2021 WWE Hall of Fame Thread- RVD just announced

[Bad News Gertner]

So far your 2021 class is

RVD
Molly
Kane
The Great Khali

William Shatner announced for 2020 class

[xrodmuc316]

Nice, I wonder if they are going to do anything in place of the HOF ceremony, and if the 2020 class is going to be included.

[screech]

That is wonderful. Love Molly Holly. Also love that The Hurricane got to break the news to her:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING NEWS: The first inductee in the <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWE</a> Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will be <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MollyHolly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MollyHolly</a>!<br><br>In a beautiful, emotional moment on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWETheBump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWETheBump</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneHelmsCom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShaneHelmsCom</a> delivered the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEHOF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWEHOF</a> announcement to the former WWE Women's Champion. <a href="https://t.co/5yGzz7BBG4">pic.twitter.com/5yGzz7BBG4</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1369671970862796807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Jordan]

Nice, I wonder if they are going to do anything in place of the HOF ceremony, and if the 2020 class is going to be included.

I think they are doing two nights the first being 2020 and then this year's class.

[Fignuts]

Deserving. Carried a lot of people just like Beth Phoenix

[Volare]

Finally something that shouldn't start an argument or war in here. Great news indeed!

[Destor]

i love her work but...lol.

[IC Champion]

i love her work but...lol.

Kind of what I thought. How long was her initial run? I don’t think it was that long. I guess the talent pool for females of that era is pretty shallow. I have to assume that makes Molly Holly a hall of famer too.

[IC Champion]

Anyone remember BDC having a huge crush on Beth Phoenix?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

What’s the female equivalent of “Well if Koko B Ware got in...”?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Molly was great though. Big fan. Probably not Hall of Fame worthy but wrestling is stupid and meaningless and who the fuck cares

[rez]

I bet Christian was on the slate to be inducted.

[IC Champion]

That’s a tough one. Christie Hemme?

[rez]

That’s a tough one. Christie Hemme?

mmmm

[IC Champion]

Molly was great though. Big fan. Probably not Hall of Fame worthy but wrestling is stupid and meaningless and who the fuck cares

Agreed. She is from the attitude era so she might get in, it seems like being from that era earns you extra cache.

[rez]

BIG VAN VADER

[IC Champion]

Where did that come from?

[Destor]

the womens wing is meaningless in a hall tha already had little meaning. requiring a female entry annually guarantees everyone gets in.

[Emperor Smeat]

What’s the female equivalent of “Well if Koko B Ware got in...”?

Torrie Wilson although Bella Twins likely are now the new dubious standard.

[Bad News Gertner]

Brie Bella got really good by the time she was done. The Bellas are way more deserving than Torrie

[Bad News Gertner]

Kind of what I thought. How long was her initial run? I don’t think it was that long. I guess the talent pool for females of that era is pretty shallow. I have to assume that makes Molly Holly a hall of famer too.

She was there longer than you think. From 2000-2005

[rez]

Brie Bella got really good by the time she was done. The Bellas are way more deserving than Torrie

It was probably the best era of women wrestling (that wwe offered without tit and ass). the twins, AJ Lee, Paige

TNA had the best ever roster. Maybe AEW is gonna do it.

[rez]

BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

/horny

[Evil Vito]

Nikki had a fantastic ass and I liked the fake tig ‘ol bitties

[rez]

Female wrestling lacks Gail Kim

[Emperor Smeat]

Brie Bella got really good by the time she was done. The Bellas are way more deserving than Torrie

Think you mean Nikki since Brie was still horrible even after getting training by Daniel Bryan.

Nikki got better in the ring but mostly because she benefited from the same routine almost every woman in the division got when they were champs during the Divas Era. WWE barely gave their women's division any quality screen time but when they did, usually the champ hogged it up the most and would start to show some real improvements after a while. Her having that very long title reign because WWE wanted to scrub out AJ Lee from owning a WWE record over petty reasons just enhanced her ability to really improve as a wrestler.

Both were still god awful when it came to promos though.

[Evil Vito]

Apparently the classes of 2020 and 2021 are going in the same day. Gonna be a long ceremony, though I'd bet the class of 2021 is smaller and has no true "headliner" since 2020 headliner Batista will close out the entire event.

[Bad News Gertner]

Think you mean Nikki since Brie was still horrible even after getting training by Daniel Bryan.

Nikki got better in the ring but mostly because she benefited from the same routine almost every woman in the division got when they were champs during the Divas Era. WWE barely gave their women's division any quality screen time but when they did, usually the champ hogged it up the most and would start to show some real improvements after a while. Her having that very long title reign because WWE wanted to scrub out AJ Lee from owning a WWE record over petty reasons just enhanced her ability to really improve as a wrestler.

