Hall of Fame 2009: Who Should Be In?

[Tiger Millionaire]

The Funk Brothes
Von Erichs
Fink
Ricky Steamboat
Ted DiBiase
Rick Rude

[gertner]

Barry Windham, Rick MArtel, Ted Dibiase, Von Erichs, Steamboat, The Funks, Rick Rude, Yokozuna, Sid, HArley Race

[lmoney215]

I think since this year was Florida heavy, next year will be texas heavy.

My picks would be:

(locks)
Von Erichs
Freebirds
Ricky Steamboat
Funks (dory, terry, maybe dory sr.)

(maybe)
Paul Boesch
Brian Pillman
Jake Roberts
Danny Hodge
Bill Watts
The Road Warriors

just food for thought.

[Deleted]

Howard Finkel
Ted DiBiase
Von Erichs
Terry Funk
Bruno Sammartino
Macho Man
Miss Elizabeth
Road Warriors

[The Thread Barbi]

What about Paul Bearer? Not just his WWE character, but his work as Percival Pringle in the AWA, I believe.

Also, Ultimate Warrior. Like it or not, Warrior accomplished more in his short career than the likes of Greg Valentine did in twenty years.

[Hulk With A Mustache]

Apr 1, 2008 15:48:54 GMT -5 gertner said:

Barry Windham, Rick MArtel, Ted Dibiase, Von Erichs, Steamboat, The Funks, Rick Rude, Yokozuna, Sid, HArley Race

Harley Race got into the Hall Of Fame in 2004.

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

I hate the idea of the Hall of Fame becoming territorial with regards to where they're having Wrestlemania in a given year. Just because we're in Texas doesn't mean there should be an overwhelming group of Texans in the Hall. That said, those suggested so far have been great choices. But if it were me, I'd induct Paul Heyman. His influence on the business can be seen in the Attitude era, when WWE was aping ECW's more hardcore, adult-oriented style (and let's keep the argument about Vince funding ECW behind-the-scenes out of it. Vince gave him the money, but he didn't have the vision). Of course, to acknowledge Heyman, they'd have to acknowledge him as a booker, and I just don't think they'd bring the curtain up on kayfabe just to induct Paul Heyman. Yeah, the Hall of Fame is mostly about a kayfabe-free tribute to the stars (though I could see Arn Anderson still stubbornly sticking to his guns on the matter if/when he's inducted), but the truth is that WWE is more likely to go all-out for actual wrestlers while the promoters and announcers are on the Hall of Fame "undercard," as it were. Hence, I think Heyman will get the shaft, because he just isn't well-liked enough by non-ECW alums.

[Veladus Jobs To Dead Computers]

Apr 1, 2008 16:06:52 GMT -5 The Thread Barbi said:

Also, Ultimate Warrior. Like it or not, Warrior accomplished more in his short career than the likes of Greg Valentine did in twenty years.

Warrior? In the HOF?

[vampyur]

To answer the question posed in the topic title, no, Jim Neidhart should not be in.

[crusherhogan]

Apr 1, 2008 16:24:16 GMT -5 Threadkiller [Classic] said:

I hate the idea of the Hall of Fame becoming territorial with regards to where they're having Wrestlemania in a given year. Just because we're in Texas doesn't mean there should be an overwhelming group of Texans in the Hall. That said, those suggested so far have been great choices. But if it were me, I'd induct Paul Heyman. His influence on the business can be seen in the Attitude era, when WWE was aping ECW's more hardcore, adult-oriented style (and let's keep the argument about Vince funding ECW behind-the-scenes out of it. Vince gave him the money, but he didn't have the vision). Of course, to acknowledge Heyman, they'd have to acknowledge him as a booker, and I just don't think they'd bring the curtain up on kayfabe just to induct Paul Heyman. Yeah, the Hall of Fame is mostly about a kayfabe-free tribute to the stars (though I could see Arn Anderson still stubbornly sticking to his guns on the matter if/when he's inducted), but the truth is that WWE is more likely to go all-out for actual wrestlers while the promoters and announcers are on the Hall of Fame "undercard," as it were. Hence, I think Heyman will get the shaft, because he just isn't well-liked enough by non-ECW alums.

