WWE Hall of Fame (2017)

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WWE Hall of Fame (2017)
Promotional poster featuring wrestlers inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2017
PromotionWWE
DateMarch 31, 2017
CityOrlando, Florida
VenueAmway Center
WWE Hall of Fame chronology
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WWE Hall of Fame (2017) was the event which featured the introduction of the 18th class to the WWE Hall of Fame. The event was produced by WWE on March 31, 2017, from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.[1] The event took place the same weekend as WrestleMania 33.[2] This was the first time the Hall of Fame ceremony was not held the night before WrestleMania instead NXT TakeOver: Orlando was held the night before WrestleMania. The event aired live on the WWE Network,[3] and was hosted by Jerry Lawler. A condensed one-hour version of the ceremony aired the following Monday after Raw on the USA Network.[4]

Background[edit]

On January 16, 2017, WWE announced that Angle would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.[5] As a celebrated amateur wrestler, Angle had an aversion to professional wrestling, considering it "beneath" him.[6] He was offered a 10-year contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) following the 1996 Olympics,[7] but talks fell apart when he told company chairman Vince McMahon that he would be unwilling to lose any matches.[8] Angle's opinion of professional wrestling changed when he began watching the WWF's Monday Night Raw in 1998: he observed "world class athletes doing very athletic things", and developed an admiration for Stone Cold Steve Austin's talents as an entertainer.[7] Angle later conceded that his negative attitude toward the industry was misguided and "stupid".[6] Angle was signed to a five-year deal by August 1998, following a three-day tryout.[9] On August 25, 2006, Angle was granted an early release from his WWE contract because of health reasons.[10][11] Angle stated in the Kurt Angle: Champion documentary DVD that he asked for his release from WWE because he could not take time off and was working hurt, severely on some occasions. He also stated that when he quit, WWE lost their top talent, as he was at the very top of the payroll.[12] Following his release, Angle did not reappear on any WWE programming until his Hall of Fame induction.

Event[edit]

Due to the launch of the WWE Network shortly before WrestleMania XXX, this event featured the fourth "Red Carpet" event as a one-hour pre-show prior to the start of the event. Michael Cole and Maria Menounos hosted the pre-show.

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.[13] All inductees in 2017 were inducted posthumously and were recognized with a video package at the ceremony.[14] Those inducted in the 2017 legacy category were Martin "Farmer" Burns, June Byers, Haystacks Calhoun, Judy Grable, Dr. Jerry Graham, Luther Lindsay, Joseph "Toots" Mondt, Rikidōzan, and Bearcat Wright.

Following The Ultimate Warrior's death in April 2014,[15] 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."[16] As is the normal case, his widow Dana Hellweg presented the award. The 2017 inductee was Eric LeGrand. LaGrand was recognized for being a former Rutgers University football player. After LeGrand was paralyzed in 2010, rather than letting it defeat him, he became a motivational speaker.

Theodore Long was inducted by his long time travel-mates The APA (John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Ron Simmons). During the induction ceremony Layfield and Simmons shared memories of Long on the road, how he never was willing to pay for anything, and how much money he owed them.

Diamond Dallas Page was inducted by his former boss Eric Bischoff. During his induction speech, Page spoke about how much Dusty Rhodes, who had died two years prior, meant to him, and helped guide his career.

Natalya inducted her best friend Beth Phoenix. The two shared stories of how their careers started and how much the other meant to them and how it got them both where they are too. Phoenix went to introduce her husband however she was interrupted by Tony Chimel who offered to help her, and then announced Edge.[17] Phoenix also shared stories about Edge and stories of them from before they retired.

"Ravishing" Rick Rude was inducted by Ricky Steamboat. Due to Rude's passing in 1999, Rude's induction was posthumously accepted by his widow Michelle and his two surviving children, daughter Merissa and son Rick Rood Jr.

The Rock 'n' Roll Express members Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were inducted by Jim Cornette. Cornette shared stories of managing them during their early years. Gibson and Morton discussed what it was like to travel with each other for so many years, and discussed how they are as close as brothers.

