The 411 Wrestling Top 5 4.08.09: Week 17 – People Who Should be in the WWE Hall of Fame

Posted by Michael Bauer on 04.08.2009

KoKo B. Ware is in the Hall of Fame? I can think of at least five guys who should be in over him!

Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling's Top 5 List. What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. At the end, based on where all these matches rank on people's list, we will create the 411 Wrestling Top 5 list. The scoring is very similiar to the Wrestler of the Week as it looks like this:

#1 Choice – 5 points
#2 Choice – 4 points
#3 choice – 3 points
#4 Choice – 2 points
#5 Choice – 1 point
Honorable Mentions will break ties, but get no points.

Also, in the case of a tie, the most votes win, regardless of where it is listed in the individual Top 5. I will also use this rule in the event that one item is mentioned more often, but is one point behind. For example, one second place vote and two Honorable Mentions will defeat simply one first place vote.


So, on to this week's topic…

THE TOP 5 PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE IN THE WWE HALL OF FAME

WrestleMania is also the annual coronation of the latest class of the WWE Hall of Famers. And every year, while we question how some of those people deserve to be in the Hall of Fame (Koko B. Ware – SERIOUSLY?), we also think about who should be in the next class of the Hall of Fame or should have been included this year, if not years ago. Because as great as Stone Cold was for all of a few years, there are people who were greater for a longer amount of time and have yet to be enshrined next to the Hulk Hogan's and the Bret Hart's of the wrestling past. We asked the 411 Wrestling Staff to give us the Top 5 People that they feel should be included this year or any year soon. And try putting those inot a specific order, that's the great debate.

So what did our great group of writers select? Let's find out…



Robert S. Leighty Jr

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Raven - I am a Raven mark, and I would hate myself if I didn't give him an honorable mention, and if Koko can make it, Raven should.

Eric Bischoff - Verne Gagne was inducted, so why shouldn't the man who actually dethroned Vince as the King of the Wrestling business?

Arn Anderson - I had hoped he would have gone in last year with Flair, but his day should come pretty quickly.

5.Elizabeth - This is my sentimental pick, and I think her inclusion is long overdue. She played a huge role in the wrestling business, and was a trailblazer during a period when a lot of females were not included. How many of the current and former Divas in the WWE do you think were influenced by Liz.

4.Paul Heyman - Induct him not only for what he accomplised in ECW, but what he did as a manager alone should be enough. He revolutionized the business with a group of misfits in a Bingo Hall in South Philly, and for that he should be awarded. I assume he will get his due some day, and I can't wait to hear the speech he gives.

3.The Road Warriors - Since Animal is retired, and Hawk has passed on, this team is way past being overdue for the Hall of Fame. They were a huge attraction as a Tag Team, and while not the greatest men in the ring, they honestly made you believe they could kill someone. Their promo work was all great (especially Hawk), and they left a legacy that few tag teams can match.

2.Bruno Sammartino - He had the longest WWF Title reign in the history, and was a massive draw for Vince Sr. He won't be inducted because he hates the current product, and Vince won't induct him unless he agrees to be paraded around at the Hall of Fame ceremony. It's a shame that a lot of today's fans don't have a clue how important this man was.

1.Randy Savage - In a perfect world this man would have went into the Hall of Fame years ago. Hopefully the fact they are releasing a Savage DVD means bridges are being mended, and that he will take his place in the Hall. I just hope that he is still alive when they finally do induct him because his speech will be awesome.



Scott Rutherford

I just want to quickly say I left off any names that will be a lock for future HOF induction (‘Taker/Shawn, Savage) and went for people that should be brought in but aren't for some reason

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Bob Backlund - A legit draw for the WWWF for over 6 years and one of the most impressive natural wrestlers ever. I REALLY want to hear his induction speech.

Earl Hebner - Ejected from the WWE under a cloud of stealing from the company, Earl was the ref in many WM main events and every other major card and always added something to a match. Best referee ever!

Lou Thesz - The King of Old School is a legend that deserves recognition. No other explanation needed.

5.Demolition - These guys were one of the original "cool, bad guys that ended up being cheered for" league. The longest reigning tag champs of all time, they initially started out as Road Warrior rip-offs and remarkably, probably made Vince more money than when he finally did get his hands on the Legion of Doom. They had a great look, gave good promo, worked well in the ring and were mightily over. Any fan that grew in the 80's loved Ax and Smash and provided us with a clutch of memories (the HUGE pop on their third title win at WM6 comes to mind) that has earned them the right to be HOFers but legal action from Bill Eadie (Ax) over the rights to the Demoliton name has probably soured the prospect.

