ECW legend The Sandman recently shared a humorous story from his time in WWE, revealing that there were once discussions about him and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan becoming the WWE Tag Team Champions. The unlikely pairing of the beer-drinking, cane-swinging hardcore icon and the patriotic, 2×4-wielding Hall of Famer was a short-lived one, but according to The Sandman, it almost led to a championship reign. The story provides a fascinating and funny glimpse into the creative process of WWE during that era and highlights the often-surprising ideas that are considered behind the scenes. The Sandman’s reaction to the news shows that even he was skeptical of how the team would function in a championship role.
During an appearance on the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast, The Sandman recalled the moment when his tag team partner brought the news to him.
“So Duggan comes up to me and he goes, he’s like, ‘yo, Hak.’ He goes, ‘They’re thinking about putting the tag team straps on us.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, great.’”
He then shared his immediate and very practical concern about the in-ring logistics of such a championship run, questioning who would be responsible for carrying the workload in their matches.
“I turned around and I’m like, ‘Who the f–k is going to do the work? Who’s going to work? What are we, both going to stand on the apron? Who’s doing the hot tag? It would be the worst hot tag in the history of freaking the business.’”
The Sandman’s run in WWE lasted from 2005 to 2007. He and Duggan teamed up on several WWE live events and had one televised match together, a quick loss to the team of Carlito and William Regal on a July 2007 episode of Monday Night Raw
