Tag: WWE Hall Of Fame

Backstage WWE Hall Of Fame Updates On The Steiner Brothers And Batista

The Steiner Family is reportedly scheduled to be in Dallas for WWE’s WrestleMania 38 Weekend.

The Steiner Brothers, Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner, are rumored for the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Class. It was reported earlier this week that if Scott isn’t interested in being inducted, as he’s indicated in the past, then WWE would just induct Rick, but they want the brothers to go in as a tag team.

In an update, PWInsider confirms that WWE officials are considering The Steiners for a Hall of Fame induction this year. There has been a lot of talk about the induction in the past week.

Furthermore, it was noted that a number of Steiner family members are scheduled to travel to Dallas for WrestleMania 38 Weekend. Bron Breakker, Rick’s son, will challenge new WWE NXT Champion Dolph Ziggler at NXT Stand & Deliver on WrestleMania Saturday.

There’s been some speculation on Batista’s WWE Hall of Fame induction, but that likely will not be happening this year. WWE originally had The Animal scheduled for the 2020 Class, but the ceremony was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then announced that the 2020 Class would be inducted along with the 2021 Class last year, but Batista was removed from the list, and he later announced that he could not make the event due to previous obligations. He confirmed that WWE honored his request to induct him at a future ceremony.

Batista is expected to be in Dallas for The Undertaker’s WWE Hall of Fame induction next month, but word now is that he likely will not be inducted until WrestleMania 39 Weekend from Los Angeles.

WWE has announced The Undertaker, Vader and Queen Sharmell for the 2022 Class so far. WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon will induct Taker, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T will induct Sharmell, but there’s no confirmation on who will posthumously induct Vader. “Psycho” Sid Vicious is rumored for this year’s Class.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Sharmell Has Been Added To WWE’s 2022 Hall Of Fame Class

Sharmell joins The Undertaker and Vader in this year’s class.

WrestleMania is now less than three weeks away, and that means a few things. The card is taking shape, rivalries are really starting to ramp up, and WWE has begun revealing who will be going into the Hall Of Fame this year. The Undertaker was the first name announced, and he was joined by Vader shortly after, someone who arguably should have been inducted long ago.

Despite rumors Sid would be the next inductee announced, WWE has gone ahead and revealed someone very different will be going into the Hall on April 1. Sharmell, perhaps better known as Queen Sharmell to wrestling fans. Sharmell was the queen to her husband Booker T’s king for a long spell in WWE, but her career began long before she ever donned a crown alongside the six-time World Champion.

Prior to signing with WWE, Sharmell made a name for herself in WCW as a Nitro Girl, going by Storm at the time. It wasn’t until 2001 that Sharmell signed with WWE following the buyout of WCW. The soon-to-be Hall Of Famer went to OVW first so she could further hone her skills, and also so WWE could figure out where exactly she would land once she was ready for the main roster.

As already highlighted though, it was her run as Queen Sharmell that fans will remember most fondly. Winning King of the Ring is great, but navigating the waters after the fact can be tricky. Not many grown men can pull off a crown, but Booker did it better than almost anyone, and he has Sharmell to thank for a lot of that. Having his wife by his side completely rebranded Booker which is exactly what he needed, and that act would not have worked, nor would it be remembered as fondly as it is all these years later if it wasn’t for Sharmell.

On April 1, Sharmell will be able to call herself a Hall Of Famer. Since inductors appear to be back this year, it seems likely that Booker will be the one to welcome his wife into the Hall Of Fame. The Undertaker and Vader have also been announced as inductees, and there will likely be a few more names added to the class between now and April 1.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1503374973670465536

Source: TheSportster

Vader Announced For The WWE Hall Of Fame

Big Van Vader (Leon Allen White) is finally going into the WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE announced today that Vader will be posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 during WrestleMania 38 Weekend.

 The former World Heavyweight Champion passed away on June 18, 2018 at the age of 63.

WWE previously announced The Undertaker as the headliner for the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Class. He will be inducted by WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.

The 2022 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, April 1 from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. The event will air live on Peacock and the WWE Network, after the WrestleMania 38 go-home edition of SmackDown goes off the air that night.

The Undertaker Announced For 2022 WWE Hall Of Fame Class

As expected, since WrestleMania is in Dallas and he finally retired for real this time, WWE has revealed The Undertaker will become a Hall of Famer this year.