4.Ted Turner - I've mentioned this name in the forums in the past and gotten some interesting replies. For all his faults, Ted was a BIG wrestling man and poured many a dollar into various territories and WCW often without much return. He was the man that drove Vince to try harder bringing about the second boom in wrestling. He gave Eric Bischoff a long leash, which prompted the Monday Night Wars and one of the most creatively interesting periods in wrestling. Gave the man his due, he changed the wrestling landscape and thus, should be rewarded…even if he did almost run Vince out of business!

3.Don Owens - Most reading this feature would be drawing a blank right now but Don Owen is one of the most highly regarded and respected figures in wrestling history. The son of fight promoter Herb, Don made Portland wrestling (PNW) into one of the hottest territories in wrestling by becoming the first man to televise the product on TV in that area. He helped create many of the sports biggest stars with the most notable being Rowdy Roddy Piper who respected Don so much, that he refused to work WWF cards that were in direct competition to PNW cards. You never hear anyone speak ill of the man (although I'm sure there are some people out their that will). Don created his legacy based on being an honest man in a dishonest industry who managed to maintain his integrity even when the WWF expansion fire sale on the territories (EVERYTHING MUST GO!) was burning his livelihood down around him. Respect and tribute is long overdue.

2.Sting - The one big star Vince couldn't lure into the WWF but that shouldn't stop him from his rightful place in the HOF. There's really nothing I could say that anyone reading this doesn't already know but for the newer fans that have only TNA as your Sting-guide, this man was every bit as over as Hulk Hogan and should have been a mass-media sensation but thanks to piss-poor management from the NWA and WCW, he relegated to something much less. I still hope he gets brought into the WWE for a short run and to go out on top like he deserves because he is a true wrestling legend.

1.Bruno Sammartino - This is a given. Bruno made the WWWF back in the 60's and carried it on his back up to and through the Bob Backlund years. He's the longest reign champion ever (7½ years) has held the title for more days (4040), headlines a massive 130 shows at the MSG including a record 45 sell outs (eat that Hulk Hogan!) with almost 35 of those coming in a row. Sadly Bruno has soured on the WWE and his later day experiences with them and has recently championed the cause of preventing wrestlers dying young due to drug abuse (both performance enhancing and recreational) which he lays almost exclusive blame at the feet of Vince McMahon. Personally, Bruno needs to come down off his high horse since he's being giving blow jobs to Kurt Angle recently and we all know that mans history with drugs. Hopefully one day Bruno will realize that this is an honor that the fans want to see and it isn't driven by McMahon's ego.



Julian Bond

I wasn't counting any WWE wrestler who's currently working and are definite picks (Taker, Michaels) for future HOF status when they retire.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Jake "The Snake" Roberts - Despite the man's heavily storied history with drug abuse, the WWE should still someday soon recognize Roberts for being one of the most unique wrestlers ever in their ring and for providing oh-so-many great memorable moments.

5.Owen Hart - Owen Hart was without a shadow of a doubt one of the best workers ever in the WWE. In the almost ten years he was with the company, he had provided solid match after solid match and was a definitive staple in the WWE roster. His memorable feud with his brother Bret, the tag team reigns with Yokozuna and British Bulldog, and his part in the infamous Hart Foundation all were great memories. Due to the tragic accident inadvertently caused by the company, his HOF induction may never happen, but I can keep on hoping.

4.The Road Warriors - While I'm not the biggest Road Warriors fan in the world, when I noticed that these guys' names were listed yet as one of the tag teams in the HOF I was a little shocked. Having watched tons of their matches as youth and remembering everyone and their mama cheering for their every move, I think that they should definitely be entered in. The team is definitely one of the best to ever step foot in the ring.

3.Sting - Only so many words can describe what this man has brought to the table in the wrestling world. Despite the obviousness that Sting is with rival TNA right now, the moment he steps away from them McMahon should grab the opportunity to recognize his great past work in NWA/WCW. He definitely deserves it.

2.Paul Heyman - Without the "mad scientist" brain of Paul Heyman, there simply wouldn't be an ECW. And without ECW, the "WWE Attitude" era may have not been so accepted and a lot of the formats for some past deemed "extreme" storylines today may not have been used. Despite the guy essentially being the one to drown his own company to bankruptcy, he should still be recognized as an innovator for putting easily some of the craziest content EVER on our wrestling TV screens.

1.Randy Savage - Savage should've been inducted a good while ago around when Hogan was, but the reported bad blood between him and McMahon kept this from occurring. But I hope that changes soon cause the more I've watched his matches (particularly his Wrestlemania bouts), the more I believe that it's a no-brainer to induce him. From putting on some of the most memorable bouts in wrestling history to being a funny-as-hell commentator for a couple of years, Savage has definitely made a true dent in WWE history.