Both were still god awful when it came to promos though.


My bad, it was Nikki who got really good

[Shisen Kopf]

Nikki is no Nicky Chance that's for sure

[Bad News Gertner]

Per The Bump


BY GOD IT'S KANE!

And per WWE Now India

The Great Khali

[Gerard]

Khali.....lol He'll be about the first inductee to make the Iron Sheik seem coherent in his speech. Hope they have subtitles on standby.

[xrodmuc316]

Khali.....lol He'll be about the first inductee to make the Iron Sheik seem coherent in his speech. Hope they have subtitles on standby.

I hope he just yells and raises his arms! :rofl:

[Vastardikai]

A guy whose whole gimmick revolved around fire yet was often used as a wet blanket, and the most immobile WWE Champion of all time.

Of the two, I would argue that Khali is actually more deserving. Sure, Kane was around forever, but Khali opened up a market that didn't exist for WWE. A market that is STILL making them a great deal of money.

[screech]

Kane going in is the best.

[screech]

Khali is good too (in that he 100p deserves it), but Kane is my favorite rassler ever

[erickman]

good thing bats opted out. this is a big 2 classes of big names going in.

[Azriel]

I hope this means Taker goes in. I can't see Kane being inducted before Undertaker

[xrodmuc316]

I hope this means Taker goes in. I can't see Kane being inducted before Undertaker

No chance they put Taker in this year with Mania headed to Texas next year. He will be the headliner at Mania 38.

[erickman]

yeah they will wait till live crowds to do taker

[Gerard]

Of the two, I would argue that Khali is actually more deserving. Sure, Kane was around forever, but Khali opened up a market that didn't exist for WWE. A market that is STILL making them a great deal of money.

About the only market left with a lot of fans still deluded enough to think it's real...I see tons of comments on youtube vids with khali and indian fans lining up to polish his pole.

[Sixx]

About the only market left with a lot of fans still deluded enough to think it's real...I see tons of comments on youtube vids with khali and indian fans lining up to polish his pole.

The "polish his pole" thing made it neccessary for me to reply. Khali in HoF?

[Vastardikai]

I will add to my statement. How many wrestlers can say that they brought professional wrestling to their home country? How many wrestlers can say that they were in mainstream movies? How many wrestlers had a freak show appeal that made people watch just because... holy fuck, look at that guy!?

Now, how many wrestlers can say all three of those things? Very very few. And Great Khali is one of them.

[RaginRonic]

No chance they put Taker in this year with Mania headed to Texas next year. He will be the headliner at Mania 38.

Not only do I want him headlining, I want him to go in alone....just him. He more than deserves the Andre treatment in that respect. o.o

[Bad News Gertner]

Per Fox Sports:


Rob Van Dam

[Lock Jaw]

Most overrated dude in history

[Jordan]

Most overrated dude in history

You have a right to say that, but I would disagree. In his time he was certainly "One of a kind". In his early WWE days he was piping hot before they busted him smoking. Hypocrisy abounds the once hallowed halls of WWE HQ.

[drave]

Most overrated dude in history


Christian? :shifty::shifty::shifty:

[fundiddle]

rvd got some of the biggest pops and was hugely instrumental in inspiring a new generation of wrestlers to horribly emulate him

[Lock Jaw]

Gotta give him props for doing a few years of work, being in the right place at the right time, and then just being happy with coasting on that rep for 20 years

[screech]

I am a fan of RVD, so this is good in my book.

But if you've seen one of his matches, you've seen them all. Credit to him being able to make money doing in for decades, though.

[Evil Vito]

I still think of RVD as a young go-getter at times, when he is actually 50, older than Edge and Christian and only a month younger than Jericho.

[Bad News Gertner]

I merged all the Hall of Fame threads into one. Figured it'd be easier.

[drave]

RVD v Taz feud still fucking great.

[Jordan]

Titus O"Neil. Has got to take the award for worst wrestler in WWE HOF. SHAKING MY STUPID HEAD

[ClockShot]

So long as he brings his girlfriend's girlfriend along to the ceremony, I approve of this.

[Bad News Gertner]

He's getting the Warrior Award. Titus does a ton of PR shit for the company so I get it. Seems like a great guy. Good for him.

[erickman]

He's getting the Warrior Award. Titus does a ton of PR shit for the company so I get it. Seems like a great guy. Good for him.

Guess that is a reward for standing next to Hogan.

[Sixx]

All I remember about Molly Holly is thinking she's got some really high forehead, which made her look balding. I see she's got a fringe now. Good call.

