Tag: Lex Luger

Lex Luger to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Former WCW World Champion and WWF star Lex Luger is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE revealed today that Luger is the latest member to join the 2025 Hall of Fame class. Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Michelle McCool are the other two confirmed inductees so far, with The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Tugboat) also rumored to be part of this year’s class.

Luger was informed of his induction during a recent visit from Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes:

“If you asked me 20 years ago, I thought my life had taken such a dark path that wrestling was a dead-end for me from there on out,” Luger said. “To see it come full circle here — man, I’m thrilled.”

Luger — who has worked to turn his life around after battling drug and alcohol abuse issues in the past — told Insight with Chris Van Vliet last month that he hoped to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame one day but would still feel like he had a great career even if he never got inducted.

Recently, Luger has been working with Diamond Dallas Page to improve his mobility. He is confined to a wheelchair because of a spinal stroke he suffered in 2007, but DDP shared a video in February where Luger was able to stand up from his wheelchair on his own without assistance. Luger also stood up to hug Rhodes when he was informed of his Hall of Fame induction.

Because of the impact Dusty Rhodes had on his career, Luger said it’s “very, very special” that Cody was the person to break this news to him.

The 66-year-old Luger (Lawrence Pfohl) is among the most famous wrestling stars of the 1980s-1990s. His career highlights include two WCW World Championships, a Royal Rumble win (shared with Bret Hart), and several United States, Tag Team, and TV title reigns.

Details regarding the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony have not been announced yet. It will be taking place in Las Vegas this April during WrestleMania 41 week.

Levesque posted the following tweet congratulating Luger on his induction:

Lex Luger ‘always hopeful’ for WWE Hall of Fame induction

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Lex Luger remains hopeful that a WWE Hall of Fame induction is in his future.

Speaking on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Luger said he has an “awesome” relationship with WWE and has been part of their Legends program for more than 10 years now. It would be an honor to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, but Luger still feels like he had a great career even if that never happens.

“Well, people say that good things come to those who wait,” Luger responded when asked about a potential induction. “Always hopeful. If not, I still feel I had a great career. There’s a lot of deserving guys other than me who still aren’t in as well. So, yeah, it would be a huge honor though — if and when it happens.”

Luger said he does not know why he hasn’t been inducted yet, but it’s not something he takes personally. He feels there are a lot of deserving candidates that have not been inducted.

“You know, I don’t know what criteria they do, because there’s a lot of other guys too that should have been in,” he said. “So I don’t know if it was me personally or anything with Vince [McMahon] at all. I’m not sure about that. Only they can answer that.”

Though he has a great relationship with WWE now, it wasn’t always this way. Luger said he “absolutely” takes responsibility for the mistakes he’s made in the past, including being a contributing factor to Miss Elizabeth’s death because of the lifestyle he was leading when they were together. Elizabeth died at 42 years old in 2003 due to an accidental drug overdose. Luger said he understands that some fans will never forgive him for Elizabeth’s death.

Luger believes that WWE has seen that he’s truly a changed person now. He told Van Vliet that the company has been a blessing in his life, and being under a WWE Legends deal has helped him financially.

“I think they waited and saw — I think they observed that I was a different guy now. And I felt that they learned to maybe trust who I was, that this wasn’t some temporary thing, that this is the new Lex and this is the direction he’s headed with his life,” Luger said. “So I’m thankful. They’ve been a real blessing in every way, including financially. You know, they gave me new merch out and [send what] the guys call ‘mailbox money.’

“So I’m very thankful for them welcoming me back into the family and making me a part of WWE. Obviously, the Hall of Fame would be the whipped cream and cherry on top for sure. If I never get in the Hall of Fame, I feel like I had a great career. That won’t change it, but it would obviously be a huge honor. It would be like definitely the creme de la creme, for sure. No doubt.”

Luger, 66, said he’s loving life and wakes up every day thanking God for the breath in his lungs and the beat of his heart. He’s confined to a wheelchair because of a spinal stroke he suffered in 2007, but Luger is working with Diamond Dallas Page to improve his mobility. DDP shared a video last week showing Luger standing up from his wheelchair on his own without assistance.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Michelle McCool are the first two inductees confirmed for the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2025. Details regarding the ceremony have not been announced yet.

