WWE to announce 2005 Hall of Fame inductees

[Black Lushus 0]

metioning John Tenta in the same sentence as JYD and Big John Studd is blasphemy! was he on Rock N Roll Wrestling??? WAS HE???

[IWD 0]

Some more to consider:

 

Bob Backlund

Backlund was offered it last year and turned it down.

There was speculation (by Dave Meltzer) that it might have had something to

do with Pete Rose being announced.

 

 

 

-Paul Jacobi-

Thanks, didn't know that.

 

Cheers.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Guys like The Nasty Boys, Earthquake, The Rougeus, Curt Hennig, Mike Rutundo, Matt Borne and others were just as important as anyone else.

I'll give you Hennig & Rotundo, but not any of the others ... what have the Rougeaus or Nastys done to really merit inclusion in a HOF? While I recognize that this is a fictitious HOF for a fake sport, it should really only include the great or - at worst - very good from the sport.

 

I like a lot of Andy's suggestions ... the Funks, Hansen, Williams. I'd include Gordy, but only if you induct him as a "Fabulous Freebird" and throw PS Hayes in there at the same time.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Steve Austin be inducted. Unlike Hogan & Piper, he doesn't refuse to officially retire. He also isn't pissed at Vince like Hart or Sammartino.

[ravenlo 0]

When do you guys think they'll announce the other inductees?

[Guest Hass of Pain]

If Bruno Sammartino isn't inducted this year, whether he agrees to appear or not, my faith in WWE turning the Hall of Fame around is pretty much dead. Bruno sold the Garden out 187 times. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN TIMES, that's a record no sports figure or entertainer has even ever come close to touching. And WWE puts Nikolai Volkoff in the Hall of Fame? It would definitely be the classy thing to do for WWE to put him in the Hall of Fame even if he has no interest of showing up. WWE has treated him as an afterthought for the last 15 years even though he's basically the person who put the then WWWF on the map and made wrestling popular in the NorthEast. He's one of the biggest drawing cards ever and is his combined reigns he held the WWE title for TWELVE years. He could be the greatest WWE champion ever and if they don't recognize a guy who made that big of a contribution to the company a first ballot Hall of Famer, that's an insult no matter how bogus the whole thing is. I have a feeling WWE will do the right thing and put him in though.

 

As far as The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff go, debating who should be in the WWE Hall of Fame is pretty open to interpretation given the questionable nature of the first class, but if we're talking about it like it were the hall of fame for any other major sport, there is no way either man would have a shot in my opinion. Nikolai Volkoff just wasn't that important or influential and when it came to the evil Russian gimmick he wasn't even in the top three people of his era to do it. The guy was good, but did nothing standoutish enough to even deserve a place on the ballot in my opinion. The Iron Sheik held the title sure, but he was transitional and never really that important to the company or wrestling in general aside from that.

 

I'm not putting down either man because they were both very good at what they did, but when they are on the same ballot as legends who influenced the face of wrestling forever (Sammartino, Backlund, Hogan, Solie etc) they just look like guys who played gimmicks reasonably well and then faded into obscurity.

[IWD 0]

I like a lot of Andy's suggestions ... the Funks, Hansen, Williams.  I'd include Gordy, but only if you induct him as a "Fabulous Freebird" and throw PS Hayes in there at the same time.

Are WWE complaining responsibility for just American wrestling, or wrestling in general? Williams & Gordy were bigger than The Steiners or The Road Warriors in terms of geijin (sp?) wrestlers in Japan.

 

Vader has potential too, come to think of it.

 

Cheers.

[Ace309 0]

If Bruno Sammartino isn't inducted this year, whether he agrees to appear or not, my faith in WWE turning the Hall of Fame around is pretty much dead. It would definitely be the classy thing to do for WWE to put him in the Hall of Fame even if he has no interest of showing up.

Don't you think the pissing and moaning about "exploiting his name" would be about the same as the pissing and moaning about not inducting him? I mean, they're damned if they do and they're damned if they don't.

[BUTT 0]

Why would Matt Borne belong in the Hall of Fame?

[CBright7831 0]

If Bruno Sammartino isn't inducted this year, whether he agrees to appear or not, my faith in WWE turning the Hall of Fame around is pretty much dead. Bruno sold the Garden out 187 times. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN TIMES, that's a record no sports figure or entertainer has even ever come close to touching. And WWE puts Nikolai Volkoff in the Hall of Fame? It would definitely be the classy thing to do for WWE to put him in the Hall of Fame even if he has no interest of showing up. WWE has treated him as an afterthought for the last 15 years even though he's basically the person who put the then WWWF on the map and made wrestling popular in the NorthEast. He's one of the biggest drawing cards ever and is his combined reigns he held the WWE title for TWELVE years. He could be the greatest WWE champion ever and if they don't recognize a guy who made that big of a contribution to the company a first ballot Hall of Famer, that's an insult no matter how bogus the whole thing is. I have a feeling WWE will do the right thing and put him in though.

