2008 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame

[Steveweiser]

Since the inductees are already on Wikipedia, I'll reveal them. This year's inductees are...

*Paco Alonso
*Martin Karadagian

As for the recall vote on Chris Benoit, 53.6% voted him out of the Hall of Fame, but Dave Meltzer required a 60% vote for being removed, so officially, Benoit remains in the Hall of Fame, but with an asterix added to signify that he was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 based on his accomplishments in the ring, but that due to his actions, a majority wanted him removed, but not enough to get him removed.

[Ass Dan]

Has anyone ever been succesfully voted out of the WON HOF?

[andrew8798]

Sept 3, 2008 20:45:08 GMT -5 Ass Dan said:

Has anyone ever been succesfully voted out of the WON HOF?

Nope no one has ever been voted out of the WON HOF

[edisraw]

I would hope they wouldnt, I dont know what happened with Beniot no one does or will ever, but no matter what happened he as one of the best super junior, and heavyweights of all time, just from his work in japan he deserves to be in the WON.

[Steveweiser]

This is the only time it has happened, and unless a similar tragic event happens in the future, it won't happen again.

[Bobby Womack]

if i was on the committee and actually gave a crap about the observer i would have voted benoit out without even going as far as thinking of the incident, he hardly had a hall of fame career, but meltzer has a hard on for workrate and anyone whos ever set foot in japan

[Dan Apache]

Sept 4, 2008 8:42:16 GMT -5 Bobby Womack said:

if i was on the committee and actually gave a crap about the observer i would have voted benoit out without even going as far as thinking of the incident, he hardly had a hall of fame career, but meltzer has a hard on for workrate and anyone whos ever set foot in japan

Uh, yeah. The classification for a guy going into the HOF allows for men who are elite workers to get in even if they were never top draws. When you consider Benoit's influence, it's hardly a case of "just a good wrestler", like Brad Armstrong or whoever. Oh, and as for guys who are good wrestlers and set foot into Japan, can't wait for TAKA Michinoku's induction.

[Bobby Womack]

Sept 4, 2008 8:53:31 GMT -5 Dan Apache said:

Sept 4, 2008 8:42:16 GMT -5 Bobby Womack said:

if i was on the committee and actually gave a crap about the observer i would have voted benoit out without even going as far as thinking of the incident, he hardly had a hall of fame career, but meltzer has a hard on for workrate and anyone whos ever set foot in japan

Uh, yeah. The classification for a guy going into the HOF allows for men who are elite workers to get in even if they were never top draws. When you consider Benoit's influence, it's hardly a case of "just a good wrestler", like Brad Armstrong or whoever. Oh, and as for guys who are good wrestlers and set foot into Japan, can't wait for TAKA Michinoku's induction.

what influence did he have exactly? how many wrestlers did he inspire to start their career? who did he train or make? who did he pave the way for? how has he changed the wrestling landscape or peoples perception of mainstream wrestling? what promotion did he help bring up? what did he innovate? tell me one thing thats changed in wrestling as a direct result of benoit coming along? (not including the wellness policy tightening up and concussion awareness)

[Dan Apache]

Sept 4, 2008 9:27:47 GMT -5 Bobby Womack said:

Sept 4, 2008 8:53:31 GMT -5 Dan Apache said:

Uh, yeah. The classification for a guy going into the HOF allows for men who are elite workers to get in even if they were never top draws. When you consider Benoit's influence, it's hardly a case of "just a good wrestler", like Brad Armstrong or whoever. Oh, and as for guys who are good wrestlers and set foot into Japan, can't wait for TAKA Michinoku's induction.

what influence did he have exactly? how many wrestlers did he inspire to start their career? who did he train or make? who did he pave the way for? how has he changed the wrestling landscape or peoples perception of mainstream wrestling? what promotion did he help bring up? what did he innovate? tell me one thing thats changed in wrestling as a direct result of benoit coming along? (not including the wellness policy tightening up and concussion awareness)

Chris Benoit, along with Rey Mysterio and Eddy Guerrero, showed that size doesn't really matter in wrestling and that the true talent will rise to the top eventually. He also become the much-deserved poster boy for hard work and focus on in-ring ability over gimmickery and charisma. He brought a degree of realism in his wrestling that really had never been exploited in WCW and especially the WWF/E before.

