List of members of the WWE Hall of Fame
This is a list of members of the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created in 1993 and went dormant in 1996 for eight years before returning in 2004.
Induction is dependent upon whether the candidate is on good terms with WWE, and former WWE wrestlers who often criticize WWE or currently work with a different promotion have not been inducted.[1] Others, such as Bruno Sammartino are alienated from the promotion and refuse to be inducted, despite having been asked several times.[2]
The process by which inductees are selected is not transparent; the criteria for induction have never been disclosed. Although the Hall in theory honors those with important WWE careers, since the revival in 2004 some inductees achieved much of their success outside of WWE.[1] New members are inducted annually, in a ceremony held the night before and in the same city as that year's WrestleMania. Usually inductees are officially inducted at the ceremony by a high profile wrestling personality whose participation in the ceremony is highly publicized. As of 2008, there have been a total of 68 inductees, with 60 members inducted individually and four tag teams inducted.[3] Thirteen of the inductees have been inducted posthumously.[4]
Inductees
Year | Ring name (Birth name) |
Inducted by | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | André the Giant (André René Roussimoff) |
None | Posthumous inductee. One-time WWF Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion. There was no ceremony, only a video package that was played on an episode of WWF Superstars in 1993 that announced his induction.[5] |
1994 | Arnold Skaaland | Bob Backlund | One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and long-time manager in WWF.[6] |
1994 | Bobo Brazil (Houston Harris) |
Ernie Ladd | One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[7] |
1994 | "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (Herman C. Rohde, Jr.) |
Bret Hart | Posthumous inductee, One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion and first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.[8] |
1994 | Chief Jay Strongbow (Joe Scarpa) |
Tatanka | Two-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[9] |
1994 | "Classy" Freddie Blassie | Shane McMahon | Long-time manager in WWF.[10] |
1994 | Gorilla Monsoon (Robert Marella) |
Jim Ross | Two-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion. Former WWF announcer and on-screen President.[11] |
1994 | James Dudley | Vince McMahon | First African-American to run a major arena in the United States.[12] |
1995 | Antonino Rocca (Antonino Biasetton) |
Diesel | Posthumous inductee. One-time WWF International Heavyweight Champion.[13] |
1995 | "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd | Bobo Brazil | Also a member of the WCW Hall of Fame, won several NWA regional titles.[14] |
1995 | George "The Animal" Steele (William James Myers) |
Doink the Clown | Also a member of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.[15] |
1995 | Ivan Putski (Josef Bednarski) |
None | One-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[16] |
1995 | The Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison) |
Alundra Blayze | Three-time WWF Women's Champion prior to her induction. She won the title a fourth time four years after her induction and still holds the record for the longest single reign.[17] |
1995 | The Grand Wizard (Ernie Roth) |
Lou Albano | Postuhumous inductee. Long-time heel manager in WWF.[18] |
1995 | Pedro Morales | Savio Vega | One-time WWWF World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion. First WWF Triple Crown Champion.[19] |
1996 | "Baron" Mikel Scicluna | None | One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and former WWWF World Tag Team Champion.[20] |
1996 | "Captain" Lou Albano | None | One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion. As a manager, he lead fifteen different tag teams and four singles wrestlers to various championships.[21] |
1996 | Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka (James Edward Reiher) |
Don Muraco | Two-time ECW Heavyweight Champion and was the first to win the championship.[22] |
1996 | The Valiant Brothers (Jimmy and Johnny Valiant) |
The British Bulldog and Owen Hart | One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champions from May 13, 1974 to May 8, 1975, second longest reign in the history of the championship. First tag team to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.[23] |
1996 | Johnny Rodz (Johnny Rodriguez) |
The Brooklyn Brawler | Wrestled in WWF for nearly 2 decades.[24] |
1996 | Killer Kowalski (Wladek Kowalski) |
Hunter Hearst Helmsley | One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion.[25] |
1996 | Pat Patterson (Pierre Clemont) |
Bret Hart | First WWF Intercontinental Champion.[26] |
1996 | Vincent J. McMahon | Shane McMahon | Posthumous inductee. Founder of and long time promoter for World Wrestling Entertainment.[27] |
2004 | Big John Studd (John Minton) |
The Big Show | Posthumous inductee, represented by his son John Minton, Jr. One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion.[28] |
2004 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Raymond Heenan) |
Blackjack Lanza | Former commentator and long-time manager in WWF.[29] |
2004 | Don Muraco | Mick Foley | Two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion. First winner of the King of the Ring.[30] |
2004 | Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (Gregory Wisniski) |
Jimmy Hart | One-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[31] |
