List of members of the WWE Hall of Fame

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Bret Hart being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Bret Hart being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.

This is a list of members of the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created in 1993 and went dormant in 1996 for eight years before returning in 2004.

Induction is dependent upon whether the candidate is on good terms with WWE, and former WWE wrestlers who often criticize WWE or currently work with a different promotion have not been inducted.[1] Others, such as Bruno Sammartino are alienated from the promotion and refuse to be inducted, despite having been asked several times.[2]

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, since the revival in 2004 some inductees achieved much of their success outside of WWE.[1] New members are inducted annually, in a ceremony held the night before and in the same city as that year's WrestleMania. Usually inductees are officially inducted at the ceremony by a high profile wrestling personality whose participation in the ceremony is highly publicized. As of 2008, there have been a total of 68 inductees, with 60 members inducted individually and four tag teams inducted.[3] Thirteen of the inductees have been inducted posthumously.[4]

Contents

[edit] Inductees

Sgt. Slaughter, inducted in 2004.
Sgt. Slaughter, inducted in 2004.
Hulk Hogan, inducted in 2005.
Hulk Hogan, inducted in 2005.
Roddy Piper, inducted in 2005.
Roddy Piper, inducted in 2005.
Jimmy Hart, inducted in 2005.
Jimmy Hart, inducted in 2005.
Bret Hart, inducted in 2006.
Bret Hart, inducted in 2006.
Eddie Guerrero, inducted in 2006.
Eddie Guerrero, inducted in 2006.
Jerry Lawler, inducted in 2007.
Jerry Lawler, inducted in 2007.
Jim Ross, inducted in 2007.
Jim Ross, inducted in 2007.
Ric Flair, inducted in 2008.
Ric Flair, inducted in 2008.
Year Ring name
(Birth name)		 Inducted by Notes
1993 André the Giant
(André René Roussimoff)		 None Posthumous inductee. One-time WWF Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion. There was no ceremony, only a video package that was played on an episode of WWF Superstars in 1993 that announced his induction.[5]
1994 Arnold Skaaland Bob Backlund One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and long-time manager in WWF.[6]
1994 Bobo Brazil
(Houston Harris)		 Ernie Ladd One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[7]
1994 "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
(Herman C. Rohde, Jr.)		 Bret Hart Posthumous inductee, One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion and first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.[8]
1994 Chief Jay Strongbow
(Joe Scarpa)		 Tatanka Two-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[9]
1994 "Classy" Freddie Blassie Shane McMahon Long-time manager in WWF.[10]
1994 Gorilla Monsoon
(Robert Marella)		 Jim Ross Two-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion. Former WWF announcer and on-screen President.[11]
1994 James Dudley Vince McMahon First African-American to run a major arena in the United States.[12]
1995 Antonino Rocca
(Antonino Biasetton)		 Diesel Posthumous inductee. One-time WWF International Heavyweight Champion.[13]
1995 "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd Bobo Brazil Also a member of the WCW Hall of Fame, won several NWA regional titles.[14]
1995 George "The Animal" Steele
(William James Myers)		 Doink the Clown Also a member of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.[15]
1995 Ivan Putski
(Josef Bednarski)		 None One-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[16]
1995 The Fabulous Moolah
(Lillian Ellison)		 Alundra Blayze Three-time 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.[17]
1995 The Grand Wizard
(Ernie Roth)		 Lou Albano Postuhumous inductee. Long-time heel manager in WWF.[18]
1995 Pedro Morales Savio Vega One-time WWWF World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion. First WWF Triple Crown Champion.[19]
1996 "Baron" Mikel Scicluna None One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and former WWWF World Tag Team Champion.[20]
1996 "Captain" Lou Albano None One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion. As a manager, he lead fifteen different tag teams and four singles wrestlers to various championships.[21]
1996 Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
(James Edward Reiher)		 Don Muraco Two-time ECW Heavyweight Champion and was the first to win the championship.[22]
1996 The Valiant Brothers
(Jimmy and Johnny Valiant)		 The British Bulldog and Owen Hart One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champions from May 13, 1974 to May 8, 1975, second longest reign in the history of the championship. First tag team to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.[23]
1996 Johnny Rodz
(Johnny Rodriguez)		 The Brooklyn Brawler Wrestled in WWF for nearly 2 decades.[24]
1996 Killer Kowalski
(Wladek Kowalski)		 Hunter Hearst Helmsley One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion.[25]
1996 Pat Patterson
(Pierre Clemont)		 Bret Hart First WWF Intercontinental Champion.[26]
1996 Vincent J. McMahon Shane McMahon Posthumous inductee. Founder of and long time promoter for World Wrestling Entertainment.[27]
2004 Big John Studd
(John Minton)		 The Big Show Posthumous inductee, represented by his son John Minton, Jr. One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion.[28]
2004 Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
(Raymond Heenan)		 Blackjack Lanza Former commentator and long-time manager in WWF.[29]
2004 Don Muraco Mick Foley Two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion. First winner of the King of the Ring.[30]
