2007 Hall of Fame inductees - 2007-03-29 8:31 PM
I don't give a damn about WrestleMania. . .
but I'm always interested in the Hall of Fame.
from the E.com
2007 WWE Hall of Fame Inductors
March 28, 2007
The following have been announced as inductors for the upcoming 2007 Hall of Fame ceremony:
-Sabu will induct his uncle, The Sheik
For nearly four decades, The Original Sheik brought an unmatched and previously unseen brand of aggression to the world of sports-entertainment. With his trademark steel spike and ball of fire, the bloodthirsty wildman paved the way for the hardcore style of wrestling that would eventually change the face of the industry. On Saturday night, The Sheik will be honored for his contributions to the sport when his nephew Sabu inducts his late uncle into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Following his in-ring career, The Sheik’s contributions to wrestling continued. The former 12-time NWA United States Champion also played a role in training the Superstars of the future, including his nephew and Rob Van Dam.
-Don Muraco will induct former manager Mr. Fuji
WWE Hall of Famer Don “Magnificent” Muraco will be on hand in Detroit this Saturday, on the eve of WrestleMania 23, to pay tribute to Mr. Fuji by inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2007. Muraco’s involvement carries a significantly more personal meaning, as Mr. Fuji’s managerial services were instrumental in the career of Muraco – also a WWE Hall of Famer.
When Muraco enlisted Mr. Fuji as his manager, his in ring career skyrocketed as did the managing star of Mr. Fuji. The two men simultaneously made the others’ career better, and Muraco is happy to be part of any ceremony that would bestow this honor on Fuji.
“To be called on to induct Mr. Fuji is an honor in itself for me, and I am happy to do anything for Fuji,” said Muraco.
The partnership between manager and wrestler is often times limited to in-ring action, but Fuji and Muraco broke that mold when they ventured into the land of Hollywood. The unforgettable segments of Fuji Vice, Fuji General and others, will forever be remembered by WWE fans as some of the most-entertaining segments to ever air on WWE programming.
This Saturday, that partnership will be reformed, and Muraco’s excitement for the event is second only to his praise of Mr. Fuji. “I am happy to be part of this ceremony, but I am even happier that Mr. Fuji is finally getting the recognition he deserves.” Muraco continued, “Mr. Fuji did so much not just for me, but for the entire business, and this honor means it will not ever be forgotten.”
As far as the in-ring and managing career of Mr. Fuji, Don Muraco does not hesitate when he says that this honor is befitting of the manager of champions. “His career merits this accomplishment,” said Muraco, “and it is an honor to be connected to WWE, and even more so to Mr. Fuji.”
-Cody & Dustin Runnels will induct their father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
Dustin and Cody Runnels, the sons of the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, will induct their legendary father into the WWE Hall of Fame this Saturday, the night before WrestleMania 23.
Cody, who is wrestling in WWE’s developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling, says the opportunity to have his sons induct him into the Hall of Fame will make a proud moment that much more poignant.
“To him, it [the Hall of Fame] is a bigger deal than he’s letting anybody know,” Cody told WWE.com. “He and I, we’re like best friends, we’re really close. But he and Dustin, they’ve had their rifts here and there. So for us to be together – if ultimately he were to say, ‘I don’t want anything further to do with pro wrestling,’ this would be a wonderful way to cap it off.”
As documented by WWE programming in the past, Dustin – who wrestled for WWE as Goldust – and Rhodes have had a rocky relationship and were estranged for a time. But they have mended their fences over the years. Cody expects their father’s induction to be an emotional moment for both men.
“We’re a highly emotional family. I’d expect some waterworks” he said. “It’ll be interesting to see if we can just get through it [without crying]. I’m just so happy Dustin is getting to do this.”
Cody is honored that his father asked him to induct him into the Hall of Fame but also sees this as an opportunity to introduce himself to WWE fans.
“There’s no better way to establish everything that’s been done, everything that Dustin did as Goldust, everything that the American Dream did, than to be on the stage together,” he said. “There’s no better way [for me] to be brushed into the spotlight. Someday, I want to be on one of the three shows [Raw, SmackDown, ECW] and there’s no better way to say, ‘Hi, he had another kid and that’s me.’”
-Bobby "The Brain" Heenan will induct Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Bockwinkel was arguably the AWA’s most successful Superstar not named Verne Gagne. In the 1970s and 80s, Bockwinkel had a stranglehold on the AWA World Championship that was nearly unbreakable. But as dominant as he was, there was always brains behind his brawn. Actually, in Bockwinkel’s case, it was “The Brain,” as Bobby Heenan, his manager and the man who will induct him into the Hall of Fame.
