WWE is continuing its push to celebrate iconic matches, and this year’s Immortal Moment Award is going to one of the most legendary bouts in wrestling history. The company has officially announced that Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant from WrestleMania 3 will be honored at the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
Often referred to as “the slam heard around the world,” the 1987 clash remains one of the defining moments not just of WrestleMania, but of WWE as a whole. Hogan’s body slam of Andre in front of a massive crowd at the Pontiac Silverdome became an enduring image that helped shape the company’s global boom period.
WWE introduced the Immortal Moment Award last year as a way to recognize classic matches that left a lasting impact on the business. The inaugural honor went to Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin from WrestleMania 13, and now Hogan vs. Andre joins that elite company.
Both competitors are already deeply etched into WWE history. Andre the Giant, who passed away in 1993 at the age of 46, was part of the very first Hall of Fame class that same year. This recognition marks another posthumous honor tied to his legacy. Hulk Hogan, who passed away last July following a heart attack, is now being associated with his third Hall of Fame recognition—having previously been inducted individually in 2005 and again in 2020 as a member of the nWo.
The match now becomes part of an already stacked WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Other names announced include Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, Dennis Rodman, Demolition, Sycho Sid, and Bad News Brown, making this one of the more diverse and headline-worthy classes in recent memory.
This year’s Hall of Fame ceremony is set for Friday, April 16, immediately following SmackDown. The event will take place at the Dolby Live venue inside Park MGM in Las Vegas, adding even more spectacle to WrestleMania weekend.
With Hogan vs. Andre officially getting its flowers, WWE continues leaning into nostalgia while cementing the moments that helped define generations of fans. And when it comes to truly “immortal” matches, it’s hard to argue with this choice.
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