WWE Hall of Fame (2018)
WWE Hall of Fame (2018) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Promotion WWE | | ||
Date | April 6, 2018 | ||
City | New Orleans, Louisiana | ||
Venue | Smoothie King Center | ||
WWE Hall of Fame chronology | |||
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WWE Hall of Fame (2018) was the event that featured the introduction of the 19th class to the
Background
On January 15, 2018, ESPN announced that Goldberg would be inducted as the headliner of the WWE Hall of Fame.[4] Goldberg, after a successful run with World Championship Wrestling, signed a one-year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in March 2003, debuting on the March 31 episode of Raw.[5] Goldberg would go on to face Lesnar at WrestleMania XX, however fans knew this would be the final WWE match for both Goldberg and Lesnar, and thus gave largely negative reactions throughout the performance.[6][7] During the episode of WWE 24 featuring Goldberg, he admitted that he did not have the right attitude while in the WWE, which caused him to leave on bad terms.[8] After a twelve-year absence, Goldberg appeared on the October 3, 2016 episode of SportsCenter, where he contemplated a return to WWE,[9] which eventually occurred on an episode of Raw, two weeks later.[10] Goldberg's return would include a run with the WWE Universal Championship,[11][12] and ended after his match with Lesnar at WrestleMania 33.[13][14] Goldberg appeared the following night on Raw Talk (which aired on the WWE Network after the Raw broadcast) to wish the fans farewell, but ultimately did not rule out a return in the future.[15]
On February 19, 2018, WWE announced that
Event
Due to the launch of the
The event itself had kicked off with an image stating it was in memory of Johnny Valiant, who died two days earlier. Valiant was struck at 5:30 a.m.[26] and killed by a pickup truck in Ross Township. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.[27]
The first inductees were
Lawler next introduced
In 2016, WWE introduced a new category for the Hall of Fame called the "Legacy" wing. Inductees under this new category feature wrestlers from the early years of professional wrestling, primarily during the early part of the 20th century.[28] All inductees in 2018 were inducted posthumously and were recognized with a video package at the ceremony.[29] A video montage was run next for the legacy inductees, which were Stan Stasiak, El Santo, Jim Londos, Sputnik Monroe, Boris Malenko, Dara Singh, Hiro Matsuda, Rufus R. Jones, Cora Combs, and lastly Lord Alfred Hayes.
Ivory was the next inductee, inducted by Molly Holly. Holly discussed all that Ivory has done in the ring and out, and called out Lilian Garcia to introduce Ivory. Ivory spoke about her road stories and how the women's movement has progressed over the years. Ivory compared being inducted to getting married as you only do it once (while poking fun at Ric Flair), and went on to say she has never been married, so she is treating this as her wedding. While describing how it would relate to her wedding, Ivory was cut off by the Right to Censor music when her descriptions got too sexual. Ivory finished by thanking her family and the fans.
Kid Rock was next inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Celebrity Wing, by Triple H. Triple H talked about how Kid Rock was the voice of the attitude era, and all he provided to the WWE over the years. Kid Rock started by saying Vince McMahon does not like getting thanked, so he wanted to send a big thank you to McMahon for all he did. Rock spoke briefly about his involvement in the WWE and finished by talking about his former bandmate Joe C.
Lawler said the next inductee Jeff Jarrett, means a lot to him, as he helped train him during their times in Memphis. Road Dogg came out to induct Jarrett, and discussed their times on the road. Jarrett discussed his career and times in groups such as The Four Horsemen and the New World Order. Jarrett said there are two people who have meant a lot to him that he had to thank, and emotionally thanked both Road Dogg and Owen Hart. After telling some stories on the road, Jarrett thanked Karen Jarrett, his kids, his father Jerry Jarrett, and his grandmother Christine. Jarrett ended by reciting a poem which he had recited during his first wrestling appearance. Following Jarrett's speech, Road Dogg came out and the two sang their song With My Baby Tonight.
Following The Ultimate Warrior's death in April 2014,[30] WWE introduced the Warrior Award, in 2015, for those who have "exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance, and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of the Ultimate Warrior."[31] The 2018 inductee was Jarrius "JJ" Robertson, a double liver transplant survivor.
