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WWE Hall of Fame: Are Future Classes Hurt by How Loaded 2013's Class Is?

WWE Hall of Fame: Are Future Classes Hurt by How Loaded 2013's Class Is?

Posted: Mar 25th 2013 By: mikeiles

The WWE Hall of Fame has been much maligned over the years for not necessarily honoring the very best professional wrestling has to offer. No such criticism has been made regarding the 2013 class, but with so many strong candidates being inducted at the same time, there is some concern that future classes will be hindered.

It seems like there are usually one or two guys who go into the Hall of Fame on a yearly basis, only for the fans to scoff at their inclusion.

That isn't the case this time around, though, as the 2013 class is arguably the most star-studded class of all time. Bruno Sammartino, Mick Foley, Bob Backlund, Trish Stratus, Booker T and Donald Trump are all deserving of their spots in one way or another.

Sammartino is arguably the greatest grappler of all time and still holds the record for the longest WWE Championship reign.

Backlund happens to be No. 2 on that list.

Foley is a hardcore legend who helped push WWE over the top during the Attitude Era. Stratus may be the greatest Diva ever.

Booker is a former WCW and World Heavyweight champion.

Trump was never a wrestler, but his impact on the business as a celebrity supporter is undeniable.

Such a solid class should go a long way toward convincing fans that the Hall of Fame is the real deal, but it obviously creates some issues moving forward. Pretty much all of the people who are being inducted this year could have headlined a class themselves any other year. They'll have to share the spotlight, though, and other deserving inductees will have to be found.

Based on how many all-time greats have graced the WWE over the years, I can't imagine that the company will have any trouble finding deserving inductees moving forward.

The WWE as we know it has been in existence since 1963, so countless wrestlers, managers, announcers, referees and others have graced a WWE ring over the past 50 years. The precursor to the WWE was the Capitol Wrestling Corporation which began in 1952, so the WWE has a long and storied tradition.

Professional wrestling's popularity really kicked into another gear in the 1940s, thanks to Gorgeous George and others.

There are a number of wrestlers whom the WWE can put in the Hall of Fame from that time period as well. Also, consider the fact that the WWE owns the licensing rights for WCW and ECW, so any wrestler who did great things for those promotions is eligible regardless of their WWE impact.

When you take all of that into account, it is essentially impossible for the WWE to run out of Hall of Fame-caliber performers.

Among the top-level stars who have yet to be inducted are Randy "Macho Man" Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Goldberg, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, The Honky Tonk Man, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and even Lou Thesz. There are plenty of mid-level guys who deserve consideration in addition to them as well.

Even the current roster is stacked with future Hall of Famers, so the WWE will have a large pool of guys to draw from for many years to come. John Cena, CM Punk, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho, Triple H, Big Show, Kane, Undertaker, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio are all lead-pipe locks to be inducted some day.

Also, while I realize that some fans hate the notion of celebrities being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, there is no doubt that they have played a big role in the product over the years.

With that in mind, there are plenty of potential celebrity inductees for the WWE to call upon down the line. Mr. T, Cyndi Lauper, Lawrence Taylor, Floyd Mayweather and a handful of others wouldn't seem out of place in the Hall of Fame at all.

I understand why some fans are concerned about the 2013 Hall of Fame class taking away from future ones, but it's better to have star-studded classes than ones that contain questionable choices. At least most would agree that all six of the people who are being inducted this year are worthy of the honor, and that is really all that should matter.

If nothing else, it seems as though the WWE has finally decided to start taking its Hall of Fame seriously. Perhaps, this will lead to a physical building at some point, which would really go a long way toward making the Hall of Fame seem credible.

If and when the building comes to fruition, it had better be quite large because there is no shortage of men and women waiting in the wings who have earned the right to be called WWE Hall of Famers.

 

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Supplemental Information

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Spotlight in History

  • 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
  • 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
  • 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
  • 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
  • 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
  • 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
06-23
  • Athena Jun 23rd Today!
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
  • X-Storms Jun 25th
  • Jax Samuel Jun 26th
  • D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
  • Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
  • Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
  • Kuda Jun 27th
  • Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
  • Reckless Jun 27th
  • Ignition Jun 27th
  • Malico Jun 28th
  • Kenny Mack Jun 28th
  • Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
  • J. J. Blake Jun 28th
  • John Tidwell Jun 28th
  • Doc Hearon Jun 28th
  • Claire Jun 28th
  • Boris Malenko Jun 28th
  • Bill Dromo Jun 28th
  • Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
  • Barbara Galento Jun 29th
  • Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
  • Ed Lewis Jun 30th
  • Terry Funk Jun 30th
  • Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
  • Li'l Joe Jul 1st
  • Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
  • Jake Hollister Jul 1st
  • Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
  • Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
  • Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
  • Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
  • Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
  • Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
  • Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
  • Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
  • Blake Wilson Jul 4th
  • Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
  • Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
  • Barry Windham Jul 4th
  • Bree Ann Jul 4th
  • Little Tokyo Jul 5th
  • Terry Kage Jul 5th
  • Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
  • Richard Pierce Jul 5th
  • Dalton Bragg Jul 6th

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