2004 Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
(Gregory Wisniski)		 Jimmy Hart One-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[31]
2004 Harley Race Ric Flair Eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion and WWF King of the Ring winner in 1986.[32]
2004 Jesse "The Body" Ventura
(James Janos)		 Tyrell Janos One-time AWA World Tag Team Champion. Former commentator in WWF.[33]
2004 Junkyard Dog
(Sylvester Ritter)		 Ernie Ladd Posthumous inductee, represented by his daughter LaToya Ritter.[34]
2004 Sgt. Slaughter
(Robert Remus)		 Pat Patterson One-time WWF Champion.[35]
2004 "Superstar" Billy Graham
(Eldridge Wayne Coleman)		 Triple H One-time WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.[36]
2004 Tito Santana
(Merced Solis)		 Shawn Michaels Two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[37]
2004 Pete Rose Kane Celebrity inductee.[38]
2005 Hulk Hogan
(Terry Bollea)		 Sylvester Stallone Six-time WWF/E Champion, Six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWE World Tag Team Championship.[39]
2005 "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
(Roderick Toombs)		 Ric Flair Two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion. Host of Piper's Pit.[40]
2005 "Cowboy" Bob Orton Randy Orton Father of Randy Orton.[41]
2005 "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart Jerry Lawler Long-time manager in WWF.[42]
2005 "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff Bobby Heenan Four-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion and two-time WCW World Tag Team Champion.[43]
2005 Nikolai Volkoff
(Josip Peruzovic)		 Jim Ross Three-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[44]
2005 The Iron Sheik
(Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri)		 Sgt. Slaughter One-time WWF Champion and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion.[45]
2006 Bret "The Hitman" Hart Steve Austin Five-time WWF Champion and two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion.[46]
2006 Eddie Guerrero
(Eduardo Guerrero)		 Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero and Chris Benoit Posthumous inductee, represented by Vickie Guerrero and his two daughters. One-time WWE Champion, two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, four-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and first and one-time WWE United States Champion.[47]
2006 "Mean" Gene Okerlund Hulk Hogan Long-time AWA, WCW and WWE interviewer and announcer.[48]
2006 "Sensational" Sherri
(Sherri Russell)		 Ted DiBiase One-time WWF Women's Champion and four-time AWA World Women's Champion.[49]
2006 Verne Gagne Greg Gagne Ten-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion.[50]
2006 The Blackjacks
(Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza)		 Bobby Heenan One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champions.[51]
2006 "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas
(Anthony White)		 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.[52]
2006 William "The Refrigerator" Perry John Cena Celebrity inductee.[53]
2007 "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr.)		 Cody and Dustin Runnels Three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[54]
2007 "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig Wade Boggs Posthumous inductee, represented by his wife, his four children, his mother and his father Larry Hennig. One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion.[4]
2007 Jerry "The King" Lawler William Shatner One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, three-time WCCW Heavyweight Champion and current color commentator for RAW.[55]
2007 Nick Bockwinkel Bobby Heenan Six-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion.[56]
2007 Mr. Fuji
(Harry Fujiwara)		 Don Muraco Five-time WWWF/WWF World Tag Team Champion. Former manager.[57]
2007 The Sheik
(Ed Farhat)		 Sabu and Rob Van Dam Posthumous inductee, represented by his wife Joyce Farhat. Two-time WWWF United States Champion.[58]
2007 The Wild Samoans
(Afa and Sika)		 Samu and Matt Anoa'i Three-time WWF World Tag Team Champions.[59]
2007 Jim Ross Steve Austin Current play-by-play commentator for RAW.[60]
2008 "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair
(Richard Fliehr)		 Triple H Two-time WWF Champion, seven-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion,[61] and ten-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[62][dead link] 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.[63]
2008 "High Chief" Peter Maivia
(Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia)		 The Rock Posthumous inductee, represented by his daughter Ata Maivia Johnson. Won several NWA regional titles.[64]
2008 "Soulman" Rocky Johnson
(Wayde Bowles)		 The Rock One-time WWF World Tag Team Champion, half of the first African American WWF World Tag Team Championship winning duo with Tony Atlas.[65]
2008 Mae Young
(Johnnie Mae Young)		 Pat Patterson First ever and one-time NWA United States Women's Championship.[66]
2008 Gerald & Jack Brisco John "Bradshaw" Layfield Held over a dozen Tag Team Championships together. Jack Brisco: two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[67] Gerald Brisco: one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion[68]
2008 Eddie Graham
(Edward Gossett)		 Dusty Rhodes Posthumous inductee, represented by his son Mike Graham. Promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida, held over a dozen championships in CWF.[69]
2008 Gordon Solie
(Jonard Frank Labiak)		 Jim Ross Posthumous inductee, represented by his five children. Commentator, announcer and promoter for Championship Wrestling from Florida, later worked for World Championship Wrestling.[70]

