Monday, March 28, 2005

Hall of Fame

As of this weekend Wrestlmania will be upon us. And this years looks great. Hopefully it will make up for the past couple of years. The WWE has fortunately brought back their Hall of Fame. Which I fill has been an total assist. They brought it back last year and to me it has given credibility to it. Before it had become a joke, but it has also been a good thing that they have waited so long. Now they have a good stock pile of wrestlers who deserve to be inducted. So lets take a look at this years inductees and who is inducting them.

THE IRON SHEIK
Inducted by: Sgt. Slaughter
From: Tehran, Iran
Finishing Move: camel Clutch
Titles Held: WWE Championship, World Tag Team Championship

It is great to see The Iron Sheik get inducted. He won the title in 1983 and lost it to Hulk Hogan in 1984. This match is considered to be the match that launched Hulk Hogans career and put wrestling back in the mainstream. But many remember his epic battles of good vs. Evil against Sgt. Slaughter. And nobody could believe it when Sgt. Slaughter joined sides with The Iron Sheik. After tagging with Nikolia Volkoff and winning the tag titles The Iron Sheik had a few recurring roles with the WWE.
Good Pick

PAUL ORNDORFF
Inducted by: Bobby Heenan
From: Brandon, FL
Finishing Move: Pile Driver
Titles Held: WCW Television Championship, WCW Tag Team Championship

This is a very odd pick for the Hall of Fame. Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff spent the majority of his career in the WCW. Not to say he didn't have a good career. Its just a really odd pick. Although he did mainevent the first main event. He teamed with Rowdy Roddy Piper against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.
Odd Pick

BOB ORTON, JR
Inducted by: Randy Orton
From: Kansas City, KS
Finishing Move: Superplex
Titles Held: None

"Cowboy" Bob Orton a second generation wrestler will be inducted by his son, current rising WWE superstar, Randy Orton. Cowboy Bob is remembered for his patented cast he always wore. Orton also partaked in the mainevent at the first wreslemania. He was in Piper and Orndorff's corner. He was supposed to hit Piper with his cast, but missed and hit Orndorff instead. He was also in Pipers corner when he had a boxing match with Mr. T at Wrestlmania 2.
OK Pick

JIMMY HART
inducted by: Jerry "The King" Lawler
From: Memphis, TN
Finishing Move: None
Titles Held: None

"The Mouth From The South" is arguable the greatest manager of all time. With his signature blow horn in hand his wrestlers were often unstoppable. In the WWE he led many wrestlers to Intercontinental championship and Tag Titles. He hit the big time following Hulk Hogan to WCW. He was in Hulks corner when he captured the World Heavy Weight Championship. Jimmy Hart is professional wrestling. He wrestled a short time and is famous for tagging with Andy Kaufman to wrestle Jerry "The King" Lawler.
Great Pick

NIKOLAI VOLKOFF
Inducted by: Jim Ross
From: Moscow, Russia
Finishing Move:
Titles Held: World Tag Team Championship

Nikolai Volkoff, as well as The Iron Sheik, capitalized on Americas view of Russia and Iran. He was able to use his heritage to his advantage. He was a great heel. His trademark was having the audience rise while he sang the Russian National Anthem. It is single handedly the best heel move ever, and it has often been duplicated. Volkoff and The Sheik captured the World Tag Titles solidifying them as one of the most hated tag combos.
OK Pick

RODDY PIPER
Inducted by: Chris Jericho
From: Scotland
Finishing Move: Sleeperhold
Titles Held: Intercontinental Championship, United States Championship

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper is probably the most hated villain of all time. In a class heavy in villains Piper is easily the most hated. Piper mainevented the first 2 Wrestlmania's, had a great rivalry with Hulk Hogan in the 80's, and is most known for Pipers Pit. A segment where Piper would interview superstars. At Wrestlmania 21 he will again host the Pipers Pit with special guest Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Great Pick

HULK HOGAN
inducted by: Sylvester Stallone
From: Venice Beach, CA
Finishing Move: Leg Drop
Titles Held: WWE Championship, World Tag Team Championship, WCW Championship

There is a reason he has earned the nickname "The Immortal." Hulk Hogan transcends time. This man has every right to wrestle till the day he dies. He made professional wrestling what it is today. A billion dollar industry. Everyone knows who Hulk Hogan is. Hulk Hogan is bigger than Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and any other superstar you want to name. There is to much to be said about him.
Best Pick They Possible Could Have Made

They will be joining Hall of Famers: Andre The Giant, Antonino Rocca, Arnold Skaaland, "Baron" Mikel Scicluna, "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd, Big John Studd, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Bobo Brazil, Buddy Rogers, Captain Lou Albano, Chief Jay Strongbow, "Classy" Freddie Blassy, don Muraco, George "The Animal" Steele, Gorilla Monsoon, Greg Valentine, Harley Race, Ivan Pulski, James Dudley, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Johnny & Jimmy Valiant, Johnny Rodz, Junkyard Dog, Killer Kowalski, Pat Patterson, Pedro Morales, Pete Rose, Sgt. Slaughter, Superstar Billy Graham, The Fabulous Moolah, The Grand Wizard, Tito Santana, and Vince McMahon, Sr.

So there it is the class of 2005. Let me know what you ladies and gents think. Is there anybody out there you would like to see added to this great list. I can think of many other deserving wrestling greats.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are a crazy man. You and all of this wrestling stuff. It seems that is all you post about. You should post about things going on in your life besides wrestling and footbal.

Anonymous said...

Hogan should have been able to wrestle til he dies and Flair will. Please retire Ric. Papa T

Matt said...

garrett follow the facts. it is a fact that Tiger has surpased MJ as the most known and worldly reknown athlete. so if he surpasses Tiger, follow the facts. Wrestling is an international sport. As in they go and wrestle overseas. always have. MJ has never went spent 6 weeks out of the year overseas playing basketball. Wrestlers, including "Terry" (your so knkowledgable) have spent at least a quarter of their careers overseas. And Papa T, Flair can wrestle till he dies too. He's older and moves better than Hogan. It is arguable that Flair has done more for wrestling than Hogan. It is arguable.

Anonymous said...

This is to garrettzetaotteson...
So his wife is third on the list? That is pretty sad. I sure hope I am not third on my spouses list when I get married.

Matt said...

dude i love MJ. Best athlete ever. but seriously. i know basketball is big internationally. but be honest with yourself. you know internationally wrestling is bigger.

Matt said...

alright little miss anonymous, or should i say chrisanna you're not fooling anyone.

Matt said...

Dude, you just used freshman girls as your proof. i can no longer take you seriously. i'm sorry and opinion you have now means squat. wmu has fried your brain. half of your girls over there don't even know jesus.