The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF), the predecessor of WWE,[1]Monday Night Raw television program.[2] On this episode, the sole induction of WWF alumnus André the Giant, who had died five days prior (January 27, 1993), was announced; his death was the reason for the creation of the Hall of Fame.[2][3] After André's induction, the WWF continued the process of inducting members into the Hall of Fame. For these inductions, ceremonies were held to formally induct the candidates from 1994 to 1996; no video footage has ever been released by WWE of these ceremonies. After the 1996 ceremony, the WWF stopped the inductions of wrestling personalities into the Hall of Fame without a formal announcement.
In 2004, WWE relaunched the Hall of Fame to coincide with the twentieth WrestleMania.[4] This ceremony, like its predecessors, was not broadcast on television, however, it was released on DVD on June 1, 2004.[5] Beginning with the 2005 ceremony, WWE broadcast the final few inductions into the Hall of Fame on Spike TV (2005)[6] and on the USA Network (2006[7]-present[8]); these were aired on tape delay. The first inductions were broadcast on WWE's official website. The 2008 edition of the Hall of Fame was broadcast live on the USA Network.[8] Since 2005, the Hall of Fame ceremony has been packaged as part of that year's WrestleMania DVD release.[9] Although a building has never been built to represent the Hall of Fame, WWE has looked into constructing a facility for the Hall of Fame. In 2008, Shane McMahon, then-Executive Vice President of Global Media of WWE, stated that WWE had been storing wrestling memorabilia in a warehouse for years, with all items categorized and dated in case a facility is created.[10]
Induction into the Hall of Fame is dependent upon whether the candidate is on good terms with WWE. Former WWE employees who often criticize WWE or currently work with a different promotion have not been inducted.[11] Others, such as Bruno Sammartino, the longest-reigning WWE Champion in the title's history, are alienated from the promotion and refuse to be inducted, despite having been asked several times.[12]
As of 2010, there have been a total of 88 inductees, with 72 members inducted individually, five tag teams and one wrestling family inducted.[13] Fifteen of the individual inductees have been inducted posthumously.[14] André's sole induction in 1993 was the fewest number of inductions into the Hall of Fame in one year, while 2009 had the most, with 13 inductees.
André the Giant !André the Giant (André René Roussimoff)
None
Posthumous inductee. One-time WWF Champion. There was no ceremony, only a video package that was played on an episode of WWF Superstars in 1993 that announced his induction.[3]
1994
Skaaland, Arnold !Arnold Skaaland
Backlund, BobBob Backlund
One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and long-time manager in WWF.[15]
1994
Brazil, Bobo !Bobo Brazil (Houston Harris)
Ladd, ErnieErnie Ladd
Four-time WWWF United States Champion, one-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion and held over thirty NWA regional titles.[16]
1994
Rogers, Buddy !"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (Herman G. Rohde, Jr.)
Three-time (and first) WWF Women's Champion prior to her induction. She won the title a fourth time four years after her induction and still holds the record for the longest single reign.[26]
One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion. As a manager, he lead fifteen different tag teams and four singles wrestlers to various championships[30]
1996
Snuka, Jimmy !Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka (James Edward Reiher)
Muraco, DonDon Muraco
One-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, two-time NWA World Tag Team Champion and first ECW Heavyweight Champion.[31]
Valentine, Greg !Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (Gregory Wisniski)
Hart, JimmyJimmy Hart
Two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, four-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[38]
2004
Race, Harley !Harley Race
Flair, RicRic Flair
Eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, one-time and first NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, three-time AWA World Tag Team Champion and WWF King of the Ring winner in 1986.[39]
2004
Ventura, Jesse !Jesse "The Body" Ventura (James Janos)
Janos, TyrellTyrell Janos
One-time AWA World Tag Team Champion. Former commentator in WWF and WCW.[40]
2004
Junkyard Dog !Junkyard Dog (Sylvester Ritter)
Ladd, ErnieErnie Ladd
Posthumous inductee, represented by his daughter LaToya Ritter. Held fifteen championships while wrestling in "Cowboy" Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling Association including, four reigns as Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion.[41]
Two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, held over two dozen NWA regional championships and one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion. Host of Piper's Pit.[48]
Guerrero, Eddie !Eddie Guerrero (Eduardo Guerrero)
Benoit, ChrisChris Benoit, Mysterio, ReyRey Mysterio, and Guerrero, ChavoChavo Guerrero
Posthumous inductee, represented by Vickie Guerrero and his two daughters. One-time WWE Champion, two-time WCW/WWE United States Champion and two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion.[55]
2006
Okerlund, Gene !"Mean" Gene Okerlund
Hogan, HulkHulk Hogan
Long-time AWA, WCW, and WWF/E interviewer and announcer.[56]
2006
Sherri !"Sensational" Sherri (Sherri Russell)
DiBiase, TedTed DiBiase
One-time WWF Women's Champion and four-time AWA World Women's Champion. Former manager. [57]
2006
Gagne, Verne !Verne Gagne
Gagne, GregGreg Gagne
Co-founder of the American Wrestling Association, Ten-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and four-time AWA World Tag Team Champion.[58]
2006
Atlas, Tony !"Mr. USA" Tony Atlas (Anthony White)
Jones, S.D.S.D. Jones
One-time WWF Tag Team Champion, half of the first African American WWF World Tag Team Championship winning duo with Rocky Johnson.[59]
Runnels, Cody !Cody and Runnels, DustinDustin Runnels
Three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, two-time NWA World Tag Team Champion and held over forty NWA regional championships.[61]
2007
Hennig, Curt !"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig
Boggs, WadeWade Boggs
Posthumous inductee, represented by his wife, his four children, his mother and his father Larry Hennig. One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, one-time AWA World Tag Team Champion, two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and one-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion.[14]
2007
