There's always plenty of pomp, pageantry and chaos surrounding the venue hosting Wrestlemania, especially during Wrestlemania Week, not the least of which focuses on the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony the night before the "Main Event", so to speak. This year's class (personal opinions about Donald Trump aside) is shaping up to be a decent class, what with the inclusion of people like
Booker T--The six-time World Champ who's held the United States title on four separate occasions and more tag team championships than I can count;
Trish Stratus--The woman who's held the Women's Championship more than any other that stepped into the ring;
Bob Backlund--One of the most beloved superstars throughout the seventies and early eighties and with two World Championship runs longer than the entirety of some of today's WWE superstars' time on the roster.
Mick Foley--A pioneer in Hardcore-style wrestling and a dogged contender who would leave literally everything in the ring (even an ear and a tooth or two) to defend the gold (when he had it) and entertain the masses. There's a reason they call him "The Hardcore Icon".
and at long last....
Bruno Sammartino--Considered by many to be "The Greatest of All Time", Sammartino's 7 1/2 year run as World Champion will likely never be matched again.
So naturally, this inductee list has once again helped me set sight on those who, for some reason or another, are still receiving the cold shoulder from Stamford. So as has been custom for me every year, here once again are the 12 names, however unlikely, deserve to set foot among the immortals and take their rightful spot in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014:
"MACHO MAN" RANDY SAVAGE
This is the one that baffles me to this day. The question is who and what to believe as the root to the reason why? Is it due to some sort of deep-seated personal grudge that Vince McMahon has against the man that he is on record calling the best all-around wrestler that he ever had the pleasure of working with? Is the major issue that Lanny Poffo (AKA The Genius) refuses to let him be inducted unless it's as part of the Poffo Family, including himself and their father, Angelo?
Whatever the reason, the continued deferment of Savage's induction is utterly inexcusable. No matter the role he played, he was always either one of the most beloved or most reviled superstars in the game. Six-Time World Champion, Intercontinental Champion, Charisma for days, at levels few would ever DREAM of reaching. His match with Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania III held Pro Wrestling Illustrated's #1 spot on the Greatest Matches of All Time for 17 years straight and is still the match that many point to as the reason that they got into the business in the first place.
Regrettably, Savage didn't live long enough to see the day come where he could stand on the stage of the Hall of Fame and soak in the adulation one more time, but WWE can still right this wrong. If Savage is to be inducted as part of a group, let it be with the First Lady of Wrestling and the original WWE Diva, Miss Elizabeth.
Mr. McMahon, please, put petty differences aside and induct this man. NOW.
OWEN HART
O.k. I understand the circumstances here, and I realize that there's probably a large cross-section of people out there who grow weary of hearing people like me stump for Owen Hart to get into the Hall of Fame, when I should know full well that his widow, Martha, wants nothing to do with it. But I stand by my position.
I understand and respect Martha's wishes to disassociate herself from the company responsible for the incredible tragedy that befell Owen. But does it really seem like the thing that The Hart Family or Owen himself would want for his legacy to be defined by, what he would want for the fans? Let's review that legacy, shall we?
Owen held every major title that the then-WWF had to offer except for the big one and even the casual observer could tell you that that one was on the horizon. His matches with his brother Bret at Wrestlemania X and later at Summerslam 1994 are still, for my money, two of the best technical bouts I personally have ever witnessed.
Instead we continue to go in circles. Owen is kept from the Hall of Fame and lawsuits against WWE continue to snowball concerning likeness usage and the royalties therein, stifling any understanding the fans could have of the quality of consummate performer that The King of Harts truly was.
Enough is enough, and it's time for a change.
JAKE "THE SNAKE" ROBERTS
Without question, the greatest WWF Superstar to never hold a major title. Jake Roberts was always entertaining to watch, and while he may not have been a full-blooded technician, The Snake had a ring presence like no other. Sure, there was always Damien or a Lucifer around to keep fans attentive, and the images of a King Cobra sinking its fangs into Randy Savage raised eyebrows and terrified younger fans alike. It's still one of the most instantly memorable moments in this WWE fan's book. But Roberts' impact goes FAR beyond the surface, much like his personality itself.
The next time you're watching a WWE match, keep a watchful eye. Count how many superstars utilize a DDT in any given three hour program and realize that were it not for an in-ring mishap by Roberts, that maneuver wouldn't be nearly as commonplace. Roberts had applied a front facelock on his opponent and accidentally tripped over his unlucky victim's foot. The rest, as they say, is history.
While Roberts' in-ring performances may not be particularly memorable, it was the delivery of his promos that is the stuff of legends. Roberts had a method that was almost Shakespearean. While everyone else was delivering out of control promos, ranting and raving at the top of their voice to get the fans worked into a frenzy, Jake Roberts spoke icily at a level that rarely rose above a whisper. This was done expertly, not to have the fans HEAR the energy of the promo, but to require them to LISTEN to the words. What resulted was often mic poetry that would send chills down the spine.
