Five Wrestlers Refused to Work with The Sandman Over In-Ring Safety Concerns

ECW legend Shane Douglas recently revealed that several wrestlers refused to work with The Sandman due to his recklessness in the ring. The Sandman, whose real name is James Fullington, was one of ECW’s most popular stars between 1992 and 2001. He was known for his love of beer and cigarettes during his ring entrance.

In an interview with WSI’s James Romero, Douglas discussed how he was one of five ECW stars who refused to wrestle The Sandman at one point. According to Douglas, The Sandman’s drinking and in-ring safety issues had gotten to a point where several top wrestlers were refusing to work with him.

“Bammer [Bam Bam Bigelow] refused to work with him, Taz refused to work with him, [Chris] Candido, Perry [Saturn], me. There was a long list of top guys that were refusing to work with him,” Douglas said.

Douglas, who once broke his knuckles after being hit with a kendo stick by The Sandman, also recalled an incident where he complained to former ECW owner Paul Heyman after The Sandman cut The Blue Meanie’s face in a match.

The Sandman’s recklessness in the ring was a known issue in ECW. In a 2019 interview with The Hannibal TV, Sabu recalled a time where he was nearly paralyzed after taking a botched move from The Sandman.

Despite his in-ring safety issues, The Sandman remains a beloved figure in ECW history. He was inducted into the Hardcore Hall of Fame in 2017 and continues to make occasional appearances on the independent wrestling circuit.

What do you think about the revelation that several ECW stars refused to work with The Sandman due to his recklessness in the ring? Leave a comment.