article

"The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart (also known as "The Colonel") (born January 1, 1943 in Memphis, Tennessee) is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer and musician. He has worked in Memphis Wrestling, the WWF (now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)), WCW, XWF, WrestleXpress and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He has managed many notable professional wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Ric Flair and The Honky Tonk Man.

Early career

Before wrestling, Jimmy was part of a band in the 1960s called The Gentrys who had a million selling record “Keep on Dancin”. Later, after the leader of the group Larry Raspberry left Jimmy took over and they had a few minor hits.

After being asked to sing back-up with Jerry "The King" Lawler, Jimmy was asked to be an announcer and then to manage Jerry. He also managed King Kong Bundy, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Lanny Poffo, Kamala, Randy Savage, and Eddie Gilbert. After Lawler broke his leg, Jimmy brought in talent to take the title from Jerry. In 1982, Hart earned national headlines doing a program with comedian and television star Andy Kaufman. Hart, "The King," and Kaufman would continue this feud for over a year. Then in 1983 and 1984, Hart led Austin Idol, Masao Ito, and Gilbert to CWA (Championship Wrestling Association) International titles. After this success, Hart was hired by the World Wrestling Federation.

WWF career

1980s

While in the WWF, Jimmy managed many wrestlers. His first acquisition was Greg “The Hammer” Valentine in 1985, then the Intercontinental Champion. At Wrestlemania I, Hart managed King Kong Bundy as he defeated S.D. ("Special Delivery") Jones, allegedly in 9 seconds. Jimmy Hart would later trade King Kong Bundy's contract to Bobby “The Brain” Heenan for the Missing Link and Adrian Adonis.

Also in 1985, Jimmy managed Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. After Valentine lost the Intercontinental Title to Tito Santana Hart briefly co-managed the Dream Team (Valentine & Beefcake), until he phased out and gave full control to “Luscious” Johnny Valiant. In 1986, Hart took the Funk Family under his wing. The Funks included Terry, Hoss, and Jimmy Jack. Then Jimmy managed Adrian Adonis and helped him use the gimmick of “Adorable” Adrian Adonis.

Also in 1986, with the appearance of Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Jimmy teamed him up with Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart to form The Hart Foundation. On January 26, 1987, Hart guided his new tag team past the British Bulldogs for the WWF World Tag Team titles. Hart led the Hart Foundation and former referee Dangerous Danny Davis over the British Bulldogs and Tito Santana at Wrestlemania III in the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. When the Honky Tonk Man turned heel, Hart became his manager. The Honky Tonk Man called Hart “The Colonel” in a reference to Tom Parker, the manager of Elvis Presley. With Hart in his corner, on June 2, 1987 the Honky Tonk Man captured the Intercontinental title from Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat.

Later in 1987, Hart was named Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Manager of the Year. He won the award again in 1994. Also in 1987, Jimmy Hart managed the WWF Women’s Tag Team champions Judy Martin & Leilani Kai, known as the Glamour Girls. At Wrestlemania IV: Jimmy Hart received a haircut by Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. When Jimmy dropped the Hart Foundation in 1988, Hart managed the Fabulous Rougeaus to feud with his former team. At SummerSlam 1988: Jimmy Hart accompanied the Demolition & Mr. Fuji to help retain their WWF Tag titles against the Hart Foundation. Ax used Jimmy Hart's megaphone as a foreign object to strike one of the Hart Foundation members to secure the victory. The Megaphone became a significant trademark of Hart's throughout the years and was extensively used as an foreign object by the wrestlers he managed and by himself.

1990s

In 1989, Jimmy Hart brought Dino Bravo into his stable after the departure of Frenchy Martin. Then at a push-up contest, Jimmy and Dino invited a large 460 pound man from the audience into the ring to sit on Dino’s back. That large man would be later known as the Earthquake; and Jimmy groomed to be the man to beat Hulk Hogan for the WWF title. In 1990, Hart managed the short-lived team Rhythm and Blues (The Honky Tonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine) to feud with his former tag team, the Hart Foundation. He also managed The Mountie, Jacques Rougeau.

On March 24, 1991, Hart led the Nasty Boys past the Hart Foundation for the WWF World Tag Team titles at Wrestlemania VII in Los Angles, CA. Jimmy Hart added another tag team to his stable; the Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon), but Jimmy Hart turned on the Natural Disasters to manage Money Inc. ("The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and IRS). Hart took Money Inc. to two WWF World Tag Team titles. In 1992 The Natural Disasters got their revenge on Jimmy, but their reign was short.