Lawler, Jerry !Jerry "The King" Lawler
Shatner, WilliamWilliam Shatner
One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, thirty-time AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, three-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion and current color commentator for Raw.[62]
2007
Bockwinkel, Nick !Nick Bockwinkel
Heenan, BobbyBobby Heenan
Six-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and three-time AWA World Tag Team Champion.[63]
2007
Fuji, Mr. !Mr. Fuji (Harry Fujiwara)
Muraco, DonDon Muraco
Five-time WWWF/WWF World Tag Team Champion. Former manager.[64]
2007
Sheik !The Sheik (Ed Farhat)
Van Dam, RobRob Van Dam and Sabu
Posthumous inductee, represented by his wife Joyce Farhat. Two-time WWWF United States Champion and held over twenty NWA regional championships.[65]
Long time lead announcer for WWF/E, WCW and other regional promotions. Head of WWF Talent Relations throughout the Attitude Era and signed many well known superstars.[66]
Two-time WWF Champion, eight-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion,[67] and ten-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[68] Recognized by WWE as a sixteen-time World Heavyweight Champion. Flair was the first active WWE wrestler to be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.[69]
2008
Maivia, Peter !"High Chief" Peter Maivia (Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia)
Rock, TheThe Rock
Posthumous inductee, represented by his daughter Ata Maivia Johnson. Held more than a dozen NWA regional championships.[70]
2008
Johnson, Rocky !"Soulman" Rocky Johnson (Wayde Bowles)
Rock, TheThe Rock
One-time WWF World Tag Team Champion, half of the first African American WWF World Tag Team Championship winning duo with Tony Atlas.[71]
2008
Young, Mae !Mae Young (Johnnie Mae Young)
Patterson, PatPat Patterson
First ever and one-time NWA United States Women's Champion.[72]
2008
Graham, Eddie !Eddie Graham (Edward Gossett)
Rhodes, DustyDusty Rhodes
Posthumous inductee, represented by his son Mike Graham. Promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida, held over thirty NWA regional championships including eighteen in CWF.[73]
2008
Solie, Gordon !Gordon Solie (Jonard Frank Labiak)
Ross, JimJim Ross
Posthumous inductee, represented by his five children. Commentator, announcer and promoter for Championship Wrestling from Florida, later worked for World Championship Wrestling.[74]
Steamboat, Ricky !Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (Richard Henry Blood)
Flair, RicRic Flair
One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, three-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion[76]
2009
Watts, Bill !"Cowboy" Bill Watts
Ross, JimJim Ross
Former wrestling promoter in the mid-south United States, one-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and held over twenty NWA regional championships.[77]
DiBiase, Ted !"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
DiBiase, Jr., TedTed DiBiase, Jr. and DiBiase, BrettBrett DiBiase
Four-time Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion, three-time WWF World Tag Team Champion, two-time NWA National Heavyweight and two-time Million Dollar Champion, and the 1988 King of the Ring winner.[80]
2010
Inoki, Antonio !Antonio Inoki
Hansen, StanStan Hansen
Founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling, two-time WWWF/WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion, and one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.[81]
2010
Richter, WendiWendi Richter
Piper, RoddyRoddy Piper
Two-time WWF Women's Champion, one-time AWA Women's Champion and two-time NWA Women's World Tag Team Champion.[82]
Posthumous inductee, represented by his ex-wife Betty Wagner.[84] One-time holder of the Boston version of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. Portrayed as a flamboyant, arrogant, charismatic villain, George is credited with helping establish wrestling on television in the 1940's and 1950's.[85]
2010
Hart, StuStu Hart
Hart, BretBret Hart
Posthumous inductee, represented by Bret Hart and the Hart family. Established Stampede Wrestling in Calgary 1948, and ran it until 1984. Ran "The Dungeon" wrestling school and trained numerous WWE wrestlers. Patriarch of the Hart family.[86]
Blackjack Mulligan (Robert Deroy Windham) - three-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion and one-time NWA World Tag Team Champion. Blackjack Lanza (Jack Lanza) - one-time AWA World Tag Team Champion
Three-time NWA World Tag Team Championship and held over a dozen regional NWA tag team championships.
Layfield, John "Bradshaw"John "Bradshaw" Layfield
Jack Brisco (Freddie Joe Brisco) - two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[91] Gerald Brisco (Floyd Gerald Brisco) - one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion.[92]
2009
The Funks
Held several tag team championships, including the NWA International Tag Team Championship on three occasions.[93]
Dusty Rhodes
Terry Funk - one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion. Dory Funk, Jr. - one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
2009
The Von Erichs
Noted wrestling family that spent many years wrestling in World Class Championship Wrestling. Various combinations of the family held several NWA regional and WCCW tag team championships, including the WCWA World Tag Team and World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.[94]
Michael Hayes
Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson) - One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and sixteen-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion (later renamed the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship). Kevin Von Erich (Kevin Adkisson) - Five-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion and one-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion. David Von Erich (David Adkisson) - Eight-time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion. Kerry Von Erich (Kerry Adkisson) - One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, five-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion and four-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion. Wrestled in WWF as "The Texas Tornado" where he was a one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion. Mike Von Erich (Michael Adkisson) - One-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion. Chris Von Erich (Chris Adkisson) - Worked several backstage jobs for WCCW.
a - The WrestleMania for that ceremony's year is included due to the ceremonies taking place the night before WrestleMania and being apart of its production.
bcd - Before 2004, the WWE did not hold ceremonies on the night before that year's WrestleMania.