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Hacksaw: The Jim Duggan Story
Offering professional wrestling fans a ringside seat into his adventurous life, WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Jim Duggan recounts for the first time key moments and legendary bouts both inside and outside the ring. Known to millions of enthusiasts as a charismatic patriot—with an American flag in his right hand and his signature two-by-four in his left—Duggan here reflects on his early life as a student-athlete on the Southern Methodist University football squad. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, Duggan shares how an injury-plagued rookie season curtailed his football ambitions and paved the way for a brighter career in professional wrestling. Rising to fame in the Cold War–era 1980s, Duggan immediately put himself at odds with anti-American “heels” and engaged in legendary feuds with some of the most legendary names in the sport, including the Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, and Andre the Giant. In this who’s who of top-tier wrestling, Duggan reveals not only the high points of championship bouts but also the low points that occurred far away from the TV cameras and screaming fans, including his fight against kidney cancer during the prime of his career. With each page peppered with Duggan’s charming wit, fans will find much to enjoy and discover about the man they once knew only as “Hacksaw.”
- GenresSports
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 1, 2014
Hacksaw is the biography of pro wrestler Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
This is the sixteenth book in my Kindle Unlimited Experiment. For the 30 day trial, I'm only reading books that are part of the program and keeping track what the total cost of the books would have been.
I first became a wrestling fan when I was around 7 years old, about the same time Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, right around the time Hulkamania exploded on America and changed the wrestling business forever. As I got older, I became a workrate snob decades before I ever heard the term, gravitating toward Ricky Steamboat, The British Bulldogs, and similar wrestlers. However, I always had a soft spot for a crosseyed brawler named Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
First off, this book was way better than I thought it would be. I can usually gauge how much I'm going to enjoy a wrestling book by how much of the book is devoted to a guy's pre-wrestling life. Duggan was in the ring before the 10% mark, after stints in the NFL and CFL.
Unlike a lot of wrestling books, Duggan doesn't portray himself as one of the all time greats. In fact, he's not afraid to tell stories that make him look like a dumb ass. He also talks about how important his family is to him without preaching about it.
This book is a little thin but packed with road stories, of adventures on the road while working Mid-South with Terry Gordy, Ted DiBiase, Steve Williams, and the Junkyard Dog. He talks about the incident when he got caught driving drunk and stoned with the Iron Sheik, whom he was feuding with at the time, as well as a fight on an airplane with Koko B. Ware. Like most wrestlers, he mentions his respect for Harley Race.
His time in the WWF during the boom is a little glossed over and he doesn't rehash what we've all heard before about WCW, although he talks about the Bruise Cruise, which I vaguely remember from commercials but never saw written about before.
The WWE bringing him back for one last run gets a fair amount of time, as does working the independents and getting inducted in the hall of fame. Like all wrestling books, I would have read more road stories but I didn't really have any complaints about this book.
3.5 out of 5 stars. What do you think about that, tough guy? Hooooooooooooo!
Current Kindle Unlimited Savings Total: $96.43.
This is the sixteenth book in my Kindle Unlimited Experiment. For the 30 day trial, I'm only reading books that are part of the program and keeping track what the total cost of the books would have been.
I first became a wrestling fan when I was around 7 years old, about the same time Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, right around the time Hulkamania exploded on America and changed the wrestling business forever. As I got older, I became a workrate snob decades before I ever heard the term, gravitating toward Ricky Steamboat, The British Bulldogs, and similar wrestlers. However, I always had a soft spot for a crosseyed brawler named Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
First off, this book was way better than I thought it would be. I can usually gauge how much I'm going to enjoy a wrestling book by how much of the book is devoted to a guy's pre-wrestling life. Duggan was in the ring before the 10% mark, after stints in the NFL and CFL.
Unlike a lot of wrestling books, Duggan doesn't portray himself as one of the all time greats. In fact, he's not afraid to tell stories that make him look like a dumb ass. He also talks about how important his family is to him without preaching about it.