Also in 1992, Jimmy Hart lost the Nasty Boys due to his ties with Money Inc. because they felt he was not helping them. They thought he was only focusing on his champions. Finally in 1993, Hart managed Hulk Hogan and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake after he came to the aid of Brutus Beefcake after being attacked by Money Inc. At WrestleMania IX: Jimmy Hart managed the Mega Maniacs, Hulk Hogan & Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, but lost to Money Inc. by disqualification. Later that night, Hulk Hogan returned to defeat Yokozuna for the WWF title. At King of the Ring 1993: Jimmy Hart was in Hulk Hogan's corner as he lost the WWF title back to Yokozuna. This would be Jimmy Hart's last WWF appearance, as both he and Hulk Hogan departed the company.

WCW

Then Hogan and Jimmy briefly toured Japan. After their return, Jimmy wrote music and occasionally appeared on Hogan's television show, "Thunder in Paradise". Hulk Hogan then had Jimmy manage him when they went to WCW. At Bash at the Beach 1994: Jimmy Hart managed Hulk Hogan to win his first WCW World title by defeating “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

At Halloween Havoc 1995: Jimmy Hart, longtime manager and friend to Hulk Hogan, turned on Hogan to help the Giant. By doing that, Jimmy Hart would become the manager of the evil faction, The Dungeon of Doom, created by Kevin Sullivan. Consisting of Hugh Morrus, The Barbarian, Meng, Kevin Sullivan, Lex Luger, The Giant, and many more. After the demise of the Dungeon of Doom, Hart created The First Family: Brian Knobs, Jerry Flynn, The Barbarian, and Hugh Morrus. After the demise of the First Family, Hart was placed in charge of booking TBS's WCW Saturday Night show prior to the program's cancellation. At Spring Stampede 2000, Hart faced radio personality Mancow. The two had a rematch later in the year at Mayhem. In February 2001, Hart joined WCW's booking committee.

Behind the scenes

Jimmy was also responsible for many of the wrestler’s theme tunes in WWF and WCW. He composed: “The Honk Tonk Man,” “Honky Love,” “Sexy Boy ,” “Road to Destruction,” Randy and Liz’s Wedding song, “What a Rush,” “We’re All American Boys,” “I’m the Mountie,” “It’s All about the Money,” “Snuka,” “American Made,” the Wolfpac song, and many more.

Since the demise of WCW, he became a part owner and one of the founders of the X Wrestling Federation (XWF) along with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine & Brian Knobbs. He also played a key role behind the scenes in the British based WrestleXpress promotion. He now has an administrative position in TNA, and can be seen from time to time at Universal Studios promoting TNA Impact.

On February 3, 2005, Jimmy Hart was announced as one of the Class of 2005 inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame, and was inducted on April 2, 2005 in the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California. Jimmy Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Memphis Wrestling

In 2003, Hart restarted his feud with Jerry Lawler by buying, for the XWF, part of the upstart Memphis Wrestling promotion. Hart is now Lawler's manager.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

On June 19, 2005 at Slammiversary, The Naturals were assisted in a title defense against Team Canada by Jimmy Hart, who ran to ringside and threw his megaphone to Chase Stevens, who hit Petey Williams with it and pinned him. Hart acted as the manager of The Naturals until October 3, 2005, when he was taken off TNA television after appearing on WWE Homecoming.

Rumor has it that Hart was fired for attending WWE Homecoming and was later brought back as a figurehead, but this is not the case. He was actually asked by TNA CEO Dixie Carter not to appear for WWE, but it was entirely his choice to do so. Due to Hart's open contracts, no promotion can put a no-compete clause on him. Instead, Hart does promotional in-park appearances at Universal Studios prior to TNA IMPACT! tapings, but does not take part in the actual tapings at Soundstage 21.

Wrestlers Managed

Titles/Accomplishments

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • 1983 Manager of the Year
  • 1984 Best Interviews
  • Hall of Famer (inducted 2004 by Jerry Lawler)

World Wrestling Entertainment

  • 2005 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee

Quotes

  • "Never Trust A Midget"
  • "Now listen here, Daddy-O"
  • "I am the Mouth of The South Jimmy Hart"

Finishing Manuvers

Books

Jimmy's autobiography, the Jimmy Hart Story became available in 2004.

External links

Professional wrestling managers and valets | People from Tennessee | American male singers | Professional wrestling executives | 1943 births | Living people | X Wrestling Federation | Memphians

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Jimmy Hart".

Home Page • arts • business • computers • games • health • hospitals • home • kids & teens • news • physicians • recreation• reference • regional • science • shopping • society • sports • world