WWE Hall of Fame? Or Hall of Shame?

WWE Hall of Fame? Or Hall of Shame?

March 16, 2015

By Ryan Porzl

The WWE Hall of Fame has been one of wrestling's most known hall of fames and one of the oldest. It was originally created in 1993 to honor one of wrestling's greatest names in "The Eighth Wonder of the World" Andre the Giant. Following this, the WWF would continue the Hall of Fame for three more years where it truly felt like a Hall of Fame. While some inductees were questionable, the majority unquestionably deserved it and it felt prestigous. After an eight year period of inactivity, the now WWE brought the Hall of Fame back. Unfortunately, since it's return eleven years ago, many inductees and the way the WWE has treated it has seen some rightful criticism. While many WWE and/or wrestling legends have rightfully taken their place in the Hall of Fame, the WWE has also made their Hall of Fame, at times, to be nothing more than a joke. Along with deserving legends, the WWE has also inducted wrestlers who spent their WWE careers as jobbers; celebrities who may have only made one forgettable appearance in a pathetic attempt at some publicity; or wrestlers who have been retired or deceased for a short period of time while legends from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s routinely get snubbed. This article will take a look at the continuing mistakes the WWE makes and ways they could make it better.

Celebrities

The first criticsm to be made is the one most fans have a problem with which is the celebrity wing of the HOF. The wing supposedly honors celebrities who made appearances for the WWE in the past. Now I'm one of those people who doesn't have a problem with the celebrities wing. I do believe there is a place for certain celebrities to go into the WWE Hall of Fame as some have made numerous appearances and brought media attention to the company which is good for business. Current Hall of Famers like Mike Tyson and Mr. T belong in the HOF because they brought big business to the WWE when they were there. Singer Cyndi Lauper, football great Laurence Taylor, and former NBC Sports executive Dick Ebersole would also deserve Hall of Fame inductions. Lauper brought a lot of eyes and ears to wrestling with her appearances during 1984 and 1985. Her appearances also helped get the WWF two specials on MTV which did good ratings and caught the eye of NBC which later led to Saturday Night's Main Event. Former head of NBC Sports Dick Ebersol deserves a position in the celebrity wing as he helped get Saturday Night's Main Event on the air and produced it during it's run on NBC. Taylor main evented Wrestlemania XI where he put on a solid performance for a non-wrestler and brought a lot of media attention with him. So there is a place for celebrities in the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, most of the celebrities that are picked for the HOF are usually celebrities who did little to nothing for the WWE. At most, they may have made one appearance and that's it.

Pete Rose is a legend in baseball but what did he contribute in the WWE to get into the HOF? Three appearances at Wrestlemania where he had confrontations with Kane? Did the appearances increase business? No. Did his appearances create a buzz? No. Most people rightfully believe the HOF induction was more about getting some mainstream publicity given Rose has infamously been banned from Baseball and the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 due gambling on games. William Perry is a former Super Bowl Champion but as far as the WWE goes, he made an appearance participating in the Wrestlemania 2 WWF/NFL battle royal. Between that battle royal and his induction, 20 years have passed. In that 20 year period between appearances, how many other appearances did Perry make for WWE? None. That's right, Perry made no appearances or did anything else for WWE in two decades so he was being inducted based off a battle royal appearance that only hardcore fans remember. Like Rose, Perry didn't bring any extra publicity or buzz to his appearance and he didn't make many appearances either. Then there's Drew Carey. Carey is probably one of the most controversal inductees in the HOF's history. Like Perry, Carey made one appearance for the WWF when he had a very forgetful appearance at the 2001 Royal Rumble pay-per-view where he participated in the Rumble, had some confrontations with Kane (notice a pattern), and eliminated himself. Carey didn't bring anything to the table and most people likely forgot the appearance. Like Perry, Carey made a grand total of no appearances between his one appearance and his induction. Nobody took it seriously and Carey was even booed by the Georgia Dome crowd at Wrestlemania XVII when he appeared on stage with the rest of the class of 2011. The point of all of this is that the celebrity wing is something that many fans are going to question. If you're going to have it then make it count and choose the inductees wisely.