WWE tweeted the news below shortly after it was broken by The New York Post. The company has given the chance to unveil Hall of Famers to various publications in recent years, and it obviously needed a big one to break that The Deadman will become a Hall of Famer.

As mentioned above, WrestleMania will take place in Dallas this year. Despite being billed from Death Valley, in keeping with The Phenom’s gimmick, Texas is The Undertaker’s home state, so fitting that this where will be where he is inducted. Next year WrestleMania goes Hollywood, and it might be a while before The Show of Shows returns to Texas, so it really had to be this year if WWE wanted it to happen as close to his hometown as possible.

The Deadman wrestled his final match almost two years ago. A Boneyard Match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36. Since Taker appeared to retire on a number of occasions before that, many fans weren’t convinced he was done for good. Later that year, he appeared at Survivor Series in a segment that was dubbed his farewell ceremony. The event marked almost exactly 30 years since his very first night in WWE.

Source: TheSportster

WWE issued the following announcement on The Undertaker induction into the 2022 Hall of Fame.

The Undertaker just became the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022, as first announced by the New York Post.  The Deadman will be enshrined in the hallowed hall during the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as part of WrestleMania Week.

The WWE Hall of Fame at a ceremony will take place Friday, April 1 at American Airlines Center in Dallas as part of WrestleMania Week.  The event will stream live exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network everywhere else.  In addition, for the first time in history, WWE will present both Friday Night SmackDown and the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony live on the same night at American Airlines Center, giving all fans in attendance an unprecedented opportunity to witness both events for one price. Tickets for the special 2-for-1 SmackDown + Hall of Famego on sale this Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.  

Also, don’t miss The Undertaker’s first comments on his monumental Hall of Fame induction when he joins The TODAY Show tomorrow morning on NBC.

In an extraordinary career that spanned three decades, The Undertaker loomed over the WWE landscape like a menacing shadow, spelling out doom for those who dared cross him. Imbued with seemingly mystical abilities and preternatural in-ring skill, the legendary Phenom operated on his own level.

First introduced at 1990’s Survivor Series, The Demon of Death Valley was soon battling with Hulk Hogan, then at the top of the food chain in WWE. This clash set the tone for Undertaker’s dominant career. No one was too big, and no one was safe from his gloved grip.

A multi-time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, a seven-time tag team titleholder and a Royal Rumble Match winner in 2007, Undertaker has cemented his place among the greatest in the game. A true in-ring pioneer, he was part of many WWE firsts, including the first-ever Casket Match at Survivor Series 1992, the first-ever Buried Alive Match in 1996 and the inaugural Hell in a Cell Match in 1997.

But there was one achievement that stood out above all others that is unlikely to ever be topped. Since WrestleMania VII in 1991, The Undertaker maintained a winning streak on The Grandest Stage of Them All that grew to an astounding 21-0, with milestone victories over the likes of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Randy Orton, Diesel, Kane and so many more. Only Brock Lesnar proved capable of upending The Last Outlaw in his yard, snapping The Streak in an earth-shocking upset at WrestleMania 30. The iconic Superstar closed the book on his Showcase of the Immortals career with an astonishing 25-2 record, most recently scoring an incredible victory over AJ Styles in a Boneyard Match.

Undertaker’s incomparable career concluded at Survivor Series on Nov. 22, 2020 when The Deadman retired, fittingly at the same event he debuted and exactly 30 years to the day he first stepped into a WWE ring.

In the face of all challenges, The Deadman would rise time and time again, stronger and mightier than ever to serve as sports-entertainment’s grim reaper of justice with his name permanently etched like an epitaph on the history books of WWE. No grave could hold him, no god could claim him and no devil would have him. In the end, there would only be one suitable resting place for the almighty Deadman: the WWE Hall of Fame.

Don’t miss The Undertaker take his place in sports-entertainment history during the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, April 1, streaming live exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network everywhere else.

WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Preview 4/6/21

The 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will stream tonight exclusively on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else. For the first time ever, the ceremony will feature two classes of inductees taking their place in sports-entertainment history.

