Tag: wwe hall of fame 2018

Big Show to induct Mark Henry into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After announcing that Big Show would be an entrant in the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia later this month, WWE also confirmed today that he’ll be playing a role at this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony.

Big Show will be inducting Mark Henry into the WWE Hall of Fame at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday night. Both have been mainstays in WWE over the last two decades.

“I’ve spent a lot of time going up and down the road with Mark Henry,” Big Show said while speaking with WWE.com. “I’ve had battles with him, and I know what kind of a human being and community leader he is. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the WWE Hall of Fame. It is my honor to induct my friend.”

Big Show hasn’t wrestled since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery last year and dealing with a surgical infection after the operation. While ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this morning, he said that he signed a new multi-year contract with WWE in January.

Here’s the updated 2018 Hall of Fame lineup:

  • Goldberg (inducted by Paul Heyman)
  • The Dudley Boyz (inducted by Edge & Christian)
  • Ivory (inducted by Molly Holly)
  • Jeff Jarrett (inducted by Road Dogg)
  • Hillbilly Jim (inducted by Jimmy Hart)
  • Mark Henry (inducted by Big Show)
  • Warrior Award recipient Jarrius “JJ” Robertson (award presented by Dana Warrior)
  • Kid Rock

Jimmy Hart inducting Hillbilly Jim into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With the event now under a week away, WWE continues to make announcements regarding this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony.

WWE revealed today that Jimmy Hart will be inducting Hillbilly Jim into the Hall of Fame on April 6th in New Orleans. The two are friends and were last seen together on WWE programming as part of the Legends’ House reality show in 2014.

Jim did an interview with TMZ Sports after being announced for this year’s Hall of Fame class and was asked about Hulk Hogan potentially inducting him. Jim said he’d love it if Hogan were chosen to do the speech, but WWE put out a statement this week noting that Hogan isn’t scheduled for any of the company’s upcoming events.

Along with Hogan, Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2005 class.

The updated 2018 Hall of Fame lineup is listed below:

  • Goldberg (inducted by Paul Heyman)
  • The Dudley Boyz (inducted by Edge & Christian)
  • Ivory (inducted by Molly Holly)
  • Jeff Jarrett (inducted by Road Dogg)
  • Hillbilly Jim (inducted by Jimmy Hart)
  • Warrior Award recipient Jarrius “JJ” Robertson (award presented by Dana Warrior)
  • Mark Henry
  • Kid Rock

Road Dogg to induct Jeff Jarrett into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jeff Jarrett and Road Dogg will once again be paired together on WWE television over WrestleMania week in New Orleans.

As WWE continues to make announcements regarding this year’s class, it was confirmed today that Road Dogg will be inducting Jarrett into the Hall of Fame. Road Dogg debuted in the WWF as Jarrett’s roadie in the mid-1990s, with it eventually being revealed that he was the singer for Jarrett’s “With My Baby Tonight” song. The two later worked together in TNA.

Before it was confirmed to be Road Dogg, Jarrett did an interview with the New Orleans Times-Picayune last week and said he was “very excited” about the person who would be inducting him.

WWE still needs to announce who will be doing speeches for Hillbilly Jim, Kid Rock, and Mark Henry before the Smoothie King Center hosts this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, April 6th. Here’s the updated Hall of Fame lineup:

  • Goldberg (inducted by Paul Heyman)
  • The Dudley Boyz (inducted by Edge & Christian)
  • Ivory (inducted by Molly Holly)
  • Jeff Jarrett (inducted by Road Dogg)
  • 2018 Warrior Award recipient Jarrius “JJ” Robertson (award presented by Dana Warrior)
  • Hillbilly Jim
  • Kid Rock
  • Mark Henry

Paul Heyman to induct Goldberg into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In addition to accompanying Brock Lesnar for his Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, Paul Heyman will be involved in the Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday during Mania week.

WWE confirmed today that Heyman will be inducting Goldberg into the Hall of Fame. Rather than it being someone from the early portion of Goldberg’s career, Heyman played a part in his most recent run with WWE. He managed Lesnar during his feud with Goldberg in 2016 and 2017, which included matches at Survivor Series 2016 and WrestleMania 33.

That Survivor Series match was Goldberg’s in-ring return after having not wrestled since 2004. He squashed Lesnar in under two minutes.

It was noted in the most recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Heyman was planned to be the person to induct Goldberg back in January, but Heyman, Goldberg, and WWE were trying to keep it secret at the time.

Edge & Christian will be inducting The Dudley Boyz and Molly Holly will be inducting Ivory at the Hall of Fame ceremony, which will take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on April 6th. WWE has yet to confirm who will be doing speeches for Jeff Jarrett, Hillbilly Jim, Kid Rock, and Mark Henry.

Molly Holly to induct Ivory into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Molly Holly is set to make her second WWE appearance of 2018.

WWE announced today that Holly will be inducting Ivory into the company’s Hall of Fame over WrestleMania week. Holly last appeared as a surprise entrant in the women’s Royal Rumble match in January, coming in at number 12 before being eliminated by Michelle McCool.

Edge & Christian inducting The Dudley Boyz was revealed when Edge accepted an offer from Bubba Ray on Monday’s Busted Open Radio, and WWE then officially announced that on Wednesday. Dana Warrior will also be presenting Jarrius “JJ” Robertson with this year’s Warrior Award at the Hall of Fame ceremony.

WWE has yet to confirm who will be doing speeches for Goldberg, Jeff Jarrett, Hillbilly Jim, Kid Rock, and Mark Henry. Dave Meltzer reported this week that Paul Heyman was planned to induct Goldberg in January, but Meltzer noted that it could have changed within the past two months and Heyman, Goldberg, and WWE were trying to keep it secret at the time.

The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans will host this year’s induction ceremony on Friday, April 6th.

Mark Henry confirmed for 2018 WWE Hall of Fame class

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Making things official, WWE confirmed today that Mark Henry will be inducted into the company’s Hall of Fame over WrestleMania weekend in New Orleans.

WWE made the announcement via USA Today. Henry was one of the names that had been mentioned as a possibility for the 2018 Hall of Fame class, and he was listed as one of this year’s inductees in WWE’s WrestleMania magazine.

“It was a little while back. I was in Los Angeles with the powers that be,” Henry told USA Today about getting the news. “it was just an overwhelming feeling, you know? My face got hot. A couple of tears fell, and you felt like, instantly, all of the pain and torment that you put your body through, the sacrifices that you made — they were worth it. It paid it all off.”

Henry signed a 10-year contract with WWE after competing in his second Olympics as a weightlifter in 1996. His first televised match was against Jerry Lawler at In Your House: Mind Games, and he went on to become a member of the Nation of Domination stable, have a stint in OVW in the early 2000s, and wrestle The Undertaker at WrestleMania 22 in 2006.

The most successful run of Henry’s career was with his “Hall of Pain” gimmick on SmackDown in 2011. He won the World Heavyweight title in September of that year before dropping it three months later. In 2013, he worked a program with John Cena that started with his fake retirement promo and ended with a WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank.

Henry hasn’t wrestled since taking part in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania last year. He currently works as a talent scout for WWE.

Goldberg, The Dudley Boyz, Ivory, Jeff Jarrett, Hillbilly Jim, and Henry have been announced for the 2018 Hall of Fame class, along with celebrity inductee Kid Rock and Warrior Award recipient Jarrius “JJ” Robertson. The induction ceremony will take place at the Smoothie King Center on April 6th.

Kid Rock to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The celebrity wing of WWE’s Hall of Fame officially has a new member.

In an announcement that was made via Billboard today, WWE confirmed that Kid Rock will be inducted into the company’s Hall of Fame next month. He’s long had a good relationship with WWE, including doing a live performance at WrestleMania 25 in 2009.

“Every time I go to a WWE event I always have a good time; there is nothing like it and no better fans in the world,” Kid Rock told Billboard. “The Hall of Fame ceremony will be a fun night and it will be great to see everyone again. I have so much respect for what those guys and girls do. I’m grateful to WWE for letting me be a part of WrestleMania weekend.”

After WWE didn’t have a celebrity inductee last year, Kid Rock will be the first person to be added to the wing since 2016. He joins Snoop Dogg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. T, Donald Trump, Mike Tyson, Drew Carey, Bob Uecker, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, and Pete Rose as celebrity Hall of Famers.

Kid Rock had been expected to be one of this year’s inductees since last December. The official announcement coincides with Raw taking place in his home state of Michigan tonight.

Goldberg, The Dudley Boyz, Ivory, Jeff Jarrett, Hillbilly Jim, and Kid Rock now make up the list of inductees for the 2018 Hall of Fame class, with Jarrius “JJ” Robertson also set to receive this year’s Warrior Award. The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans will host the ceremony on April 6th.

Jeff Jarrett to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Despite his time with the company not ending on the best of terms, Jeff Jarrett will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame over WrestleMania weekend.

WWE announced the news via NBC Sports this morning. Goldberg, The Dudley Boyz, Ivory, and Jarrett have now been confirmed for the 2018 Hall of Fame class, with the induction ceremony set to take place in New Orleans on April 6th.

“I would have never dreamed that in 2018 I’d be going into the Hall of Fame,” Jarrett told NBC Sports. “But as I’ve sat back and looked I said, ‘Welp, I guess there are some things that are just meant to be.'”

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be the first time Jarrett has appeared for WWE since No Mercy 1999, where he dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Chyna in his last match before leaving for WCW. The match happened after Jarrett’s contract expired, and the way he handled the situation financially apparently led to Jarrett not being in the company’s good graces until recently.

After WWE bought WCW, Vince McMahon infamously fired Jarrett on television. In his interview with NBC Sports, Jarrett called the moment “just good TV.”

Jarrett went on to create TNA with his father in 2002, and he was involved with the promotion for most of its history until departing Impact Wrestling last year. He entered WWE-sponsored rehab last October due to issues with alcohol and returned home in December.

Triple H tweeted about Jarrett’s induction, “Born into this business, @RealJeffJarrett not only led a decorated career, but created opportunities for new talent around the world. Congratulations, Double J and welcome to the #WWEHOF.”

After rumors that Jarrett would be entering the Hall of Fame began to surface, Dave Meltzer confirmed last week that he was on a list of names that had been under consideration.

Ivory joins 2018 WWE Hall of Fame class

Posted on by Joseph Currier

As we get further into WrestleMania season, WWE continues to round out the list for this year’s Hall of Fame class.

WWE announced via espnW today that Lisa “Ivory” Moretti would be inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 6th in New Orleans. She’s the third act to be announced for the 2018 class, joining Goldberg and The Dudley Boyz.

“[This Hall of Fame recognition] means that it’s a full circle in your career, in your wrestling chapter,” Ivory told espnW. “It’s great bragging rights for your family that have seen you go through the eras and I also feel like it’s an awesome tribute to the women in wrestling as a whole.”

Ivory started out her career in the 1980s as “Tina Ferrari” with GLOW. She joined WWE during the Attitude Era and departed the company in 2005. She held the Women’s Championship three times, with her final reign ending as she dropped the title to Chyna at WrestleMania 17.

Beth Phoenix, Jacqueline Moore, Madusa, Lita, and Trish Stratus have been the women’s wrestlers to be inducted into the HOF over the last five years.

“Women who decide to wrestle are a special type of women. We are tomboys, we are women that can hang in a locker room. I am just grateful that there are outlets for that,” Ivory said in her espnW interview. “It’s not about having a certain body type and looking picture perfect beautiful. It’s about having the drive and some kind of wacky attraction you have to the physicality, the test of learning how to wrestle and being [able] to do it believably. It’s not easy theater to do. You can watch plenty of wrestling matches where the performers are not buying it. And it makes it boring for you to watch. There is a huge testament to the talent of the people who are engaging the fan or viewer.”

Goldberg, The Dudleyz, and Ivory were all included in the list of HOF inductees that Brad Shepard tweeted out in December. Bam Bam Bigelow and Kid Rock (as a celebrity inductee) are the two remaining names on it.