NWA Hall of Fame
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The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Hall of Fame is an American professional wrestling hall of fame maintained by the NWA. It was established in 2005 to honor select wrestling personalities, mostly alumni of the NWA.[1] Inductees receive commemorative medals that have their names inscribed on it with the logo of the NWA.[2]
The Class of 2005, the inaugural inductees into the Hall of Fame did not have a formal induction ceremony; as a result, they received their medals at a later time. A private gathering was conducted for the Class of 2006, in which inductees received their medal. Beginning with the Class of 2008 on June 7, 2008, a ceremony has been conducted to formally induct the inductees. There were no inductees in 2007 due to the planning of an international expansion to the NWA.[3] On June 7, 2008, the Class of 2008 was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ric Flair, a member of the Class of 2008 and a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) employee at the time of the ceremony, was inducted on October 4, 2008 after his WWE contract had expired; his WWE contract prevented him from appearing in other organizations.[2][4] Similarly to the World Championship Wrestling's Hall of Fame, the 2008 ceremony was held during a wrestling event.[5][6][7]
Inductees for the Class of 2009 were announced during the summer of 2009 for an induction ceremony on September 26; however, that ceremony never took place and the announced wrestling personalities were never inducted formally, evident by the NWA's official website for the NWA Hall of Fame.[8][9]
The inaugural Class of 2005 was inducted throughout 2005. Wrestler Lou Thesz's posthumous induction led the class, which included wrestler Harley Race, commentator Gordon Solie, and promoters Jim Cornette, Jim Barnett, and Sam Muchnick. Commentator Lance Russell's induction led the Class of 2006 on October 13, 2006, which also consisted of wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr., Eddie Graham, Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton (Rock 'n' Roll Express), Leilani Kai, and Saul Weingeroff. On June 7, 2008, wrestler Tommy Rich's induction led the Class of 2008, which consisted of wrestlers Joe and Jean Corsica (Corsica Brothers), Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton (The Midnight Express), Nikita Koloff, Iron Sheik, and Ric Flair. Six inductees were inducted posthumously. Overall, there were twenty-one inductees; two managers, commentators, and promoters, and fifteen wrestlers.
Inductees
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# | Year | Ring name (Birth name)[a] |
Inducted for | Notes[b][c] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2005 | Thesz, LouLou Thesz (Aloysius Thesz) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee: Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA International Heavyweight Championship (All-Japan Version) (1 time), NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time),[10] | |
2 | 2005 | Race, HarleyHarley Race | Wrestling | Held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions). Won the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (9 times) and NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (7 times),[11] | |
3 | 2005 | Muchnick, SamSam Muchnick | Promoting | Posthumous inductee: Founded the NWA and served as president from 1950 to 1960 and 1963 to 1975[12] | |
4 | 2005 | Barnett, JimJim Barnett (James Barnett) |
Promoting | Posthumous inductee: Owned Georgia Championship Wrestling during the mid-1900s.[13] Also promoted in the Detroit Territory, Indianapolis Territory and Australia. | |
5 | 2005 | Solie, GordonGordon Solie (Francis Labiak) |
Commentating | Posthumous inductee: Commentator for Championship Wrestling from Florida and World Championship Wrestling promotions.[14] | |
6 | 2005 | Cornette, JimJim Cornette (James Cornette) |
Managing | Managed various wrestlers during the 1980s and 1990s.[15] | |
7 | 2006 | Russell, LanceLance Russell | Commentating | Commentated in the Continental Wrestling Association and Memphis Championship Wrestling companies[16] | |
8 | 2006 | Funk, Jr., DoryDory Funk, Jr. (Dorrance Funk, Jr.) |
Wrestling | Held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) for over four years, the second longest reign in the title's history,[17] | |
9 | 2006 | Weingeroff, SaulSaul Weingeroff (Solomon Weingeroff) |
Managing | Posthumous inductee: Managed various wrestlers in the NWA during the 1960s and 1970s[18] | |
10 | 2006 | Graham, EddieEddie Graham (Edward Gossett) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee: He won over 20 NWA championships.[19] Promoter of Championship Wrestling from Florida. | |
11 | 2006 | Kai, LeilaniLeilani Kai (Patty Seymour) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Women's Championship (1 time)[20] | |
14 | 2008 | Rich, TommyTommy Rich (Thomas Richardson) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (6 times),[21][22] | |
15 | 2008 | Sheik, The IronThe Iron Sheik (Hossein Vaziri) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA World Television Championship (1 time),[23] | |
16 | 2008 | Condrey, DennisDennis Condrey | Wrestling | Won the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (15 times) and NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship (1 time).[24] | |
17 | 2008 | Eaton, BobbyBobby Eaton (Robert Eaton) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship.[25][26] | |
18 | 2008 | Jean Corsica | Wrestling | Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version),[27] NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (6 times) | |