Kurt Angle was the final member to be inducted, with his induction being done by John Cena (who had debuted against Angle back in 2002). This event marked Angle's return to the WWE after an over 10-year absence (most of which he spent working with rival promotion TNA). Angle roasted himself during his speech, referencing many of his old bits, including singing "I'm Just a Sexy Kurt" (his version of Shawn Michaels' theme) and finished by chugging two bottles of milk (a Stone Cold Steve Austin-inspired taunt he had previously done once in 2001 as part of his milk-based re-enactment of Austin giving The Corporation a beer bath in 1999).

Aftermath[edit]

On the April 3 episode of Raw after WrestleMania, Angle made his first WWE appearance in nearly 11 years after Mr. McMahon appointed Angle as the new general manager of Raw.[18] On October 20, WWE announced Angle's in-ring return after 11 years, replacing Roman Reigns due to medical issues and teaming with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins to face The Miz, Cesaro, Sheamus, Braun Strowman, and Kane in a 5-on-3 handicap Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.[19]

Inductees[edit]

Individual[edit]

  • Class headliners appear in boldface
Image Ring name
(Birth Name) 		Inducted by WWE recognized accolades
Kurt Angle[20][21] John Cena[22] Four-time WWF/WWE Champion
One-time World Heavyweight Champion
One-time WCW Champion
2000 King of the Ring winner[23]
Theodore Long[24][25][26] The APA
(John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Ron Simmons)[27] 		Longtime referee, manager, and on-screen authority figure in WCW and WWE[28]
Diamond Dallas Page[29][30]
(Page Falkinburg) 		Eric Bischoff[31] Three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
Two-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
One-time WWF Tag Team Champion
One-time WWF European Champion
Four-time WCW World Tag Team Champion[32]
Beth Phoenix[33][34]
(Elizabeth Kocianski) 		Natalya[35] One-time WWE Divas Champion
Three-time WWE Women's Champion
2008 Slammy Award winner for Diva of the Year[36]
Rick Rude[37][38][39]
(Richard Rood) 		Ricky Steamboat[40] Posthumous inductee: Represented by his widow Michelle, his daughter Merissa and his son Rick Rood.

Three-time WCW International World Heavyweight Champion
One-time WWF Intercontinental Champion
One-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion[41]

Tag team[edit]

Image Group Inducted by WWE recognized accolades
The Rock 'n' Roll Express[42][43][44] Jim Cornette[45] Four-time NWA World Tag Team Champions (Mid-Atlantic Version)
Four-time NWA World Tag Team Champions
Ten-time SMW Tag Team Champions[46]
Ricky Morton (Richard Morton)
Robert Gibson (Ruben Gibson)

Warrior Award[edit]

Image Recipient
(Birth name) 		Presented By Notes
Eric LeGrand[47][48] Dana Warrior Former Rutgers University football player
LeGrand was paralyzed during the 2010 game against Army. He has gone on to become a renowned motivational speaker.[49]

Legacy[edit]

Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		WWE recognized accolades
Martin "Farmer" Burns
 One-time American Heavyweight Champion[50]
June Byers
(DeAlva Sibley) 		One-time NWA World Women's Champion
One-time AWA World Women's Champion
Final Women's World Champion
Haystacks Calhoun
(William Calhoun) 		One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion[50]
Judy Grable
(Nellya Baughman) 		Challenged The Fabulous Moolah for the NWA World Women's Championship[50]
— Dr. Jerry Graham
(Jerry Matthews) 		Four-time NWA United States Tag Team Champion
One-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion[50]
— Luther Lindsay
(Luther Goodall) 		The first African-American to challenge for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[50]
— Joseph "Toots" Mondt As a promoter he was part of the Gold Dust Trio and controlled the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the precursor to WWE[50]
Rikidōzan
(Mitsuhiro Momota) 		One-time NWA International Heavyweight Champion[50]
— Bearcat Wright
(Edward Wright) 		One-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion
Credited by WWE as "being a key figure in the desegregation of the sports-entertainment industry"[50]