-"It's not the size of the wand. It's the magic you can perform."
-"These were people far less fortunate than you, people who could use your money for essentials, and what did you do? You made fun of them. You humbled them and you humiliated them. Well, now it’s my turn. I’m going to make you beg, Dibiase, you are going to get down on your hands and knees. This time, you’ll be the one that’s humbled. This time, you’ll be the one that’s humiliated, and this time, you will be the one that grovels for the money. And how appropriate, that the money you grovel for is your very own. A victim of your own greed, wallowing in the muck of avarice."
-"The blind leading the blind? Even a fool knows that a man only has five senses. But a snake? He has six. We always do it better in the dark."
-"This isn't the beginning... this isn't the end, it's not even the beginning of the end...yet the end of the beginning."
and my personal favorite...
-"I'm like a window too hard to break and too dark to look into."
If you find yourself with a little spare time, please, log onto YouTube and look up the best of Jake Roberts promos. You shall not be disappointed.
Trust Me.
THE UNDERTAKER and PAUL BEARER
Does anything REALLY need to be said?
Regardless of the outcome on April 7, even if it's 20-1, the accomplishment of 20 consecutive wins with no losses on WWE's biggest stage will never be seen again. Paul Bearer is hands down one of the greatest managers ever in terms of charisma and character. The Undertaker has been the most commanding and intimidating presence in the WWE for the last 25 years and since Shawn Michaels' retirement, has become the company's longest tenured superstar.
Whether he decides to ride off into the sunset after this year's showcase or not, I fully expect The Deadman to be the first name to roll off the list for next year's inductees. What better place than the 30th anniversary celebration of the event with which his legacy has become so intimately intertwined?
THE ROCK
I'm not gonna spend much time here. One of the architects of the Attitude Era, a ten-time (and current) WWE Champion. One of the best rivalries WWE can lay claim to (vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin). Stone Cold enter the Hall five years ago, the year AFTER Rocky's father and grandfather joined. It only makes sense to include The Great One as part of the 30th Anniversary Class.
DEMOLITION
Yes, all three of them. Ax, Smash AND Crush.
While The Road Warriors/Legion of Doom was dominating AWA, NWA, WCW and just about any other circuit that would have them, Demolition's Ax and Smash were busy becoming three-time World Tag Champions, a feat that at the time was unprecedented in the World Wrestling Federation. When Crush was added to the tandem in 1990, they executed the famed "Freebird Rule" to perfection. In the golden age of tag teams, The Demolition "Walking Disaster" and the driving riffs of Rick Derringer made these guys the most vaunted duo/trio, some would say even to this day. While their war-painted counterparts in L.O.D. were inducted just a few years back, the time has come to induct the guys with "PAIN" and "DESTRUCTION" as their middle names.
And if they don't, well, the Hall of Fame might be in line for a little...erm, Demolition.
THE BRITISH BULLDOG
Intercontinental Champion, Multi-time Tag Team Champion, World Wrestling Federation's inaugural European Champion and arguably one of the most powerful men in the business, Davey Boy Smith was a fixture in the business for three stints from 1984-1988, again from 1990-1992 and one final run from 1994-1997.
Perhaps the finest moment in any of these runs came at Summerslam 1992. The Bulldog was so immensely popular during his second run that WWF took Summerslam to Wembley Stadium in London where he would become Intercontinental Champion in front of 80, 355 of his fellow countrymen. The match with his cousin Bret Hart was so immensely popular that it actually eclipsed the WWF Championship match on the card that night and is still considered one of Summerslam's best. One has to wonder if the WWE's strained relationship with the Hart Family is keeping The Bulldog out, but it shouldn't.
BRIAN PILLMAN
Flyin' Brian. The Loose Cannon. The Rogue Horsemen. The Ticking Time Bomb.
Whatever you choose to call him, we should be able to call him Hall of Famer.
From his partnership with "Stunning" Steve Austin as The Hollywood Blonds to the more famous feud with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Pillman was always something to watch. His matches with the likes of the Four Horsemen, Eddie Guerrero, Alex Wright and Buff Bagwell are worth a second look. "Pillman's Got A Gun" is still one of the more controversial segments in WWE RAW history and his alignment with the Hart Foundation against Austin served as the launchpad for the WWE's explosion in popularity in the mid-to-late '90s.
Sadly, like many of those still waiting to be inducted, Pillman won't be there to accept should the occasion arise. One has to wonder though, had the circumstances been different, what could he have achieved? Would we even be having this conversation about whether he should be in the Hall of Fame?
THE BIG BOSS MAN
One of the most imposing figures in the golden era of WWF and yet one of the nicest guys you'd ever have the chance of meeting (at least in my experience), The Boss Man was just a big hoss who loved a good fight.
