VALDOSTA — Like everyone else, the “Mouth of the South” is talking about Hurricane Irma.

Legendary professional wrestling manager Jimmy Hart is curious about the weather as he plans to travel Friday from Daytona Beach for the Wild Adventures Theme Park “Stars of Wrestling” show Saturday afternoon.

The show was still scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, according to Wild Adventures Thursday.

“At Wild Adventures, we are monitoring the path of Hurricane Irma and how it may impact our area,” according to a statement issued by the park.

“We are currently taking steps to ensure the safety of our guests, our employees and our animal family. Safety remains our number one priority, and we will release updates concerning any changes to our normal operation as we continue to follow the storm.”

Hart’s following the storm, too, he said during a phone interview. He operates the Jimmy Hart’s Hall of Fame Bar and Tiki Deck at the Mayan Inn at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Wrestling fans have been following Hart’s career for years.

With his megaphone and flashy clothes, Hart’s wrestling career has been as a manager nicknamed the “Mouth of the South” and stepping into the ring to aid his wrestlers.

He started in wrestling as the manager of high school buddy Jerry “The King” Lawler. He was the manager of Lawler and comedian Andy Kaufman during the legendary exchanges that peaked on the David Letterman show.

Then, Kaufman had began a routine of being a heel wrestling women selected from audiences. Lawler challenged Kaufman to wrestle a professional female wrestler.

Lawler and Kaufman had an encounter. Letterman had them on his late-night show where they tangled beside the host’s desk.

“Letterman was stunned,” Hart said. “The King later said in his book that he and Kaufman had it all planned. I didn’t know what was going to happen next but I think the real surprise was the verbal barrage of profanity from Andy Kaufman. That wasn’t something you heard on television then.”

Letterman may have been shocked but the show was pre-taped prior to broadcast. The profanity stayed in, Hart said. 

“It was good TV.”

Hart has known good TV. He’s been manager to numerous wrestling greats through the years: Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase, the Giant, the Honky Tonk Man, etc. He was part of WrestleMania I.

What may be lesser known is Hart got his start in rock & roll. He performed with The Gentrys, a group that had a 1965 hit with “Keep on Dancing.”

Lawler introduced him to wrestling. Hart ended up on TV and was a natural as the fast-talking manager. But he said he never left music completely.

He composed and wrote the intro music for numerous wrestlers and theme music for wrestling shows.

He may even sing a few songs during the Wild Adventures show.

He said he still enjoys traveling for wrestling shows at small venues. He will appear Saturday with “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner vs. “Mr. Saturday Night” Jarrod Michaels; “The Rocker” Marty Jannetty vs. Grimey Kantrell.

Other scheduled bouts include Monster Pain vs. AIWF World Heavyweight Champion Francisco Ciatso, and Dynasty vs. Tag Team Georgia Heat, said promoter Brooks Robinson of Sunbelt Wrestling. 

A meet-and-greet session is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at the park. Seating opens at 4 p.m. in the amphitheater for the matches.