James Fullington Retires as Hardcore Wrestling Icon The Sandman

James "Hak" Fullington, better known as The Sandman, has officially retired after a legendary career that defined ECW's hardcore style. The 62-year-old legend reveals his iconic character evolved from a mattress billboard sighting by promoter Joel Goodhart and a Memphis run involving a surfboard.

Fullington recalls Paul Heyman eventually telling him to ditch the gimmicks. Heyman famously told him to break the surfboard over his head and wear whatever he wanted to the ring. This advice allowed the "drunk Delco county guy" to become a wrestling icon by simply being himself. grenadier.co.za