 

As far as The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff go, debating who should be in the WWE Hall of Fame is pretty open to interpretation given the questionable nature of the first class, but if we're talking about it like it were the hall of fame for any other major sport, there is no way either man would have a shot in my opinion. Nikolai Volkoff just wasn't that important or influential and when it came to the evil Russian gimmick he wasn't even in the top three people of his era to do it. The guy was good, but did nothing standoutish enough to even deserve a place on the ballot in my opinion. The Iron Sheik held the title sure, but he was transitional and never really that important to the company or wrestling in general aside from that.

 

I'm not putting down either man because they were both very good at what they did, but when they are on the same ballot as legends who influenced the face of wrestling forever (Sammartino, Backlund, Hogan, Solie etc) they just look like guys who played gimmicks reasonably well and then faded into obscurity.

Why do I hear Jim Cornette talking everytime i read one of your posts?

[CBright7831 0]

When do you guys think they'll announce the other inductees?

On RAW hopefully.

 

I don't know why they would do it on Velocity or Heat.

[BHK 0]

If Bruno Sammartino isn't inducted this year, whether he agrees to appear or not, my faith in WWE turning the Hall of Fame around is pretty much dead. Bruno sold the Garden out 187 times. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN TIMES, that's a record no sports figure or entertainer has even ever come close to touching. And WWE puts Nikolai Volkoff in the Hall of Fame? It would definitely be the classy thing to do for WWE to put him in the Hall of Fame even if he has no interest of showing up. WWE has treated him as an afterthought for the last 15 years even though he's basically the person who put the then WWWF on the map and made wrestling popular in the NorthEast. He's one of the biggest drawing cards ever and is his combined reigns he held the WWE title for TWELVE years. He could be the greatest WWE champion ever and if they don't recognize a guy who made that big of a contribution to the company a first ballot Hall of Famer, that's an insult no matter how bogus the whole thing is. I have a feeling WWE will do the right thing and put him in though.

 

As far as The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff go, debating who should be in the WWE Hall of Fame is pretty open to interpretation given the questionable nature of the first class, but if we're talking about it like it were the hall of fame for any other major sport, there is no way either man would have a shot in my opinion. Nikolai Volkoff just wasn't that important or influential and when it came to the evil Russian gimmick he wasn't even in the top three people of his era to do it. The guy was good, but did nothing standoutish enough to even deserve a place on the ballot in my opinion. The Iron Sheik held the title sure, but he was transitional and never really that important to the company or wrestling in general aside from that.

 

I'm not putting down either man because they were both very good at what they did, but when they are on the same ballot as legends who influenced the face of wrestling forever (Sammartino, Backlund, Hogan, Solie etc) they just look like guys who played gimmicks reasonably well and then faded into obscurity.

Why do I hear Jim Cornette talking everytime i read one of your posts?

It's the icon.

 

Iit's not just you.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

WWE doesn't want to put someone in who doesn't want to be included. Don't you think that's respecting what Bruno wants? I'm sure if they inducted him without him being present or giving his permission, he'd piss and moan about it. Like someone else said, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

 

And frankly, most WWE fans today don't really know who Bruno Sammartino is at all, anyway, so his inclusion isn't going to be a big deal when/if it happens.

[CBright7831 0]

If Bruno Sammartino isn't inducted this year, whether he agrees to appear or not, my faith in WWE turning the Hall of Fame around is pretty much dead. Bruno sold the Garden out 187 times. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN TIMES, that's a record no sports figure or entertainer has even ever come close to touching. And WWE puts Nikolai Volkoff in the Hall of Fame? It would definitely be the classy thing to do for WWE to put him in the Hall of Fame even if he has no interest of showing up. WWE has treated him as an afterthought for the last 15 years even though he's basically the person who put the then WWWF on the map and made wrestling popular in the NorthEast. He's one of the biggest drawing cards ever and is his combined reigns he held the WWE title for TWELVE years. He could be the greatest WWE champion ever and if they don't recognize a guy who made that big of a contribution to the company a first ballot Hall of Famer, that's an insult no matter how bogus the whole thing is. I have a feeling WWE will do the right thing and put him in though.

 

As far as The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff go, debating who should be in the WWE Hall of Fame is pretty open to interpretation given the questionable nature of the first class, but if we're talking about it like it were the hall of fame for any other major sport, there is no way either man would have a shot in my opinion. Nikolai Volkoff just wasn't that important or influential and when it came to the evil Russian gimmick he wasn't even in the top three people of his era to do it. The guy was good, but did nothing standoutish enough to even deserve a place on the ballot in my opinion. The Iron Sheik held the title sure, but he was transitional and never really that important to the company or wrestling in general aside from that.

