Wrestling Observer Newsletter Die Hall of Fame

#

Jahr

Image

Ringname
( Geburtsname )





1

1996

Abdullah der Schlächter
(Larry Shreve) ^[6]
Wrestling

Gewann die WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship (3 Mal), die NWA United National Championship (1 Mal) und die PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) ^[6] 2

1996

N / A

Perro Aguayo
(Pedro Aguayo Damián) ^[7]
Wrestling

Gewann die mexikanische Nationalmeisterschaft im Schwergewicht (1 Mal), die mexikanische Nationalmeisterschaft im Mittelgewicht (1 Mal) und die mexikanische National Tag Team Championship (2 Mal). ^{[8] [9] [19650125] ]} 3

1996



André der Riese
(André Roussimoff) ^[11]
Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die WWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die WWF Tag Team Championship (1 Mal) ^[12] 4

1996

N / A

Bert Assirati

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die British Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die European Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) ^[13] 5

1996



Giant Baba
(Shohei Baba)

Ringen und Fördern

Gewann die NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3x) und die PWF World Heavyweight Championship (4x); gründete All Japan Pro Wrestling ^[14] 6

1996

N / A

Jim Barnett

Förderung

Gründete Australiens World Championship Wrestling; im Besitz der Georgia Championship Wrestling ^{[15] [16]} 7

1996

N / A

Red Berry
(Ralph Berry) ^[17]
Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (9-mal) und die NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 x) ^{[17] [18]} 8

1996



Der Zerstörer
(Dick Beyer) ^[19]
Wrestling

Gewann die WWA World Heavyweight Championship (3-mal) und die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) ^{[19] [20]} 9

1996



Freddie Blassie

Ringen und Verwalten

Gewann die NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (14x) und die NAWA / WWA World Heavyweight Championship (4x); arbeitete als Manager nach seiner Pensionierung als Mitbewerber ^[21] 10

1996



Blue Demon
(Alexander Muñoz Moreno) ^[22]
Wrestling

Gewann die mexikanische Weltergewicht-Meisterschaft (3-mal) und trat in mehreren Luchador-Filmen auf ^{[23] [24] [25]} 11

1996



Nick Bockwinkel

Wrestling

Gewann die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (6x), die AWA World Tag Team Championship (3x) und die NWA World Tag Team Championship (2x) ^[26] 12

1996

N / A

Paul Boesch

Kommentieren und Fördern

posthume Aufnahme; förderte das Hoheitsgebiet von Houston, Texas, der National Wrestling Alliance ^[27] 13

1996

N / A

Bobo Brazil
(Houston Harris) ^[28]
Wrestling

Gewann die Detroit-Version der NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (9-mal) und der Mid-Atlantic-Version (1 Mal) ^{[29] [30]} 14

1996



Jack Brisco
(Fred Joe Brisco) ^[31]
Wrestling

Gewann die NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 Mal), die NWA World Tag Team Championship (3 Mal) und die NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) ^{[32] [33]} 15 [19659009] 1996

N / A

Bruiser Brody
(Frank Goodish) ^[34]
Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (3x) und die PWF World Tag Team Championship (1 Mal) ^[35] 16

1996

Mildred Burke
(Mildred Bliss) ^[36]
Ringen und Fördern von Frauen

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA World Women's Championship (1 Mal) und die WWWA World Single Championship (1 Mal); World Womens Wrestling Association gegründet ^[36] 17

1996



El Canek

Wrestling

Gewann die UWA World Heavyweight Championship (15-mal), die CMLL World Tag Team Championship (1 Mal) und die CMLL World Trios Championship (1 Mal) ^[37] 18

1996

Negro Casas
(José Casas Ruiz) ^[38]
Wrestling

Gewann die UWA World Lightweight Championship (1 Mal) und die UWA World Middleweight Championship (1 Mal) ^{[39] [40]} 19

1996



Riki Choshu
(Mitsuo Yoshida) ^[41]
Wrestling

Gewann die PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal), die IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 Mal) und die IWGP Tag Team Championship (3 Mal) ^{[41] [42]} 20

1996

Jim Cornette

Förderung und Verwaltung

Gründete Smoky Mountain Wrestling und verwaltete Ringer in National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling und World Wrestling Federation ^{[43] [44]} 1996

