My Take On 2.08.06: The 2006 WWE Hall of Fame
Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.08.2006
I look at who “I” think should go into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.
Welcome one, welcome all to another edition of My Take On! Since we're on the Road to WrestleMania, a lot of the recent emails I have received have been about WrestleMania. This week though, I got one that asked about this year's Hall of Fame Inductions. That's when the bell went off, time to get on the ball and pen another column! Now I will not speculate on whom I think that the WWE will induct, but my opinion on who should go in. Sit back and relax as I tell you about my 2006 WWE Hall of Fame.
The 2006 WWE Hall of Fame: Csonka Style
Terry Funk: Not many have had the longevity, or impact on the world of wrestling that Terry Funk had. He will go down as not only an important singles wrestler, but as possibly one half of the greatest tag team of all time. He reinvented himself to fit with the new age of wrestling fans, destroyed his body and never gave it up because it was all he knew. While Funk was a successful NWA Champion, had a feud with Ric Flair that most love and ruled the tag scene in Japan with bother Dory, you also have to understand his importance to making ECW such a success. Funk was the credibility that was needed to get guys like Douglas, Sabu, Candido and Foley over as big as they were at the time. Without Terry Funk still going as crazy as he did and going to ECW, who knows what would have been. All of his accomplishments make him a lock to me for the WWE Hall of Fame.
Ricky Steamboat: Ricky Steamboat is a man whose legacy will continue to live on as the greatest babyface of all-time. Whenever someone hits a picture perfect arm dram, you hear the phrase, "What a Ricky Steamboat-like arm drag." Steamboat was a man whose career was important to him, but also never more important than his family. He volume of work speaks for itself, especially the classic battles with Savage and Flair. He wasn't about entertaining through promos and skits, but entertaining through the artistry he brought in the ring. Now as a road agent, he has the chance for his legacy to go further as he listens and hands out advice to the next generation of superstars. I grew up watching Steamboat and was always excited by his matches. As a former 8-Time NWA/WCW Tag Team Champion, and 4-time NWA/WCW United States Champion and 1-time NWA World Champion I think his resume speaks for it self and should be in the Hall of Fame without doubt.
Ted Dibiase: Ted DiBiase, many know him only as the "Million Dollar Man" from the WWF, but there is much more to him than that. Dibiase really made his name in Bill Watts' Mid-South/UWF. A multi-time Tag Champion with Matt Borne, Hercules and Steve Williams, Dibiase made himself a damn fine name with Watts. He was once promised the NWA Title, but after the NWA changed its mind he was off for the WWF. He was one of the company's top heels and had a very profitable run against Hulk Hogan. He was again promised a title, this time the WWF Title but that also got changed. He would eventually move more to the background and form a good tag team with IRS (Mike Rotundo) and win the WWF Tag Team Titles on three occasions. Through out his career he was an artist in the ring as well as on the mic. Now a road agent with the WWE, he has the chance for his legacy to go further as he listens and hands out advice to the next generation of superstars.
Arn Anderson: Arn was a great worker through out his entire career, whether it was singles or in his many successful tag teams. But one thing that seems lost in many is his great promo work. One of the greatest phrases, which I quote to this day is, "They don't ask you how you won, just how many you did win." Double A was a man that always took care of business, and was a part of the legendary Four Horsemen. Dubbed the Enforcer, Arn was a cornerstone of the NWA/WCW for many years. His great tag teams with Ole, Tully, Flair, Eaton and Zbyzko were just an example of how flexible Anderson was, and how valuable. Now a road agent with the WWE, he has the chance for his legacy to go further as he listens and hands out advice to the next generation of superstars. With all of his accomplishments, the Enforcer deserves the Hall of Fame in my eyes.
Dusty Rhodes: 3-Time NWA TV and World Champion as well as the "King of Florida" for many years is the true legacy of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. In the 1970's Rhodes was one of the two biggest draws in all of wrestling, along side Andre The Giant. Rhodes was the perfect example of hoe to connect to his audience, and how to keep them on his side. He's the man that Ric Flair wanted to be, a man that created Starrcade and the War Games. He was NWA born and bred, and in the end stayed with them until the folded; even if it was on and off. He went to ECW and helped get Steve Corino over, a man that would go onto win the ECW and NWA Titles. He even tried to help TNA as a booker and on air Director of Authority. He is already a member of the WCW Hall of Fame as well as the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, so the next logical step (besides the 411 Hall of Fame) is the WWE Hall of Fame, I for one am all for it.
Bret Hart: He holds the distinction of being a triple-crown winner in the WWF (World, IC and Tag Titles) as well as in WCW (World, US and Tag Titles.) He climbed the ladder from king of Stampede, to WWF jobber and all the way to the very top of the business. Hart's moniker was that he was "the best there is, the best there was and the best there will ever be." For all of his successes, Hart's legacy has been undeniably tarnished over the years through the "Montreal Screw Job." Thankfully with the new WWE DVD release, the true greatness of his career was showcased, especially to the newer fans that didn't grow up watching Bret Hart. While it is very unlikely that he will be inducted this year, I feel that he should be due to his impact on the wrestling business as a whole and his contributions to the company, regardless of his problems with Vince McMahon.
Bruno Sammartino: He is regarded as one of the strongest men ever to wrestle, and he was all natural. The man held the WWWF title for an amazing 12+-years over 2 runs. That is all that has to be said for Bruno, the man deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and should have been in already. But it is basically impossible that he will be inducted this year, I feel that he should be due to his impact on the wrestling business as a whole and his contributions to the company; regardless of his problems with Vince McMahon. But those problems will continue to keep him out of the Hall due to his strong feelings against Vince and the current product; can't we all just get along?
The Road Warriors: AWA, NWA, WWF tag team champions, as well as running wild in Japan makes them easy to select for the Hall of Fame. They were a team that did it all and ruled the 80's and carried on well into the 90's. Hugely respected in Japan for their toughness and runs of success, while they were respected in American for their popularity and longevity there will never be another team like the Legion of Doom. With WrestleMania being in Chicago this year, WWE releasing their DVD and Animal back on the Roster to induct the team himself and reward his lost partner, there is no better time.
Bonus: Mr. T: "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, Hulk Hogan, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, "Cowboy" Boy Orton and Pat Patterson. What do they all have in common? They were all involved in the main event of the very first WrestleMania. Every man that has been involved in this match (Wrestlers, Corner man and Referee) has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. It is Mr. T's turn. Mr. T. was a huge part of the success of WrestleMania as he helped bring in that casual fan to the event. In my opinion Mr. T. should have gone in last year with Orndorff and Orton to complete things. Pete Rose may have done more WrestleMania's but he had nowhere the impact of Mr. T. I feel that Mr. T. needs to go into the Hall of Fame to complete that group from the first Main Event, it is only fitting as to me he is a more deserving celebrity than Rose.
My Take On:
So there we have it. I really have no clue who the E will put in the hall this year, it could be some of these it could be guys like Owen, Eddie Guerrero, Macho Man (If they ever mend fences) Davey Boy Smith, Curt Henning or any number of performers. To me the fun is in the speculation. This where you come in, drop me your five picks that you think WILL go in. I look forward to your replies.