 

I'm not putting down either man because they were both very good at what they did, but when they are on the same ballot as legends who influenced the face of wrestling forever (Sammartino, Backlund, Hogan, Solie etc) they just look like guys who played gimmicks reasonably well and then faded into obscurity.

Why do I hear Jim Cornette talking everytime i read one of your posts?

It's the icon.

 

Iit's not just you.

People probably hear "Dubya" speaking when they read my posts.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

As far as The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff go, debating who should be in the WWE Hall of Fame is pretty open to interpretation given the questionable nature of the first class, but if we're talking about it like it were the hall of fame for any other major sport, there is no way either man would have a shot in my opinion. Nikolai Volkoff just wasn't that important or influential and when it came to the evil Russian gimmick he wasn't even in the top three people of his era to do it. The guy was good, but did nothing standoutish enough to even deserve a place on the ballot in my opinion. The Iron Sheik held the title sure, but he was transitional and never really that important to the company or wrestling in general aside from that.

 

Volkoff's involvement with WWE goes well beyond the evil Russian gimmick. He was one of the Mongols, who held the tag titles back in the last 60s.

[Guest Rrrsh]

This years Class is very unimpressive.

 

A Hall of Fame should be reserved for the absolute best. Way too many mid card guys from the 80's.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

Paul Orndorff was the biggest heel for wwf after Roddy Piper, Ted Dibiase and Andre the Giant in the 80's. That's not some Mid-Card heel. His program with Hogan drew an amazing amount of money.

 

Iron Shiek is a former world champion who dethroned Backlund's long reign.

 

Volkoff's career goes back further to the sixties with the Mongols, another major heel in his heyday.

 

Jimmy Hart is considered among the greatest managers of all time behind Cpt. Lou Albano, Grand Wizard, Heenan and Cornette (three of those already inducted). He's managed alot of stars from The Hart Foundation, Earthquake, Hulk Hogan and Many others.

 

Bob Orton was a fantastic heel in the 80's involved in one of the biggest angles in Wrestling history @ WM1. Drastically under-rated performer.

 

There's still 4-6 more names to be announced. Let's wait til those names are announced before we debunk this year's list.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Really 4-6 more? That's what 10 inductees...seems like alot.

[spman 0]

Really 4-6 more? That's what 10 inductees...seems like alot.

That's how many there were last year.

[Guest Hass of Pain]

I'm well aware of Volkoff's former run as one half of the Mongol's, but that still isn't enough to land him in any legitimate Hall of Fame when guys like Gordon Solie, The Road Warriors, Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Hogan and others are on the same list. Greg Valentine shouldn't have been included either, nor should Curt Hennig this year. It's not a hall of guys who had solid careers but never changed the landscape of the business, it's a hall for legends and I don't think the Shiek or Volkoff belong.

[LessonInMachismo 0]

I have to agree with the people against the Shiek and Nikolai inductions. I was surprised at their names being announced. I don't think they added anything that was revolutionary. The Hulkster could have taken on anyone with a shaven head, curl-toed boots and an Iranian flag and he would have made the fans go hoss.

 

As for Solie, he wasn't in the WWF/E unless I'm missing something.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

As for Solie, he wasn't in the WWF/E unless I'm missing something.

Vince now wants the WWE HOF to cover all professional wrestling.

[LessonInMachismo 0]

As for Solie, he wasn't in the WWF/E unless I'm missing something.

Vince now wants the WWE HOF to cover all professional wrestling.

That explains that, then. It should have been clear to me. He does baseball players, so why not other wrestling promotions?

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Anyone wanna guess on when Vince will add Honky Tonk Man to the Hall of Fame?

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

Honky Tonk Man apprently was offered last year according to HTM but he turned it down since he felt it meant it would infer that it meant he was retired and he claims he isn't retired so he's not ready to be inducted. Which could easily be his usual bullshit.

 

HTM certaintly is deserving considering how great his IC title reign was and how he actually outdrew Hogan on quite a few occasions.

[CBright7831 0]

His last match as IC champ was amazing also.

[Twisted Intestine 0]

Maybe Drew Carey can get in the celeberty wing!

[CBright7831 0]

If Bob Ueker doesn't make it in the next 2-3 years, I'm going to...to...sit on TSM and complain like a bitch.

[razazteca 0]

They should put Robocop in the celebrity wing.

[Slickster 0]

Honky Tonk Man apprently was offered last year according to HTM but he turned it down since he felt it meant it would infer that it meant he was retired and he claims he isn't retired so he's not ready to be inducted. Which could easily be his usual bullshit.

 

HTM certaintly is deserving considering how great his IC title reign was and how he actually outdrew Hogan on quite a few occasions.

Jimmy Valiant was inducted in 1996 and was wrestling as of last week.

 

Also, Solie is all but guaranteed to be inducted this year.