I totally agree with you on Paul Heyman, but it seems like they only induct promoters in their territories. You may have to wait for a Wrestlemania to take place in Philadelphia for that to happen. I also would argue that Jim Crockett and Eric Bischoff both deserve to be in.

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

Totally agreed on Bischoff. He almost put McMahon under.

[mattperiolat]

First on my list? Ted DiBiase.

After that? Von Erichs, Funks, Austin, Jake Roberts and Rick Steamboat.

In my dreams? For sure, Owen. But Martha seems unlikely to budge and I heard somewhere Vince and Bret were in an off-again relationship about his book. We'll just have to see.

[Cylon]

STEAMBOAT, The Funks, Fink, Mike Awesome

Longshot: Benoit

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

No way in a trillion years will Benoit get into the Hall of Fame, not even one hundred years from now when Manfred Von Aphra is CEO after marrying into the business through Laura Markesie, granddaughter of Aurora Rose McMahon-Affleck. Only way it ever happens is if new evidence comes to light that completely clears Benoit beyond all doubt (nobody would love this more than me, but I'm not going to check the newzzz sites obsessively in hope of it).

[Bocuma]

I think it's too early for the likes of Austin and Foley, but we'll see it someday.

I'd love to see The Funks, Von Erichs, and Brian Pillman.

[Veladus Jobs To Dead Computers]

Apr 1, 2008 18:00:45 GMT -5 Threadkiller [Classic] said:

No way in a trillion years will Benoit get into the Hall of Fame, not even one hundred years from now when Manfred Von Aphra is CEO after marrying into the business through Laura Markesie, granddaughter of Aurora Rose McMahon-Affleck. Only way it ever happens is if new evidence comes to light that completely clears Benoit beyond all doubt (nobody would love this more than me, but I'm not going to check the newzzz sites obsessively in hope of it).

Not to turn it into another Benoit thread, but I honestly think the only reason McMahon isn't publicly accepting the brain damage findings is because it would place his company partially liable for what happened rather than because "he are teh ebil!"

Anyone who still argues against the brain damage findings is either too emotional about it still to accept that he wasn't "teh ebil" or is just being dumb. Multiple brain surgeons, at least one being an authority in the field, have vouched for the level of damage and how it likely severely impaired his emotional and/or logical thought process. No one with any decent credentials in the field have disputed their findings. All we have are random Joe Shmoes with NO medical training whatsoever claiming that he would've been drooling in a corner somewhere like Festus if he was that badly damaged. I do group McMahon in those Joe Shmoes, BTW. In time, I'm sure people will realize that noted brain surgeons know more about the brain than the random guy on the street and accept that he was just a sick man at the end and not "teh ebil." At which point, I can see him being inducted. It's emotions running high and bad press that keep Benoit out, not the fact he killed someone. If killing someone was all it took to keep someone out, Jimma Snuka would never have gotten in.

[Rockhound]

Apr 1, 2008 16:33:52 GMT -5 @vampyur said:

To answer the question posed in the topic title, no, Jim Neidhart should not be in.

Neidhart shouldn't but the tag team of the Hart Foundation maybe. But think about it, Johnny Rodz is in as is Baron Mikel Scicluna. Both were low to mid carders at best but they got in.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Paul Boesch. He was Houston wrestling. One of the first to really utilize Hispanics and African Americans as megga faces, IE Chavo and JYD. And He was one who not only folded into the WWF Early on, he did it on his own terms and handed over to Vince without any fight because he knew that was the future of wrestling.


Plus he invented Mud Wrestling.

[Wrestlecrap Radio Gong]

Personally they need to finish off the wing in the Hall of Fame and get the Horsemen and the rest of the Hart Foundation in there

Arn Anderson
Tully Blanchard
Ole Anderson
JJ Dillon

Jim Neidhart
Owen Hart
British Bulldog
Brian Pillman


WWE GET THIS DONE NOW

[Bub (BLM)]

They're in Texas next year, so they should do Undertaker. I don't care if he goes into the HOF, but not having his old ass going over talent like Edge when they're in their prime would be nice.