2004 | Harley Race | Ric Flair | Eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion and WWF King of the Ring winner in 1986.[32] |
2004 | Jesse "The Body" Ventura (James Janos) |
Tyrell Janos | One-time AWA World Tag Team Champion. Former commentator in WWF.[33] |
2004 | Junkyard Dog (Sylvester Ritter) |
Ernie Ladd | Posthumous inductee, represented by his daughter LaToya Ritter.[34] |
2004 | Sgt. Slaughter (Robert Remus) |
Pat Patterson | One-time WWF Champion.[35] |
2004 | "Superstar" Billy Graham (Eldridge Wayne Coleman) |
Triple H | One-time WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.[36] |
2004 | Tito Santana (Merced Solis) |
Shawn Michaels | Two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[37] |
2004 | Pete Rose | Kane | Celebrity inductee.[38] |
2005 | Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) |
Sylvester Stallone | Six-time WWF/E Champion, Six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWE World Tag Team Championship.[39] |
2005 | "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs) |
Ric Flair | Two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion. Host of Piper's Pit.[40] |
2005 | "Cowboy" Bob Orton | Randy Orton | Father of Randy Orton.[41] |
2005 | "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart | Jerry Lawler | Long-time manager in WWF.[42] |
2005 | "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff | Bobby Heenan | Four-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion and two-time WCW World Tag Team Champion.[43] |
2005 | Nikolai Volkoff (Josip Peruzovic) |
Jim Ross | Three-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[44] |
2005 | The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) |
Sgt. Slaughter | One-time WWF Champion and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[45] |
2006 | Bret "The Hitman" Hart | Steve Austin | Five-time WWF Champion and two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion.[46] |
2006 | Eddie Guerrero (Eduardo Guerrero) |
Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero and Chris Benoit | Posthumous inductee, represented by Vickie Guerrero and his two daughters. One-time WWE Champion, two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, four-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and first and one-time WWE United States Champion.[47] |
2006 | "Mean" Gene Okerlund | Hulk Hogan | Long-time AWA, WCW and WWE interviewer and announcer.[48] |
2006 | "Sensational" Sherri (Sherri Russell) |
Ted DiBiase | One-time WWF Women's Champion and four-time AWA World Women's Champion.[49] |
2006 | Verne Gagne | Greg Gagne | Ten-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion.[50] |
2006 | The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza) |
Bobby Heenan | One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champions.[51] |
2006 | "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas (Anthony White) |
S.D. Jones | One-time WWF Tag Team Champion, half of the first African American WWF World Tag Team Championship winning duo with Rocky Johnson.[52] |
2006 | William "The Refrigerator" Perry | John Cena | Celebrity inductee.[53] |
2007 | "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr.) |
Cody and Dustin Runnels | Three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[54] |
2007 | "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig | Wade Boggs | Posthumous inductee, represented by his wife, his four children, his mother and his father Larry Hennig. One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion.[4] |
2007 | Jerry "The King" Lawler | William Shatner | One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, three-time WCCW Heavyweight Champion and current color commentator for RAW.[55] |
2007 | Nick Bockwinkel | Bobby Heenan | Six-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion.[56] |
2007 | Mr. Fuji (Harry Fujiwara) |
Don Muraco | Five-time WWWF/WWF World Tag Team Champion. Former manager.[57] |
2007 | The Sheik (Ed Farhat) |
Sabu and Rob Van Dam | Posthumous inductee, represented by his wife Joyce Farhat. Two-time WWWF United States Champion.[58] |
2007 | The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) |
Samu and Matt Anoa'i | Three-time WWF World Tag Team Champions.[59] |
2007 | Jim Ross | Steve Austin | Current play-by-play commentator for RAW.[60] |
2008 | "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair (Richard Fliehr) |
Triple H | Two-time WWF Champion, seven-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion,[61] and ten-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[62][dead link ] Recognized by WWE as a sixteen-time world heavyweight champion. Flair was the first active WWE wrestler to be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.[63] |
2008 | "High Chief" Peter Maivia (Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia) |
The Rock | Posthumous inductee, represented by his daughter Ata Maivia Johnson. Won several NWA regional titles.[64] |
2008 | "Soulman" Rocky Johnson (Wayde Bowles) |
The Rock | One-time WWF World Tag Team Champion, half of the first African American WWF World Tag Team Championship winning duo with Tony Atlas.[65] |
2008 | Mae Young (Johnnie Mae Young) |
Pat Patterson | First ever and one-time NWA United States Women's Championship.[66] |
2008 | Gerald & Jack Brisco | John "Bradshaw" Layfield | Held over a dozen Tag Team Championships together. Jack Brisco: two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[67] Gerald Brisco: one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion[68] |
2008 | Eddie Graham (Edward Gossett) |