This book is a little thin but packed with road stories, of adventures on the road while working Mid-South with Terry Gordy, Ted DiBiase, Steve Williams, and the Junkyard Dog. He talks about the incident when he got caught driving drunk and stoned with the Iron Sheik, whom he was feuding with at the time, as well as a fight on an airplane with Koko B. Ware. Like most wrestlers, he mentions his respect for Harley Race.
His time in the WWF during the boom is a little glossed over and he doesn't rehash what we've all heard before about WCW, although he talks about the Bruise Cruise, which I vaguely remember from commercials but never saw written about before.
The WWE bringing him back for one last run gets a fair amount of time, as does working the independents and getting inducted in the hall of fame. Like all wrestling books, I would have read more road stories but I didn't really have any complaints about this book.
3.5 out of 5 stars. What do you think about that, tough guy? Hooooooooooooo!
Current Kindle Unlimited Savings Total: $96.43.
March 4, 2023
"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan's 2013 autobiography is about everything you'd expect or want out of a Duggan book - covers all the territories and promotions, goes into detail about his personal life, some backstage drama and some wrestlers he liked and didn't like, fun road stories - it's written with a lot of charm and heart, and absolutely distinguishes the difference between the often maniacal "Hacksaw" persona and the warm Duggan. The pacing felt right and no chapter overstayed its welcome. It's a solid wrestling autobiography if you're a fan of Hacksaw, but occasionally retells the same stories and POVs as other books - this is about my 20th wrestling memoir I've reviewed and I feel I've read the same "where I was during the Benoit incident" or "where I was during the screwjob" chapter a billion times. A good read for any classic WWF fan.
Read
June 28, 2012A fun read, told with a lot of heart. I learned so much about what goes on behind the scenes. I have a whole new level of respect for Hacksaw. HO-OH!!!
October 27, 2021
Very sweet memoir about a wrestler who loves the fans, so it stinks when it dips into pro-cop anecdotes, “oh well, what can you do?” attitudes toward evil billionaires like Vince McMahon, and punch-down takes on his peers’ struggles with trauma & addiction. Have a heart, tough guy! Hoooooh!
February 2, 2019
An excellent insight
A great look into wrestling in 80s but also great stories from Jim's real life and how he got started
A great look into wrestling in 80s but also great stories from Jim's real life and how he got started
March 10, 2017
Excellent book. Loved the areas where his wife, Debra made comments.
September 19, 2013
I felt the writing was a bit sloppy. I guess I should have been prepared seeing as it was written by a Professional Wrestler. There were times where Duggan would start a story, go off on a tangent, and then never return to the original story.
I also felt that there were a lot of juicy details that Duggan left out. He talks about drugs a tiny bit in the book, but doesn't go into too much detail about them. It is as if he was told to not go into too much detail about the bad parts of the business.
I did find it interesting how he talked about Matt Osborne, and how they had a real life personality clash. Hacksaw really comes out looking classy in the whole thing though.
To be honest, Hacksaw comes across as classy throughout the entire book really. He's always seemed like an easy going guy, with some interesting stories, and there are some good ones - especially about him traveling. What really made me like Hacksaw as a person though was how he talks about his family and how he raised his children to value being together.
Anyway, it is an easy read, and you can get it done relatively quickly. Don't expect any true shockers in here, but do expect a good laugh once in a while.
I also felt that there were a lot of juicy details that Duggan left out. He talks about drugs a tiny bit in the book, but doesn't go into too much detail about them. It is as if he was told to not go into too much detail about the bad parts of the business.
I did find it interesting how he talked about Matt Osborne, and how they had a real life personality clash. Hacksaw really comes out looking classy in the whole thing though.
To be honest, Hacksaw comes across as classy throughout the entire book really. He's always seemed like an easy going guy, with some interesting stories, and there are some good ones - especially about him traveling. What really made me like Hacksaw as a person though was how he talks about his family and how he raised his children to value being together.