Too Many 90s and 2000s Wrestlers Going In Way Too Soon

A second problem with the Hall of Fame is the case of certain wrestlers possibly going in too soon. There's no question that Eddie Guerrero, Trish Stratus, Lita, and Edge to name some deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. The problem is did they need to go in as fast as they did? Eddie Guerrero was only inducted five months after his death. Neither Trish nor Lita were even retired for a decade when they went in. Speaking of retirement, Edge was only retired for a year when he went in. I'm all for inducting them in the HOF but others have been deceased or retired much longer before they got in or are still not in as of writing. Even looking at 2015's HOF, we have Rikishi who debuted in 1992 and had his peak in 2000. You could make a good argument he deserves to be in but before many other big names who aren't in? I can think of dozens of names (which I'll get to in a bit). 

Anybody Can Get In

A Hall of Fame is supposed to celebrate the best of the best of something. In the case of the WWE Hall of Fame, it's supposed to celebrate the best superstars, divas, and personalities in WWE History. While the majority of WWE Hall of Famers are some of the best in WWE or at least in WCW, ECW, AWA, and World Class, there are some that are not. Even worse is even if they are, the WWE almost ignores it and only mentions their WWE runs which may not have been good. By doing that, it cheapens the Hall of Fame because it gets to the point that anybody can get in. Take someone like Koko B. Ware. Outside the WWE, Koko had a very solid run in wrestling. He was very successful in Memphis with companies like the CWA and the USWA along with Championship Wrestling in Florida out in Florida. If there was a Memphis Hall of Fame, he would deserve it. Unfortunately, this isn't Memphis or Florida but the WWE. Not to mention that the WWE doesn't own the video library or rights to any of the old Memphis companies and what did he do in the WWE? He main evented Survivor Series 1988, sang the title song on the Piledriver album, and was in the first televised match in Monday Night RAW history but that's it. Other than that, he was a jobber who lost far more than he won and was never a title contender despite being in the WWE on and off for eight years. 

Same with the Bushwhackers. Outside the WWE, they're legends and enjoyed big success as the Sheepherders. In the WWE, they were jokes and jobbers. They rarely got title shots, they were mostly in a lot of bad comedy, and are mostly known for being jobbers who lost all the time. In fact, one of the most famous moments in their run is when Luke literally lasted four seconds in the 1991 Royal Rumble. Then there's Mae Young. Sure, Young is a pioneer in Women's wrestling but what did she ever do in the WWE? I know she showed toughness by getting powerbombed off a stage by Bubba Ray Dudley but everything else about her WWE run was just awful, embarrassing attempts at comedy. She definitely deserves to be in wrestling hall of fames but her WWE run was just her in segments embarrassing herself. Worse of all, neither Koko nor Young had any successful runs in WCW, ECW, AWA, and World Class so you can't use success in other companies that are now owned by the WWE as a reason. Meanwhile, even if they did have success in those companies, the WWE has largely ignored it and focused on the WWE runs which weren't good. Being a jobber or doing comedy is Hall of Fame worthy? Sadly, I know Hillbilly Jim and the Brooklyn Brawler are also right around the corner.

Then there is Abdullah the Butcher and "Bullet" Bob Armstrong who never worked for the WWE. Armstrong may have had a few matches but that's it and Abdullah never even set foot into a WWE ring, ever. Armstrong was highly successful in Georgia Championship Wrestling (WWE does own their video library and rights) along with Championship Wrestling from Florida but that's it. Abdullah had runs in Georgia, WCW, and World Class but his biggest success was largely in Puerto Rico for WWC and in Japan for All Japan Pro Wrestling. I know WWE owns the rights and video library to many companies and I accept wrestlers from there to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame but neither of these men have any history in WWE. Sure, you can make exceptions as people were willing to do for Sting before he debuted in 2014, but it still doesn't feel right.