Dusty Rhodes | Posthumous inductee, represented by his son Mike Graham. Promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida, held over a dozen championships in CWF.[69] |
2008 | Gordon Solie (Jonard Frank Labiak) |
Jim Ross | Posthumous inductee, represented by his five children. Commentator, announcer and promoter for Championship Wrestling from Florida, later worked for World Championship Wrestling.[70] |
References
- General
- "WWE Hall of Fame, includes list of inducters". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
- Specific
- ^ a b "A virtual tour of the WWE Hall of Fame". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
- ^ MacKinder, Matt (2007-04-16). "Sammartino: McMahon is 'a sick-minded idiot". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
- ^ "WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ a b ""Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Andre the Giant". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Arnold Skaaland". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Bobo Brazil". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Chief Jay Strongbow". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Classy" Freddie Blassie". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Gorilla Monsoon". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "James Dudley". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Antonino Rocca". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Big Cat" Ernie Ladd". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "George "The Animal" Steele". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Ivan Putski". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "The Fabulous Moolah". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "The Grand Wizard". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Pedro Morales". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Baron" Mikel Scicluna". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Captain" Lou Albano". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "The Valiant Brothers". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Johnny Rodz". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Killer Kowalski". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Pat Patterson". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Vincent J. McMahon". WWE. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
- ^ "Big John Studd". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Bobby "The Brain" Heenan". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Don Muraco". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Greg "The Hammer" Valentine". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Harley Race". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Jesse "The Body" Ventura". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Junkyard Dog". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Sgt. Slaughter". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Superstar" Billy Graham". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Tito Santana". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Pete Rose". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Hulk Hogan". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Rowdy" Roddy Piper". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Cowboy" Bob Orton". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Nikolai Volkoff". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "The Iron Sheik". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Bret "The Hitman" Hart". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Eddie Guerrero". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Mean" Gene Okerlund". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""Sensational" Sherri". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Verne Gagne". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "The Blackjacks". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ (Archived July 17, 2007) ""Mr. USA" Tony Atlas". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ "William "The Refrigerator" Perry". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ ""The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Jerry "The King" Lawler". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Nick Bockwinkel". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Mr. Fuji". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "The Sheik". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "The Wild Samoans". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Jim Ross". WWE. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "History of the WCW World Championship". WWE. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- ^ "World Heavyweight Championship". National Wrestling Alliance. 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- ^ "2008 Hall of Fame Inductees". WWE. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ^ ""High Chief" Peter Maivia". WWE. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "Rocky Johnson". WWE. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "Mae Young". WWE. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ "Jack Brisco". WWE. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ "Gerald Brisco". WWE. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ "Eddie Graham". WWE. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- ^ "Gordon Solie". WWE. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
See also
External links
- The WWE Hall of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame at onlineworldofwrestling.com