A "Real" Hall of Fame...

[Xero]

We all know that WWE puts in wrestlers who do not belong in the Hall of Fame. People like Snuka and Hennig, for example, are only there because they're "known" and were relatively popular. Now, I'm not saying they weren't GOOD, but I don't believe that they're Hall of Fame worthy.

Anyway, my question is, out of who's already in and anyone else (WWE/WWF-related [WCW/ECW/AWA included]), who would you put in a non-filler WWE Hall of Fame?

http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/

[JT]

This is off topic, but what about us creating a "TPWW Hall of Fame" where we vote on certain wrestlers we feel displayed greatness. We could accept like 3 guys every year from a vote by members of the forums.

Opinion?

[St. Jimmy]

I disagree Xero. Hennig is extremely deserving of being in the WWE Hall of Fame. He was legit in all regions of WWE diplomacy, a known man. He earned everything he got.

[FourFifty]

I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe a "personal hall of fame" thread, but I don't want to see fanboys talk about who they think are good. We know some people who have their heart set on a group of wrestlers *cough*TOVO*cough* and it'll just be a lot of nonsense *cough*DieselMac*cough*.
I don't think that people are just put in there for being known. I'm sure Henning, Snuka, and everyone else who is just there because they're known have more credit and reasons for being in the hall of fame than the IWC knows about.

[Kane Knight]

Don't other HoF units for real sports often make questionable inductions?

[Xero]

Don't other HoF units for real sports often make questionable inductions?
Yes.

Doesn't make questionable induction in this (and I do stand by my opinion) any better than those.

[BigDaddyCool]

Real hall of fame's also me questionable non-inductions. Thank god for Vince, at least pete Rose is in a hall of fame.

[Loose Cannon]

wtf, Snuka and Hennig? how are they not deserving? you could of at least said Johnny Rodz and Tony Atlas

[Marc the Smark]

Owen Hart
The British Bulldogs
The Von Erichs
Animal & Hawk, The Road Warriors
Howard Finkel
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Miss Elizabeth
Bob Backlund
"Macho Man" Randy Savage
Lord Alfred Hayes
Gordon Solie
HillBilly Jim
"Earthquake" John Tenta

I'd like everyone's thoughts on these, and would like to know why Xero Limit doesn't think Snuka and Henning should be in the HOF.

[Xero]

I don't feel that Snuka nor Hennig made any lasting impact on the industry or made any remarkable feats. That's what I think constitutes a Hall of Famer, a revolutionary, someone who, when you think "wrestling", you think those people, or someone who did something remarkable. Those two, I don't think, did any of that.

It can be argued that Snuka was one of the people to popularize a high-flying-ish style to the masses, granted, but I still don't see him as a hall of famer.

[Kane Knight]

Yes.

Doesn't make questionable induction in this (and I do stand by my opinion) any better than those.

Different tack:

Do you think that we will agree on a list of people who are and are not credible and deserving?

[FourFifty]

So he was able to introduce a new style of wrestling to everyone, something that the US has never seen, and pull off a move that people are still using today as a finisher and that's not Hall of Fame worthy?
I'm sure when Mick Foley goes into the Hall of Fame it'll show him getting thrown off the Hell in the Cell, but would he have ever done that if it wasn't for the fact that he saw Superfly leap off the cage?
Superfly is a keeper.

[Loose Cannon]

I don't feel that Snuka nor Hennig made any lasting impact on the industry or made any remarkable feats. That's what I think constitutes a Hall of Famer, a revolutionary, someone who, when you think "wrestling", you think those people, or someone who did something remarkable. Those two, I don't think, did any of that.

It can be argued that Snuka was one of the people to popularize a high-flying-ish style to the masses, granted, but I still don't see him as a hall of famer.

yea, so there's about 5 people that fit your criteria

[The One]

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (http://www.pwhf.org/)

Ten times better than WWE's HoF shit.

[Maluco]

I don't feel that Snuka nor Hennig made any lasting impact on the industry or made any remarkable feats. That's what I think constitutes a Hall of Famer, a revolutionary, someone who, when you think "wrestling", you think those people, or someone who did something remarkable. Those two, I don't think, did any of that.

It can be argued that Snuka was one of the people to popularize a high-flying-ish style to the masses, granted, but I still don't see him as a hall of famer.


Snuka, like you said, influenced so many of todays stars, and when flying of the cage was not the norm, he was the guy people went to see do it, people actually paid to see him and him alone at many shows because of that style. Foley might not have even wrestled if it was not for Snuka.

Even more wrong, however, is that Hennig should not be in. People in these forums always talk about wrestlers today lacking character, gimmick, or any difference at all (see TNA). If I (and I am sure a lot of other posters here, AND more importantly wrestlers) had to choose one man who played a gimmick perfectly and realistically, in the ring, on the mic, and just his demeanor, that man was Hennig as Mr Perfect. Couple that with being a great wrestler and superb athlete, he needs to be in the Hall of Fame.

[thedamndest]

Did the fingers on anybody else's Snuka action figures break off too? Man, fuck that guy.

[Kane Knight]

True. Resilient fingers are a true watermark of a champion.

