WWE Hall of Fame

In professional wrestling, the WWE Hall of Fame (formerly WWF Hall of Fame) is an institution that honors selected former employees of World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly the World Wrestling Federation) and other influential figures in the wrestling business.

History

The Hall of Fame was created in 1993 with the induction of WWF alumnus André the Giant, who had died earlier that year. The Hall inducted additional members annually thereafter until 1996, then went dormant until it was revived in 2004 to commemorate the company's twentieth WrestleMania event.

Since living inductees appear at a Hall of Fame acceptance event, induction is contingent upon the candidate being on good terms with WWE. As a result, several notable alumni have not been inducted, including Bruno Sammartino (the longest reigning WWF Champion, who, as recently as 2006, refuses to be inducted as he sees the Hall as a joke due to the inductions of Johnny Rodz, James Dudley and Pete Rose). The Ultimate Warrior has declined to be inducted, claiming it would sully his reputation to accept. Bret Hart was long opposed to being inducted to the Hall, but after a thaw in the relations between him and the WWE due to a joint DVD project and other discussions, he accepted. 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, some inductees, such as Harley Race and Verne Gagne, achieved some or all of their success outside of WWE, though it should be noted that the companies where they did achieve their success are now largely part of the WWF/WWE.

At the In Your House "Good Friends, Better Enemies" PPV in 1996, Vince McMahon announced Mad Dog Vachon as a future Hall Of Famer. On an episode of RAW in March 2006, Shane McMahon described play-by-play announcer Jim Ross as a future Hall of Famer. In December 2003 WWE released a magazine entitled "The 50 Greatest WWE Superstars Of All Time", which stated that the Superstars on the list were current Hall of Famers, or future Hall of Famers. Jake Roberts was also referred to as a future Hall of Famer by Vince McMahon on the DVD, Pick Your Poison.

As of 2006, Harley Race, "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd, and Verne Gagne are the only four wrestlers to be inducted into both the WCW Hall of Fame and the WWE Hall of Fame. In addition, Harley Race is the only man to be inducted into the WCW, WWE, and NWA Halls of Fame.

Inductees

1993

June 3, 1993

André the Giant was inducted. There was no ceremony, only a video package that was played on an episode of WWF Superstars in 1993 that announced his induction.

1994

June 9, 1994, Omni Inner Harbor International Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland

Arnold Skaaland inducted by Bob Backlund
Bobo Brazil inducted by Ernie Ladd
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers inducted by Bret Hart
Chief Jay Strongbow inducted by Tatanka
Freddie Blassie inducted by Shane McMahon
Gorilla Monsoon inducted by Jim Ross
James Dudley inducted by Vince McMahon (his induction came as a surprise that night, not even James Dudley himself knew about it.)

1995

June 24, 1995, Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Antonino Rocca inducted by Diesel
Ernie Ladd inducted by Bobo Brazil
George Steele inducted by Doink The Clown
Ivan Putski
The Fabulous Moolah inducted by Alundra Blayze
The Grand Wizard inducted by Sgt. Slaughter
Pedro Morales accepted by Savio Vega

1996

November 16, 1996, Marriott Marquis, New York City, New York

Baron Mikel Scicluna
Lou Albano
Jimmy Snuka inducted by Don Muraco
Jimmy Valiant and Johnny Valiant inducted by either The British Bulldog or Owen Hart
Johnny Rodz inducted by The Brooklyn Brawler
Killer Kowalski inducted by Triple H
Pat Patterson inducted by Bret Hart
Vincent J. McMahon inducted by Shane McMahon

2004

March 13, 2004, The Hilton, New York City, New York

Big John Studd inducted by The Big Show, represented by his son John Minton, Jr.
Bobby Heenan inducted by Blackjack Lanza
Don Muraco inducted by Mick Foley
Greg Valentine inducted by Jimmy Hart
Harley Race inducted by Ric Flair
Jesse Ventura inducted by his son Tyrell Janos
Junkyard Dog inducted by Ernie Ladd, represented by his daughter LaToya Ritter
Sgt. Slaughter inducted by Pat Patterson
"Superstar" Billy Graham inducted by Triple H
Tito Santana inducted by Shawn Michaels
Pete Rose (celebrity inductee) inducted by Kane

2005

April 2, 2005, Universal Ampitheater, Los Angeles, California

"Cowboy" Bob Orton inducted by Randy Orton
Hulk Hogan inducted by Sylvester Stallone
Jimmy Hart inducted by Jerry Lawler
Paul Orndorff inducted by Bobby Heenan
Nikolai Volkoff inducted by Jim Ross
Roddy Piper inducted by Ric Flair
The Iron Sheik inducted by Sgt. Slaughter

2006

April 1, 2006, Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, Illinois

Bret Hart inducted by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Eddie Guerrero inducted by Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero and Chris Benoit, represented by Vickie Guerrero
"Mean" Gene Okerlund inducted by Hulk Hogan
"Sensational" Sherri inducted by Ted DiBiase
Verne Gagne inducted by Greg Gagne
The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza) inducted by Bobby Heenan
Tony Atlas inducted by S.D. Jones
William "The Refrigerator" Perry (celebrity inductee) inducted by John Cena

Television broadcast

The first two hours of the 2006 show were shown live on WWE.com from 9pm-11pm EST on Saturday, April 1 from Rosemont, Illinois. USA Network aired the last hour of the 2006 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony at 11pm EST. The last hour featured the inductions of Gene Okerlund, Eddie Guerrero and Bret Hart. Steve Austin's introduction and Bret Hart's acceptance speech were both heavily edited for the television broadcast. Jerry Lawler hosted the event. The event also went head to head with TNA iMPACT!. This was the first time TNA and WWE aired at the same time.