Double-secret Hall of Fame candidates LEAKED
As per Meltzer…
“–Funny story from yesterday. Hulk Hogan was on Bubba the Love Sponge when Ann Russo (no relation to Vince), the secretary of Vince McMahon, called him to get his thoughts on the Hall of Fame. He was given the following names and asked to pick ten. The name under consideration given to him were The Von Erichs, Ultimate Warrior, The Sheik Ed Farhat, Ric Flair, Mr. Fuji, Nick Bockwinkel Muhammad Ali, Mr. T, Mike Tyson, Howard Finkel, Jim Ross, Ken Patera, King Curtis, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts, Honky Tonk Man, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Ebersol, Afa & Sika, Big Bossman, Randy Savage, Bob Backlund, Rick Rude, Bushwhackers, Rocky Johnson and Brooklyn Brawler. Out of that list, his picks were Bossman, Curtis, Dusty, Savage, Samoans, Von Erichs, Rude, Bushwhackers and Finkel. This all aired on the air. I checked around on this. It wasn’t a planned publicity stunt and Russo had no idea she was on the air.”
Interesting list. For political reasons, I’d say it’s likely the the Von Erichs and Finkel are locks to get in. Randy Savage seems like a longshot, but his speech would make for good TV. Big Bossman in a serious Hall of Fame is a joke, but this is the WWE Hall of Fame so who knows. Backlund and Flair both warrant inclusion, obviously. I’m sure someone like the Samoans would get in for political reasons as well, since spawning all those Samoans was their indirect competition. Plus if the Valiants warrant inclusion, pretty much anyone does.
All in all, not a bad list.
What boggles me is that Steamboat isn’t on the list considering the connection they’re making to Wrestlemania 3 this year.
I had speculated that maybe he wasn’t on that particular list because he was already decided on, but someone else told me it might have something to do with Steamboat not having the rights to his name right now or some mess like that.
Flair and Backland are givens but still no Steamboat?!? I have been telling everyone since the anounced that Mania was being held in Detroit that Ed Farhat would be as close to a lock as anyone, I mean the guy was Detroit Wrestling for what 20 years? Add To that Farhat for good or bad created the concept of “Hardcore Wrestling” his induction makes sense. Afa and Sika also made an impact all over the country as the Wild Samoans but add to that the afect there children,nephews, and the rest of the brood has had on wrestling i mean my god what is it 3 world champions and more tag titles then any one on the planet? Rocky is also geting in more on the merit as a father then a wrestler but hell looking at who his spawn is will let that slide. HTM is also a not a horid choice and will more then likely be one of the funnier speachs ever given. As for the Von Eric’s well ok does Fritz belong, well yeah, Does David? OK I will give you that one too. Does Kerry? I say yes BUT I was a huge WCCW mark and a huge Kerry fan but at the end of the day he is a former World Champion and IC champ so he has some ligit arguments to being in as for the rest well no they don’t deserve it I’m sorry they don’t. OK this rant has gone on long enofgh but I had to add my 2 cents.
Vince is the king of holding grudges and the exclusion of Steamboat could still stem to the way he left the WWF back in the late 80s…who knows. He def belongs there ahead of everyone except Savage and Flair.
Accept Steamboat is a road agent, so I don’t think he’s holding a grudge any longer.
To be very honest, I’d find Ray Traylor in there legit. Traylor was a big force as Big Bubba Rogers in the old NWA; and he was a major force with a great babyface following in the early 1990’s. He was considered a big name by “Bischoff” who made him the “Boss” and then tried to still push him after they had to rid him of that name. He eventually floundered in WCW, but held a good midcard heel following until his injury and dismissal in the nWo — and then basically Bischoff kept him and buried him because he still had a contract. However, then the BossMan returned to where he was born and got another quick push that involved going up against the big wig Steve Austin. Sure it was back to midcard hell after that and a -***** match with Undertaker — but he was a true legend in his own right.
I agree totally that the induction of Ray Traylor to the Hall Of Fame is totally appropriate and legit. Newer fans only remember the washed up Corporation lackey Bossman who stunk up a Hell In A Cell with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 15. I remember the Bis Bossman of the late 1980’s who was a ground breaking big man worker who drew huge money with Hogan and Savage. Then he had his huge face turn that got him over big time and led to legendary wars against the Heenan family.