19 | 2008 | Joe Corsica | Wrestling | Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)),[27] NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (6 times) | |
20 | 2008 | Koloff, NikitaNikita Koloff (Nelson Simpson) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time),[28] NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic Version), NWA World Television Championship | |
21 | 2008 | Flair, RicRic Flair (Richard Fliehr) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (10 times), NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (4 times),[29] NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic Version) (3 times), NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic/Georgia/WCW Version) (5 times), NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship, NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Championship. | |
22 | 2009 | Orndorff, PaulPaul Orndorff Paul Orndorff, Jr.) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship and NWA National Heavyweight Championship (3 times). | |
23 | 2009 | Dennis Coralluzzo | Promoting | Posthumous inductee: Longtime NWA New Jersey promoter and served as NWA President with Howard Brody and Steve Rickard from 1993 to 1995. The official induction ceremony was held at the Dennis Coralluzzo Invitational. | |
24 | 2009 | Jarrett, JerryJerry Jarrett | Promoting | Operated Mid-Southern Wrestling, Continental Wrestling Association, United States Wrestling Association, World Class Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version). | |
25 | 2009 | Mil Máscaras (Aaron Rodríguez) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (5 times), NWA Americas Tag Team Championship, NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA American Tag Team Championship. | |
26 | 2009 | Gene Kiniski (Eugene Kiniski) |
Wrestling | Held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time). | |
27 | 2009 | Tully Blanchard | Wrestling | Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship, NWA World Television Championship (2 times), NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic/Georgia/WCW Version), NWA National Heavyweight Championship. Was a member of the original legendary NWA stable The Four Horsemen. | |
28 | 2009 | Terry Funk (Terrence Funk) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. | |
29 | 2010 | Ed Chuman | Promoting | Promoter of NWA Midwest | |
30 | 2010 | Rogers, BuddyBuddy Rogers (Herman Sanchez, Jr.) |
wrestling | Posthumous inductee, Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. | |
31 | 2010 | Hodge, DannyDanny Hodge (Daniel Hodge) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (8 times). | |
32 | 2010 | Severn, DanDan Severn (Daniel Severn) |
Wrestling | Held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times) | |
33 | 2010 | Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto | Wrestling | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship. | |
34 | 2010 | Brisco, JackJack Brisco (Freddie Brisco) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and the NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship (3 times with his brother Jerry). | |
35 | 2010 | Gulas, NickNick Gulas | Promoting | Promoter of the NWA Mid-American territory in Tennessee. | |
36 | 2010 | The Shiek (Edward Farhat) |
Wrestling | Promoter of the Detroit Territory, won over 10 NWA championships. | |
37 | 2010 | Anderson, GeneGene Anderson | Wrestling | Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship (8x w/ Ole Anderson), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version). | |
38 | 2010 | Lars Anderson (Larry Heiniemi) |
Wrestling | Won over 20 NWA championships. | |
39 | 2010 | Anderson, OleOle Anderson (Alan Rogowski) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship (9 times), NWA National Tag Team Championship (2 times) | |
40 | 2011 | O'Connor, PatPat O'Connor (Patrick O'Connor) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee; won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)),[30] | |
41 | 2011 | Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Runnels, Jr.) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA World Television Championship (3 times), NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic/Georgia/WCW Version)[30] | |
42 | 2011 | Angelo Savoldi (Mario Fornini, Sr.) |
Wrestling | NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (5 times)[30] | |
43 | 2011 | Rikidōzan (Mitsuhiro Momota) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee,[30] Won over 10 NWA championships. | |
44 | 2011 | Sue Green (Susan Green) |
Wrestling | [30] | |
45 | 2011 | Freddie Blassie (Frederick Blassie) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee, NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version). | |
46 | 2011 | Wahoo McDaniel (Edward McDaniel) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee,[30] Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship (4 times), NWA Florida World Tag Team Championship (2 times) | |
47 | 2011 | Johnny Valentine (John Wisniski) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee,[30] won over 30 NWA championships. | |
48 | 2011 | Aileen Eaton | Promoting | Posthumous inductee[30] | |
49 | 2011 | Gene LeBell | Promoting | [30] Promoter of NWA Hollywood from 1968-1982. Won the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship, NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship, NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version). | |
50 | 2011 | Mike LeBell | Promoting | [30] Promoter of NWA Hollywood from 1968-1982. | |