[NeanderCarl]

Snuka was one of the originators in the high flying leagues. Okay, a few went before him (Antonino Rocca as an example) but he was certainly an innovator and still regarded as a legend to this day, especially in the New York area. Definitely Hall of Fame worthy.

As for Hennig, just because nobody in WWE ever saw fit to put the big belt on him, don't write him off as a Hall of Famer. One of the greatest in-ring workers of all time (my personal favourite, in fact), a good interview, a great character, success in every league he worked in.... definitely a Hall of Famer.

[James Steele]

The only thing that kept Curt Henning from WWF or WCW World Title gold was HULK HOGAN.

[The One]

I like to blame Hogan for a lot of things, but come on. He might be responsible for Piper never getting the belt, but Hennig was truthfully never going to be World Champ. Period. Great character as previously stated, but not World Champ material (not that we can't all find a long list of others who DID win the belt that shouldn't have, but 23 wrongs don't make a right).

[The Show Off]

People that Don't Belong in the WWE Hall of Fame
Big John Studd
Bob Orton Jr.
George Steele
Johnny Rodz
Nikolai Volkoff
Pete Rose
Sgt. Slaughter
Tony Atlas
William Perry

[The One]

You can add

"Sensational" Sherri
Arnold Skaaland
Baron Mikel Scicluna
Cheif Jay Strongbow
Greg Valentine
Ivan Putski
Jimmy Hart
Junkyard Dog
Pat Paterson
The Grand Wizard
Wild Samoans

To the list of not quite worthy as well...

[KingofOldSchool]

Sgt. Slaughter
Greg Valentine
Jimmy Hart
JYD
The Grand Wizard
The Samoans

They all deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

[KayfabeMan]

Arnold Skaaland absolutely deserves to be in.

As does Jimmy Hart and "The Hammer" Greg Valentine. Greg may not have had a tremendous run in WWE or WCW, but in the NWA and such he made lots of money for them and was a great draw, putting on solid matches. I believe anyone from Ric Flair to Terry Funk would attest to that.

As far as the list from above: Owen Hart, The British Bulldogs, The Von Erichs
Animal & Hawk, Howard Finkel, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Miss Elizabeth, Bob Backlund, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Lord Alfred Hayes, Gordon Solie and Hillbilly Jim - as well John Tenta - all do deserve to be in, IMO, for various reasons.

[NeanderCarl]

People that Don't Belong in the WWE Hall of Fame
Big John Studd
Bob Orton Jr.
George Steele
Johnny Rodz
Nikolai Volkoff
Pete Rose
Sgt. Slaughter
Tony Atlas
William Perry

You can add

"Sensational" Sherri
Arnold Skaaland
Baron Mikel Scicluna
Cheif Jay Strongbow
Greg Valentine
Ivan Putski
Jimmy Hart
Junkyard Dog
Pat Paterson
The Grand Wizard
Wild Samoans

To the list of not quite worthy as well...

Yet nobody mentions James Dudley, the LEAST deserving person in the entire Hall of Fame? :nono:

[NeanderCarl]

Don't forget a lot of people make the grade based on their contributions to the company... that might not neccessarily be based on their in-ring contributions. Strongbow, as an example, was a powerful backstage figure for decades, as was Skaaland. Patterson has been HUGELY influencial in WWE goings on for many years, and remains so in some capacity to this day.

[NeanderCarl]

I have NO idea how Scicluna got in... but then there was talk of inducting The Brooklyn Brawler this year. Who's next?

HOROWITZ IS IN! HOROWITZ IS IN! HOROWITZ IS IN!

By the way, I never knew Steve Lombardi was gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[KingofOldSchool]

Arnold Skaaland absolutely deserves to be in.

As does Jimmy Hart and "The Hammer" Greg Valentine. Greg may not have had a tremendous run in WWE or WCW, but in the NWA and such he made lots of money for them and was a great draw, putting on solid matches. I believe anyone from Ric Flair to Terry Funk would attest to that.

As far as the list from above: Owen Hart, The British Bulldogs, The Von Erichs
Animal & Hawk, Howard Finkel, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Miss Elizabeth, Bob Backlund, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Lord Alfred Hayes, Gordon Solie and Hillbilly Jim - as well John Tenta - all do deserve to be in, IMO, for various reasons.

Why Hillbilly Jim?

[IC Champion]

Owen Hart

[Stickman]

I think Hennig is a tonne more deserving than Owen Hart.

[KayfabeMan]

I think Hillbilly Jim because of a few reasons.

1) He obviously wasn't a great wrestler, but he was, and still is, HIGHLY recognizable to the general public. He was certainly very marketable and made the company a great deal of money. He broke through to mainstream recognizability and is somewhat of a household name.

2) His contributions to the company over the years, and dedication to their product and promoting it. He works hard on the road tours and is a FANTASTIC company representative, bridging that gap between yesterday's fans and today's - being well-spoken, polite, and extremely knowledgable of the product, both past and present. As someone said above, contributions not only measured in the ring and whatnot, but in the company in general.

[KingofOldSchool]

I'll buy that.