Ryan Byers

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Toru Tanaka - Tanaka is a guy from WWE's past who they seem to have forgotten about for no good reason. He was a three-time Tag Team Champion with Mr. Fuji back when being a Tag Team Champion actually meant something in the company.

Antonio Inoki - Inoki was a long-time business associate of WWE, a very popular guest star for them, and, depending on whose version of history you choose to believe, a former WWE Champion. That alone should merit some consideration, and he becomes a virtual lock if you even begin to think about what he did outside of the McMahon-held company.

5.Sable - This induction will not happen at any point in the near future due to her relationship with Brock Lesnar, but there was a point at which Sable was legitimately the WWF's second biggest star behind Steve Austin when the company was at its peak of mainstream popularity. That certainly makes her more deserving than, say, Koko B. Ware.

4.Wendi Richter - In a lot of ways, Richter is similar to Sable. Both women left the company on bad terms, which has resulted in their former popularity being minimized in WWE's official history books. Yet, if you go back in time and actually look at the WWF landscape when Richter was the company's champion, she was almost as popular as the top male acts. Her involvement with Cyndi Lauper was in many ways just as important as Hulk Hogan's involvement with Mr. T. when it came to making the first Wrestlemania a success. And, to top it all of, she wasn't much of a slouch in the ring, either.

3.Ted DiBiase - With Ted DiBiase, Jr. on the company's roster and Ted Sr. having a seemingly good relationship with the company, one would have to think that this is a lock for the 2010 Hall of Fame Class if not 2011. It is deserved as well. Though his list of accomplishments in terms of championships is a bit light in the WWF, DiBiase was the promotion's top heel for a significant period of time and a good hand who kept the promotion's in-ring product strong for those of us who crave that sort of thing. On top of that, he was one of the biggest stars in Mid-South Wrestling, a promotion we may begin to hear much more about on WWE TV if rumors regarding a McMahon purchase of that promotion's tape library came to pass.

2.Bob Backlund - A lot of very young fans fail to acknowledge what Backlund accomplished in wrestling because they weren't around when he was competing. A lot of fans in their 20's and 30's fail to acknowledge what Backlund accomplished in wrestling because, when they saw him competing, he was essentially a comedic figure. Even some fans who saw him in his heyday fail to acknowledge what Backlund accomplished because they saw him as a second-rate version of his contemporary Jack Brisco. None of those fans are giving a fair shake to the former NCAA Champion. Backlund sat atop the WWF empire for six years as champ, exhibiting the kind of staying power that most wrestlers only dream of having. When his career in the Fed was seemingly done for, he reinvented himself in Japan and had a surprisingly good series of matches in the shoot-style UWFi. When his relationship with that company came to an end, he reinvented himself one more time and became a psychopathic heel who managed to snag one last bit of glory by grasping the WWF Championship for a second time. And do you know what? He remained in AMAZING shape for every single minute of his career. The man is pushing sixty, but I'd be willing to bet that he could still put the vast majority of this site's readership to shame in the Harvard step test.

1.Bruno Sammartino - I can count the number of Bruno Sammartino matches that I have actually watched on my fingers and didn't even start watching wrestling until almost twenty years after his peak, but, after all of the reading that I have done about the history of professional wrestling in general and WWE specifically, I can unequivocally say that if I were assembling a WWE Hall of Fame from scratch, Bruno would be one of the first three guys to be inducted. Obviously his eight years with the company's top championship can be cited. However, just as impressive if not moreso is the significant number of Madison Square Garden sell-outs and near sell-outs that the Italian muscleman drew. He was on top for nearly a decade, and, despite that fact, he was able to keep his act fresh to the point that fans would still turn out in droves on a regular basis to see him. Part of that is a testament to the quality of old school booking, but an even bigger part of it is how Bruno managed to capture the imaginations of an entire generation of wrestling fans in the New York market. Had Sammartino not laid the foundation on a regional basis, men like Hogan, Austin, and the Rock never would have been able to make millions on an international basis.



Aaron Hubbard

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Jake "The Snake" Roberts - An iconic character who worked well as a babyface and a heel, and definitely deserves a spot.

The Outsiders - You could make a case for Scott Hall and Kevin Nash entering separately or as a team, but they will probably never make it anyway.

Arn Anderson - The Enforcer, one of the most solid talkers and workers ever in wrestling.

5. Bruno Sammartino - The REAL living legend, Bruno was the first big star of the then-WWWF. He held the World Championship on two occasions and has logged more time as WWE champ than anyone. Why so low on the list? Because the only one keeping him out is Bruno himself.