Mark Henry was next inducted by Big Show. Henry discussed his family and what made him come into wrestling. Henry then transitioned into his Sexual Chocolate persona, talking to Stephanie McMahon before turning to his wife, and thanked Mae Young and Chyna for helping make the character. Henry went on to talk about the great times he had with the Nation of Domination, and talked about his relationship with each of the members. He then went on to plead with Martha Hart, the widow of Owen Hart, to please allow Owen to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Henry then changed his jacket to the jacket he wore during his previous false retirement, and challenged AJ Styles and Roman Reigns, before removing the jacket and thanking everyone.
Inductees
Individual
- Class headliners appear in boldface
Image | Ring name (Birth Name) |
Inducted by | WWE recognized accolades |
---|---|---|---|
Goldberg[32] (William Goldberg) |
Paul Heyman[33] | One-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion Two-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion One-time WCW World Tag Team Champion One-time World Heavyweight Champion Two-time WWE Universal Champion Recognized as having a 173–0 undefeated streak in WCW. In 2020, Goldberg won his second Universal title. | |
Ivory[34] (Lisa Moretti) |
Molly Holly[35] | Three-time WWF Women's Champion | |
Jeff Jarrett[36] | Road Dogg[37] | Four-time AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, and Eric Young their first major exposure
| |
Hillbilly Jim[38] (James Morris) |
Jimmy Hart[39] | 30+ year association with WWE as a wrestler, manager, and ambassador | |
Mark Henry[40] | Big Show[41] | One-time ECW Champion
One-time WWF European Champion |
Tag team
Image | Group | Inducted by | WWE recognized accolades |
---|---|---|---|
The Dudley Boyz[42]
|
Edge and Christian[43]
|
Eight-time | |
Bubba Ray Dudley (Mark LoMonaco) – 10-time WWF/E Hardcore Champion |
Celebrity
Image | Recipient (Birth name) |
Occupation | Inducted by | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kid Rock[44] (Robert Ritchie) |
Singer | Triple H | Performed live at several WWE events (Monday Night Raw in 2000, WrestleMania 25 in 2009, and Tribute to the Troops in 2012) Provided entrance themes for The Undertaker ("American Bad Ass") and Stacy Keibler ("Legs") Numerous songs used as official pay-per-view themes |
Warrior Award
Recipient (Birth name) |
Presented By | Notes |
---|---|---|
Jarrius "JJ" Robertson | Dana Warrior
|
Double liver transplant survivor |
Legacy
Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
WWE recognized accolades |
---|---|---|
— | Boris Malenko (Lawrence Simon)[45] |
Held numerous regional NWA championships Father of wrestlers Dean and Joe Malenko |
— | Cora Combs (Cora Svonsteckik)[45] |
Four-time NWA United States Women's Champion Two-time NWA Southern Women's Champion (Florida version) |
Dara Singh[45] | Held the World Wide Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship, NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship | |
El Santo (Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta)[45] |
Inaugural NWA World Welterweight Champion Starred in 52 films and is considered a folk hero in Mexican culture | |
— | Hiro Matsuda (Yasuhiro Kojima)[45] |
Two-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Trained Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger, and numerous other wrestlers |
Jim Londos (Christos Theofilou)[45] |
One-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion | |
Rufus R. Jones (Carey Lloyd)[45] |
One-time World Negro Heavyweight Champion Held numerous regional NWA championships | |
Sputnik Monroe (Rosco Merrick)[45] |
Credited with ending segregation at sporting events in Memphis, Tennessee | |
Stan Stasiak (George Stipich)[45] |
One-time WWWF Heavyweight Champion Father of former WCW and WWF/WWE wrestler Shawn Stasiak | |
Lord Alfred Hayes (Alfred Hayes)[45] |
Long-time WWF employee |
References
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- Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the originalon June 30, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
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- ^ Jefferson Lake (August 21, 2018). "Jeff Jarrett 'humbled' by WWE Hall of Fame nomination". Sky Sports. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ Laurer, Joanie. If They Only Knew, 311.
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- ^ Martin, A. (2006-11-14). "Jeff Jarrett Conference Call Recap". Wrestleview.com. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain DVD set, TNA Wrestling, 2008
- ^ "WWE's 'Luscious' Johnny Valiant Killed While Crossing the Street". Time. 5 April 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer; Maglio, Tony (5 April 2018). "WWE Hall of Famer 'Luscious' Johnny Valiant Dies at 71". The Wrap.
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