James Morris (born July 5, 1952) is an American retired professional wrestler and current radio host, better known by his ring name, Hillbilly Jim. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1984 to 1991, and in the series Hillbilly Moments.
In late 1984, Morris first appeared in the WWF as a wrestling fan known as "Big Jim" who routinely sat in the front row of live events and eventually decided to try his hand at wrestling himself. After appearing as a guest on Piper's Pit, Rowdy Roddy Piper offered his services to train him, but he chose to be "trained"' by WWF Heavyweight ChampionHulk Hogan instead of the heel Piper.[5] A series of vignettes were aired on WWF's TV programming in the early weeks of 1985, showing 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 Appalachianhillbilly clad in bib overalls, and hailing from Mud Lick, Kentucky.[2] Hillbilly Jim had his first high-profile singles match at The War to Settle the Score on February 18, 1985, in which he defeated Rene Goulet.[6] However, just days later, Morris was sidelined by an injury he suffered at a show in San Diego while in Hogan's corner in a match between him and Brutus Beefcake. While chasing Beefcake's manager Johnny V around ringside, Morris slipped on a wet spot and injured his knee. To help fill in the six 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.[2]
In June 1989, Jim worked as a fill-in for John Studd, who departed the WWF in the midst of a major feud with André the Giant.[11] Hillbilly Jim's last high-profile match with the WWF was during the April 28, 1990 (taped April 23) edition of Saturday Night's Main Event XXVI, in which he lost to Earthquake.[12] Months later, Jim was released from the WWF and retired from wrestling, although he came back the following year to face Colonel Mustafa and The Berzerker at house shows.[7]
Later career (1990–present)
In 1992, he was one of the co-hosts of WWF Prime Time Wrestling.[13] Hillbilly Jim returned in 1995 and became the manager of Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn, "cousins" who were pig farmers.[5] He left managing after the Godwinns turned heel in the spring of 1997 and worked as a road agent. On April 1, 2001, he participated in the "Gimmick Battle Royal" at WrestleMania X-Seven, where he was the last man eliminated by The Iron Sheik.[14]
Morris has four children and seven grandchildren.[20][21] After retiring from wrestling, he began working for a coin, currency, and stamp dealership called Champion Stamp Company Inc. He is known as a "staple" at coin and currency shows, but is largely there as a spokesman rather than for his expertise in numismatics, although he does collect some paper money and coins himself.[21]
