Rikishi Hall Of Fame

[Nicky Fives]

Simple question:

Would Rikishi have made the Hall Of Fame without his sons being current Superstars?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>No question about it.

-Was around for ages
-Was super over during the red-hot Attitude Era
-Still gets pops when he comes in for nostalgia shows
-Not dead in a period where there are unfortunately 1 or 2 deceased inductees every year</font>

[drave]

Outside of having a fat ass and rubbing it on the faces of people, which he did for The Rock, he is forgettable.

[Jazzy Foot]

He's deserving of his spot in the HoF but can't say he was an obvious choice for me, very surprised he was picked this year.

Mega popular in the Attitude Era and I'm somewhat disappointed he never got the main strap but look at all the big stars who were around at that time? Besides the likes of Piper, Bulldog, Scot Hall etc never won the WWE/WWF title and are all legends.

Which brings me to the point about why Owen Hart and Bulldog continue to be overlooked, or there some personal issue behind the scenes preventing this?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

No.

He might be deserve the spot but he's only going in because of the Usos.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

He's deserving of his spot in the HoF but can't say he was an obvious choice for me, very surprised he was picked this year.

Mega popular in the Attitude Era and I'm somewhat disappointed he never got the main strap but look at all the big stars who were around at that time? Besides the likes of Piper, Bulldog, Scot Hall etc never won the WWE/WWF title and are all legends.

Which brings me to the point about why Owen Hart and Bulldog continue to be overlooked, or there some personal issue behind the scenes preventing this?

Drug addiction and died of an OD is probably why Bulldog isn't in.

[Nicky Fives]

The point I am trying to make is that this induction seems a little out of right field to me..... Yes he was around for awhile and over in The Attitude Era, but is he only getting inducted because his kids are on the roster and can induct him in a "feel good moment" or because they need someone alive to accept the award in person, ignoring the likes of Owen, Bulldog, Rude, etc., all of which could be debated as to be more deserving.....

[DrCrawford]

Drug addiction and died of an OD is probably why Bulldog isn't in.

Isn't Mr Perfect in?

[Maluco]

I don't think anyone would argue that Rick Rude is more deserving, I think he is still massively underrated tbh.

I do think that Rikishi deserves it though, and don't see anything wrong with choosing someone who is alive and can accept the award now.

No doubt that his sons being there was a big swing in his favor but that is part of his legacy too. A wrestling family with lots of links to WWE.

If they had turned him for a better reason and not as a foil, I think he could have been champ as a heel. Or that RAW where he was a surprise opponent for HHH. I remember being amazed with how over he was in that match.

[Jazzy Foot]

Drug addiction and died of an OD is probably why Bulldog isn't in.

But then why put Hall and Roberts in? They were alcoholics although I am glad they're in and fighting their demons. Mike Tyson is a convicted rapist lest we forget but is in the HOF. Wonder what exactly the criteria is.

[Heisenberg]

Drug addiction and died of an OD is probably why Bulldog isn't in.

Look, if you got a foot fetish keep it off the boards. We're trying to discuss wrestling here

[screech]

No.

He might be deserve the spot but he's only going in because of the Usos.

If he deserves the spot, he would be in if his sons weren't on the roster.

[screech]

To answer the question, yes he would be. Popular during the boom, plus I think a criteria for getting in is being Samoan so he was a lock regardless lol

[Shisen Kopf]

I chose the Lex Luger option "I DONT KNOW!"

[Emperor Smeat]

Leaning towards Yes but it really should have been both Tool Cool and Rikishi inducted as a group. Bulk of his popularity and big moments was because of his pairing with Too Cool and same with Too Cool being really over when they had Rikishi.

Was pretty talented for a big man and like Vito Cruz said, he's still really popular with the crowds.

[rad dggy dg]

one could say rikishi is gonna BACK DAT ASS UP into the hof amirite

[Heyman]

Which brings me to the point about why Owen Hart and Bulldog continue to be overlooked, or there some personal issue behind the scenes preventing this?



In Owen's case, I think his wife is preventing the WWE from inducting him. Damn shame, but I understand her stance if that's truly the case.