Van Vliet’s full interview with Luger can be watched below:

Daily Update: Lex Luger, Goldberg, Michael Oku

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the stories in this issue:

  • Update on SummerSlam and All In, lineups, possible additions, things expected to happen, business notes on both shows, ticket sales and where they will stack up in the all-time historical records. We also look at the stories behind the matches.
  • London Mayor Sadiq Khan meets with Nick Khan and Paul Levesque regarding bringing WrestleMania to the city.
  • Notes on the first week of the G1 Climax tournament, stories, standings, business and quality of the matches.
  • Notes on week two of G1
  • Part one of our story on the life and career of Canadian star Leo Burke, a Stampede Hall of Famer and how he shaped the career of Bret Hart, and trained some of the biggest names in wrestling
  • Vince McMahon’s lawyers try and shut down a motion by Janel Grant’s lawyers
  • TNA Slammiversary, its biggest crowd in years and how it was done, PPV numbers update, and full show coverage
  • Coverage of Dragon Gate & DDT’s biggest shows of the year
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the major pro wrestling shows, placings, competition and segment-by-segment
  • What the CMLL current era compares to in Mexican history
  • A look at the big matches coming over the next month including AEW stars and World Grand Prix participants
  • Stardom PPV shows this weekend
  • 50th anniversary celebration
  • One of the top legends of this era pushing his farewell tour
  • Bloodsport notes
  • Next few weeks of TNA television
  • Update on AEW TV negotiations
  • Lots of AEW injuries
  • Tony Khan talks about strippaing titles vs. waiting for champions to recover
  • Darby Allin talks current scene
  • Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Cung Le lawsuit update
  • Top ten male and female fighters of the 21st century
  • Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry and update on celebrity fights and how they are doing

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded a six-minute clip of Joe Hendry’s concert from NXT Great American Bash. The full Roxanne Perez vs. Thea Hail NXT Women’s Championship match from last night is also available to watch.
  • During his appearance on ESPN’s First Take yesterday, CM Punk named Harley Race, Terry Funk, Steve Austin, Eddie Guerrero, and Roddy Piper as his five favorite wrestlers. Punk originally included Ricky Steamboat on the list before realizing he forgot about Piper.
  • Chris Van Vliet asked Goldberg what the dynamic between him and Paul “Triple H” Levesque is like currently: “I haven’t talked to Triple H in a long time. You know, it was extremely rocky in the beginning. But I think we’re at a good place, man. I have nothing but respect for him. He’s turned an interesting situation into a very successful situation and very profitable and I’m proud of it. Good job.”
  • While appearing on Busted Open Radio today, Lex Luger said he’d love to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame: “Ohh, I’d love to be. Absolutely.”
  • Luger responded when asked why he thinks he isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet: “I’m very optimistic, and I just think they have a way of doing it that I don’t think any of us are totally aware of. A formula, timing, all that. So I’m very optimistic that eventually I’ll be in. I really, really am.”
  • Charlotte Flair shared footage of her training in the ring at the WWE Performance Center as she works her way back from ACL surgery.
  • The Miz was a guest on The Rich Eisen Show.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Teal Piper remembered her father Roddy on the ninth anniversary of his passing: “9 years ago today we lost you. Feels like another life time ago. Not a day goes by you’re not on my mind. #riproddypiper”
  • Piper’s wife Kitty paid tribute to her late husband: “It does not seem possible that Roddy has been gone for 9 years now. I can still see his smile and hear his laughter. I hope you all enjoy a few pics I will post throughout the day of Roddy and that you can remember his smile and laugh when you think of him too.”
  • Michael Oku spoke to Cultaholic about his upcoming AEW American Championship match against MJF that will take place for RevPro in London on August 11:
    • Yeah, it’s a very, very wild time in professional wrestling. Everybody says that. I’ve been hearing people say that away from me. And now it’s come to me. I’m now part of the example of how wild wrestling is in 2024. Obviously, this is a huge, huge thing for me. You know, I’m challenging for the title, but what’s cool about this is the fact that it gets more eyes onto RevPro. There are a lot of people who will now be tuning in to see who I am, then in turn the rest of the RevPro roster and the rest of the matches.
    • What’s funny is that no matter what [MJF] says and he has said a lot, he said a lot in his promo and he does the whole thing of being confident and insulting the country, insulting me by calling me scrawny, what he can’t change is that factually, he challenged me. I didn’t put in some application form or try [to] message people like Tony Khan or Chris Jericho. I was just here putting full focus into the Copper Box. And he said ‘I want to wrestle Michael Oku.’ So no matter what he says in terms of insults, he can’t change that fact… I am sure I am going to shock the world once again.
  • Renee Paquette chatted with Matt Menard on the latest episode of Close Up.
  • Denise Salcedo interviewed Mariah May.
  • Sareee has suffered a fractured wrist but still intends to wrestle at Marigold’s show on August 19. She does not need surgery for the injury.
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH announced that Go Shiozaki will miss their N-1 Victory tournament due to a fracture of the thoracic vertebrae.
  • In the Bahamas on December 7, Kurt Angle will serve as the referee for a celebrity boxing match between Real Housewives star Joe Giudice and actor/model Antonio Sabato Jr.