The ceremonies will be hosted by WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler. Below are the line-ups for tonight:

2020: JBL, The Bella Twins, Jushin Thunder Liger, nWo – Hulk Hogan, Sean Waltman, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, William Shatner (Celebrity Wing), Titus O’Neil (Warrior Award)

2021: Kane, Eric Bischoff, Rob Van Dam, The Great Khali, Molly Holly

According to a report, Ozzy Osbourne is set to be inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the 2021 Class. The reports states that he did not appear in person at the ceremony, but he did record a video message for the show.

WWE Officially Announces Titus O’Neil As Warrior Award Recipient

WWE today officially announced that WWE Global Ambassador Titus O’Neil been named the recipient of the 2020 Warrior Award.

“Titus is a dedicated father, humanitarian and WWE Global Ambassador. His unwavering passion to help others in need is simply unmatched,” said WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon. “Although he does not seek recognition, I am thrilled that his work will be spotlighted to WWE fans around the world.”

WWE introduced the Warrior Award in 2015, in honor of WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior. According to WWE, the award is “presented to an individual who has exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of The Ultimate Warrior.” Past recipients of the award are Connor “The Crusher” Michalek in 2015; Joan Lunden in 2016; Eric LeGrand in 2017; Jarrius “JJ” Robertson in 2018 and Sue Aitchison in 2019.

The Warrior Award presentation will be part of the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which airs this Tuesday, April 6 at 8 PM ET on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network internationally. The ceremony will include both the 2020 and 2021 classes, and was taped last week.

Davey Boy Smith, JBL, Jushin Liger, The nWo, The Bella Twins, William Shatner, Molly Holly, Eric Bischoff, Rob Van Dam, Kane, The Great Khali and Ozzy Osbourne are also part of the 2020 and 2021 WWE Hall of Fame classes.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ozzy Osbourne To Be Inducted Into WWE Hall Of Fame

Ozzy Osbourne will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Dave Meltzer has confirmed. 

According to the report, Osbourne was part of the combined 2020 and 2021 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. He did not appear in person at the ceremony, but he did record a video message for the show.

The Prince of Darkness has a long history with WWE, going all the way back to WrestleMania 2. He and Captain Lou Albano managed The British Bulldogs, during their match against Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine.

In 2007, he performed live at a SmackDown taping in Baltimore, and in November 2009, he was a guest host for RAW. 

Davey Boy Smith, JBL, Jushin Liger, The nWo, The Bella Twins, William Shatner, Warrior Award winner Titus O’Neil, Molly Holly, Eric Bischoff, Rob Van Dam, Kane, and The Great Khali are also part of the 2020 and 2021 WWE Hall of Fame classes.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

News On WWE Hall Of Fame 2020 And 2021 Induction Ceremony Tapings

As seen in the tweet below, a new photo from the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony has surfaced online.

The 2020 induction ceremony was taped yesterday from the ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The 2021 induction ceremony will be taped on Thursday.

The photo confirms the report on Titus O’Neil receiving the Warrior Award. This shows that he won the Warrior Award for the 2020 Class

William Shatner was not present to accept his 2020 induction for the Celebrity Wing, but it’s likely that WWE aired some sort of pre-taped video for Shatner.

Jushin Thunder Liger was also not present for the induction as he’s likely in Japan. There’s no word on if he appeared via video.

The photo also shows that Davey Boy Smith Jr., Georgia Smith and Diana Hart-Smith were present to accept the honor for “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith.

WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon and WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Triple H were present to honor the inductees, as they have in recent years. The 2020 Class includes the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman), The Bella Twins, JBL, Liger, Bulldog, and Titus.

The 2021 Class includes Rob Van Dam, Eric Bischoff, Kane, The Great Khali and Molly Holly. There is no word yet on who will receive the Warrior Award and the Celebrity Wing honor for 2021.

There is also no word on if WWE will be announcing Legacy Wing inductees for 2020 and 2021, but we will keep you updated.

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler revealed that he hosted the 2020 induction ceremony.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDnUGosOQ9/?utm_source=ig_embed

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Rob Van Dam Officially Announced For The WWE Hall Of Fame

ECW Original and former WWE Champion Rob Van Dam is now official for the WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE and FOX Sports officially announced Van Dam’s induction into the 2021 Class this morning. He will be inducted during WrestleMania 37 Week.

After runs with ECW, WCW and other promotions in the early 1990s, RVD first officially joined WWE in 2001 for The Invasion. He had appeared before that for the ECW “invasion” of RAW in 1997. He last appeared for WWE in 2014, and has also had runs with TNA/Impact Wrestling, among others.