Though he didn't win any titles until his second run, he was a regular threat to guys like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage during their individual runs as WWF Heavyweight Champion. He would later mix it up with the fans' support against the likes of Ted DiBiase, Mr. Perfect and practically every member of the Heenan Family. His most notable feuds came against The Mountie, which peaked at Summerslam 1991 with a Jailhouse Match that resulted in an uh...interesting conclusion. The other was against escaped convict Nailz, which culminated in a Nightstick on a Pole Match at Survivor Series in 1992.
The Boss Man would later go on to serve as Vince McMahon's personal protection against Stone Cold Steve Austin and DeGeneration X. He competed in one of WWE's most celebrated match stipulations (Hell In A Cell) against the Undertaker and one that most would like to forget (Kennel From Hell Match) against Al Snow. His last major feud came when he dragged the casket that was supposedly carrying the Big Show's father through the cemetery. This led to a WWF Championship match against the giant at Armageddon 1999, where he was quickly dispatched.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ray Traylor mere months before he passed. He was campaigning at the time to become the next Commissioner of Paulding County, Georgia. He was autographing basketballs just outside our local Wal-Mart (sounds hokey, I know, but that's where people congregated) as part of his campaign. I got the opportunity to say hello, shake hands, and my younger brother Nick came away with the last basketball he had in stock.
In an era of unforgettable characters, The Boss Man is one that stands in the forefront. Induct him please.
RAVISHING RICK RUDE
Come on. If only for the mustache alone, this guy needs to get in.
The fact of the matter is, there is more to it than the mustache:
Intercontinental Champion. United States Champion. NWA American World Heavyweight Champion. Tag Team Champion. The list of superstars who have been inspired by his personality, swagger and brash bravado is endless--Mr. Perfect, Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, The Miz, Shawn Michaels, Val Venis, Chris Jericho, John Morrison, Edge and Christian...The list goes on.
His Steel Cage Match against the Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Championship is worth a second look and so is his consideration for the WWE Hall of Fame, even if the "Inner City Sweathogs" have a problem with it.
THE HONKY TONK MAN
The Greatest Intercontinental Champion of All Time.
It's true. To this day, no one has held the Intercontinental Championship for longer than WWE's resident Rockabilly. Only predecessors Pedro Morales and Randy Savage even come close.
The Honky Tonk Man reigned from June 1987, after upending Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and held on for dear life until Summerslam 1988 where he was unceremoniously throttled by the Ultimate Warrior in 28 seconds.
While the remainder of his WWE career may be considered less than Hall of Fame worthy, there's no denying that his run as Intercontinental Champion is still unmatched. Which begs the question, if he still holds a record this admirable after more than 25 years, why hasn't he gotten in yet?
Besides, if there's one thing that WWE and TNA fans alike can agree on, is that there's nothing quite like the ol' Acoustic Equalizer, when that guitar splinters over some poor schmuck's mug.
RICK "THE MODEL" MARTEL
A three-time WWE Tag Team Champion and World Champion in just about every regional territory that included a two-year run atop AWA, Rick Martel was another one of those in the age of fantastic characters that could pull you in and make you believe everything in the essence of his gimmick.
After capturing the tag team titles with 2004 Hall of Fame Inductee Tito Santana, Martel branched off and became "The Model". Martel's new character gained recognition as a self-centered narcissist and even went as far as to introduce his own fictional line of cologne called Arrogance. It would play an integral factor in his five-month feud and ultimately the Blindfold Match with Jake "The Snake" Roberts at Wrestlemania VII.
Martel lasted an impressive 53 minutes (a then-record) in the 1991 Royal Rumble and later went on to feuds with Tatanka and Shawn Michaels and even maintained a spot in the Intercontinental Championship hunt until his departure from WWF in 1994.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
THE FABULOUS FREEBIRDS
If you were a wrestling fan living in Texas in the 1980s, odds were pretty good you were either a fan of the Von Erichs or the Freebirds. The reach of the Freebird Rule has already been discussed, with no fewer than 14 groups utilizing it when defending the tag team titles. The rule has even crossed over to the Intercontinental Title, The Women's Title, various Hardcore and X Division Titles. The mark they've left on the business is indelible. WWE should jump on this fast, as only P.S. and Jimmy Garvin remain.
PAUL HEYMAN
The Mad Scientist and the Architect of the Dangerous Alliance.
Over the course of his career, Heyman has managed three stables, all of whom either had been or would become tag team champions--most notably the Dudleyz, with more titles than one cares to count. As of Bully Ray's championship victory at TNA's last pay-per-view, Heyman's tally of world champions who have been in his employ has jumped to an astonishing 17. And whether you love him or you hate him, there are few who know their way around a microphone better. The ultimate in mouthpieces.
THE STEINER BROTHERS
WWF had the Hart Foundation, The Rockers and Demolition. AWA had the Road Warriors. WCW had The Steiner Brothers. Then they came to WWF...and they took over there too. Eventually Scott went solo and lost his damn mind, but he managed to snag a WCW World Championship along the way.
Will ANY of these suggestions get in to WWE's Hallowed Halls someday? Some are more likely than others. The only certainty is that they all belong there.
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