51 | 2011 | Bill Apter | Contributor[30] | Editor of Pro Wrestling Illustrated | |
52 | 2012 | Paul Boesch | Promoting[31] | Posthumous inductee. Promoter of the NWA in Houston, TX. | |
53 | 2012 | John Tolos | Wrestling[31] | Posthumous inductee, Won over 30 NWA championships. | |
54 | 2012 | Ricky Steamboat (Richard Blood) |
Wrestling[31] | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic Version), NWA World Television Championship (2 times), NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic/Georgia/WCW Version) (3 times). | |
55 | 2012 | Mr. Wrestling II (John Walker) |
Wrestling[31] | NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic Version). | |
56 | 2012 | The Fabulous Moolah (Mary Ellison) |
Wrestling[31] | Posthumous inductee: Won the NWA World Women's Championship (5 times) and the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (2 times). | |
57 | 2012 | Judy Grable (Nellya Baughman) |
Wrestling[31] | Posthumous inductee | |
58 | 2012 | Misty Blue Simmes (Diane Syms) |
Wrestling[31] | ||
61 | 2012 | Little Beaver (Lionel Giroux) |
Wrestling[31] | Posthumous inductee | |
62 | 2012 | Theodore Long | Refereeing[31] | ||
63 | 2012 | Sputnik Monroe (Rosco Merrick) |
NWA Humanitarian Award[31] | Won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version). | |
64 | 2013 | Dory Funk (Dorrance Funk) |
Wrestling | Won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and various NWA regional titles. | |
65 | 2013 | Salvador Lutteroth (Salvador González) |
Promoting | Posthumous inductee. Was a member of the NWA from 1952 to 1986. Promotion was called EMLL until leaving the NWA and became CMLL. | |
66 | 2013 | Ray Stevens (Carl Stevens) |
Wrestling | Won various NWA World Tag Team Championships (6 times), AWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times), the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) and various regional NWA titles | |
67 | 2013 | Jackie Fargo (Henry Faggart) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee. Won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (22 times), various versions of the NWA World Tag Team titles and was one third of the first ever NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. | |
68 | 2013 | Ernie Ladd Ernest Ladd) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee. Won various NWA regional titles. | |
69 | 2013 | Bobo Brazil (Houston Harris) |
Wrestling | Posthumous inductee. Won various NWA regional titles. Had a legendary feud with The Original Sheik over the Detroit version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title. | |
70 | 2014 | Paul "Pinkie" George | Wrestling | Posthumous Inductee. Was a founder of the NWA. Was the Original President of the NWA. | |
71 | 2014 | Giant Baba | Wrestling, Promoting | Posthumous Inductee. Was the founder of All-Japan Pro Wrestling, which was a NWA member until 1989. Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version), NWA International Heavyweight Championship (All-Japan Version) (3 times), NWA International Tag Team Championship (All-Japan Version) (12 times), PWF Heavyweight Championship (4 times) | |
72 | 2014 | Kevin Sullivan | Wrestling | Won the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic/Georgia/WCW Version), NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Gulf Coast Version), NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (Southeast Version), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) | |
73 | 2014 | Ox Baker | Wrestling | Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version), NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Calgary Version), NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version), NWA American Heavyweight Championship (2 times), NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship, NWA Florida Tag Team Championship, NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship, NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | |
74 | 2014 | J.J. Dillon | Wrestling, manager | ||
75 | 2014 | "Cowboy" Bob Kelly | Wrestling | ||
76 | 2015 | "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce | Wrestling[32] | Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (5 times), Won the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship, Won the NWA Heritage Championship (2 times). |
Group inductions
Year | Tag Team | Notes |
---|---|---|
2006 | The Rock 'n' Roll Express | Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic World Tag Team Championship (4 times) and the NWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times),[25][33] |
Ricky Morton Robert Gibson (Ruben Cain) |
||
2012 | The Road Warriors | NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic Version), 3-time NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with Dusty Rhodes (2), and Genichiro Tenryu (1) (Mid-Atlantic) |
Road Warrior Hawk (Michael Hegstrand) - Posthumous inductee, two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion (without Animal) Road Warrior Animal (Joseph Laurinaitis) - One-time WWE Tag Team Champion (without Hawk) | ||
2013 | The Fabulous Kangaroos | As a team NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version), NWA International Tag Team Championship (All-Japan Version), NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (3 times), NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (4 times) |
Al Costello Roy Heffernan |
See also
- Hardcore Hall of Fame
- New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- TNA Hall of Fame
- WCW Hall of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame
Footnotes
- a – Entries without a birth name indicates that the indcutee did not perform under a ring name.