RVD joins The Great Khali, Kane, Molly Holly and Eric Bischoff as confirmed names for the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Class.

The 2020 and 2021 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will air on Tuesday, April 6 during WrestleMania 37 Week, via Peacock and the WWE Network. The 2020 Class features JBL, The Bella Twins, Jushin Thunder Liger, “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, and the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman).

Stay tuned for more on the WWE Hall of Fame. Below is WWE’s full announcement on RVD:

Rob Van Dam to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2021

The WWE Hall of Fame is about to get a one-of-a-kind inductee with the addition of Rob Van Dam.

RVD is the latest inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021. He’ll take his place in sports-entertainment history during the 2021 Induction Ceremony, streaming Tuesday, April 6 on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.

One of the most innovative grapplers to ever step foot in the squared circle, Van Dam first broke out in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid-1990s. His cool, calm, and laid-back demeanor was the complete opposite of the competitor he became once the bell rang. Employing a mix of devastating martial arts kicks and breathtaking aerial attacks, RVD quickly became one of ECW’s most popular stars and one of its most decorated champions. After a brief stint in WWE, Van Dam captured the ECW World Television Championship and held onto it for an astonishing 699 days. RVD was also a two-time ECW Tag Team Champion alongside notorious risk-taker Sabu.

When ECW closed in 2001, Van Dam joined his fellow ECW alumni in invading WWE and quickly endeared himself to the WWE Universe and brought the fight to Superstars like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Kurt Angle. RVD won the Intercontinental Championship from William Regal at his first WrestleMania, then went on to unify the championship with the European and Hardcore Titles. In addition to his prowess as a singles competitor, Van Dam was also a successful tag team wrestler, capturing titles in beloved pairings with Kane, Booker T and Rey Mysterio.

But Van Dam’s biggest success as a WWE Superstar would come in 2006. That year, he won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 22, earning himself a world championship opportunity at any point in the next year. Van Dam opted to cash in his contract on his terms, challenging WWE Champion John Cena for the title on his home turf, at ECW One Night Stand. In front of a raucous New York City crowd, Van Dam emerged from a wild brawl as the new WWE Champion. As ECW returned that summer, Van Dam also earned another title that had eluded him, as he was named the first ECW Champion of the reborn brand.

Following a six-year hiatus, RVD returned to WWE in 2013 to square off with a new generation of Superstars, including Seth Rollins, Cesaro, Sheamus and Roman Reigns. Now, in 2021, he returns to take his rightful place among sports-entertainment’s greatest stars.

Don’t miss Rob Van Dam join the WWE Hall of Fame during the 2021 Induction Ceremony, streaming Tuesday, April 6 on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else. The ceremony will feature the Class of 2020, featuring The nWo, The Bella Twins, JBL, British Bulldog and Jushin “Thunder’ Liger, as well as the Class of 2021, which includes RVD, Kane, The Great Khali, Molly Holly and Eric Bischoff.

Rob Van Dam recently spoke with Ryan Satin of FOX Sports to discuss his 2021 WWE Hall of Fame induction, which was officially announced by WWE this morning. RVD says he is honored to go into the WWE Hall, noting that fans have been calling him a future Hall of Famer for years.

“It’s a pretty awesome feeling. Just like you probably would imagine, it feels like I’m being acknowledged and appreciated for my body of work,” RVD said. “It feels very good. I’m honored. Fans have] been calling me future Hall of Famer for years and I always just shrug and say, ‘All right, man. As long as you think so.’

“But, glad to be among the chosen few this year. I’m glad for me and for all the fans. I feel like them being behind me and wanting to see this happen is a win for them as well.”

RVD revealed that WWE’s Head of Talent Relations, John Laurinaitis, is the one who called him with the news of his induction. He and Laurinaitis were close with each other when a young RVD worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling years ago.

“I’ve known him since 93, because I used to wrestle with him in Japan,” RVD said of Laurinaitis. “From ’93 to ’97, I spent many, many long hours on long bus rides, sitting in cold arenas in the winter, hot in the summer and ferry boat rides. We did a lot of traveling around Japan that time. You get to know somebody a little better when you’re stuck with them all the time like that. So, I’m proud to call Johnny a friend, and it was really cool to get the call from him.”