[Bad News Gertner]

William Shatner announced for the 2020 class for whatever reason

[Lock Jaw]

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I guess

[xrodmuc316]

William Shatner announced for the 2020 class for whatever reason

LOL I saw that. They couldn't have just said he is going on for the 2021 class? So weird

[fundiddle]

i hope hulk calls titus his favorite brother warrior father, dude

[erickman]

hope this is a good show

[xrodmuc316]

I forgot all about Syxx going in with the nWo lol

[erickman]

damn apa did the beer money 1st

[xrodmuc316]

JBL is the best

[erickman]

he was a great heel on smackdown

[erickman]

that speech should have been 10 mins longer

[erickman]

nikki cross sighting

[Evil Vito]

Legacy Wing of 2020:

Baron Michele Leone
Brickhouse Brown
“Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Gary Hart
Ray Stevens

[erickman]

Legacy Wing of 2020:

Baron Michele Leone
Brickhouse Brown
“Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Gary Hart
Ray Stevens

thats a good class

[Evil Vito]

They made all the wrestlers dress all fancy like they were going to the actual Hall of Fame ceremony to do the “red carpet interviews” even though the speeches are clearly being done in front of nobody.

Kinda awkward.

[Bad News Gertner]

Lmao Brickhouse Brown. They've officially run out of black wrestlers to induct.

Next year they'll probably induct Akeem

[Evil Vito]

Darren Young is going in someday

[Evil Vito]

Nothing against Waltman but him being shoehorned into this nWo induction just doesn’t feel right.

Friggin Vincent was a bigger part of the nWo than Syxx.

[xrodmuc316]

Nothing against Waltman but him being shoehorned into this nWo induction just doesn’t feel right.

Friggin Vincent was a bigger part of the nWo than Syxx.

Yeah it never made sense. There were certainly other guys in the nWo that were much bigger and in for much longer. Bagwell, Norton, Steiner, Savage, Konnan, Giant, etc.

[Evil Vito]

Waltman’s 2nd induction could’ve been him going in on his own as a beloved midcarder, didn’t need to go in here.

[xrodmuc316]

Legacy Wing of 2020:

Baron Michele Leone
Brickhouse Brown
“Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Gary Hart
Ray Stevens

How is Dr Death a legacy wrestler? He was still wrestling this century lol

[Evil Vito]

Legacy wing pretty much turned into “wrestlers that passed away we don’t want to do a full induction for”

[xrodmuc316]

Legacy wing pretty much turned into “wrestlers that passed away we don’t want to do a full induction for”

Right, even if they did it as that, Davey Boy died like 7 and a half years before Steve Williams did.

I think Vince just makes this shit up on the fly :rofl:

[erickman]

why did they replace lawler

[erickman]

this speech should be good

[erickman]

ozzy keeps it short

[Evil Vito]

2021 legacy wing:

Buzz Sawyer
Dick the Bruiser
Ethel Johnson
Paul Boesch
Pez Whatley

[xrodmuc316]

why did they replace lawler

It was 2 tapings.

[erickman]

easy e

[Evil Vito]

I know his biggest contribution was all the behind the scenes stuff but my god Bischoff was such a great on-screen performer

[erickman]

I know his biggest contribution was all the behind the scenes stuff but my god Bischoff was such a great on-screen performer

yeah raw needs him back as a heel gm

[erickman]

seth with another crap suit

[#1-norm-fan]

Legacy wing pretty much turned into “wrestlers that passed away we don’t want to do a full induction for”

Right, even if they did it as that, Davey Boy died like 7 and a half years before Steve Williams did.

I think Vince just makes this shit up on the fly :rofl:

I’d imagine Bulldog will get his own full induction eventually.

[#1-norm-fan]

Oh. He’s being inducted this year apparently.

Well, there you go.

[Curtis]

They BETTER use his TNA theme.
That is single handedly the best wrestling theme of all time.
It clearly communicates in a succinct way as to who is coming to the ring, and what their wrestling moves are.

[Bad News Gertner]

2021 legacy wing:

Buzz Sawyer
Dick the Bruiser
Ethel Johnson
Paul Boesch
Pez Whatley

Lmao Pez Whatley!

[slik]

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[Vastardikai]

Lmao Pez Whatley!

A lot of folks know him from the end of his career as an underneath guy in WCW. Dude could talk and he could go. And he was a centerpiece in Paul Jones' Army.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sVTW5IoG2zA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Evil Vito]

JBL was so good. I think his run on top was exactly what they needed to make someone like John Cena, and he was arguably the last true main event heel that WWE ever had.

If you watch the way JBL behaved around Cena in their feud, and then compare it to Triple H once Cena jumped to RAW, JBL did everything he could to make Cena - he sold his arse off for him, looked terrified of fighting him, allowed himself to be belittled and beaten at every turn, because that's what it took to make a new main event babyface. Once Cena was on RAW, Triple H tried to act cooler than him, to diminish his shine, and generally act as if he was above putting him over.