[Jazzy Foot]

In Owen's case, I think his wife is preventing the WWE from inducting him. Damn shame, but I understand her stance if that's truly the case.

And Bulldog?

[StarX]

Yes, it's nice seeing him getting inducted... though they should have included his past accolades prior to being "Rikishi".

Was a mainstay with the WWE for a very long time going through various character changes along the way.

He was a tag team champion as part of the Headshrinkers (then managed by Capt. Lou Albano). One of the agile heavyweights during the "New WWF Generation" along with Yokozuna, Bam Bam Bigelow, Undertaker; that splash off the top rope still looked gracefully executed despite his near-300 lb weight.

Then went to become an english-speaking homeboy with his "time to clean it up & make a difference" act during mid 1990s (was always speaking something in samoan during his time as a Headshrinker). This was more like his transistion period... his character as The Sultan didn't make much of a difference though.

Attitude Era: He became Rikishi Phatu (shortened to Rikishi) incorporating his Samoan heritage to his character. Pretty much retained his homeboy image when he aligned with Too Cool... & then came his famed patented move: the Stink Face. :lol:

[Jazzy Foot]

Even though he never won it, was he ever really WWF title material?

Maybe WWE are rewarding the fact he stayed with the company for so long despite never being "the top guy" with a HOF induction?

I'm indifferent tbh, I just never saw it coming.

[screech]

Even though he never won it, was he ever really WWF title material?

No. He had his spot and he did well in it, but he wasn't going to get to that level. Seeing him win that lottery to face HHH for the title on smackdown that time was neat, though.

Can't embed because mobile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fup0g6QJpk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Jazzy Foot]

No. He had his spot and he did well in it, but he wasn't going to get to that level. Seeing him win that lottery to face HHH for the title on smackdown that time was neat, though.

Can't embed because mobile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fup0g6QJpk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I'm just surprised he got in there before Nash, Bulldog, Owen Hart, Rick Rude, Rock, Taker heck even before WCW greats like DDP and Goldberg and Vader.


Also are they inducting the man for his entire career or only the portion he spent as Rikishi?


Come to think about it when they inducted 'Razor Ramon' was it just the Razor Ramon character or did they recognise Hall's contribution to the NWO etc?

[screech]

Hall went in as just Razor Ramon

[whiteyford]

Not every inductee is going to be a main event guy, he had a solid career and having his sons there to induct him probably helped but I can't see that being a deciding factor at all really.

[drave]

Leaning towards Yes but it really should have been both Tool Cool and Rikishi inducted as a group. Bulk of his popularity and big moments was because of his pairing with Too Cool and same with Too Cool being really over when they had Rikishi.

Was pretty talented for a big man and like Vito Cruz said, he's still really popular with the crowds.

This more than anything else that has been stated in this thread. No one gave a fuck at his heel turn, even with the Stone Cold hit by a car story. Once he put the shades back on and started dancing, people instantly cared again.

[Jazzy Foot]

Hall went in as just Razor Ramon

I thought so. I didn't recall any mention of his NWO days in the HOF vignette. But then he was referred to 'Hall of Famer Scott Hall' on Raw a few weeks back which confused me. I think obviously they just pick the one gimmick/persona for the actual induction.

I mean, I can't imagine they would induct Hogan again as Hollywood Hogan right?

[SNLfunnyguy]

Rikishi was with the company for years, basically 1992 - 2005 through various characters. At his peak as Rikishi he was a damn hot act. In terms of match quantity, he has to be top 20 for the Federation right?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

If he deserves the spot, he would be in if his sons weren't on the roster.

No, there are plenty who deserve and aren't in. It's politics.

[whiteyford]

The Uso's aren't exactly main event talent, he had a solid career during a hot period of the business, they can't induct everyone who deserves to be in all at once, there is clearly a hierarchy to each class and he's the mid card guy for this years.

[Sixx]

My professional opinion is that he's fat.

[screech]

No, there are plenty who deserve and aren't in. It's politics.

And he's Samoan so he'd be in regardless.

[Jazzy Foot]

My professional opinion is that he's fat.

Wasn't he fired because he didn't lose enough weight lol?