Paul Bearer Belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame
Posted: Mar 7th 2013 By: mikeiles
The wrestling world is still coming to terms with the loss of William Moody, better known to worldwide audiences as Paul Bearer.
The legendary character is known as the man behind The Undertaker. Early in Taker's career, Bearer did almost all of the speaking for him.
Paul Bearer is one of the most recognizable faces and voices in WWE history, and he earned his spot in the WWE Hall of Fame a long time ago.
Moody was very instrumental to the success of The Undertaker, but that is not the only wrestler Moody lent his talents to.
Mankind, Kane and Vader all received the benefit of being affiliated with Bearer in WWE, and Moody has made independent wrestling appearances over the years as well.
The real-life funeral director was able to make the crowd love him or hate him with ease, using his shrill voice to often go overboard with his promos.
The gimmick of the Undertaker should not have lasted as long as it did. Supernatural gimmicks usually have a short shelf life, and Taker should have been repackaged.
However, the character went over so well with fans that WWE would have been stupid to change course, and much of that success early on can be attributed to Paul Bearer being the voice of the dead man.
Any muscle head can go into the ring and no-sell moves while hitting power moves, but Bearer made it interesting through storytelling.
There were so many iconic moments and matches that involved Paul Bearer being by Undertaker's side, some of them even seeing Taker and Bearer at odds with each other.
Many fans will remember how Paul Bearer was buried in cement, only to appear years later without so much as a mention of the incident.
Few non-wrestlers have earned the respect in the industry that Paul Bearer earned, and his spot in the Hall of Fame should have already been reserved.
Whether WWE decides to induct him this year or if they will wait until next year to do it is yet to be seen, but nobody would fault WWE for wanting to pay respects to a man who was so valuable to them over the years.
If they do posthumously induct him, then the only logical choice for who inducts him is The Undertaker. The two will forever be linked in the history of WWE and there is no better choice.
Whether you knew him as William Moody, Percy Pringle or Paul Bearer, you probably have some great memories of him in the wrestling business.
Rest in peace, William Moody.
What do you think? Should WWE induct Paul Bearer this year or wait until next year?
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Spotlight in History
- 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
- 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
- 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
- 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
- 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
Week of Sun 09-20 to Sat: 09-26
- 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Title
- 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2025 Gideon Vane became the EPW International Champion
- 09-20 2025 Miles Bane became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-20 2026 Neo Genesis def. T. J. Spade for the ASP WTF Title
- 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
- 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
- 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
- 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-21 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-21 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-21 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-21 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-22 1971 Bill Watts def. Dusty Rhodes for the TSW North American Title
- 09-22 2001 Jenna Love became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 09-22 2001 Justin Lee def. Dexter Hardaway for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-22 2012 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-22 2012 Kareem Sadat def. Crossfire Morrison for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-22 2023 Tommy Prince became the TexPro Dynasty Champion
- 09-22 2023 Nashoba became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 09-22 2023 Skidz def. Nashoba for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-22 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-23 1974 Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine def. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 1975 Jose Lothario def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-23 2000 Grenade def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2016 Xavior became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 09-23 2016 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 09-23 2016 Psycho Mike def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-23 2017 Kikutaro def. Ryan Davidson for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 09-23 2017 Dusty Gold def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-23 2017 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Womens Title
- 09-23 2017 Double D def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2017 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 09-23 2017 Xavior def. C. J. Ward for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2017 The Omega (O’Brien & O’Malley) def. The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 2023 Skidz def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-23 2023 Koko def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2023 Sweetness (Cappuccino Jones & Romeo Reese) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 2023 Killbane def. Leo Fox for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-24 2002 The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 09-24 2016 Ricky Starks def. Ky-Ote for the IWR Revolutionary Title
- 09-24 2022 London Calling (Dutch Hagen & Richie Adams) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-24 2022 Martin Justice def. Tyler Watts for the EPW International Title
- 09-24 2022 Logan Knight def. Kareem Sadat for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-24 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Danni Bee for the NCWO Women's Title
- 09-25 1965 Don Kent def. Red McKim for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1981 The Great Kabuki def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1999 Big Daddy Moore def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1999 The Casualties of War (Malice & Shrapnel) def. Red Eagle & Night Hawk for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 09-25 1999 Kid Flash def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 2004 Michael Barry def. Brandon Groom for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 2010 Wage def. Bernie D for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-26 1978 Terry Latham & Ricky Fields def. Seigfried Stanke & Kurt Von Hess for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-26 1984 Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor for the MSW Television Title
- 09-26 2004 John O'Malley def. Mr. Brown for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-26 2009 Jeremy Quinn III became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-26 2014 Paul Puertorico def. Matt Majestic for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-26 2020 Brian Dixon def. Ethan Cole for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-26 2020 The Ritual (Samedi & Shadow Gemini) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 09-26 2025 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the BUW No Pressure Title
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Oklafan Quiz
At the Southern Championship Wrestling event in Muskogee, Michael Barry defended the NWA Oklahoma Heavyweight Title against Tim WarCloud. Barry was accompanied to the ring by Sassy Merlot and who?