“What can I say that hasn’t already been said?” Heenan quizzed WWE.com. “He was a great guy and he was great in the ring. He was a great second-generation star and he’s deserving of being in the Hall. Plus, he never did drugs or went to jail, so he couldn’t be a star in the NBA or NFL, could he?” he added with a laugh.
Heenan, a WWE Hall of Famer himself, managed several fellow Hall of Famers during his career, and Bockwinkel will just be the latest name added to that list. This will be Heenan’s fourth consecutive year of involvement with the Hall of Fame ceremony, as after his own 2004 induction, he sent former protégés Paul Orndorff (2005) and the Blackjacks (2006) into the Hall.
“This is my third time inducting someone, and I told them to keep me here until I do it right,” Heenan joked. “Third time’s the charm, right?”
-Matt "Rosey" Anoa'i and Sam "Samu" Anoa'i will induct their fathers, The Wild Samoans
In sports-entertainment, there are names that are synonymous with multi-generational success, such as Hart, Guerrero and Orton. Included in that list are the descendants of the Anoa’i family, including Afa & Sika, the Wild Samoans. Afa & Sika will be inducted into the Hall of Fame by their sons, Sam and Afa Jr. (Afa) and Matt (Sika), both of whom are former WWE Superstars and proof in their own right of how fruitful the Anoa’i family tree truly has been.
Sam, better known to WWE fans as Headshrinker Samu, is a former World Tag Team Champion with cousin Fatu (Rikishi) and has been involved in sports-entertainment for over two decades. Matt, who WWE fans will remember as Rosey, is also a former World Tag Team Champion and one of the most agile “big men” to step foot in a WWE ring. Both have had success all throughout the United States and in Japan, where Matt currently competes. In fact, when Matt won the World Tag Team Championship in 2005 with Gregory Helms, he became the eighth different member of the Anoa’i family tree to claim that gold.
“Our family is very excited about this,” Samu told WWE.com. “They’re flying in from all around the country. I’m going to get together with Matt and see what we can come up with to properly honor them.”
-MLB Hall of Famer Wade Boggs will induct "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig
Prior to “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig’s entrance into WWE, a series of videos were seen on WWE television proving that he was the “perfect athlete.” One of the videos featured Mr. Perfect taking batting practice, hitting nothing but home runs every time. Wade Boggs, then the third baseman for the Boston Red Sox and one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history, was seen at his side marveling at just how perfect Hennig was.
"I met Curt in 1983 in Rochester, N.Y., and we became good friends, hunting and fishing buddies," Boggs told WWE.com. "In fact, he once saved my life while were were hunting in 2001; I got entangled into a barbed wire fence and was cut pretty badly. It took all the strength Curt had to free me and carry me about a mile back to the truck. He saved my life and has a special place in my heart; we spent as much time as we could together, and it's a shame he was taken from us so early."
Boggs, who won five American League Batting crowns (including an impressive four in a row from 1985-88) and collected 3,010 hits in his career, was certainly no stranger to great hitting. He’s also no stranger to the Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2005 to baseball’s Hall in his first year of eligibility; he’s also a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame as well. So, it’s no surprise that the “perfect hitter” will induct Mr. Perfect into WWE’s Hall on March 31.
"It's special for me to induct Curt," Boggs beamed. "I know the weekend I had in Cooperstown (when Boggs was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame), and I wish he was around to see his induction. He was so passionate towards sports-entertainment and was a tremendous showman. It's so fitting."
-William Shatner will induct Jerry "The King" Lawler
Back in 1993, legendary actor William Shatner appeared on Jerry “The King” Lawler’s King’s Court to promote his TV show TekWar. After Lawler threatened to boldly send the megastar where no man had gone before, Shatner shocked WWE fans by laying “The King” out flat! Now, over a decade later, the two men have patched things up just in time for the two-time Emmy Award winner to step back into action and induct Lawler into the WWE Hall of Fame.
“My great claim to fame with WWE is throwing Jerry “The King” Lawler in the ring,” laughed Shatner when WWE.com reached him for comments on this year’s WWE Hall of Fame. “I threw him back then, and now I’ll throw him right into the WWE Hall of Fame!”
Check back with WWE.com Thursday to find out who will induct Jim Ross.
(I'm guessing most likely Steve Austin, although Dr. Death or Bill Watts are other possible choices.-Grimm)
The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will be held at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on Saturday night. Find out how you can watch the ceremony on WWE.com and the USA Network.