4. Bob Backland - Champion of the WWE for six years, and one of the few champions that didn't need a crazy persona to get over. Now, the crazy persona he had in the mid-90's was pretty cool, but the Bob I'd like to remember is the boy scout pure wrestler of the 70's and 80's. His induction is long overdue.

3. The Road Warriors/Legion of Doom - WWE missed the boat with Wrestlemania 22 being in Chicago. These guys are the only tag team that could be considered a main event-level draw. They revolutionized tag team wrestling and wrestled for over two decades. If being the most popular tag team and being the first to win the WWE, NWA and AWA tag team championship isn't enough to earn Hall of Fame status, then what is?

2.Randy Savage & Miss Elizabeth - Is it a cop-out? It would be if these two weren't so bound to each other. Savage was a two time WWE Champion, two-time Wrestlemania main eventer, and one of the first guys to truly bring workrate to the WWE. Elizabeth is the first lady of wrestling and a big part of Randy Savage's character. Do they belong in the Hall of Fame? OOOOOOOOOH YEAH!

1.Ted DiBiase - Why this guy isn't in the Hall of Fame is beyond me. He was one of the best heels during one of wrestling's hottest periods. He was a very good worker and has continued to help WWE as a Road Agent. Ted Jr. is right there to induct him. Every year that "The Million Dollar Man" is not inducted in the Hall of Fame, my heart breaks a little.



Larry Csonka

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Mr. T. - He really needs to be in as a celebrity, I have pushed it for some time. Both he and the WWE need to pull the stick from their ass and make it happen. Seriously, what else is Mr. T doing other than cool WoW commercials?

Arn Anderson - Anderson was always the "Enforcer" of the Four Horsemen, and Flair's "cousin" and right hand man. Arn was always there beside Flair, supporting him, protecting his titles and also adding gold and prestige to the Horsemen. Hell, he named the Horsemen! While Arn was never flashy, he was always good in the ring and one hell of a promo. If the limo driver and Koko can get in, why the hell shouldn't Arn?

Antonio Inoki - Inoki's overall influence as a wrestler and promoter should get him into any and every Hall of Fame. That's the bottom line.

5. The Road Warriors - Before the Dudleyz/Team 3D came along with their claim to the throne of being the greatest, the Road Warriors were the baddest mother fucker son the planet. Winning the NWA, AWA, and WWF titles while ripping out Dusty Rhode's eye, they were the shit. Hawk is gone, but Animal is still around to accept the honor, and it is a shame that they haven't been honored before now.

4. Ted Dibiase - Dibiae is a personal favorite of mine, and is one of those guys that never got the world title, when he really should have. We all know the rumors that he had been promised the NWA Title at one point and that he was promised the WWF Title at WM 4, and unfortunately he never got these. The man was a great performer for years, in and out of the ring, and is one of the performers that also helped make the other greats. Plus his son works for the company, he has another son in the business, eventually WWE bound, he'll get in and he should.

3. Randy Savage - Randy Savage is considered one of the greatest workers of his generation, as well as one of the most inconsistent. He was considered a master of ring psychology and very gifted on the mic. Over the last few years he has been labeled by many fans as crazy due to his constant challenges to Hulk Hogan, including some on his rap album, as well as his there and then gone stint with TNA and then virtual disappearance. But if you take out all of that, you have a man that was very influential on today's generation of wrestlers. When you take into account that, all of the great matches and classic Macho moments you have a hard time arguing that he shouldn't be included into any hall.

2. Bob Backlund - Bob Backlund more than belongs in any Hall of Fame. Hewas a true wrestler and superior athlete that was in many ways out of place in the WWWF, but was able to rise to the top. A true ring technician in a time of body building physiques, who a decade later at the age of 43 came back and was in better shape than most on the WWF roster in 1993, really needs no defense as one of the all time greats.

1. Bruno Sammartino - Austin was the WWF in the 90's, Hogan was the WWF in the 80's, and Sammartino was the WWWF in the 70's. These are things that cannot be argued. But Vince and Bruno haven't seen eye to eye for nearly 30-years, and due to that, neither one is willing to put the bullshit aside. Bruno deserves to be in the Hall, he knows he deserves it, Vince Knows here deserves it, but with the hate they have for each other, I doubt we'll see the induction while Sammartino is alive. He carried the company in the 70's with a record title run and MSG records that cannot be rivaled, as Byers said, he laid the groundwork for Hogan, Austin, and the Rock and others.



