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Prime Time with Sean Mooney

How WWF Promos Were Really Cut: Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Sean Mooney Tell All

Prime Time with Sean Mooney

Prime Time with Sean Mooney

Sports News, Sports, News, Wrestling

4.7797 Ratings

🗓️ 10 January 2026

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How were WWF promos really cut during the Golden Era? In this episode of Prime Time Vault, Hacksaw Jim Duggan joins Sean Mooney for a behind-the-scenes look at the art of the wrestling promo. From learning how to talk in the WWF to watching masters like Bobby Heenan and Ric Flair command the microphone, Duggan breaks down what made great promos stand out. The conversation also dives into stories from WCW, working with Andre the Giant, the chaos of promo days backstage, and this week’s spotlight on Jake “The Snake” Roberts. A must-watch for fans of classic WWF history, wrestling storytelling, and legendary talkers.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a prime time with Sean Mooney production.

0:03.5

I was going to say this isn't really a new matchup kind of thing.

0:07.9

We see this crossover.

0:10.5

You know, I think remember when Muhammad Ali took on Anuki back in 1976?

0:16.6

And remember how big that was?

0:18.2

Because Ali was really, wouldn't you say he was like one of the first people who really understood when he said gorgeous George and you know these

0:24.7

wrestlers are the ones that influenced him and and really started the whole thing the

0:28.6

whole art of the promo I think in a lot of ways yeah and yeah and now you see it

0:34.5

in more and mainstream sports you see in basketball football you see it in more in mainstream sports.

0:38.4

You see in basketball, football.

0:40.0

You see little trash talking back late today.

0:42.9

And even the terminology, you know, things being a work, having heat with somebody, guys

0:48.8

with Mark, I mean, even our terminology is mainstream now.

0:52.2

So, yeah, back in the day, as you were talking earlier, an interview is a learned art.

0:58.1

And that was one thing in the Mid-South territory.

1:01.0

You wouldn't do just one generic interview.

1:03.1

You'd do one interview for every city.

1:05.7

And if Bill Watts didn't like it, boom, do it again.

1:08.8

So not only did you learn your ring work, you also, you know, learned your interview.

1:13.7

You know, my last time up there with WWE, I went in and this young kid comes up and goes,

1:20.1

Mr. Duggan, here's your verbiage for your interview.

1:23.9

I said, my verbiage for my interview, how some punk kid going to tell Hacksaw, Jim Duggan, how to cut his interview.

...

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