Here are my thoughts on other people on the list.
Von Erichs: They are guaranteed to be inducted this year because Vince is soon coming out with his best of World Class DVD. Vince has always loved the Von Erichs, which is why he pushed Kerry hard (Intercontinental title win on his first pay per view) until personal demons interfered.
Ultimate Warrior: No chance in hell as the McMahon song says. As far as I know Warrior still has pending litigation over the Self Destruction DVD Vince put out.
Sheik Ed Farhat: With RVD and Sabu, the Sheik’s top 2 students, about a week away from getting themselves fired I doubt this one will happen. McMahon and his long time friend, Jack Tunney, never likedhow Sheik used to promote head to head against Tunney’s territory in Toronto.
Ric Flair: As long as Flair is on television every week he is not going in. Which means we have to wait 30 more years for Flair’s induction.
Jake Roberts: No chance since he was recently messing around with TNA.
Bob Backlund: Also messing around with TNA and bashing McMahon recently, so no. Also watch the Superstar Graham DVD and it is clear McMahon never thought much of Backlund and if he was running things instead of Vince Senior Graham would have gotten the Backlund push.
Rocky Johnson: Only gets in if Rock agrees to induct him. So far Rock has said no, so it looks like no induction.
Mister Fuji: Deserves to go in now. After they mentioned him in the 1 DX skit this year I bet he gets in.
Muhammed Ali: No chance. His appearance fee is too high and he can not deliver an acceptance speech.
Mike Tyson: No chance after the recent drug bust.
Mister T: Doubtful since all recent DVD releases including Piper and Hogan have bashed Mister T really hard. McMahon has a grudge over T’s failed brief run as a WWF referee.
Jim Ross: If they were not forced to bring him back to fix their screwed up announcing mess he would have gone in this year. Since he is on television every week like Flair, he is not going in yet.
Honky Tonk Man: Never going to happen. Jerry Lawler and McMahon loathe him and Honky always shoots off his mouth.
Dusty Rhodes: He is guaranteed to go in this year. He was supposed to go in last year but did not want to be upstaged by Bret Hart.
Dick Ebersol: Very doubtful though he and Vince are pals. Vince has lots of bad blood with NBC over the XFL flop (which really was NBC’s fault though McMahon gets all heat for it) and the recent flops of Saturday Night’s Main Event when they had those lousy specials after going back to the USA network.
Brooklyn Brawler: Not yet because it brings up uncomfortable questions about why Lombardi still has a job.
Ken Patera: Never going to happen. McMahon resents how Patera pissed away the pushes he was given in the 1980’s.
Ted DiBiase: Yes, I bet he gets inducted this year. He no longer works for McMahon, but left on good terms.
Bushwhackers: Johnny Ace does not want to be reminded of being their lackey so I doubt they get in. However, they deserve to get in because they were a huge draw regionally as a hard core tag team and nationally as a commedy mid card act.
Rick Rude: I doubt he gets in. He screwed over McMahon on a couple of occassions. most notably in 1997.
Randy Savage: Never going to happen. He is pretty much universally reviled by all the political forces in McMahon country.
Afa and Sika: Yes, they get in to give Lou Albano a reason to show up. They deserve it for all the wrestlers they have trained.
Nick Bockwinkle: I doubt he gets in because he never did any business in the WWF. Then again, he never did any business in WCW and was in their hall of fame so who knows.
By the way, McMahon has no grudge against Steamboat. If he did Steamboat would not be working there right now.
Let’s do this with Ann’s original list:
The Von Erichs
I don’t know about as a whole. Fritz, Kerry and Kevin, they were the important ones, so they should go, but should, say, Mike Von Erich go in? Lance Von Erich?
Ultimate Warrior
Based on solely his importance to the WWE, yes. Considering his action over the past few decades, and the fact that they’d need to set aside 3-5 hours for his speech, HELL NO.
The Sheik Ed Farhat
Hardcore before hardcore was…….well, hardcore.