Before all the controversy and murder and such, if you asked most of the older wrestlers and the newer wrestlers who were fans growing up who they admired the most, it would have been Chris Benoit many times. An example that immediately comes to mind: MVP. Dude was a huge Chris Benoit fan, was clearly inspired by the man, and raised his game for their United States title series.

Influence isn't just getting a bunch of dudes to start using rolling German suplexes and Crossfaces. Influence is subtly altering what wrestlers are and how they decide to portray themselves. Benoit's work-centric approach most certainly has influenced a generation of wrestlers.

[jobber2thestars]

I don't get why someone can be voted out of the HoF.

[Roger Smith]

Benoit should have been removed.

This devalues the WON Hall of Fame.

[Steveweiser]

Meltzer even thinks it's a black mark on the Hall, but he got independent advice over the rules, and the votes didn't satisfy an elimination under those conditions.

[Evil Jan Otto]

I wish people would just leave the man alone.

Whatever we do to bitch and complain isn't going to change a damn thing now.

[Chuckie Finster]

Sept 3, 2008 17:19:29 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

*Paco Alonso
*Martin Karadagian

The Midnight and Rock & Roll Expresses are never getting in.

[wildojinx]

Ive never even heard of those 2 guys. And as for benoit getting in, the R&R HOF has Ozzy Osbourne as a member and he tried to kill his wife (hopefully they put an asterix<sp> near his name saying that they dont condone what HE did).

[Jtre]

Sept 4, 2008 11:33:03 GMT -5 Dan Apache said:

Sept 4, 2008 9:27:47 GMT -5 Bobby Womack said:

what influence did he have exactly? how many wrestlers did he inspire to start their career? who did he train or make? who did he pave the way for? how has he changed the wrestling landscape or peoples perception of mainstream wrestling? what promotion did he help bring up? what did he innovate? tell me one thing thats changed in wrestling as a direct result of benoit coming along? (not including the wellness policy tightening up and concussion awareness)

Chris Benoit, along with Rey Mysterio and Eddy Guerrero, showed that size doesn't really matter in wrestling and that the true talent will rise to the top eventually. He also become the much-deserved poster boy for hard work and focus on in-ring ability over gimmickery and charisma. He brought a degree of realism in his wrestling that really had never been exploited in WCW and especially the WWF/E before.

Before all the controversy and murder and such, if you asked most of the older wrestlers and the newer wrestlers who were fans growing up who they admired the most, it would have been Chris Benoit many times. An example that immediately comes to mind: MVP. Dude was a huge Chris Benoit fan, was clearly inspired by the man, and raised his game for their United States title series.

Influence isn't just getting a bunch of dudes to start using rolling German suplexes and Crossfaces. Influence is subtly altering what wrestlers are and how they decide to portray themselves. Benoit's work-centric approach most certainly has influenced a generation of wrestlers.

As I could tell before ever checking, you were in kindergarten and elementary school during the time in which Rey Misterio was revolutionizing pro wrestling in the United States. I emphasize Rey because he is who did the revolutionizing, not Benoit and Malenko.

Had Misterio not caught fire with the American public, many cruiserweights who went to enjoy high levels of success would have never gotten on prime time television. Benoit, revolutionized nothing, as he basically came to prominence by succeeding Arn Anderson as the enforcer of the Four Horsemen. He used that role as a launching pad to have a very high level of success in the decade that would follow, but to say he had any far-reaching impact (other than a negative one) on the pro wrestling business is stretching the truth somewhat.

Your comment about Benoit bring a level of realism to WCW and WWE that had previously not existed is also very disputable.

To say that Benoit's style was any more realistic than that of Triple H, Steve Austin or the the Rock (to name a few in WWF at the time) makes little sense. One of Benoit's signature moves was a flying headbutt, which does not exactly seem like the most realistic way to finish off an opponent. It is even more laughable to say he brought any more realism to the table than stars of yesteryear, such as Jake Roberts, Rick Steamboat and Randy Savage.

Finally, your point that he showed people size doesn't matter in pro wrestling is flawed, as Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart and Ric Flair had already shown you don't have to be 6'5" and 275 to be a world champion or top-of-the-card performer. Pointing out that he showed someone could rise to the top with no charisma doesn't really say much about him, but rather speaks volumes about the people he was either alligned with or feuding with.

Chris Benoit was an excellent in-ring performer who had a good career. That says quite a lot, but that is the extent of his legacy while alive.