Luckily, you won't have to miss a single minute of the action, as the first two hours of the ceremony will be broadcast live on WWE.com starting at 7/6 CT. Later in the night, you can catch the huge conclusion of the ceremony at Midnight/11 CT on the USA Network.
but I'm always interested in the Hall of Fame.
from the E.com
2007 WWE Hall of Fame Inductors
March 28, 2007
The following have been announced as inductors for the upcoming 2007 Hall of Fame ceremony:
-Sabu will induct his uncle, The Sheik
For nearly four decades, The Original Sheik brought an unmatched and previously unseen brand of aggression to the world of sports-entertainment. With his trademark steel spike and ball of fire, the bloodthirsty wildman paved the way for the hardcore style of wrestling that would eventually change the face of the industry. On Saturday night, The Sheik will be honored for his contributions to the sport when his nephew Sabu inducts his late uncle into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Following his in-ring career, The Sheik’s contributions to wrestling continued. The former 12-time NWA United States Champion also played a role in training the Superstars of the future, including his nephew and Rob Van Dam.
-Don Muraco will induct former manager Mr. Fuji
WWE Hall of Famer Don “Magnificent” Muraco will be on hand in Detroit this Saturday, on the eve of WrestleMania 23, to pay tribute to Mr. Fuji by inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2007. Muraco’s involvement carries a significantly more personal meaning, as Mr. Fuji’s managerial services were instrumental in the career of Muraco – also a WWE Hall of Famer.
When Muraco enlisted Mr. Fuji as his manager, his in ring career skyrocketed as did the managing star of Mr. Fuji. The two men simultaneously made the others’ career better, and Muraco is happy to be part of any ceremony that would bestow this honor on Fuji.
“To be called on to induct Mr. Fuji is an honor in itself for me, and I am happy to do anything for Fuji,” said Muraco.
The partnership between manager and wrestler is often times limited to in-ring action, but Fuji and Muraco broke that mold when they ventured into the land of Hollywood. The unforgettable segments of Fuji Vice, Fuji General and others, will forever be remembered by WWE fans as some of the most-entertaining segments to ever air on WWE programming.
This Saturday, that partnership will be reformed, and Muraco’s excitement for the event is second only to his praise of Mr. Fuji. “I am happy to be part of this ceremony, but I am even happier that Mr. Fuji is finally getting the recognition he deserves.” Muraco continued, “Mr. Fuji did so much not just for me, but for the entire business, and this honor means it will not ever be forgotten.”
As far as the in-ring and managing career of Mr. Fuji, Don Muraco does not hesitate when he says that this honor is befitting of the manager of champions. “His career merits this accomplishment,” said Muraco, “and it is an honor to be connected to WWE, and even more so to Mr. Fuji.”
-Cody & Dustin Runnels will induct their father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
Dustin and Cody Runnels, the sons of the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, will induct their legendary father into the WWE Hall of Fame this Saturday, the night before WrestleMania 23.
Cody, who is wrestling in WWE’s developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling, says the opportunity to have his sons induct him into the Hall of Fame will make a proud moment that much more poignant.
“To him, it [the Hall of Fame] is a bigger deal than he’s letting anybody know,” Cody told WWE.com. “He and I, we’re like best friends, we’re really close. But he and Dustin, they’ve had their rifts here and there. So for us to be together – if ultimately he were to say, ‘I don’t want anything further to do with pro wrestling,’ this would be a wonderful way to cap it off.”
As documented by WWE programming in the past, Dustin – who wrestled for WWE as Goldust – and Rhodes have had a rocky relationship and were estranged for a time. But they have mended their fences over the years. Cody expects their father’s induction to be an emotional moment for both men.
“We’re a highly emotional family. I’d expect some waterworks” he said. “It’ll be interesting to see if we can just get through it [without crying]. I’m just so happy Dustin is getting to do this.”
Cody is honored that his father asked him to induct him into the Hall of Fame but also sees this as an opportunity to introduce himself to WWE fans.
“There’s no better way to establish everything that’s been done, everything that Dustin did as Goldust, everything that the American Dream did, than to be on the stage together,” he said. “There’s no better way [for me] to be brushed into the spotlight. Someday, I want to be on one of the three shows [Raw, SmackDown, ECW] and there’s no better way to say, ‘Hi, he had another kid and that’s me.’”
-Bobby "The Brain" Heenan will induct Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Bockwinkel was arguably the AWA’s most successful Superstar not named Verne Gagne. In the 1970s and 80s, Bockwinkel had a stranglehold on the AWA World Championship that was nearly unbreakable. But as dominant as he was, there was always brains behind his brawn. Actually, in Bockwinkel’s case, it was “The Brain,” as Bobby Heenan, his manager and the man who will induct him into the Hall of Fame.
