybody obviously knows, Vince McMahon was not a good person, he did not treat us well. But I tell you what, at 71 years old, I’ve travelled the world signing autographs and pictures with people, and that wouldn’t have happened without Vince McMahon.”

Duggan also reflected on how his time in WWE remains the defining chapter of his wrestling career, despite working in various promotions over the years.

“Nobody talks about Mid-South, nobody talks about WCW, nobody talks about WWE. It’s the WWF—Hogan, Macho, Flair, Jake the Snake, the golden age of wrestling—and I was just lucky to be part of it.”

His remarks echo a common sentiment among many wrestlers from his era. While McMahon’s business methods and personal dealings were often criticised, his influence in transforming professional wrestling into a global spectacle is undeniable.

Why Did “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Start Carrying A Piece Of Wood To The Ring?

Jim Duggan spoke about the origins of his unique character trait of carrying a piece of wood to the ring and said that it originated from his early wrestling days when he had to get to the ring through the crowd and would often find himself being attacked by rowdy fans, so he needed a weapon to defend himself with and grabbed the first thing that came to hand, which happened to be a 2×4. This tradition of carrying a lump of wood continued for the rest of his career.

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