It's a shame that John Layfield the person is likely a piece of shit, because JBL the character had a ton to offer WWE that went unappreciated at the time - but then, I don't know if you'd get the character without the person.

[drave]

Layfield is JBL.

[Evil Vito]

Ah, another case of "real personality turned to 100" but this time it actually worked.

[Bad News Gertner]

A lot of folks know him from the end of his career as an underneath guy in WCW. Dude could talk and he could go. And he was a centerpiece in Paul Jones' Army.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sVTW5IoG2zA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yeah I like Pez with the Jive Tones and Paul Jones Army, but it's still Pez.

[#1-norm-fan]

Watching ‘86 World Championship Wrestling episodes and Pez just turned on Jimmy Valiant after Valiant called him the best black athlete in the world and Pez got pissed at the “black” part.

Some hilarious promos including a very serious Boogie Woogie Man comparing the betrayal to walking in on another man fucking his wife.

[Lock Jaw]

JBL was awesome... right up until the end of his career he was still doing great heel work

[Emperor Smeat]

JBL was so good. I think his run on top was exactly what they needed to make someone like John Cena, and he was arguably the last true main event heel that WWE ever had.

If you watch the way JBL behaved around Cena in their feud, and then compare it to Triple H once Cena jumped to RAW, JBL did everything he could to make Cena - he sold his arse off for him, looked terrified of fighting him, allowed himself to be belittled and beaten at every turn, because that's what it took to make a new main event babyface. Once Cena was on RAW, Triple H tried to act cooler than him, to diminish his shine, and generally act as if he was above putting him over.

It's a shame that John Layfield the person is likely a piece of shit, because JBL the character had a ton to offer WWE that went unappreciated at the time - but then, I don't know if you'd get the character without the person.

JBL to Cena is what Mick Foley was to Triple H and Bret Hart to Austin.

Cena was on his rise as a future big star but it was JBL and their feud together that made and cemented his status as a top guy in WWE.

[Reacher]

I want to be as politically correct and sensitive here as possible, but does The Great Khali really deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? I do not want to disrespect the guy and I’ll plead ignorance over the fact that I’m not overly familiar with his career outside of the WWE, but this seems like an odd choice to me. Again, I will happily eat crow if he actually deserves to be here.

[Bad News Gertner]

He did open a lot of doors for Indian wrestlers, and like it or not he was World Champion. He's pretty terrible, but he accomplished a lot more than other wrestlers who are in.

[Reacher]

He did open a lot of doors for Indian wrestlers,

Then on that basis, he should definitely be in. :y:

His world title reign in the WWE was a bit of a joke and so I don’t put a whole lot of stock into that.

[Bad News Gertner]

Yeah it was pretty terrible

[KayfabeMan]

You guys can knock The Great Khali all you want, but without him, you would never have this: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jSEAAOSwcqFd3Jlo/s-l400.jpg


I don't know what the fuck difference that makes, but still.

[erickman]

You guys can knock The Great Khali all you want, but without him, you would never have this: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jSEAAOSwcqFd3Jlo/s-l400.jpg


I don't know what the fuck difference that makes, but still.

i remember that match khali got hurt before it an 2 wrestlers who had nothing to do with india was in it.

[drave]

It was the Great American Bash one year, where nearly every single match was changed because of "elevated enzymes" or some shit.

[fundiddle]

that was a good episode of botchamania

[Jordan]

The Great Khali who is related to Tony Kahn (2nd or 3rd Cousin IDR) is certainly worthy of a HOF Honor. He was successful in multiple main event programs with the likes of future Hall of Famer's Big Show, John Cena, Rey Misterio, Dave Batista and The Undertaker. He had memorable highly rated matches against HOF Member Shawn Michaels, Kane and Mark Henry. He was single handedly responsible for the memorable Punjabi Prison match as well as the common denominator that broached a deal between WWE and the Golden Empire of Saudi Arabia. Not to mention he set India ablaze with a fervent love for pro wrestling which sparked the underappreciated but not under loved Ring Ka King promotion. The Great Khali is over 7 feet tall and weighs over 500lbs, but he never complained about traveling through the roads and airports, in fact if he would have nobody would have understood him. Also he killed a man with a powerbomb in wrestling school.

[Jordan]

http://i.imgur.com/IIr2Q.gif
http://i.imgur.com/mBqOc.gif
https://i.imgur.com/ApQgKAq.gif
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/CheeryQuickCony-size_restricted.gif
https://media.tenor.com/images/4dd6d572380a8ce46ae8cc2735761ff7/tenor.gif

[Emperor Smeat]

Apparently WWE screwed up when it came to honoring one of the members of their 2021 legacy class.

According to the Observer, the footage shown meant to honor Ethel Johnson was actually from a completely different wrestler named Sandy Parker.