Lex Luger says WWE allowed him to attend Sting’s final match, had to be off-camera

Posted on by Ian Carey

Lex Luger says WWE granted him permission to attend Sting’s final match at AEW Revolution. 

Luger, Magnum TA, Nikita Koloff, and other legends who worked with Sting throughout his career were in the building for Sunday’s pay-per-view. During an appearance on Busted Open Radio this week, Luger and DDP explained that WWE said they could attend the show, but requested they not be shown on camera. 

Luger: That crowd was phenomenal, they stayed hot, they were lit for the match, I was so excited. They got out us out there so we could kind of soak in the atmosphere..

DDP: Off-camera, off-camera. We didn’t want to be on camera, yeah.

Luger: WWE is classy. They said you can go and everything just don’t be on camera, interviewed or be part of the match. 

Kevin Nash said on his podcast that he asked WWE about attending Sting’s final match as well. 

Nash said:

(Sting) asked me to be a part of it, and I just said that because of my positioning with the company, with WWE, I couldn’t even be there if I went in the crowd.

The discussion of Lex Luger going into the WWE Hall of Fame was also discussed on Wednesday’s episode of Busted Open Radio. Luger said Sting is “the first person that pops into your head” when considering who would induct him. 

Wrestling Observer Live: A trip back to 1993

Posted on by Jim Valley

Since I’m gone on vacation, I pulled an old Wrestling Observer Live show from the archives: 30 years ago this week.

Hear what it was like way back in 1993. Lex Luger beat Yokozuna at WWF SummerSlam, but he didn’t win the WWF World title. Bret Hart made Jerry Lawler submit, but he didn’t win the title of King of the WWF ring.

There was an exciting week of WWF television as there were three competitive marquee matches featuring such top notch stars as Virgil, Marty Jannetty and Bastion Booger. Wrestling on TV just can’t get any better than this!

Plus, you won’t believe what happened with The Shockmaster! All the news and insight from 1993. Check it out!

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Magazine from December 1993

Posted on by Karl Stern

“Promotional consideration paid for by the following….”

On our rotation of classic pro wrestling shows, this week takes a look back at the December 1993 issue of WWF Magazine.

As you can see, the cover story was about Razor Ramon and how long he could keep the WWF Intercontinental title. Plus, we got features on Ludvig Borga (Tony Halme), The Lex Express, and much more.

Also included was the WWF merchandise catalog with foam fingers and teddy bears in your favorite WWF wrestlers’ gear for some reason. 

Click Here To Listen (for free)

Lex Luger would attempt to walk on stage if inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Ian Carey

Lex Luger says being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame would be the “cherry on top of” his career. 

The 64-year-old will be the focus of Sunday’s episode of Biography: WWE Legends on A&E. In an interview with Sports Illustrated released on Thursday, Luger spoke about his health and possible induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. 

“It’s mind-boggling. I’m in phenomenal health,” Luger said. “Other than my mobility issues from my spinal cord issue, I’m very healthy, and that’s a miracle of God after what I put my body through. I usually use a wheelchair or a walker, but I can walk some.”

“I have great mobility; I drive. But you know how your power will go out for a moment during a storm? That can happen to me, and I’m on the floor before I know it. So I take a lot of precautions. I live totally independently, which wasn’t supposed to happen. I don’t look the same because I don’t hit the weights like I used to, but I’m healthy.”

Luger was also asked about possibly being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame someday. 

“I might pop out of the chair for that. I would take that chance, if that moment comes. That honor would be the cherry on top of my career.”

Thursday is the 25-year anniversary of Lex Luger defeating Hollywood Hogan to win the WCW World Championship on the August 4, 1997 edition of Nitro. 

Bryan & Vinny Show: SummerSlam 1993 review plus Granny and more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny & Granny Show is back with tons to talk about including Granny’s Q&A with tons of questions, her Weekly Wrestling Report and limerick reading, and then the boys review SUMMERSLAM 1993 with Lex Luger vs. Yokozuna and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show: WWE Raw 29 with great Lex Luger promo, plus Granny

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny & Granny & Craig Show is back with tons to talk about including our weekly chat with Granny, her Weekly Wrestling Report and Q&A, poetry reading and more.