- b – Before the 1990s, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) distributed many of its titles among its numerous members. Other promotions listed in this column were, or are currently, members of the NWA.[34][35]
- c – This section mainly lists the major accomplishments of each inductee in the NWA.
References
- General
- "NWA Hall of Fame inductees". National Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- Specific
- ↑ "NWA Hall of Fame Inductees". National Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ric Flair To Accept His NWA Award". National Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "2008 Class of the NWA Hall of Fame.". National Wrestling Alliance. 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ Heyman, Paul (2006-06-06). "The Paul Heyman Hustle: The right to deny Flair fame". The Sun. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "WCW Slamboree 1993". Slamboree. 1993-05-23. In Demand pay-per-view.
- ↑ "WCW Slamboree 1994". Slamboree. 1994-05-22. In Demand pay-per-view.
- ↑ "WCW Slamboree 1995". Slamboree. 1995-05-21. In Demand pay-per-view.
- ↑ "Dennis Coralluzzo Invitational" (JPG). NWA New Jersey. National Wrestling Alliance. 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
"Mr. NWA" Dennis Coralluzzo is placed in the NWA Hall of Fame
- ↑ "NWA Announces 2 NWA Hall of Fame Inductees for 2009". National Wrestling Alliance. WrestleZone.com. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
- ↑ "Lou Thesz". Professional Wrestling Online Museum. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ↑ "Harley Race". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ↑ "Sam Muchnick". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ Oliver, Greg. "Jim Barnett was TV innovator". SLAM! Sports - Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "Gordon Solie". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ↑ "Jim Cornette". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ Oliver, Greg. "Legends PPV tapes Sunday with a new/old voice". SLAM! Sports - Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "Dory Funk, Jr.". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ Saul Weingeroff (2006-06-06). WWE Presents: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers (DVD). Stamford, Connecticut: World Wrestling Entertainment.
- ↑ "Eddie Graham". Professional Wrestling Online Museum. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ↑ "NWA World Women's Championship reign history". Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan and Gary Will. Solie.org. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign history". Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan and Gary Will. Solie.org. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship reign history". Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan and Gary Will. Solie.org. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "Iron Sheik". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship reign history". Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan and Gary Will. Solie.org. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 "WCW World Tag Team Championship Title History (1991–2001)". Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan & Gary Will. Solie.org. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "NWA Georgia Television Championship reign history". Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan and Gary Will. Solie.org. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 "The Corsica Brothers to be Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame". National Wrestling Alliance. 411Mania.com. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "Nikita Koloff NWA Hall of Fame press release". National Wrestling Alliance. Nikitakoloff.com. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ "Ric Flair". SLAM! Sports - Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 30.8 30.9 30.10 Gerweck, Steve (2011-11-14). "NWA Hall of Fame Class for 2011 announced". WrestleView. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 31.7 31.8 31.9 Meltzer, Dave (2012-11-17). "Sat. update: Great TV show, WWE multiple releases, Austin talks WWE Hall of Fame, Best night for Bellator, PPV predictions, NWA Hall of Fame, James Storm headlines benefit show, Devitt takes another title". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
- ↑ "NWA Hall of Fame Class of 2015 1st Inductee: “Scrap Daddy” Adam Pearce". NWARingside.com. 2015-11-14. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
- ↑ "NWA World Tag Team Championship Title History". Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan and Gary Will. Solie's Title History. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "Classics On Demand: Video Library". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ↑ "The NWA Roll Call of Champions". National Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
External links
- NWA Hall Of Fame official website
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