“What can I say that hasn’t already been said?” Heenan quizzed WWE.com. “He was a great guy and he was great in the ring. He was a great second-generation star and he’s deserving of being in the Hall. Plus, he never did drugs or went to jail, so he couldn’t be a star in the NBA or NFL, could he?” he added with a laugh.
Heenan, a WWE Hall of Famer himself, managed several fellow Hall of Famers during his career, and Bockwinkel will just be the latest name added to that list. This will be Heenan’s fourth consecutive year of involvement with the Hall of Fame ceremony, as after his own 2004 induction, he sent former protégés Paul Orndorff (2005) and the Blackjacks (2006) into the Hall.
“This is my third time inducting someone, and I told them to keep me here until I do it right,” Heenan joked. “Third time’s the charm, right?”
-Matt "Rosey" Anoa'i and Sam "Samu" Anoa'i will induct their fathers, The Wild Samoans
In sports-entertainment, there are names that are synonymous with multi-generational success, such as Hart, Guerrero and Orton. Included in that list are the descendants of the Anoa’i family, including Afa & Sika, the Wild Samoans. Afa & Sika will be inducted into the Hall of Fame by their sons, Sam and Afa Jr. (Afa) and Matt (Sika), both of whom are former WWE Superstars and proof in their own right of how fruitful the Anoa’i family tree truly has been.
Sam, better known to WWE fans as Headshrinker Samu, is a former World Tag Team Champion with cousin Fatu (Rikishi) and has been involved in sports-entertainment for over two decades. Matt, who WWE fans will remember as Rosey, is also a former World Tag Team Champion and one of the most agile “big men” to step foot in a WWE ring. Both have had success all throughout the United States and in Japan, where Matt currently competes. In fact, when Matt won the World Tag Team Championship in 2005 with Gregory Helms, he became the eighth different member of the Anoa’i family tree to claim that gold.
“Our family is very excited about this,” Samu told WWE.com. “They’re flying in from all around the country. I’m going to get together with Matt and see what we can come up with to properly honor them.”
-MLB Hall of Famer Wade Boggs will induct "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig
Prior to “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig’s entrance into WWE, a series of videos were seen on WWE television proving that he was the “perfect athlete.” One of the videos featured Mr. Perfect taking batting practice, hitting nothing but home runs every time. Wade Boggs, then the third baseman for the Boston Red Sox and one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history, was seen at his side marveling at just how perfect Hennig was.
"I met Curt in 1983 in Rochester, N.Y., and we became good friends, hunting and fishing buddies," Boggs told WWE.com. "In fact, he once saved my life while were were hunting in 2001; I got entangled into a barbed wire fence and was cut pretty badly. It took all the strength Curt had to free me and carry me about a mile back to the truck. He saved my life and has a special place in my heart; we spent as much time as we could together, and it's a shame he was taken from us so early."
Boggs, who won five American League Batting crowns (including an impressive four in a row from 1985-88) and collected 3,010 hits in his career, was certainly no stranger to great hitting. He’s also no stranger to the Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2005 to baseball’s Hall in his first year of eligibility; he’s also a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame as well. So, it’s no surprise that the “perfect hitter” will induct Mr. Perfect into WWE’s Hall on March 31.
"It's special for me to induct Curt," Boggs beamed. "I know the weekend I had in Cooperstown (when Boggs was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame), and I wish he was around to see his induction. He was so passionate towards sports-entertainment and was a tremendous showman. It's so fitting."
-William Shatner will induct Jerry "The King" Lawler
Back in 1993, legendary actor William Shatner appeared on Jerry “The King” Lawler’s King’s Court to promote his TV show TekWar. After Lawler threatened to boldly send the megastar where no man had gone before, Shatner shocked WWE fans by laying “The King” out flat! Now, over a decade later, the two men have patched things up just in time for the two-time Emmy Award winner to step back into action and induct Lawler into the WWE Hall of Fame.
“My great claim to fame with WWE is throwing Jerry “The King” Lawler in the ring,” laughed Shatner when WWE.com reached him for comments on this year’s WWE Hall of Fame. “I threw him back then, and now I’ll throw him right into the WWE Hall of Fame!”
Check back with WWE.com Thursday to find out who will induct Jim Ross.
(I'm guessing most likely Steve Austin, although Dr. Death or Bill Watts are other possible choices.-Grimm)
The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will be held at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on Saturday night. Find out how you can watch the ceremony on WWE.com and the USA Network.
Luckily, you won't have to miss a single minute of the action, as the first two hours of the ceremony will be broadcast live on WWE.com starting at 7/6 CT. Later in the night, you can catch the huge conclusion of the ceremony at Midnight/11 CT on the USA Network.