The Sandman

{{Infobox professional wrestler |name=The Sandman |birth_name =James Fullington |image = Sandman 2017 (cropped).jpg | caption = Sandman in 2017 |names=Mr. SandmanThe SandmanHardcore HakHak |height= |weight= |birth_date = |children = 4; including Tyler Fullington |spouse = Lori Fullington (divorced) |birth_place =Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |billed=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |trainer=Larry WintersTri-State Wrestling AcademyMark TendlerJ.T. Smith |debut=1989 }}James Fullington (born June 16, 1963), better known by his ring name The Sandman, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he developed into a smoking and drinking "Hardcore Icon" and held the ECW World Heavyweight Championship a record five times. He also had stints in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Professional wrestling career Tri-State Wrestling (1989–1992) Fullington got his start in professional wrestling in the Philadelphia-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance under the ring name Mr. Sandman, managed by his then real-life wife Peaches. He also performed in Memphis in 1991–1992. Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling Surfer and pimp (1992–1994) In April 1992 he arrived in Eastern Championship Wrestling (later renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling) as a crowd favorite. He won his first ECW Championship from Don Muraco on November 16, 1992, but lost it back to Muraco on April 3, 1993. At the end of 1992, he changed his name from Mr. Sandman to The Sandman. For the rest of 1993, Sandman teamed on and off with JT Smith and was featured regularly.