[edit] References

General
Specific
  1. ^ a b A virtual tour of the WWE Hall of Fame. SLAM! Sports. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  2. ^ MacKinder, Matt (2007-04-16). Sammartino: McMahon is 'a sick-minded idiot. SLAM! Sports. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
  3. ^ WWE Hall of Fame. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  4. ^ a b "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  5. ^ Andre the Giant. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  6. ^ Arnold Skaaland. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  7. ^ Bobo Brazil. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  8. ^ "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  9. ^ Chief Jay Strongbow. WWE.. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  10. ^ "Classy" Freddie Blassie. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  11. ^ Gorilla Monsoon. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  12. ^ James Dudley. WWE.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  13. ^ Antonino Rocca. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  14. ^ "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  15. ^ George "The Animal" Steele. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  16. ^ Ivan Putski. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  17. ^ The Fabulous Moolah. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  18. ^ The Grand Wizard. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  19. ^ Pedro Morales. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  20. ^ "Baron" Mikel Scicluna. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  21. ^ "Captain" Lou Albano. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  22. ^ Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  23. ^ The Valiant Brothers. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  24. ^ Johnny Rodz. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  25. ^ Killer Kowalski. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  26. ^ Pat Patterson. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  27. ^ Vincent J. McMahon. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  28. ^ Big John Studd. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  29. ^ Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  30. ^ Don Muraco. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  31. ^ Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  32. ^ Harley Race. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  33. ^ Jesse "The Body" Ventura. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  34. ^ Junkyard Dog. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  35. ^ Sgt. Slaughter. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  36. ^ "Superstar" Billy Graham. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  37. ^ Tito Santana. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  38. ^ Pete Rose. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  39. ^ Hulk Hogan. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  40. ^ "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  41. ^ "Cowboy" Bob Orton. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  42. ^ "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  43. ^ "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  44. ^ Nikolai Volkoff. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  45. ^ The Iron Sheik. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  46. ^ Bret "The Hitman" Hart. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  47. ^ Eddie Guerrero. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  48. ^ "Mean" Gene Okerlund. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  49. ^ "Sensational" Sherri. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  50. ^ Verne Gagne. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  51. ^ The Blackjacks. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  52. ^ (Archived July 17, 2007) "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  53. ^ William "The Refrigerator" Perry. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  54. ^ "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  55. ^ Jerry "The King" Lawler. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  56. ^ Nick Bockwinkel. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  57. ^ Mr. Fuji. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  58. ^ The Sheik. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  59. ^ The Wild Samoans. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  60. ^ Jim Ross. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  61. ^ History of the WCW World Championship. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  62. ^ World Heavyweight Championship. National Wrestling Alliance (2007-12-17). Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  63. ^ 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  64. ^ "High Chief" Peter Maivia. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
  65. ^ Rocky Johnson. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
  66. ^ Mae Young. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
  67. ^ Jack Brisco. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  68. ^ Gerald Brisco. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  69. ^ Eddie Graham. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  70. ^ Gordon Solie. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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