Chris Lansdell

Bruno Sammartino - Only here instead of on the actual list because he has said repeatedly he doesn't want to be in. The face of the company for longer than anyone not named Hogan.

Mr T - Pete Rose is lonely.

Ron Simmons - The first Black world champion in the Big Two deserves to be in for that fact alone.

5. Sting - WCW's attempted answer to Hulk Hogan is the biggest North American name to never wrestle for WWE. He has held a plethora of titles in the US and a few in Japan, and at the peak of his popularity was one of the most over talents in wrestling. Due to being associated with TNA it is unlikely Sting will be inducted in the near future.

4. Jeff Jarrett - One of the biggest names in the south (along with Jerry Lawler) as well as a decent booker and now owner. Many newer fans may not realise that Jarrett was a world champ in WCW, as well as holding over 25 titles in the USWA. Even less likely than Sting to be inducted, but if Verne Gagne can get in...

3. Eric Bischoff - The man who was more responsible for WCW's dominance of the early Monday Night Wars than any other. Bischoff deserves induction for the nWo alone, let alone the effect he had on professional wrestling and the Attitude era. Bischoff's on-air role was also very important in the Wars, and after them as GM of Raw.

2. Randy Savage - When Vince needed to sell tickets (or anything else) in the 80s, he turned to Hogan. When he needed a good match, he turned to Savage. Randy Savage managed to pull great mataches out of Hogan and Warrior, as well as having classics with Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat. Whatever the reason for the beef between Savage and McMahon, the Macho Man deserves a spot.

1. Vincent Kennedy McMahon - Name one person who has done more for wrestling in the past 25 years. Vince McMahon IS professional wrestling in North America, and love him or hate him he deserves to be recognised for that. Many, many other men would have given up and walked away by now, but Vince has made every effort to keep up with changing opinions and has kept his company as a viable profitable business for years after every major competitor stuttered, died and got bought...by Vince McMahon.



Michael Bauer

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Mr. T - I'm with Larry, Mr. T needs to get the stick out of his ass and accept an invite to the Hall.

Bob Backland - Bob Backland had one very long title run in the 1980's and is more than deserving.

Ted Dibiase - The Million Dollar Man wasn't the greatest, but if KoKo B. Ware is in, then Ted should be a lock.

5.Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard - I was going to just say Double A, but thinking about it, if you going to put him in, you should also grant the rest of the Original Four Horsemen a spot in the Hall. Without the Horsemen, you have no insperation for some of the greatest stables ever and perhaps miss out of some of the greatest feuds ever.

4.Bruno Sammartino - Bruno was wrestling in the 1970's, there is no question about it and Scott has enough facts to back up everything. He truly is a legend in the ring and there is no reason that a personal bias by McMahon should keep him out.

3.Randy Savage - I think I covered enough about Savage's greatness in the last Top 5 as we talked about WrestleMania. He performed on the biggest stage of them all and simply was one of the greatest when the stakes were higher. And while you can debate whether or not Miss Elizabeth should be included with him, there is no denying that Randy Savage is Hall of Fame material.

2.The Road Warriors - Yes, the Dudleys have ten times the Tag Team Title reigns. Yes, they didn't revolutionize Tag Team wrestling through insane ladder matches, table matches, or combonation of those two plus chair matches. But The Road Warriors were Tag Team wrestling at the height of Tag Team wrestling, before the boom of the Hardys, Edge and Christian, and Team 3D.

1.Chris Benoit - Ok, let the hate flow, but let's face it, Chris Benoit's WRESTLING career is Hall of Fame worthy. And before you give me that he killed his family crap, tell me how he is any different than O.J. Simpson still being in the NFL Hall of Fame. And O.J. did a lot more than Benoit ever did outside of the sport. But Benoit had a near twenty year career and would have been side by side with Eddie when he retired without a blink of an eye if that one event did not happen. There is not a doubt about that in anyone's mind and that is why he tops my list.



So with all said and done, here is the 411 Wrestling's Overall Top 5 People who Should be in the WWE Hall of Famre.

5. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase - 10 points (1 1st place vote, 1 3rd place vote, 1 4th place vote, 1 Honorable Mention)

4. Bob Backland - 10 points (2 2nd place votes, 1 4th place vote, 2 Honorable Mentions)

3. The Road Warriors - 13 points (1 2nd place vote, 2 3rd place votes, 1 4th place vote, 1 5th place vote)

2. Bruno Sammartino - 22 points (3 1st place votes, 1 2nd place vote, 1 4th place vote, 1 5th place vote, 1 Honorable Mentions)

1. Randy Savage - 24 ponts (2 1st place votes, 2 2nd place votes, 2 3rd place votes)