Ric Flair, Mr. Fuji, Nick Bockwinkel
Givens, all of them. Is “Professor” Toru Tanaka in already? He has to go in if Fuji goes in.
Muhammad Ali, Mr. T, Mike Tyson
T is a definite, the others………Mike was part of the launching of the Austin era, so he’s a maybe, and Ali……out of respect, I guess.
Howard Finkel
I thought the Fink was already in.
Jim Ross
Given.
Ken Patera
For what? The first “big name” wrestler to be arrested for kiddie porn?
King Curtis
Who?
Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts, Honky Tonk Man, Dusty Rhodes
All givens, with the possible exception of Jake. Not sure if you even want him showing up to accept, lord knows how tanked he’ll be.
Dick Ebersol
Um……..why?
Afa & Sika
A “politcal” given.
Big Bossman
Why? #2
Randy Savage
NEVER happen. Ever. Even if he does deserve it. They should put Elizabeth in, the first real Diva and all, but unless Vince sells the whole fed, Randy ain’t going in.
Bob Backlund
Given.
Rick Rude
A maybe. He had a career right up there with the Bossman’s, except he actually won a title.
Bushwhackers
The first really over comedy gimmick in WWE? That’s the only reason I can think why they’d go in.
Rocky Johnson
Political given #2.
Brooklyn Brawler
No. Put him in as Steve Lombardi.
What are your thoughts on Steamboat?
Right beside Savage on the “Should be in, probably won’t happen” shelf.
“King Curtis
Who?”
Sullivan! SULLIVAN!!! I have been to the seven seas and the far oceans to get me some kentucky fried CHICKEN!!!!! THE gods of wrath of the apes tell me of the delicious FOOD we must partake in to serve with our guests and with our friends in lust of ideas of the IDEAS! SULLIVAN! COME FORTH!!! SULLIVAN AND BOW TO THE CHICKENS!!!!!!!!!
Dick Ebersol would get in because he was the head of NBC when they greenlighted SNME which helped propel the WWF to mainstream.
I thought Flair was already in? Didnt HHH give him some award one time at the Hall of Fame ceremony? I must be imagining things again.
Trip inducted Billy Graham.
And Dick Ebersol would be in their “Celebrity Wing” along with Pete Rose.
Triple H in 2004 gave a induction speech for Harley Race, not Ric Flair. I think Triple H or Harley Race said they wanted to be the one to induct Flair down the line though.
Flair gave the speech for Race, Trip did Graham. Trip quoted the inductee’s catchphrase, and Harley Race never uttered the words “The man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!”
If I could pick ANY 7, list or no, it would be…
Randy Savage
Ultimate Warrior
Bob Backlund
Ricky Steamboat
Ted Dibiase
Owen Hart
L.O.D.
I don’t like the idea of celebs. Ali and Tyson would be fine if this was a boxing hall of fame, but wresling? Surely not. Davey Boy Smith, Miss Elizabeth and Rick Rude would be my choices.
How is Ray Traylor’s name on this list and Curt Hennig’s is not? Mr. Perfect was more important to the WWF than the Big Bossman in the late 80’s-early 90’s era. Plus, Hennig was an AWA World Champion, while Traylor never held the big title anywhere. Hennig is easily one of the 50 greatest wrestlers ever and the Mr. Perfect gimmick is one of the 5 best of all time. Hennig deserves induction before most on this list.
Here’s an idea for the celebrity wing: Lawrence Taylor. Or they could induct his match with Bigelow. (Is Bam Bam OK? I never heard anything about him after the motorcycle accident.)
What’s wrong with Bossman?
He might not have been one of the all time greats, but he had numerous big runs, was a big star and left a big enough mark to be easily recognized by most common casual wrestling fans. To me, that last part is actually (seemingly) one of the most important criteria for inclusion in the WWE hall.
King Curtis I never would’ve thought would be included, but that’d be freaking awesome. He was one of the best promo men ever and anything to even vaguely familiarize the casual fan with him is a huge A-plus in my book. There are probably 200 people I would’ve thought of before him, but if they want to put him in, I SO support that decision.