Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of Appalachian heritage.
Origins of the term "hillbilly" are obscure. According to Anthony Harkins in Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon, the term first appeared in print in a 1900 New York Journal article, with the definition: "a Hill-Billie is a free and untrammeled white citizen of Alabama, who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires off his revolver as the fancy takes him."
The Appalachian region was largely settled in the 18th century by the Scotch-Irish, the majority of whom originated in the lowlands of Scotland. Harkins believes the most credible theory of the term's origin is that it derives from the linkage of two older Scottish expressions, "hill-folk" and "billie" which was a synonym for "fellow", similar to "guy" or "bloke".
Jim Morris (born July 5, 1952), best known to fans as Hillbilly Jim, is an American professional wrestler and disc jockey. He was one of the World Wrestling Federation's most popular wrestlers of the mid-to-late 1980s.
Before appearing in the WWF (now WWE) as Hillbilly Jim, Morris wrestled with the Continental Wrestling Association in the Memphis area under the name Harley Davidson, a biker gimmick. While there, Morris formed a popular tag team with Roger Smith, who went by the ring name "Dirty Rhodes" because of his resemblance to Dusty Rhodes.
In late-1984, Morris first appeared in the WWF as a wrestling fan who routinely sat in the front row of live events and who eventually decided to try his hand at wrestling himself. A series of vignettes were aired on WWF's TV programming in the early weeks of 1985, showing Hulk Hogan training Jim and providing him with his first set of wrestling boots. This introduced the character of Hillbilly Jim; a simple-minded, shaggy-bearded Appalachian hillbilly clad in bib overalls, and hailing from Mudlick, Kentucky. Hillbilly Jim appeared in a few tag team matches with friend Hulk Hogan, and had his first high-profile singles match at The War to Settle the Score event on February 18, 1985 in which he defeated Rene Goulet. Unfortunately, Morris was sidelined by an injury a few days later. At a show in San Diego, he appeared in Hogan's corner in a match between Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. While chasing Beefcake's manager Johnny V around ringside, Morris slipped on a wet spot and (legitimately) broke his leg. To help fill in the seven months during his recovery, similarly-dressed "family" members Uncle Elmer, Cousin Luke, and Cousin Junior were introduced for Morris to accompany to ringside as a manager.
Terry Gene Bollea (born August 11, 1953), better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Hogan enjoyed mainstream popularity in the mid 1980s through the early 1990s as the all-American character Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF—now WWE), and was notable in the mid-to-late 1990s as Hollywood Hogan, the villainous nWo leader, in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Following the closure of WCW, he made a brief return to WWE in the early 2000s before revising his heroic character by combining elements of his two most famous personas.
Hogan was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He is a 12-time world champion being a six-time WWF/WWE Champion, six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a former WWE World Tag Team Champion with Edge. He won the Royal Rumble in 1990 and 1991, making him the first to win two consecutive Royal Rumbles. He was also the first WWE wrestler to win the WWE Championship three times. In his first reign as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Hogan held the title for 469 days from July 17, 1994 to October 29, 1995—the longest ever reign for this championship.
Plot
The first-ever biography of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, featuring his life in and out of the ring, including his rich historical battles with "Nature Boy" Ric Flair for the NWA Championship and Randy "Macho Man" Savage for the Intercontinental Championship through his 2009 induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, and the enduring legacy he continues to leave behind.
Keywords: animal, blonde, ceremony, cowboy, detroit-michigan, dragon, feud, fire, japan, legacy
Plot
The third annual King of the Ring tournament builds to a climax, with the final four being Marc Mero, Vader, Stone Cold Steve Austin & Jake the Snake Roberts. Also, WWF Title: Shawn Michaels vs. The British Bulldog, WWF Intercontinental Title: Goldust vs. Ahmed Johnson, WWF Tag Team Titles: The Smoking Gunns vs. The Godwinns, Jerry the King Lawler vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Keywords: world-wrestling-federation
Stone Cold Steve Austin: You sit there, and you thump your bible and say your prayers and didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your Psalms, talk about John 3:16. Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!
Plot
WWF Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Sycho Sid, The Undertaker vs. Mankind, Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, Flash Funk, Yokozuna, Jimmy Snuka & Savio Vega vs. Razor Ramon II, Diesel II & Farooq, Mark Mero, Jake Roberts, Rocky Miavia & Barry Windham vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Jerry Lawler, Crush & Goldust, The Godwinns, Doug Furnas & Philip LaFon vs. The New Rockers, Owen Hart & The British Bulldog
Keywords: african-american, androgyny, black-radicalism, blonde, blue-blood, british, brother-brother-relationship, bulldog, cage, canadian
Plot
WWF Title: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, Casket Match: Kamala vs. The Undertaker, Nightstick on a Pole Match: Nailz s. The Big Boss Man, Survivor Series Match: The Nasty Boys & The Natural Disasters vs. Money Inc. & The Beverly Brothers, Ric Flair & Razor Ramon vs. Randy Savage & Mr. Perfect, High Energy vs. The Headshrinkers, Tatanka vs. Rick Martel, Yokozuna vs. Virgil
Keywords: african-american, brother-brother-relationship, canadian, elimination, ex-convict, ex-cop, japanese-flag, macho-man, manager, native-american
Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan: They're in their hometown, from the Cleavland area, The Beverly Brothers.::Vince McMahon: They are?::Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan: Shaker Heights.::Vince McMahon: That's Right, they are.
Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan: This is something, Jimmy Hart used to manage the Natrual Disasters, used to manage the Nasty Boys, now he has Money Inc.
Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan: Afa is having Din Din.
Sean Mooney: With me now, the reigning Intercontinental Champion. Shawn Michaels, during the past month, we have witnessed an incredible turn of events in your life. Conspicuous by her absence, your manager Sensational Sherry, who right now is recovering from injuries she suffered during a confrontation you had with Marty Jannetty. And many believe it was you, to save yourself, who pulled Sensational Sherry::Shawn Michaels: [interrupting] That's a lie.::Sean Mooney: In front of a charging Marty Jannetty.::Shawn Michaels: That... that is... that is a bold-faced lie.::Sean Mooney: Well nonetheless, without your manager, less than two weeks ago you captured the Intercontinental title from what seemed to be an invincible British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith. And tonight here at the Survivor Series, you face a man many believe is the greatest scientific wrestler of all time, Bret "the Hitman" Hart. And he is, indeed, a fighting champion. During his short tenure, he has defended the title more than any man in World Wrestling Federation history.::Shawn Michaels: You wanna talk history there, Sean Mooney? Let's talk a little history, okay? Who is the man that beat Bret Hart at SummerSlam for the Intercontinental title?::Sean Mooney: Well, the British Bulldog.::Shawn Michaels: That's right. Now, who is the man that defeated the British Bulldog, quite easily I might add, to become the new WWF Intercontinental champ?::Sean Mooney: Well, you did. Everyone knows::Shawn Michaels: [interrupting again] That's right, me. Now, for all you mathematical geniuses out there, one and one make two. Two belts. See, when I signed for this match, Hitman, I knew I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Your belt's on the line, mine stays right here. So tonight, all over the world, the last thing the people will hear is "Ladies and gentlemen, Shawn Michaels, the Intercontinental Champion and new World Wrestling Federation champion, has left the building."
Gene Okerlund: All right, we have just heard from challenger, Intercontinental champion Shawn Michaels. With me right now, the World Wrestling Federation champion himself, Bret "the Hitman" Hart. Bringing his scientific knowledge here to the Survivor Series. Bret Hart, I vividly recall recently up in your home country in Canada, Saskatoon, you defeated the Nature Boy Ric Flair and made World Wrestling Federation history. You did it with your patented, painful leg submission hold, the Sharpshooter. Since that time, you've embarked on a most ambitious series of title defenses. You've said "no" to no one; you've taken on all comers. I recall in two and a half week span of time, you met and defeated - get this lineup - the Mountie, the Berzerker, Rick "the Model" Martel, Big Poppa Shango. Most recently, you defeated Virgil. You did it with the Sharpshooter. Tonight, this title - your title, Bret Hart - the World Wrestling Federation title is on the line as you meet Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels.::Bret Hart: You know, Gene, Survivor Series and Thanksgiving have always been held in real close association. And everybody around the world knows that Thanksgiving is maybe the most special day for giving thanks. And nobody knows more about giving thanks than I do. As I stand before you right now, being the World Wrestling Federation champion, took me a long time to get this far, Gene. And Shawn Michaels, it's not about giving thanks for surviving one night. It's like surviving eight and a half years. That's what I've been doing, Shawn Michaels. I've been surviving a long time. I started out on the bottom, Shawn Michaels, of the World Wrestling Federation, I started out taking on everybody. Clawing and fighting my way to the top. Fighting my way through injuries, pain, all kinds of opponents. All kinds of shapes and sizes. And it didn't matter who it was, Shawn Michaels, I went through the tag teams, I went through the Intercontinental. But you know, Shawn Michaels, I've won a few, I've lost a few. But I'm right now, I'm at the highest. I am the World Wrestling Federation champion, and I am proud of it. Shawn Michaels, you're a great wrestler, you got all kinds of great moves. And I got nothing but respect for you. You're gonna be a great Intercontinental Champion. But Shawn Michaels, tonight we're gonna find out who's gonna survive as the World Wrestling Federation champion. And the Excellence of Execution is feeling pretty excellent tonight.
Plot
The first ever Royal Rumble battle royal, a staggered battle royal with a new participant every 2 minutes. Also: WWF Women's Tag Team Championship (2 out of 3 falls) : The Jumping Bomb Angels vs. The Glamour Girls, 2 our of 3 Falls Match: The Islanders vs. The Young Stallians, Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude, & the contract signing for the Hulk Hogan/Andre the Giant rematch
Keywords: tv-special, world-wrestling-federation, wrestling
Plot
Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Koko B. Ware, Hercules & Hillbilly Jim vs. Ted DiBiase, Haku, The Twin Towers & Red Rooster. Andre the Giant, Rick Rude, Dino Bravo, Mr. Perfect & Harley Race vs. Jim Duggan, Jake Roberts, Ken Patera, Scott Casey & Tito Santana. The Rockers, The Powers of Pain, The Young Stallions, The British Bulldogs & The Hart Foundation vs. Demolition, The Bolsheviks, The Brain Busters, The Rougeau Brothers & Los Conquistadors. The Ultimate Warrior, The Blue Blazer, Brutus Beefcake, Sam Houston & Jim Brunzell vs. Bad News Brown, The Honky Tonk Man, Danny Davis, Greg Valentine & Ron Bass.
Keywords: african-american, anglo-african, barbarian, barber, bird, bodyguard, bolshevik, british, bulldog, canadian
Teams of Five Strive to Survive.
Jesse Ventura: Gorilla, you know you wear shades now, is that because you want to be like me?::Gorilla Monsoon: No it's because I want to see, Jess.
Mr. Fuji: I'm The Boss.