Current WWE Inductees
As one of the original hardcore icons, Abdullah the Butcher became a star on various continents and winning more titles internationally than many casual fans may have realized. He was violent, shocking and scary and did it all without uttering a single word. Abdullah was not just a brawler with foreign objects; as he could…
Andre the Giant was the man for whom the WWE Hall of Fame was created for and its first inductee. Standing well over seven feet tall, Andre was actually quite agile in his youth and throughout his career was a featured attraction regardless of where he performed. Loyal to Vince, Andre headlined Wrestlemania 3 putting…
One of the most popular wrestlers of his day, Antonino Rocca was a spectacular athlete and one of the first to really utilize acrobatics in the ring. Rocca was a big reason for the wrestling boom in the Northeast and his following among the Italian and Hispanic audiences was especially high. He is one of…
We have to admit that we loved this induction! Although Antonio Inoki did have a solid relationship with the WWE, wrestling many times for them in the late 70’s and early 80’s, it was in Japan that he was a true star. In fact, Inoki could very well be the most popular wrestler in Japan…
A long time manager for the WWE and a decent wrestler in his own right, Arnold Skaaland was seemingly on television every week in the corner of the top faces. Skaaland was not just an on screen personality as he was a backstage producer and business partner of Vince McMahon Sr. Skaaland was inducted equally…
Baron Mikel Scicluna was not inducted for his plethora of championships or stellar won loss record. He was however a very dependable worker who served the Stamford based promotion well and for a long period of time. Although, he may have had a journeyman’s record, he never ventured out of the North East that often. …
Perhaps a few years ahead of her time, “The Glamazon”, Beth Phoenix was the perfect mix of beauty and strength and when she was booked properly was showcased as the top Diva in the promotion. Phoenix was stronger than all of her female peers, but was built in a way where she didn’t look freakish…
A former WWWF Tag Team Champion as one of the masked Executioners in the late 70’s, John Studd would return to the North East unmasked and ready to assert himself as the dominant big heel of his day. Studd was a constant threat for championships and was one of the few credible opponents for Andre…
Okay. This one was really hard for us to rank, and we are very curious to see what readers of website thinks. We can’t imagine there will be a lot of neutral opinions on the wrestling career of Bill Goldberg.
A major star in the American South for decades, “The Bullet” Bob Armstrong held every title worth holding south of the Mason-Dixon line on multiple occasions. Armstrong was exceptionally popular in his time, and one of the toughest. Truthfully, we were surprised that his son Brian, didn’t go in before him, but this is an…
When Bob Backlund first hit the Northeast he had the credentials to be a wrestling star; he was a legitimate amateur champion, he had the boyish good looks and the humble demeanor that made him the perfect face. This equated to him holding the WWF World Heavyweight Championship for over five years.
The third Celebrity Inductee, Bob Uecker was actually one of the more entertaining celebrity guests in Wrestlemania history. His self deprecating humor played well on WWE TV and many people still remember his failed interview with Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania IV. If only other celebrity guests would give a solid effort like Bob Uecker…
Anyone who watched the WWF in the 80’s was entertained by the antics of Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. He was instant heat, and the leader of the most powerful heel stables in wrestling for years. Nobody had a quicker wit, and played the role of a backstabbing manager better. Too many, this is the greatest…
The “Jackie Robinson” of professional wrestling, Bobo Brazil broke down color barriers and was the first true African American superstar in professional wrestling. He was immensely popular in all the territories that he competed and was cheered by fans of all colors. Brazil was not just an attraction, but was a champion as he had…
We held back on ranking Booker T in our inaugural list as felt that despite being in his mid 40’s we thought the “spinaroonie” master had another run left in him in the WWE. When he came back this year and returned to the WWE as a broadcaster, we felt it was time to list…
Many foreign heels in wrestling are not foreign at all. Lawrence Simon was one such athlete, but as opposed to playing the role with a shaved head and little words, he developed a character named Boris Malenko with multiple levels that was more sinister than stereotypically foreign.
After the infamous Montreal Screwjob, this was an induction that appeared could never happen. But as they say, “anything can happen in wrestling”, and time appeared to heal the deepest of wounds. Bret “Hit Man” Hart would become a five time WWE World Heavyweight Champion and the greatest technician of his day. He was an…
Bruiser Brody may not be known by a lot of wrestling fans today; but he should be. Much of the Hardcore style that is popular today was originated by the man born as Frank Goodish.
During NIHOF committee meetings, it was extremely rare for us to agree unanimously on anything. We were initially in agreement that Bruno Sammartino had to be considered the most deserving man not yet in the WWE Hall of Fame. Here we are, two years later, and Randy Savage has taken over the top slot, yet the…
Prior to his parasailing accident in 1990, it is often forgotten just how popular Brutus Beefcake was. In the late 80’s while assuming the barber gimmick he ascended to the upper mid card and was one of the top faces in the company. In tag team main events with Hulk Hogan, Beefcake held his own…