Then, we review WWE Raw 29 with a no-longer-rare great performance by Lex Luger that ultimately gets f*cked up. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show: Raw 24 with Lex Luger slamming Yokozuna, plus Granny!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny & Granny & Craig Show is back with tons to talk about including Granny’s usual Q&A, Weekly Wrestling Report, Lanny Poffo book reading, and more, then the boys review RAW 24, a useless show with the exception of the recap of Luger slamming Yokozuna. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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‘WWE Icons: Lex Luger’ to premiere on Fourth of July

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new episode of the WWE Icons docuseries will be making its debut this weekend.

WWE announced today that “WWE Icons: Lex Luger” will premiere on Sunday, July 4. It will be available on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network everywhere else.

Here’s the description for the episode:

The next installment of the acclaimed docuseries takes you inside the life and career of The Total Package as he reaches the height of sports-entertainment success and overcomes deep, personal tragedy. From winning the World Heavyweight Title to traveling the country aboard The Lex Express, Luger reveals never-before-heard stories from his legendary career.

A new edition of WWE Icons: Revisited will also premiere alongside the WWE Icons episode. WWE wrote: “There will be even more Luger stories to hear afterward on Icons Revisited, hosted by Matt Camp and Ryan Pappolla and featuring interviews with the likes of Ric Flair and Bret ‘Hit Man’ Hart.”

WWE Icons premiered this January with an episode focused on Yokozuna. There have since been episodes on Beth Phoenix and Rob Van Dam. There will also be a future episode on British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith.

This Fourth of July will be the 28th anniversary of Luger slamming Yokozuna on the USS Intrepid.

May 19, 2003 Observer Newsletter: WWE airs Miss Elizabeth 911 call, Freddie Blassie book, more

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The police report filed based on a conversation with Lex Luger, as well as the 911 tape, both indicated that Elizabeth Hulette was mixing vodka and painkillers, sat down to eat, started gurgling, and then died at about 5:30 a.m. on 5/1.

The 911 tape, much of which was played on the WWE’s television show Confidential on 5/10, saw a totally panicked Luger call saying, “My girlfriend has passed out, and I can’t get her to come to

We were eating and she started gurgling. I don’t know why. Please send somebody, please.”

Luger told police Hulette drank about two glasses of vodka and took some pills for back pain. While she was sitting on the couch eating some food, she started choking. Luger claimed he picked up some napkins to try and take the food out of her mouth, and started shaking her, hoping the food would dislodge, but noticed he wasn’t breathing, and in a panic, called 911.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

May 12, 2003 Observer Newsletter: Death of Miss Elizabeth

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The Lovely Elizabeth was one of the most atypical characters in the history of pro wrestling. But the demise of the woman playing the role, Elizabeth Hulette, on 5/1, was sadly, far too typical.

Hulette, 42, died at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA after emergency personnel responded to a 911 call at about 5:30 a.m. saying that she wasn’t breathing. Police and the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s office will not list a cause of death until toxicology reports come back in a month, other than saying it was likely not a homicide. It is widely believed by those closest to her that she was the latest victim of an overdose, which has claimed so many wrestlers of her generation, although medical examiner Hal Bennett said that is not necessarily the case.

Larry Pfohl, 44, her boyfriend, best known as Lex Luger, was arrested later that day, not in connection with the death, but because police found large quantities of drugs at the $300,000 townhouse the two shared in Cobb County, just outside of Marietta in suburban Atlanta.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

WWE Network adds unseen footage from Yokozuna/Luger slam

Posted on by Bryan Rose

If you are still feel patriotic following the 4th of July, this week’s Hidden Gem on the WWE Network has your back.

This week’s upload pretty much has everything regarding Lex Luger’s big push in the summer of 1993: the “I’ll Be Your Hero” music video, footage of Luger touring the United States on the Lex Express bus, b-roll footage of Luger’s babyface turn on the USS Intrepid on July 4, 1993 where slammed Yokozuna and the WWE title match at that year’s SummerSlam. The footage runs slightly over the three hour mark.

The patriotic push came after Luger had an initial middling run as a heel, the Narcissist. The original plan was for him to defeat Yokozuna for the WWE title at SummerSlam 1993, but the win was pushed to WrestleMania X. By the time that show rolled around, plans changed again and ultimately Luger never got over in the way WWE was hoping for.

Luger jumped to WCW in 1995 and won the WCW title once before the company folded in 2001.