Collection: Honky Tonk Man : Greatest Intercontinental Champion ever

Though he may have resembled one of the most famous musicians of all time, The Honky Tonk Man would be the first person to tell you that Elvis Presley couldn’t shine his shoes, both in the ring and in the recording studio. With his hair perfectly slicked back, Colonel Jimmy Hart in his corner and his trusty guitar always within reach, he was one of the sneakiest Superstars in WWE history, holding the Intercontinental Title for 454 days, a record that stands to this day and earned the grappler a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Surprisingly, The Honky Tonk Man wasn’t always so cool, cocky, and bad. First boogying into WWE in 1986, he smiled and high-fived the WWE Universe all along the way. Honky had the stamp of approval from WWE Champion Hulk Hogan, who believed the sideburned Superstar would be a bona fide chart-topper inside the ring. The WWE Universe, however, didn’t share Hogan’s faith and relentlessly jeered the Elvis-like combatant.

Soon, Honky Tonk Man begged the WWE Universe for a vote of confidence. When the results came back overwhelmingly negative, he turned his back on WWE's fans, which may have been just what the doctor ordered. Adding Jimmy Hart as his manager, Honky hit the studio to lay down vocals on his own entrance music and showed a new confidence in the ring. After dispatching his opponents, he would often subject crowds to his singing, disingenuously thanking them for “being a beautiful audience.”