WWE Hall Of Fame 2016

How so? Quite the opposite actually.

At the point that Jacqueline, Papa Shango and Koko B Ware are in, the standard is so low that it would take literally decades to run through all the "deserving" candidates.

Next year: Bull Buchanan, Joy Giovanni & Bob Holly.

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

One thing that annoyed me was Ric Flair being inducted twice

Makes absolutely no sense, someone like Triple H would have to get 3 rings then for being himself, and in DX and Evolution

Then do you start awarding more HOF nominations based on different gimmicks ? Taker getting in twice for Biker Taker, and Deadman Taker for instance

Some of the people getting in is a joke, but getting in more than once makes a mockery of it

This is actually perfectly normal. There are more than 20 people in the Rock 'n' Roll HOF twice. Lennon & The Beatles. Jackson & The Jackson 5. Genesis & Peter Gabriel. Eric Clapton & The Yardbirds. Etc, etc.

I think it's cool for a number of reasons. Firstly because it's a way of remembering great acts instead of great individuals. Secondly since the purpose of the WWE HOF is to sell tickets, it's very effective because it allows you to get more mileage out of people. And thirdly, it gives people who would never otherwise have their moment in the sun a chance to shine, like Blanchard, Dillon, Windham etc.

It's probably not worth getting worked up over. The WWE Hall of Fame exists to sell out an arena, and provide content for the network. No legitimate Hall of Fame is decided by one man's whim. That's all that this is. That it provides some genuinely touch moments is incidental. The idea that The Four Horsemen going in makes a mockery of a Hall Of Fame that features Vince McMahon's limo driver (James Dudley) is amusing though

Blue_Dabadee wrote: »

I do think that they are scrapping the barrel with credible names for HOF at this stage.

Maybe only induct 2-3 that way you don't have filler or undeserving names go in each year.

2 - 3 isn't enough to fill out the card. You need a minimum of 6 really.

martyos121 wrote: »

That goes against his entire point though. The HOF is becoming horribly diluted with average names. I'd rather see 1 big inductee every year than 6 or more. The whole point of a Hall of Fame is exclusivity, but they're letting every Tom, Dick and Harry in these days.

I don't disagree that it would be nice to see a wrestling hall of fame ceremony on a grand basis that really meant something, but unfortunately the WWE HOF is not that nor will it ever be so best not to get too distressed over it.

In the first class inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, James Dudley went in. James Dudley worked for Vince St collecting tickets at the gate, driving his limo, being his bodyguard, etc. George Steele, Johnny Rodz, Nikolai Volkoff, The Bushwhackers, Koko B. Ware, MR FUJI, Wendi Richter, Paul Bearer, Rikishi...there are a ton of marginal performers with mediocre careers in the WWE Hall of Fame. If the first class of the Hall of Fame contains a limo driver, and they've been putting in mid-carders most years since, exactly how can Jacqueline or Kama dilute it? That horse bolted a long, long time ago.

Luckily, you have some alternatives.

If you really do want a legitimate HOF, the Wrestling Observer HOF is decided on by the biggest names in the business and the most educated historians, and is extremely tough to get into:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter_Hall_of_Fame

Strongly advise reading to Meltzer's bio's each year when someone new is inducted if you have a passion for the history of the business.

If you want to see a ceremony in which peers who respect each other honour one another, there's Cauliflower Alley:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauliflower_Alley_Club

"A hall of fame is a structure housing memorials to famous or illustrious individuals in a certain field, usually chosen by a group of electors."

The WWE's hall of fame is chosen by a single elector, and essentially is based on whether or not he likes and is on good terms with you. Added to that, they have a formula they like to meet for each years class - 1 'ethnic' inductee, 1 woman. (In case you wondered why lifelong midcarders The Godfather and Jacqueline went in this year, or Madusa & Rikishi last year). There's also the goal of limiting the amount of deceased inductees so as not to be depressing.

So basically if you're on good terms with the company, Vince doesn't hate you, and/or you're black or female, you've a good shot at getting in.

It doesn't bother me, but the idea or pretension that it is somehow prestigous is certainly amusing.