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "WWE Hall of Fame 2017 list of inductees, start time, watch live stream". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ "WWE Hall of Fame 2017 inductees and start time". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. ^ "WrestleMania 2017: How to watch WWE's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Kurt Angle to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". WWE. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Kurt Angle". Off the Record with Michael Landsberg. April 29, 2004. TSN.
  7. ^ a b "Kurt Angle: Homecoming". WWE 24. July 10, 2017. 10–11 minutes in. WWE Network.
  8. ^ Barnett, Josh (May 2, 2017). "From mat to ring, WWE's amateur and pro wrestling connection". USA Today. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  9. ^ The World Wrestling Alliance in association with the World Wrestling Federation (August 21, 1998). "Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Stasiak". SummerSlam Fest (Day 2). Kurt Angle recently signed a five-year deal with the World Wrestling Federation.
  10. ^ Clevett, Jason. "WWE releases Kurt Angle". SLAM Wrestling!. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  11. ^ "Angle talks about his release". WWE. Retrieved December 23, 2007.
  12. ^ "Kurt Angle: Champion" DVD.
  13. ^ "Congratulations to the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees". WWE. April 2, 2016. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  14. ^ Caldwell, James (April 2, 2016). "4/2 WWE Hall of Fame Report – Complete Live Coverage of Sting, Freebirds, more inducted, plus Red Carpet Report". PWTorch.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "Ultimate Warrior passes away". WWE. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014.
  16. ^ "WWE fan Connor Michalek to receive first-ever Warrior Award at 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony". WWE. March 9, 2015. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  17. ^ "Beth Phoenix has ring announcer introduce husband Edge during her WWE Hall of Fame speech". 1 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  18. ^ Keller, Wade. "Keller's WWE Monday Night Raw 4/3: The most remarkable opening ten minutes of Raw in history, perhaps, as crowd berates Reigns". PWTorch. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  19. ^ Burdick, Michael. "Kurt Angle & Raw Tag Team Champions Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins vs. Intercontinental Champion The Miz, Cesaro, Sheamus, Braun Strowman & Kane (5-on-3 Handicap Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match)". WWE. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  20. ^ "Kurt Angle returns to WWE for Hall of Fame induction". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
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  22. ^ Melok, Bobby. "John Cena to induct Kurt Angle into the WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  23. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Kurt Angle to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". WWE. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  24. ^ "Theodore 'Teddy' Long to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  25. ^ "WWE Hall of Fame: Theodore 'Teddy' Long to be inducted in 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  26. ^ "Exclusive: Teddy Long joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  27. ^ Melok, Bobby. "JBL & Ron Simmons to induct Teddy Long into the WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  28. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Theodore Long to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". WWE. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  29. ^ "Diamond Dallas Page Joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Diamond Dallas Page joins WWE Hall of Fame class of 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  31. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Eric Bischoff to induct Diamond Dallas Page into the WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  32. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Diamond Dallas Page to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". WWE. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  33. ^ "Beth Phoenix joins WWE Hall of Fame class of 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  34. ^ "'The Glamazon' Beth Phoenix is headed to WWE Hall of Fame". 27 February 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  35. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Natalya to induct Beth Phoenix into the WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  36. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Beth Phoenix to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". WWE. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  37. ^ "'Ravishing' Rick Rude to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  38. ^ "Rick Rude joins WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  39. ^ "Rick Rude announced as sixth inductee into WWE Hall of Fame's 2017 class". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  40. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat to induct "Ravishing" Rick Rude into WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  41. ^ Melok, Bobby. ""Ravishing" Rick Rude to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". WWE. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  42. ^ "Rock 'n' Roll Express to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  43. ^ "Rock 'n' Roll Express to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  44. ^ "The Rock 'n' Roll Express to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  45. ^ Melok, Bobby. "Jim Cornette to induct The Rock 'n' Roll Express into the WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  46. ^ Melok, Bobby. "The Rock 'n' Roll Express to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame". WWE. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  47. ^ "WWE Hall of Fame will honor Eric LeGrand". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  48. ^ "Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand receives Warrior Award from WWE". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  49. ^ Markazi, Arash. "Eric LeGrand named recipient of 2017 WWE Warrior Award". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h "Congratulations to the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees". WWE. March 31, 2017. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
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