Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 2:41 PM EST

The following was transcribed by Betsy Byrd of wrestlingweekly.com:

Jimmy Hart talks about his role at TNA, an upcoming XWF major announcement, and what his current relationship is with WWE, while Harlem Heat's Stevie Ray promotes Houston-based New Generation Wrestling and his wrestling training facility:::

Doc Young and Les Thatcher talked to wrestling manager superstar and "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart and former Harlem Heat powerhouse turned wrestling promoter, Stevie Ray, live October 9 on Wrestling Weekly.

Doc and Les opened the show by talking about the latest news with guest commentator, "Irish" Pete Doyle, the former WWE writer and current columnist and Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) personality. Pete introduced the "Hot Topic" of the week and went on to discuss the surprising dismissal of Jim Ross from his announcing duties at WWE.

"The Mouth of the South," Jimmy Hart, was the first guest of the night and he and Les went right into Jimmy's history as the native from Memphis and keyboardist and vocalist for The Gentrys. Jimmy said he will always treasure his experiences from that time saying, "We had a million seller ("Keep on Dancin'") and saw part of the world."

He credits Dick Clark with unwittingly helping him cultivate his look when Jimmy began managing wrestlers later on in Memphis. During a bus tour with Dick Clark while he was still in The Gentrys, Dick said that it's important as entertainers to "dress different than the audience." Jimmy took that advice to heart and has always dressed accordingly. He said, "The way you look is the way you're perceived" and your appearance can open or close doors. Jimmy famously went on to create a colorful look for himself with beautifully airbrushed sport coats, matching megaphone, and dark sunglasses.

Jimmy began in the wrestling business at the urging of his friend, Jerry "The King" Lawler. Jimmy had known Jerry from school and says he is the one who got him into the business he still enjoys today. He said because of Jerry he was able to famously manage comedian Andy Kaufman for a year when Andy was trained and then feuded with Jerry Lawler. Doc asked Jimmy if he had seen the biopic about Andy's life played by Jim Carrey, Man on the Moon. Jimmy hadn't seen the film and unfortunately wasn't able to be involved in the movie as Jerry had. He said that Andy "loved the business tremendously" and would be dismayed to see the deterioration of kayfabe if he were alive today.

In 1981, Andy and Jerry made an infamous appearance on the David Letterman show where Andy was slapped by Jerry Lawler on-air and Andy retaliated by pouring a cup of coffee on Jerry. At that time, the only people who were "in on" the spectacle were Andy, Jerry, and Jimmy. In fact, Andy took the ruse to his grave when he died in 1984 of lung cancer. Jerry, however, eventually revealed the truth in his autobiography in 2002.

Jimmy currently has many projects in the works. Recently working with Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) both managing the Naturals and in promotion, he says "Dixie (Carter) has been wonderful" but that didn't stop him from making a recent appearance at WWE's "Homecoming." Jimmy addresses the rumor that TNA told him not to come back if he appeared on WWE TV.

The WWE recently released a Jimmy Hart action figure a month ago, and they have plans to release a Hart Foundation 3-pack and Megamaniacs 3-pack close behind featuring Jimmy's likeness. Jimmy also hinted that there will be a "major announcement" at the Xtreme Wrestling Federation (XWF), of which he is part owner, on the Fight Network October 21st in Toronto. He is also touting a Jimmy Hart energy drink available exclusively online at www.mouthofthesouth.tv. Because of all his endeavors, he said he is "careful not to tie up too much time" with too many bookings.

Jimmy talked a little about his long-term friendship with Hulk Hogan, his appearances on "Thunder in Paradise" and the Hulkster's current venture into reality TV, "Hogan Knows Best." He said, "Hulk's been a good friend."

When asked about all the wrestlers' intros he's composed, he rattled off a few of which he is most proud: "Sexy Boy Shawn Michaels," the Wolfpac theme, "Buff" Bagwell's theme, and the Honky Tonk Man's songs. He proudly mentioned that Jason Giambi uses the Wolfac theme when he goes to bat for the Yankees.

Talk turned to gimmicks and he described the evolution of his own look. He said the megaphone idea came from Vince McMahon and he began painting them up to match his coats. In reality, the name Jimmy Hart is not a gimmick but is actually his real name. Although it worked perfectly when he was in the Hart Foundation with Bret "Hitman" Hart and Jim "the Anvil" Neidhart, he is not related to the Hart family but patriarch Stu Hart would sometimes call him "Cousin Jimmy." He said he enjoys being a heel most of all because heels have more freedom. Jimmy said that as a manager he "was just a hood ornament." He said he always knew his role and he was there to enhance the guys he was with.

Jimmy Hart specifically promoted the upcoming TNA PPW "Bound for Glory" on October 23 and the "major" announcement slated for October 21 at XWF. Jimmy Hart is available for bookings through www.upcloseandpersonalwrestling.com.

One-half of the famous Harlem Heat tag team with his real-life brother, Booker T, Stevie Ray is now taking the Houston, Texas area by storm as he delves into several business ventures including car detailing, a trucking company, and a wrestling training facility and promotion.

At this point, Stevie is "trying to make things happen" as he works through the growing pains of his upstart promotion, New Generation Wrestling (NGW). Located in downtown Houston, he opened a wrestling training facility at the urging of his brother, Booker T. Focusing on pro wrestling as well as martial arts, he is keeping the training and the new fed separate for the time being. "At least on paper," he said.

He is now pursuing local TV and working on getting a pilot together for NGW. In the meantime, he is turning down bookings because he said running the businesses are "slower work than I thought it would be." Stevie Ray definitely took advantage of Les' vast knowledge of the wrestling business by turning the tables and asking him questions about his experience running a training facility and promotion in Cincinnati.

Stevie Ray is now focused on making his promotion work. He likes the idea that indie promotions can charge less than the "big show" and still entertain wrestling fans. For more information about Stevie Ray Presents NGW, check out their Web site at www.ngwonline.net.

Wrestling Weekly Radio featuring Doc Young and LesThatcher can be heard every Sunday from 6:00-8:00 pm EST at http://www.wrestlingweekly.com.