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nown as a wrestler’s wrestler, Jimmy Golden graciously sat down with RF VIDEO for an exclusive one-on-one interview that looked back with a historical perspective of his lengthy career. Coming from family with deep roots in the pro wrestling business, Jimmy has worked in just about every single wrestling promotion you can name from coast to coast. Florida. Alabama. Smokey Mountain Wrestling. Memphis. Georgia. Mid Atlantic. World Class. And of course the one he is most recognized from, his run in World Championship Wrestling as Bunkhouse Buck.
Jimmy talked about growing up in a wrestling family, including memories of working for his father’s territory in Alabama and working with his cousin Rod Fuller, more famously known as Col. Rob Parker, all across the country. Golden described what it took for him to break into wrestling and all his early trips to Florida to work under Eddie Graham. Jimmy gave great stories on all the guys who came through the Alabama territory, including Arn Anderson and Hulk Hogan.
Being involved in all the major territories gave Jimmy a chance to work alongside all the colorful characters in the wrestling business. Golden talks about working in Australia for the one and only Jim Barnett, Memphis for Jerry Jarrett, Smokey Mountain and of course World Class for Fritz Von Erich. Every big name you can think of is brought up, including: Dusty Rhodes, Joe LeDuc, Dirty Dick Slater, Austin Idol, the Stud Stable, Jeff Jarrett, Scott Steiner, Mick Foley, Jerry Lawler, the Rock N Roll Express, the Von Erichs, and so many more. Wait till you hear Jimmy’s opinion of a very green Undertaker that he first saw back in Memphis!
Jimmy talked extensively about his time in WCW and detailed exactly who came up with the Bunkhouse Buck gimmick as well as going over all his major angles and feuds of the era. Golden explains what he thinks of Eric Bischoff as a boss and how Hulk Hogan had changed from the time he first saw him in Alabama. Wrestling historians are going to get a kick out of this interview, and Golden actually does the entire shoot in his Bunkhouse Buck attire! A one of a kind DVD for a one of a kind wrestler, available only through RF VIDEO!
You come from a long line of wrestlers in your family, can you talk about that
Did you and your cousins talk about getting into wrestling as kids
How early were you exposed to the business
How close were you with grandfather growing up
Can you talk about what it was like to be a promoter during that time period
How big was Roy on kayfabe
Do you have any early road stories you can share
Your dad was also a promoter and booker, correct
How young were you when you started going to shows
What do you remember about going into the locker room as a kid
Were there any overly racist angles at the time considering the time period in history
When did you start training
Who helped your more? Your dad or grandfather
Were they overly hard on you
A lot of wrestlers stayed with your father, who were some of the guys you got closest with
Did your father’s house turn into a big party scene with all of the boys
Talk about the influence of Frank Martinez
Memories of your first match
Can you talk about Pancho Villa
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Why do you think some second and third generation wrestlers like yourself do well while others like David Flair and David Sammartino don’t
How close were you with Buddy Fuller
Early memories of Eddie Graham
Was there a time when your dad suggested you get out of the territory to learn more
Did any of the boys who had issues with your dad or grandfather ever try and take out their differences with you
Talk about the pressures of being a son of a promoter and wrestling out of the territory
When you got into the business how big was kayfabe
Memories wrestling Dory Funk for the NWA title
How important was that match to your career
How soon did you start working with Robert and Ron Fuller
Why do you think Ron never attained the success you and Rob did
What was it like being on the road with those guys
Did you guys ever rib each other during matches
Memories of Rick Gibson
A lot of people say he was more talented than his brother, do you agree
Memories of Dick Slater
Early memories of Terry Funk
Other than family, who were your favorite and least favorite promoters to work for
Memories of Jim Barnett
Memories of Bob Armstrong
Memories of your matches with the Armstrongs over the years
Memories of the Original Midnight Express
Memories of a young Hulk Hogan coming through Alabama
Memories of a young Arn Anderson coming through Al
Who did you see come through Al that you thought would make it and didn’t and vice versa
Memories of Dick Murdoch
Memories of Jos LeDuc
Early memories of Dusty Rhodes
Memories of Tom Pritchard
Memories of Ric Flair when hed come through Alabama
Memories of teaming with a young Austin Idol
Are you surprised he didn’t go further as Austin Idol
Memories teaming with Bob Roop
Memories of Phil Hickerson
Early memories of teaming with the Mongolian Stomper
Memories of the Richs
You went to Memphis in the late 80s as part of the Stud Stable and had a huge push. How did that come about
Was there any jealousy from some of the guys because you guys were pushed so heavily
Memories of feuding with Jeff Jarrett
Memories of a young Scott Steiner
How did the idea to use Sylvia come about
How much fun was that time period
Do a lot of fans still remember you for this time period
Memories of working with Lawler in and out of the ring
How did Gary Young come into the mix
Memories of a young Mick Foley
Any good road stories
Do you think you hit Memphis a year too late since the business was changing
When did you realize that terri tories were running into problems
Memories of a young Undertaker
Did you like going to Texas as part of the whole World Class feud
Memories working with the Von Erichs
Memories of Brian Lee
Who was your favorite guy to work with down there at the time
How did you guys wind up in SMW
Why do you think SMW didn’t work
Memories of matches with the Rock N Roll Express
How did you wind up in WCW as Bunkhouse Buck
Memories teaming with Dick Slater and Terry Funk
Memories of matches with Harlem Heat
Was it hard for Robert to stay out of the ring and just manage
Did you like the gimmick
Memories of matches with Dustin Rhodes
Thoughts on Eric Bischoff
Memories of matches with the Blue Bloods
Was working with Arn any different here
Memories of matches with Rick Steamboat
Memories of Steve Austin
Memories of wrestling Dusty and Dustin
Thoughts on Hulk Hogan
How did things change when Hogan came in
Memories of the War Games
Memories of matches with the Nasty Boys
Memories of Meng
Memories of matches with Jim Duggan
Memories of Vader
Did you see the Vader-Orndorff fight
Memories of Sherri Martel
Memories of Lex Luger
Why do you think you went from such a big push in 94 to barely anything towards the end
Was it frustrating not getting any kind of a push
Memories teaming with Mike Enos
Thoughts on Scott Hall and Kevin Nash
Why did you wind up leaving WCW
Did you think your career was over as a full time wrestler at the time
Did you ever try working for Vince at any point during your career
Are you surprised WCW went out of business
Did you ever try and move into a booking role in WCW
There was an attempt to bring back a territory down south a few years ago, why do you think it didn’t work out
Any good Robert Fuller stories
Do you still watch wrestling
What are your thoughts on all of the deaths of the past few years and which in particular hit you hardest
You wrestled with Benoit in WCW, what did you think when you heard about what happened
Thoughts on UFC and comparisons to pro wrestling
Do you want to write a book
Fav ribs and road stories
Do you enjoy doing the nostalgia shows
Thoughts on the lack of kayfabe today
Do you still have a passion for the business
What do you miss most and least about being a full time wrestler