Snubbing the Past

Finally, we come to the biggest complaint I have with the Hall of Fame which is the WWE ignoring the past. While the WWE did a great job honoring wrestlers from the 60s and 70s during the original 1993-1996 run, they've pretty much ignored the first three decades of their history since the HOF's return in 2004. While there have been a few exceptions like Eddie Graham and Gorgeous George, it seems like they ignore the legends of the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and even some of the 80s. Dr. Jerry Graham, The Fabulous Kangaroos, Haystacks Calhoun, Johnny Valentine, Toots Mondt, Rene Goulet, Tony Garea, The Glamour Girls, The Jumping Bomb Angels, Bull Nakano, Ken Patera, Rick Rude, The Nasty Boys, and Demolition to name some continued to get ignored every year while the WWE focuses more on the last 20 years. It's sad given their contributions and the fact that less deserving individuals are going in or more later stars are going in before them. What's even crazier about the whole thing is many companies would kill to have these legends as members of their Hall of Fame.

Dr. Jerry Graham- Five time Capital Wrestling Corporation/WWWF United States Tag Team Champion, had a big main event at Madison Square Garden against Bruno Sammartino where the WWE turned away 10,328 people, founded the Graham wrestling family, and was Vince's favorite wrestler as a teenager. 

The Fabulous Kangaroos- Three time United States Tag Team Title and are one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling. Not only that, but they are credited with putting tag team wrestling on the map. 

Haystacks Calhoun- Former WWWF World Tag Team Champion and one of the first super heavyweights to become a star in wrestling to point where he predates Andre the Giant. He was also a fixture in many of the WWWF's shows at Madison Square Garden during the 60s and 70s.

Toots Mondt- Co-founder of the WWE, pushed for Bruno Sammartino to be the face of the WWE in the 1960s, turned wrestling from real life grappling into the scripted style it is today,

"Wild" Red Berry- One of the WWE's first managers. Managed the Fabulous Kangaroos to three United States Tag Team Titles and Gorilla Monsoon & Killer Kowalski to one Tag Title run. Also managed Monsoon during his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino and also managed "Professor" Toru Tanaka. Was also a former nine time NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion.

Phil Zacko- 1/6th WWWF/WWF Shareholder, promoted WWWF/WWF shows in Pennsylvania and Maryland (including their Spectrum shows and TV Tapings which were in Pennsylvania), and supervised the construction of steel cages whenever WWWF/WWF had a steel cage match.

Mark Lewin- Two time Capital Wrestling Corporation (WWE) United States Tag Team Champion, was the first ever US Tag Team Champion, and won titles in many other promotions including World Class and Championship Wrestling from Florida.

Johnny Valentine- Four time CWC/WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and NWA United States Champion (The NWA Title is the same linage as the current WWE United States Title).

Rene Goulet- WWE World Tag Team Champion and former decade long WWE Road Agent/Producer

Tony Garea- Five time WWE World Tag Team Champion, once held the record for most World Tag Team Titles, current WWE Road Agent/Producer, and 40 year employee.

Professor Toru Tanaka- Three time WWE World Tag Team Champion, WWE International Tag Team Champion, and formed a legendary tag team with Mr. Fuji.

Dominic DeNucci- Two time WWE World Tag Team Champion, WWE International Tag Team Champion, and trainer of both Mick Foley & Shane Douglas.

Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler- First ever WWE World Tag Team Champions, WWE International Tag Team Champions, and Graham is the first wrestler to hold three different types of WWE Tag Team Titles (also included the United States Tag Titles).

Then there's the guys and girls from the 80s and early 90s that most fans know so I won't go into detail with them. They include wrestlers like Jim Neidhart, Rick Martel, Brutus Beefcake, Rick Rude, King Kong Bundy, the One Man Gang, the Big Boss Man, Mike Rotunda, Lex Luger, Ken Patera, Tiger Mask, Bull Nakano, Demolition, The Steiner Brothers, The Nasty Boys, The Glamour Girls, and the Jumping Bomb Angels. I should point out I left some names off because they may be beyond WWE's control. Owen Hart is not mentioned because that's up to his widow. I believe Miss Elizabeth's mother wouldn't allow an induction since, I think, she blames wrestling for her daughter's death. The British Bulldogs are a tough one because Davey Boy Smith has since passed away while the Dynamite Kid may not want to fly from England to the United States and accept his honor.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I feel the WWE Hall of Fame is a great idea but executed poorly at times. I hope WWE can eventually correct these mistakes and use the Hall of Fame to celebrate a rich history that celebrates the companies best and maybe introduce them to new audiences. The WWE has seen some of wrestling's greatest make a mark in their promotion and it's time to embrace their contributions.