The 2020 and 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Classes will be inducted during WrestleMania 37 Week on Tuesday, April 6. RVD commented on going in with other names like JBL, The Bella Twins, The British Bulldog, Jushin Thunder Liger, the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman), Eric Bischoff, Molly Holly, Kane and The Great Khali. He recalled watching Liger vs. Brian Pillman years ago.

“I think that the whole list is a bunch of characters,” RVD said. “We all represent images that people can translate into their minds, fill in all the blanks, and then figure out that they know each of us.

“Having said that, I think about when I was getting into wrestling watching Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger wrestling against Brian Pillman, for one. They just opened up my mind to a whole new kind of wrestling, because I wasn’t seeing that with the limited amount of wrestling that I had been exposed to that early on. They really helped me think outside the box of what could really be done with some athleticism.”

The 50 year old RVD recently had a run with Impact Wrestling, but made it clear that fans wanting one more full-time run with WWE should not hold their breath, if WWE resumes a normal touring schedule in a post-pandemic world. He did seem open to the idea of making some sort of comeback.

“There is definitely some pros and cons to the thought,” RVD said of a WWE return. “I enjoy showing off in the ring. I enjoy very much getting that love and energy from the crowd, looking around seeing the RVD signs. That’s a high for sure, and RVD is all about highs.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Undertaker Reveals Kane’s WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

Veteran WWE Superstar Kane will be going into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

Kane appeared on WWE’s The Bump this morning and was surprised by The Undertaker with the announcement. You can see video from the appearance below.

Kane joins Khali, Molly Holly and Eric Bischoff as confirmed names for the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Class. Rob Van Dam is also expected to be announced by WWE soon.

Kane, who has been with WWE since 1995, has not wrestled for the company since a surprise appearance in the 2021 Royal Rumble Match this past January. Before that his last match was a WWE 24/7 Title change with current champion R-Truth at the September 16, 2019 RAW in Knoxville. His last regular match was teaming with The Undertaker for a loss to WWE Hall of Famers Shawn Michaels and Triple H at Crown Jewel 2018. Earlier this week he announced his re-election campaign for Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

The 2020 and 2021 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will air on Tuesday, April 6 during WrestleMania 37 Week, via Peacock and the WWE Network. The 2020 Class features JBL, The Bella Twins, Jushin Thunder Liger, “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, and the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman).

Kane to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2021

Kane is the latest inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021. The Big Red Monster was surprised with the news by his brother, The Undertaker, during WWE’s The Bump.

The Devil’s Favorite Demon will be enshrined in the hallowed hall during the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, April 6, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network elsewhere.

Kane’s legendary career was intertwined with The Deadman’s from the very beginning. Long thought to have perished in a fire at their family’s funeral home, Kane emerged through hellfire and brimstone to haunt his brother in Fall 1997, infamously tearing the door off Hell in a Cell to confront Undertaker and begin one of WWE’s most truly heated rivalries.

To settle their score, The Big Red Monster and The Phenom clashed in every conceivable type of match. They battled surrounded by flames in the first-ever Inferno Match, were locked inside Hell in a Cell and even tried to bury each other alive. It’s surprising that they were ever able to get along, but they did, proving to be one of WWE’s most deadly tag teams. The Brothers of Destruction wreaked havoc on WWE, capturing the World Tag Team Titles and the WCW Tag Team Titles.

Kane has also embraced the lighter side of things in WWE, as best evidenced by his time as a member of Team Hell No with Daniel Bryan. The pair’s sojourn to anger management classes had WWE fans rolling on the floor in laughter, as did their infamous attempt to “hug it out” in the middle of the ring. Warm embraces aside, the duo was also a threat in the ring and captured the WWE Tag Team Titles.

When not part of a tag team, Kane also proved to be one of the most dominant Superstars in history. The Devil’s Favorite Demon captured the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, ECW Title, Intercontinental Title and won the 2010 Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Anyone with a resume like that is destined for the WWE Hall of Fame.

Don’t miss Kane take his place in sports-entertainment history during the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Tuesday, April 6, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network elsewhere. The ceremony will feature the enshrinement of the 2020 Class, featuring The nWo, The Bella Twins, JBL, British Bulldog and Jushin “Thunder” Liger, as well as the 2021 Class, which includes Kane, Molly Holly and Eric Bischoff.

Source: Wrestling Inc.