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City folk just don't get as tough as they make them out in the sticks! From Hillbilly Jim to Stone Cold Steve Austin, some of the best wrestlers seem to come from the country. Here's ten of the best.
Is it the country air that makes rural pro wrestlers so darn good? Or is the lifetime spent doing manual labour on the farm, or in the fields?
Whatever may be the reason, wrestling fans can't seem to get enough of redneck wrestlers. Perhaps that is because so many fans come from rural backgrounds themselves. Or maybe it's the good old-fashioned southern charm. It could also be that glorious lack of sophistication that endears them to fans all over the world.
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Here are ten of the best redneck wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of boots...when they wore boots.
#10 Hillbilly Jim
For fans who remember the classic 1980s WWE, one man who always got a great reaction from the crowd was Hillbilly Jim.
From his warm, friendly smile to his gladhanding with the fans, Hillbilly Jim projected a goofy, delightful charm. Kayfabe-wise, he was plucked from ringside by Hulk Hogan, who took note of the 6'7" muscular giant during a tv taping.
Jim ditched his biker gimmick and became a beloved babyface when he joined the WWE. Known for his hilarious skits and interviews more than in-ring action, Hillbilly Jim remains a beloved part of many wrestling fans' childhood memories.
Jim is still active today and hasn't lost an ounce of his good cheer.
#9 Haystacks Calhoun
From the big skies of Texas comes one of the biggest men to ever step into the squared circle, Haystacks Calhoun.
Utilizing his country charm, Haystacks was over in nearly every territory he ever wrestled in. His heart was as big as his appetite, as Haystacks was well-respected by the locker room and fans alike.
These days he's mostly known for kick-starting the career of Bruno Sammartino, but at one time Calhoun was considered a top draw in wrestling. Though he is no longer with us, nearly every redneck wrestler stands in his long, long shadow.
#8 Jimmy Wang Yang
Shattering stereotypes and winning hearts, Jimmy Wang Yang is the third gimmick the real-life James Yang tried in the pro wrestling world.
Drawing on his own country upbringing, Yang created a 'tuned up' version of himself. Whether dining on barbeque or rolling in his pickup truck, Yang was always entertaining. Had the WWE not chosen to (temporarily) fold the cruiserweight division because Bruce Pritchard though it was a good idea, who knows how far Jimmy would have gone?
James Yang is retired at the moment, but in this business, you can never say never, and you just might see Jimmy Wang Yang on your tv screen in the future.
#7 Jesse and Festus
When Jesse and Festus made their debut on Smackdown, there was something not....right....about the big man Festus. He seemed unaware of his surroundings and needed Jesse to lead him by the hand to the ring.
But when the bell rang, watch out! The Cornfed Colossus was unleashed and seemed nigh-unstoppable. With theme music proclaiming that 'biscuits and gravy' made them real men, Jesse and Festus were a minor sensation until the decision to split them up was made.
Though Festus still wrestles as Luke Gallows, there is always someone asking when we'll get to see Festus again. One can only dream!
#6 The Godwins
Just what are the Godwins's redneck credentials? Just look at those tattoos! If someone has the state of Texas with the words RED NECK emblazoned on their skin, you know they're the real deal.
Phinneas I. Godwin and Horace O. Godwin--P.I.G. and H.O.G., do you get it?--first started as Hillbilly Jim's kayfabe cousins, then moved to more 'evil' personas when they were managed by TL Hopper, who became their 'uncle.'
The Godwins were early opponents of one Hunter Hearst Helmsley, whose refined blueblood character was horrifically offended by the coarse mannerisms of these country folk. It led to the first, and thankfully only, Hog Slop match in wrestling history.
We salute the Godwins and their redneck ways! Long live Pig and Hog!
#5 Cowboy James Storm
A star of international renown, Cowboy James Storm has played both heel and face over his career. Still, fans tend to love wrestlers who chug a lot of beer, and James Storm chugs a LOT of beer!
He even created the beer drinking championship belt, which is a thing of beauty to behold;
To date, James has not worked for the WWE, but as his career winds down, there are rumours of NXT showing interest. Will we see the Cowboy swilling beer in a WWE ring by the end of 2018?
#4 Jamie Noble
One of the more technically skilled redneck wrestlers, Jamie Noble nonetheless gets credit for his fantastic persona and willingness to look silly on camera.
The cruiserweight star transitioned to a backstage role after WWE discontinued the division for several years, but he re-appeared as a member of Seth Rollins's security team. Jamie still looks to be in the good ring shape, and with the new 205 Live division will we see a return of the littlest redneck? Only time will tell.
#3 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin
You can't talk about wrestling's greatest rednecks without mentioning the Rattlesnake!
From the small Texas town of Victoria, Steve Austin originally downplayed his redneck heritage. He portrayed himself as "Stunning" Steve Austin, a Hollywood heartthrob whose good looks matched his wrestling acumen.
Fast forward a few years, and you get bald, swearing, beer-swilling, stone cold stunning redneck we all know and love. Steve Austin didn't just embrace his redneck heritage; He LIVED it. The fans responded to Austin just being Austin more than his Stunning Steve or Ringmaster gimmicks, and what you end up with is THE biggest star of the Attitude Era, and probably the reason WWE won the Monday night wars.
Hats off and beers up to you, Austin!
#2 The Briscoes
The Briscoes are the epitome of redneck wrestlers. After all, as they are quite willing to tell you, they both were raised on a Chicken Ranch in Sandy Fort, Delaware!
Apparently farm work makes you a great wrestler because the Briscoes are one of the best tag teams of all time. As singles stars, they are equally impressive, with Jay Briscoe once going over two years without a being pinned or submitted. Quite impressive.
The fans love Dem Boys, chanting "MAN UP" at every arena they wrestle in. We salute the Briscoes for keeping the redneck wrestling tradition alive!
#1 The American Dream Dusty Rhodes
Virgil Runnels Jr. was born into poverty, going to rough schools and growing up in one of the most depressed areas of the country.
Rather than becoming bitter, he became Dusty. Dusty Rhodes's redneck credentials go beyond his Sweetwater Texas upbringing and signature cowboy hat. Simply put, Dusty has blue-collar encoded into his DNA. Whenever he spoke, the fans--most of whom are not from the wealthiest of backgrounds themselves--responded to his sincerity and real-world hard knocks upbringing.
Dusty Rhodes just wasn't any babyface; He was the avatar of the working class, the champion of the country folk. Well and truly, he was the greatest of all of wrestling's rednecks.
While Dusty is no longer with us, we can see his sons wrestle for WWE and ROH, respectively. Hats off to you, Dusty, for proving that a blue collar can wear championship gold!
There you have it; Ten of the country strongest redneck wrestlers in history!