Anyway, it is an easy read, and you can get it done relatively quickly. Don't expect any true shockers in here, but do expect a good laugh once in a while.
June 21, 2017
Hacksaw Jim Duggan is a likeable character and person. I was not his biggest fan, but he was from the era I watched wrestling. This is an honest account of Jim Duggan's life and time in wrestling. He started out as football player, who joined amateur wrestling, then his first love Pro Football, but injuries forced him out, and he took up the role of a pro-wrestler. He used a number of gimmicks before he became Hacksaw. Which was very close to his own personality (they say the best gimmicks are extensions of people own personalities). Hacksaw has some great stories about life on the road. Brian Knobbs (shines in this book). The way this book differs from the other wrestling books is that Hacksaw really has not animosity towards professional wrestling or Vince Mcman (he does have an issue with another Vince). This book reads like a feel good success story in the grim world of Pro Wrestling. Hacksaw is honest about the pitfalls many pro wrestlers can and will face, and also celebrates the success that are possible. If you want a book backstage politics then don't buy this book, if want a story of someone with a successful career and life thanks to pro wrestling then buy and enjoy this book.
July 3, 2014
Want a by-the-numbers recounting of Jim Duggan's solid career as a pro wrestler? Here you go. WWE viewers might not realize what a good athlete or what a badass Duggan once was, so this book is useful for rehashing his SMU football days and Mid-South Wrestling glory years. Duggan freely admits to reducing the number of bumps he took after coming to the WWE, claiming that once he realized he could get over with a thumb and a 2X4, his desire to engage in bloody brawls decreased dramatically (a few later-career matches, like a US Title match against Vader, aside).
July 22, 2012
Brilliant story from a guy that has. Stood the test of time. Through hardships and in difference. To family life and loss. Cancer and Politics this book is a journey through the life and times of one of wrestlings most iconic faces and personalities.
Well worth the read so pick it up today TOUGH GUY! Hooooooohhhh!
Well worth the read so pick it up today TOUGH GUY! Hooooooohhhh!
July 6, 2012
A fun read, if not always well written. I was hoping for a Foleyesque read, a book so wonderfully engaging that you marvelled that the goofy wrestler could've written it. Unfortunately, Hacksaw just keeps reminding you that it's written by a goofy wrestler. Offers interesting takes on some of my childhood heroes, and I have a hard time not loving Hacksaw just for trying to write a book.
January 17, 2015
great book with full of great memories, including funny and tragic moments in his life. So easy to read. If you want to read the underrated pro wrestler's perspective views on the life of pro wrestling, it's the best book. Also, it's the best one on a wrestler who never win the main event championships and still lead you on his exciting and fun roads.
September 3, 2015
I have a lot of respect for Jim Duggan, and from what I read he seems to have been one of the more level headed wrestlers of his time, but that just made for a more uninteresting book. It is peppered with some interesting stories, and what seems to be an over the top defense of Vince McMahon. All in all it was a pretty average autobiography.
January 10, 2015
Very entertaining look at the life of Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and of wrestling in the 1980's and 90's. The writing could be better, and the stories could be told more fluidly. However, the backstage stories are hilarious and amazing. I found myself laughing and crying many times throughout this book. If you're a wrestling fan, I would definitely recommend it.
November 15, 2012
Haven't you always suspected that Jim Duggan was just a good guy? He is. This was an honest, no excuses, look bak on his personal life and professional career. I appreciated his wit (his description of his stint as WCW janitor had me laughing out loud) and his candor was refreshing.
June 23, 2015
A fun and easy going book but not one that is raw and full of emotion and detailed stories like Bob Holly's book. This is strictly G rated and more summary of events that really digging into key events. Still worth a read if you are a fan.
March 2, 2013
Awesome...HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
September 11, 2012
Good , quick read with a lot of behind the scenes stories and anecdotes. I'd highly recommend it to any wrestling fan
January 20, 2015
Fun autobiography of one of my favorite "pro" wrestlers!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews