A WWE Hall of Fame induction would be a “true thrill” for Ken Shamrock, but he isn’t losing any sleep over not being in yet.
Shamrock joined Chris Van Vliet for an interview on the latest episode of Insight. On the subject of potentially being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Shamrock said he obviously would like to be recognized — but the Hall of Fame isn’t something he thinks about much. He enjoyed his time in pro wrestling and is happy with how his life has turned out. An induction into the WWE Hall of Fame would just be icing on the cake.
“Any athlete that goes through a career and has made an impact obviously wants to be recognized, and I do want to be recognized,” Shamrock said. “But — I don’t think of it until it’s brought up, right? It’s not something that I dwell on because I felt like everything that I’ve done in my life, I’ve been blessed to have been in those moments. What comes after that is just icing on the cake. And if that happens, it’s going to be a true thrill. But like I said, it’s not something that I lose sleep over. I’ve really enjoyed my journey and very, very happy with the way my life has turned out.”
Shamrock was an Intercontinental Champion, Tag Team Champion, and King of the Ring winner while wrestling for WWF in the late 1990s. He’s under a Legends contract with WWE and has a positive relationship with the company.
“I’ve had a relationship with them forever, even since when I went away,” Shamrock told Van Vliet. “We did a Legends contract, and so I’ve always been a part of them. It’s one of those things where I think I spent enough time there and did enough there that I feel like I’m a part of that family forever.”
For his accomplishments in MMA, Shamrock was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2003 as one of its inaugural members. He was later inducted into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — one of Shamrock’s best pro wrestling opponents — recorded an induction speech for him.
This year was the first WWE Hall of Fame class chosen by Paul “Triple H” Levesque. It consisted of Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham), Thunderbolt Patterson, Lia Maivia, and Muhammad Ali. Shamrock was among the WWE legends who attended the ceremony.
With new management in place, Sid Vicious is hopeful that a WWE Hall of Fame induction could be in his future.
The former WWE and WCW World Champion was recently interviewed by the Attitude Era Podcast. During the conversation, Vicious said it’s “no secret” that Vince McMahon hated him after Vicious left WWE in 1992 (his first stint with the company before returning from 1995-1997). Now that McMahon is no longer involved with WWE, Vicious could see himself being chosen for the Hall of Fame.
“You’d think that they would offer that,” Vicious said about a potential induction. “Again, Vince didn’t like me so much. I think that’s why they haven’t offered that. But with Vince being gone now, you would think those people would say, ‘Hey, this guy, we still got him on [a legends] contract. He’s still making us a little bit of money. It would help him if we did that’ — and it would help them as well. You would think that they might want to do everything they could to promote something like that.”
McMahon resigned from WWE this January following the sexual abuse allegations made against him by former WWE employee Janel Grant in her lawsuit.
This year was the first WWE Hall of Fame class fully chosen by Paul “Triple H” Levesque. It was headlined by Paul Heyman and also consisted of Bull Nakano, Thunderbolt Patterson, The U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham), Lia Maivia, and Muhammad Ali.
Yes, the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast still exists.
Longtime wrestling journalist Fumi Saito and I discuss his trip to Philadelphia last month to see Bull Nakano inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He talks about how it happened, his thoughts on the ceremony, and WrestleMania 40 itself. (You might recognize him and a famous wrestler in the picture above).
From there, we talk about Rossy Ogawa, Stardom and Rossy’s new Marigold situation.
Other topics include this year’s Hana Kimura Memorial Show, Fumi’s interview with Giulia, his appearance on the John Tenta episode of Dark Side of the Ring, and much more.
Before his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, Paul Heyman received some kind words from Stephanie McMahon.
Heyman was inducted into the Hall of Fame last Friday as part of WWE’s WrestleMania week festivities in Philadelphia. Today, WWE uploaded a behind-the-scenes vlog from Heyman’s induction night. It included a backstage interaction between Heyman and Stephanie before the ceremony.
She told Heyman:
I was talking to Paul [Levesque] and I said, ‘Can you imagine this kid used to break into Madison Square Garden just to take pictures and to try to sell them? Because he loved the business so much.’ And you told me all those stories and driving the wrong way down one-way streets. You know, but that’s how it happened.
And it’s just amazing, Paul. And what you created, and what you did on your own, and then what you’ve done and who you are, and your legacy – you’re such an icon. And it’s so amazing that we all get to pay tribute to you tonight.
For the first time since resigning from the company in January 2023, Stephanie made an on-camera appearance at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. She was in the crowd for Heyman’s speech wearing an ECW hat.
In the city that gave birth to ECW, Paul Heyman enters the WWE Hall of Fame tonight.
Heyman is the headliner of the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame inductee class. It also includes Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham), Thunderbolt Patterson, Muhammad Ali, and Lia Maivia. Streaming live on Peacock, it begins at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
When asked about his speech, Heyman said that he plans to “wing” it instead of being heavily scripted. He wants to take the temperature of the crowd and find out what they want him to talk about.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will be inducting Heyman.
We’ll also hear from The Rock tonight as he inducts his grandmother Maivia. We’re just one day away from Rock returning to the ring to team with Reigns against Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins at night one of WrestleMania 40.
This is the first WWE Hall of Fame class that Paul “Triple H” Levesque had full authority in choosing. The ceremony is taking place from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia after tonight’s SmackDown.
Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves open the show at the podium in the ring.
Graves pointed out Triple H seated in the crowd next to Stephanie McMahon, who was wearing her old ECW hat from The Alliance Days. I liked that. Other wrestlers seated in the crowd such as Jey Uso and CM Punk were acknowledged. Hall of Famers Kurt Angle and Trish Stratus were as well. Rey Mysterio was also shown seated ringside.
The first inductee is Paul Heyman. Redmond was unable to talk over the ECW chants that rang out through the building.
Paul Heyman is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
A video of Heyman’s career aired and featured clips of his early days as a ringside photographer, to his days as Paul E Dangerously, ECW, and his entire run in WWE.
Reigns is introduced. The camera cut to Nia Jax putting up a finger in acknowledgement at one point.
Reigns got booed at first but not during his speech.
Reigns said he “loves his wise man” so there was no way he could turn down the chance to induct him. Reigns was casual and out of character here. He talked about Heyman’s ability to motivate and how he knows what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. Reigns kept this short and light-hearted.
Heyman comes out to the old ECW theme song and immediately hugs Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, and Bubba Ray Dudley before walking to the ring.
“You deserve it chants” ring out. Heyman responded that they were “damn f—ing right he deserved it,” which led to an EC-dub chant.
Heyman said he didn’t prepare anything because he wanted to feel the room, which he said in interviews leading up to this.
He talked about not being comfortable speaking as himself. He pointed out his kids at ringside, who were sitting next to CM Punk. CM Punk chants ring out.
Heyman said he was honored to work with the people in the field of sports entertainment, but then cut himself off and called it professional wrestling.
Heyman also mentioned being the first inductee in a Hall of Fame picked by Paul Levesque, which led to a Triple H chant. “Only one person can drive the car out of the chaos,” Heyman said after this and praised Levesque’s leadership.
He continued to praise Levesque, and said he will always be a “Paul Levesque Guy.” This led to a Paul Levesque chant, rather than a Triple H one.
Heyman then turned his focus to a nervous-looking Stephanie. He said that if his daughter grows up to be half the woman Stephanie is then he’ll know he raised a great woman. He also pointed out her ECW hat and said she married the wrong Paul.
Heyman turned to his kids and said “This is what I want you to do with your life,” and by that he meant being worthy of people’s respect and admiration and chasing your dreams Also, he pointed out that if anyone messes with them, Haku is sitting two seats over.
“Pursue your dreams, pursue your happiness,” he said to them.
He said his father was a far greater orator than he is, which must have been something. Heyman said he wished both his parents were here to see this. He was choked up here.
Heyman pointed out Cody Rhodes. He said he wished Cody’s father was here tonight to see this too. This led to a “Dusty” chant from the crowd.
Now, with the “mushy stuff” out of the way he said, it was now time to talk about ECW.
He opened a box containing a leather duster jacked similar to what he wore in the ECW days. He also put on a headset and brought out an old cordless phone. Heyman said he thinks it’s the same phone he hit Sting over the head with in WCW. Finally, he put on an ECW hat and everyone cheered.
Heyman said in 1993, the wrestling industry sucked. He said WCW wouldn’t listen to him so he needed to find a place that would accept his vision. Heyman mentioned they couldn’t have done that anywhere else but Philadelphia.
He talked about WCW getting its idea for cruiserweight from what happened at the ECW Arena, and where Steve Austin had his first beer.
Heyman said he disagrees with the sentiment that ECW is gone. It’s still alive in the matches you see today, in the fans, and the spirit of ECW is very much alive. He said something that got bleeped and caused Bubba to give a standing ovation while Molly Holly looked disappointed.
He talked about how every time he’s been “canceled” he comes back better every time.
Heyman mentioned Brock Lesnar by name, mentioning he was on his farm killing things to eat during the pandemic and this is when he was paired up with Roman Reigns.
He said, “Only you cancel you.” He’s been canceled 100 times and he’ll come back at 101.
Heyman spoke about working with today’s stars and seeing things he saw in legends he worked with in the past.
He wrapped it up by referring to it as the “Paul of Fame” and gave shout-outs to CM Punk and Roman Reigns. Then he said he was blown up, has to pee, has taken too long, but finished it off by saying “he’s just getting started” and is going to disrupt the industry all over again. That wasn’t a prediction, it was a spoiler, he said.
Bull Nakano is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
A video aired featuring highlights of Nakano’s career. It featured comments from Kofi Kingston, Jinder Mahal, Asuka, and CM Punk.
Graves introduced Madusa as Alundra Blayze to induct Nakano.
Blayze said congratulations to her CEO from the Dangerous Alliance, referring to Heyman. She talked about Nakano getting started with All Japan, developing her iconic look, and her cutting-edge in-ring style.
Blayze said she and Nakano set a new standard that continues to shape women’s wrestling today. She said Nakano is a pioneer, a trailblazer, and her friend.
Nakano walked to the ring with her signature facepaint on. She started by saying she has been waiting a long time for this award. Nakano said she had a great experience with WWE in 1994. She talked about the tough WWE schedule and arranging transportation to the venue being difficult because she didn’t speak English. Her favorite moments in WWE were the matches because wrestling is a universal language.
Nakano thanked Madusa. A “Thank you, Bull” chant rang out. She looked up and thanked Luna Vachon. Nakano said if she were to be reborn, she would want to be Bull Nakano again and be back in WWE. She finished her speech by calling the award a treasure.
Muhammad Ali is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
A video aired featuring highlights of Ali’s career, including his wrestling appearances. It featured comments by Baron Corbin, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Hulk Hogan.
The Undertaker was surprisingly brought out to help induct Ali.
Taker recited some of Ali’s famous quotes. He said only one man can truly claim to be the greatest professional boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali. he said Ali was and always will be the legend amongst legends.
Taker brought out Lonnie Ali to accept on her husband’s behalf. She said Ali was a role model, and inspiration to us all. He continues to inspire new generations of fans. Lonnie said Ali loved people, all people, and they loved him right back.
Lonnie talked about Ali punching Roddy Piper in the main event of the first WrestleMania. She talked about Ali’s humanitarian work and said he is deserving of every honor he’s ever received and she knows Ali would be thrilled to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Lonnie talked about The Rock asking for permission to use the name “The People’s Champion” and said it was her honor to present The Rock with The People’s Championship.
The Rock came out and got booed by the Philly crowd. Lonnie and The Rock unveiled a nice-looking championship belt, which the crowd cheered for.
The Rock then approached the podium and more booes rang out from the crowd. He thanked Lonnie for the title and said Ali was one of his heroes. Rock said when he was a kid his father was Ali’s sparring partner and he spent time with Ali’s family and spoke about the honor of receiving the People’s Championship.
Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham are inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
A video aired of Levesque calling Rotunda and Windham to tell them they are being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Highlights of their career were shown. It featured comments by The Miz, Bruce Prichard, and Cody Rhodes.
Taylor (Bo Dallas) and Mika Rotunda came out to the ring. Taylor took a moment to recognize Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt, which got a big “Thank you, Bray” chant as people waved their phone lights. He said that while Wyatt isn’t on this stage, we know “he’s here.” Mika joked that there would have literally been no Windham Rotunda without Windham & Rotundo.
Windham and Rotunda came out. Windham hugged his old New Blackjacks teammate, JBL on his way to the ring.
Rotunda talked about how Windham grew up in the wrestling business but he wouldn’t have gotten into it had it not been for wrestling at Syracuse University and meeting “The Destroyer” Dick Beyer. He also talked about meeting Windham’s sister and marrying her six months later. Rotunda also said they deserved hazard pay for wrestling Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff so often.
He closed by saying he wished his son was there and that Wyatt would have liked to see his old man get inducted. The fans chanted “He’s got the Whole World In HIs Hands” and everyone held up their phones as Wyatt’s music played.
Thunderbolt Patterson is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
The New Day’s Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston came out. They paused on the stage before bringing out Big E. Woods said it had been a long time since the three of them had been together in a ring. They spoke about how it was Patterson’s charisma that made him stand out and how important Patterson was for Black athletes. They said without the hardwork of Thunderbolt Patterson, they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do all the things they’ve done in their careers. Big E then gave his “don’t you dare be sour” introduction for Patterson.
Patterson hugged Jerry Brisco and JBL on his way to the ring.
A video aired featuring highlights of Patterson’s career. It featured comments by Cody Rhodes, Bruce Prichard, Booker T and Kingston.
A unidentified speaker called Patterson the Jackie Robinson of professional wrestling as Patterson stood beside him at the podium. He said baseball was a better game because Jackie Robinson got to play and professional wrestling is better because Thunderbolt Patterson is and was in it.
Patterson got on the mic and said he wanted to pray and thanked Jesus. He said he was taught that what you do and say comes back to you. He asked the crowd for an Amen and they gave him one. Patterson said that since the beginning of time it’s been spiratual warfare. He talked about how everyone has seen the same thing, lying, hating and killing and it’s time to treat people the way you want to be treated.
Patterson thanked Gerald Brisco, Bruce Prichard, Brian Blair, and Mike Mooneyham.
He told everyone to come together and love one another, shook hands with New Day and the show cut away.
Lia Maivia is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
A video aired featuring The Rock seated next to his grandmother’s grave singing to her. It then cut to highlights of Lia Maivia that was narrated by Ana Tuisila, who plays her on Young Rock. The Rock is then brought out to induct Maivia.
The Rock came out and seemed to get a better response from the crowd than he got earlier in the night.
Rock said that before he gets into his speech, he wants to congratulate the entire class.
He talked about his grandmother being a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry. Rock said she changed the game and opened doors for many wrestlers including for women in wrestling. He talked about how in the early 1980s promotions would send their biggest stars to wrestle for her and one of those stars was Dusty Rhodes.
Rock then brought out a WWE-branded mic, pushed away the mic at the podium, and turned his attention to Cody Rhodes. He said that what happens between them at WrestleMania is not business, it’s personal. A “Cody” chant rang out through the arena.
Rock acknowledged his mother Ata Maivia Johnson at ringside, and called her the real Final Boss. He said that his mother would like to lay the smack down on Cody’s candy ass. Rock thanked everyone, thanked his grandmother and told everyone to get ready for WrestleMania.
Roman Reigns will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Prior to main eventing both nights of WrestleMania 40, Reigns will induct his on-screen “Wise Man” Heyman into the Hall of Fame at Friday’s ceremony as revealed during Monday’s edition of Raw. The induction is taking place after SmackDown in Philadelphia this Friday, April 5.
The ceremony will stream live on Peacock starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
Heyman has served as Reigns’ manager in WWE storylines since August 2020 when Reigns returned from a hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic and turned heel, aligning himself with Heyman.
Appearing alongside The Rock & Heyman in a backstage segment on Raw, Reigns noted that he was off to work on his speech, which Heyman then confirmed as the official announcement of Reigns being his inductor.
WWE made it official later in Monday’s episode with the above graphic.
Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham), Thunderbolt Patterson, and Muhammad Ali will make up the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Reigns & The Rock will face Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 40 on Saturday, then Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal title against Cody Rhodes on Sunday in the main event of night two.
On the eve of his return to the ring at WrestleMania 40, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be playing a role at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
The Rock announced tonight that he’ll be inducting his late grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class. The induction ceremony is taking place after SmackDown in Philadelphia this Friday (April 5). The ceremony will air live on Peacock starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
Dave Meltzer had confirmed last month that Maivia was scheduled to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and that The Rock would be inducting her.
A trailblazer, Maivia was one of the first female promoters in pro wrestling history. She ran the Polynesian Pro Wrestling promotion in Hawaii from 1982-1988 following the death of her husband “High Chief” Peter Maivia.
In 2008, The Rock inducted his father Rocky Johnson and grandfather Peter Maivia when they entered the WWE Hall of Fame.
The Rock documented his grandmother’s story on his “Young Rock” sitcom for NBC that aired from 2021-2023.
Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham), Thunderbolt Patterson, and Muhammad Ali are the other members of this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class.
This Saturday, The Rock is teaming with Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins in the main event of WrestleMania 40 night one. It’s Rock’s first real wrestling match since 2013.
Paul Heyman is planning to let the Philadelphia crowd dictate the direction of his WWE Hall of Fame speech.
Heyman is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Friday, April 5. During a Wednesday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Heyman was asked if he has his speech written out yet. Heyman claimed that he’s going to “wing this” by taking the pulse of the live crowd and seeing what they want him to talk about:
No, I’m going to figure this out as we go along. I’m going to take the pulse of the room that night. I’m going to wing this. Because I don’t know really what the crowd itself is expecting from me. Is this a crowd that wants me to talk about the modern day WWE and Roman Reigns and The Bloodline and the WrestleMania main event of Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes? Is this a crowd that – in Philadelphia – wants to talk about ECW? Is this a crowd that’s looking for some inspiration and a speech about pursuing one’s own dreams, etcetera, etcetera?
I really won’t know until I take the temperature of the room that night. And as you know better than I, you always have to know your audience. So once I feel the crowd, I’ll pretty much know what I have to do to deliver for them.
While Heyman still feels like his body of work is incomplete, he accepted the WWE Hall of Fame induction this year after previously declining the honor several times. Heyman decided to accept the induction because this is Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s first Hall of Fame class, because this is the 40th WrestleMania, and because he’s being inducted in Philadelphia, which was the home of ECW.
The induction ceremony is taking place after SmackDown at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, April 5. The ceremony will air live on Peacock starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham), Thunderbolt Patterson, and Muhammad Ali have also been confirmed for the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class. Lia Maivia is expected to be inducted as well.
Heyman will be playing a key role in the main events of WrestleMania 40. The Bloodline’s Roman Reigns & The Rock are facing Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins in the night one main event. Reigns vs. Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship will then headline night two.
Heyman’s full interview on The Rich Eisen Show is available to watch below:
When Thunderbolt Patterson joins the WWE Hall of Fame, he’ll be inducted by a radio host from Marion, Ohio.
The Marion Star published an article on Tuesday about Patterson’s upcoming induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. In the story, it was noted that Patterson has asked journalist and radio host Scott Spears to be a presenter for his Hall of Fame induction.
Spears said:
This is such an honor for me. I have been friends with Thunderbolt for many years, and there is no one more deserving of this honor than him. For him to ask me to induct him is one of the great honors I have ever received, and I don’t take that lightly.
I have been a fan of pro wrestling over the years, and the WWE has been nothing but great during this process.
Spears is a host on Marion’s WGH Talk Radio. He said on his radio show that he’ll be one of the inductors for Patterson.
Patterson told Spears about being selected for the WWE Hall of Fame:
I feel good. It’s something that I dreamed about, and if it had not been for the Lord, it would not have happened.
The 82-year-old Patterson said he thinks the induction will be the greatest night of his life. He credited Spears, journalist Mike Mooneyham, Gerald Brisco, and Bruce Prichard for helping keep his name alive.
A trailblazing wrestler, Patterson was a star in the 1970s and 1980s. Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted when Patterson was announced for the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class:
He was a champion in the ring, and championed the health and well-being of his peers outside of it. Thunderbolt Patterson’s influence is still felt today, and will receive the recognition it deserves when he joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham), and Muhammad Ali have also been announced for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. Lia Maivia is expected to be inducted as well.
The Hall of Fame ceremony streams live on Peacock starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, April 5. It’s being held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia immediately after that night’s episode of SmackDown.
The ceremony is taking place on the eve of WrestleMania 40 night one.
Brother-in-laws Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham are joining the WWE Hall of Fame as a duo.
It was announced via The Ringer today that The US Express (Rotunda & Windham) will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next month. They’re the third act that’s been confirmed for the 2024 class, joining Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque shared a video where he informed Rotunda & Windham of their induction:
From the very first #WrestleMania… to the WWE Hall of Fame.
Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham are a legendary tag team with deep family ties to our business, and their influence will be felt for generations to come.
This is Rotunda’s first induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Windham was previously inducted as a member of The Four Horsemen in 2012.
During their time teaming together, Rotunda & Windham used Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” as their entrance music. They held the WWF Tag Team titles twice.
Rotunda & Windham competed at the first-ever WrestleMania in 1985, losing the WWF Tag Team titles to The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff. They’ll now be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on the eve of WrestleMania 40 night one.
Rotunda & Windham also had multiple reigns with the NWA Florida United States Tag Team titles.
Mike Rotunda is married to Barry Windham’s sister Stephanie. Their eldest son, the late Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda), was named after Barry Windham. They’re also the parents of Bo Dallas (Taylor Rotunda) and daughter Mika Rotunda.
Blackjack Mulligan, Windham’s father and Rotunda’s father-in-law, is also a member of the WWE Hall of Fame.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is taking place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia after SmackDown on Friday, April 5. The ceremony will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network.
An all-time great joshi wrestler is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
It was announced via ESPN on Wednesday that Bull Nakano will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame over WrestleMania week in Philadelphia. She’s the second member that’s been confirmed for the class, joining Paul Heyman.
“During my active years, I was able to get championship belts in Japan, America and Mexico,” Nakano told ESPN. “But just one thing was missing — I didn’t get inducted into the Hall of Fame. I wanted this. Finally, in 2024 in WrestleMania week, I am able to get this.”
Nakano started her career in All Japan Women’s Wrestling and went on to make her mark in the ring globally. In the 1990s, Nakano and Alundra Blayze/Madusa’s rivalry helped revive the WWF women’s division for a period of time. Their feud included a match at SummerSlam 1994.
Nakano held the WWF Women’s Championship once. She later competed for WCW as well.
“WWE Hall of Fame!! My wish has come true and I have decided to receive the award in 2024,” Nakano wrote on social media. “I am honored to be the first Japanese female wrestler to do so. thank you.”
With Vince McMahon gone from WWE, this is the first Hall of Fame class that Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been fully in charge of. Levesque tweeted about Nakano’s induction:
An unbelievable talent with an unforgettable look, and a mean streak a mile long.
Bull Nakano isn’t just one of the best Women’s wrestlers of all time – she’s one of the best of all time, period. #WWEHOF
Nakano was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2001.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is taking place after SmackDown from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Friday, April 5.
In the city that defined much of his career, Paul Heyman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
WWE and Heyman confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that Heyman has been named the first member of the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class. The ceremony is being held at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center after SmackDown on Friday, April 5.
Philly, the home of ECW, has been a special place to Heyman throughout his decades in pro wrestling. That’s only going to continue over WrestleMania week. In addition to his Hall of Fame induction, Heyman will play a key role accompanying The Bloodline at WrestleMania 40. The Rock & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins is headlining night one of the event on April 6. Reigns vs. Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship will then main event night two on April 7.
He’s been a promoter, a manager, an executive, a ‘Wiseman,’ and now, a @WWE Hall of Famer. There’s more to say about @HeymanHustle, but as always, it’s best to let him say it himself… with a live microphone in Philadelphia. #WWEHOF
Heyman told the AP that, even though he’s being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, he still feels like his body of work is incomplete. Heyman said there are still things he wants to accomplish:
I consistently feel like I’m just getting started, and I’m just figuring this out. To me, what is an incomplete body of work, because there’s still things I want to accomplish, I never felt comfortable accepting that is a reflection upon an entire career.
Heyman spoke about the legacy of ECW:
The extreme in ECW stood for the work ethic involved, the passion that was necessary and the extreme connection to an audience to whom and for whom we were always obsessed with underpromising and overdelivering. The legacy of ECW is firmly rooted in the very simple concepts of paying attention to the cultural curve and obsessively trying to stay a few steps ahead of it.
When asked about the allegations that have been made against Vince McMahon, Heyman told the AP that it’s “an exceedingly difficult situation to process.”
The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is expected to air live on Peacock/WWE Network on April 5. Additional inductees will be announced in the coming weeks.
With the WWE Hall of Fame inductions coming up, it once again asks the questions as to what is a wrestling Hall of Fame and who deserves inclusion. I probably know better than anyone the heated arguments because everyone thinks they know, and no two people are of the same opinion.
There are currently four Hall of Fames for pro wrestling of some renown in the U.S. There is the WWE version, which because it’s WWE, has the most fame, but in many ways, the least credibility. There are also the two actual physical Halls of Fame in conjunction with actual wrestling museums.
One is in Newton, IA, which bears the names of Lou Thesz, and his original trainer, George Tragos. Tragos was not a major professional star, but was a noted tough guy who wrestled in the Olympics before coming to the U.S. Thesz hand-picked the original inductees, but they have an annual ceremony each year with newcomers picked.
Bret Hart agreed to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at the ceremony on 4/1 in Chicago–the night before this year’s Wrestlemania, ending a long recruiting practice by the company that started immediately after last year’s show.
Hart was the leading vote getter in the company’s unofficial balloting to present names to Vince McMahon, although he was being recruited long before any real discussion for this year had started. He indicated to WWE officials more than a week ago that he would do so, but still was going back-and-forth on the decision until finally telling Kevin Dunn on 2/12 that it was okay to make the announcement the next night on Raw (which aired live in Canada and the U.K.). All sides agreed on confidentiality until the announcement was done on television.
As things stand, Hart has only agreed to do the Hall of Fame, and will not appear at Wrestlemania. Hart is currently in Calgary working in his book project, which he wants done quickly, but at this point is only in 1999.
Less than two months after suffering a massive stroke, Jerry Lawler made an appearance on WWE programming on Friday night.
A pre-taped video from Lawler was shown at Friday’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. The video was part of Andy Kaufman’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Lawler said he wished he could be at the ceremony in person, but he was at home recovering. Lawler then introduced Jimmy Hart, who gave an induction speech for Kaufman. Members of the Kaufman family also spoke about Kaufman’s posthumous induction.
Kaufman, an actor and comedian who starred in the television show “Taxi,” famously took part in a pro wrestling feud with Lawler in Memphis. The feud included an angle where Lawler slapped Kaufman on the David Letterman show in 1982.
The 73-year-old Lawler suffered a massive stroke on February 6. In a social media post on February 8, it was said that Lawler was expected to make a full recovery: “Update on Jerry: After suffering a massive Stroke Monday. He is now recovering in a Fort Myers, FL hospital. His speech is limited, but with rehabilitation will regain a full recovery. He thanks everyone for the continued prayers and will be back in the near future.”
