The Sandman arrived in Eastern Championship Wrestling, the precursor to Extreme Championship Wrestling, in late 1991. After a brief period where the Sandman character was that of a surfer, Paul Heyman suggested that Fullington channel his own personality into his character. Fullington agreed and evolved into the Extreme Icon, Sandman, a harsh, abrasive, anti-social brawler who smoked cigarettes and drank beer on his way to the ring, and sometimes during a match, often crushing the can on his forehead causing himself to bleed. The revised character is often compared to the character that Stone Cold Steve Austin assumed in 1997. Sandman's lengthy ring entrance, where he would typically approach the ring via the audience, often sharing beer with fans, were closely linked to his popular entrance music, Metallica's "Enter Sandman" which live crowds would often sing along with.

Like many ECW performers, the Sandman's wrestling style often incorporated weapons, further polishing his image as a bar room brawler. Over the years he was in classic matches noted for their blood, use of steel chairs, tables, Singapore canes and barbed wire.

World Championship Wrestling

In 1999, he joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the name "Hak" (a name derived from his longtime nickname "Hack", although the name could also have been seen as a pun, as WCW always thought of Hardcore wrestlers as "No talent hacks".). In his short time there, he was mostly involved in storylines featuring fellow former ECW alumni Raven, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Raven's (kayfabe) sister Chastity, with whom he developed an on-screen relationship after she turned on Raven.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

In late 2002 and early 2003, The Sandman had a run in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), joining former ECW wrestlers Justin Credible and Raven along with New Jack and Perry Saturn in a stable known as the Extreme Revolution, a sub-faction in the Sports Entertainment Xtreme group who was invading TNA at the time.

In late 2002 after an appearance for XPW, The Sandman was briefly barred from wrestling in Pennsylvania by the Athletic Commission, who objected to his supposedly inebriating fans.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Technically, The Sandman made his WWE debut at the September 22, 1996 In Your House: Mind Games event in Philadelphia. The event marked the beginning of the on-air working relationship between Vince McMahon's and Paul Heyman's ECW. The Sandman, along with Tommy Dreamer, Paul Heyman and Tazz, sat in the front row during the event. During the strap match between Savio Vega and Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw, The Sandman interfered by spitting beer on Savio Vega. The announcers sold the interference as a shoot which eventually led to ECW, with the Sandman, appearing on the February 24, 1997 WWF program Monday Night RAW.

In 2005, The Sandman participated in the ECW reunion show Hardcore Homecoming against longtime rival Raven. Two nights later he appeared at the WWE produced One Night Stand pay-per-view event, another ECW reunion show, teaming with Tommy Dreamer to face The Dudley Boyz.

The Sandman appeared at the WWE vs. ECW Head to Head special on June 7, two nights after he appeared on Monday Night Raw, along with Balls Mahoney, Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, and Sabu attacking John Cena before appearing at One Night Stand on June 11, 2006, attacking WWE wrestler Eugene.

On June 13, 2006 Vince McMahon officially relaunched ECW as a brand equal to RAW or Smackdown on the Sci-Fi Channel. In the "new" ECW, The Sandman was used for the first few weeks as a character who would emerge from the crowd when a non-ECW style character was annoying the audience. Once the character had a few minutes to talk Sandman appeared and destroyed the character with his cane, often ending the match with his signature White Russian Legsweep manuever. In this manner, Sandman destroyed such people as The Zombie a Sci Fi spoof, Macho Libre a Nacho Libre/Randy Savage parody, an overweight male stripper and an anti-ECW fan who pretended to be a priest.

This gimmick escalated when Sandman came out to confront regular ECW fixture Mike Knox while he was attempting to stop his exhibitionist girlfriend, Kelly Kelly, in the middle of her weekly "expose" strip show. The Sandman began a feud with Mike Knox, eventually teaming up with his fellow original ECW wrestler Tommy Dreamer to take on Knox and Test in a feud symbolizing the original vision of ECW (Sandman and Dreamer) vs. the "new" vision of ECW (Knox and Test).

On the August 8 edition of ECW, Sandman was put in a handi-cap match against Mike Knox and Test that was issued by Paul Heyman after his guards attacked Tommy Dreamer. Sandman lost the match after being disqualified by using his singapore cane.

Personal life

Fullington owns a bar in New Jersey with his wife, and former manager, Lori with whom he has a son, Tyler. He also has two other children, an older daughter and a younger son, Oliver.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*White Russian Legsweep (Russian legsweep with Singapore cane across opponent's throat):*DDT:*PiledriverBitchin' Legdrop / Utah Jam (Diving legdrop)Heinekenrana (Frankensteiner)Rolling Rock (Senton bomb) often on to a ladder that has been placed on the opponents chest.
*Signature foreign object:*Singapore cane
*Managers:*Lori Fullington:*Woman:*Missy Hyatt:*Beulah McGillicutty:*Chastity:*Veronica Lane:*Allison Danger:*Tylene Buck:*Veronica Caine:*G.Q. Money
*Quotes:"Life's a bitch, and then you marry one.":"Politically Incorrect, And Damn Proud Of It!"

Championships and accomplishments

*Extreme Championship Wrestling:*5-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion:*1-time ECW World Tag-Team Champion (with 2 Cold Scorpio)
*Future of Wrestling:*1-time FOW Hardcore Champion
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him # 250 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
*Stars and Stripes Championship Wrestling:*1-time SSCW Heavyweight Champion
*Total Nonstop Action Wrestling:*2003 NWA-TNA Hard 10 Tournament winner
*USA Xtreme Wrestling:*1-time UXW United States Champion
*westside Xtreme wrestling:*1-time wXw Hardcore Champion
*Xtreme Pro Wrestling:*1-time XPW Heavyweight Champion:*1-time XPW Death Match Champion

Championship succession

ECW World Heavyweight Championship

Preceded by:
Don Muraco

First

Succeeded by:
Don Muraco

Preceded by:
Shane Douglas

Second

Succeeded by:
Mikey Whipwreck

Preceded by:
Mikey Whipwreck

Third

Succeeded by:
Raven

Preceded by:
Raven

Fourth

Succeeded by:
Raven

Preceded by:
Steve Corino

Fifth

Succeeded by:
Rhino

ECW Tag Team Championship

Preceded by:
Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock

First, with 2 Cold Scorpio

Succeeded by:
Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck

External links

* The official website of The Sandman
* WWE profile

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Jim Fullington: Encyclopedia BETA

Contents

Jim Fullington

Career

Extreme Championship Wrestling