1996

N / A

The Crusher
(Reginald Lisowski) ^[45]
Wrestling

Gewann die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 x), die AWA World Tag Team Championship (9 x) und die WWA World Tag Team Championship (6 x) <sup>[46] [47] [19469794] 22

1996



Ted DiBiase

Ringen und Verwalten

Gewann die NWA / Mid-South North American Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (5 Mal), die PWF World Tag Team-Meisterschaft (1 Mal), die NWA National Heavyweight Championship (2 Mal) und die WWF World Tag Team-Meisterschaft (3 Mal). verwaltete die Million Dollar Corporation und die New World Order Stables [48] [49] 23

1996

N / A

Dick the Bruiser
(William Richard Afflis) [50]
Ringen und Fördern

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die AWA World Tag Team Championship (5 Mal); Besitz und Förderung der World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis, Indiana [51] [52] 24

1996

N / A

Alfonso Dantés
(Jose Luis Amezcua Diaz) [53]
Wrestling

Gewann die NWA-Weltmeisterschaft im Halbschwergewicht (5 Mal), die Mexikanische Nationalmeisterschaft im Schwergewicht (2 Mal) und die Mexikanische Nationalmeisterschaft im Halbschwergewicht (3 Mal) [53] [19650199] 25

1996



Die Familie Dusek
(Die Hason-Familie) [55]
Ringen und Fördern

Emil und Ernie Dusek gewannen die Version der NWA World Tag Team Championship in den Zentralstaaten (3 Mal) und die Version des NWA World Tag Team in San Francisco (1 Mal); Joe Dusek förderte Wrestling-Events in Omaha, Nebraska [55] 26

1996



Dynamite Kid
(Tom Billington) [56]
Wrestling

Gewann die All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 Mal), Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die WWF Tag Team Championship (1 Mal) [56] [57] 27

1996

N / A

Die fabelhaften Kängurus (Al Costello, Roy Heffernan und Don Kent)
(Giacoma Costa, Laurence Roy Heffernan und Leo Smith, Jr.) [1946901] [59] [60]
Wrestling

Gewann die Nordostversion der NWA United States Tag Team Championship (3-mal) und die Mid-America-Version der NWA World Tag Team Championship (3-mal). [58] [61] 28

1996



Jackie Fargo
(Henry Faggart) [62]
Wrestling

Gewann die Mid-America-Version der NWA World Tag Team Championship (10-mal) und die Mid-America-Version der NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (22-mal). [61] [63] [63] 29

1996



Ric Flair
(Richard Morgan Fliehr) [64]
Wrestling

Gewann die WWF-Meisterschaft (2-mal), die NWA World Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (8-mal) und die WCW World Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (6-mal) [65] 30

1996



Tatsumi Fujinami

Ringen

Gewann die IWGP-Meisterschaft im Schwergewicht (6-mal), die NWA World Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (1 Mal) und die WWF-Junior-Meisterschaft im Schwergewicht (1 Mal) [33] [66] [67] [67] [19659253] 31

1996

N / A

Dory Funk

Ringen und Fördern

posthume Aufnahme; gewann mehrfach die NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die NWA North American Heavyweight Championship; gefördert für die National Wrestling Alliance [68] [69] 32

1996

N / A

Dory Funk, Jr.

Wrestling

Gewann die NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal), die NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (2 Mal) und die NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (3 Mal) [68] [70] 33

1996



Terry Funk

Wrestling

Gewann die NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal), die ECW World Heavyweight Championship (2 Mal) und die WWF Tag Team Championship (1 Mal) [71] [72] [73] 34

1996



Verne Gagne
(LaVerne Gagne)

Ringen und Fördern

Gründung der American Wrestling Associationl; gewann die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (10-mal) [74] 35

1996

N / A

Cavernario Galindo
(Rodolfo Galindo Ramírez) [75] [75]
Wrestling

Gewann die mexikanische Meisterschaft im Halbschwergewicht (1 Mal); erschien in mehreren Luchador-Filmen [75] [76] 36

1996

N / A

Ed Don George

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (2-mal) und Bostons AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) [77] 37

1996



Der wunderschöne George
(George Raymond Wagner) [78]
Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal), die NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und Bostons AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) [78] 38

1996

Frank Gotch

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (1 Mal) und die American Heavyweight Championship (3 Mal) [79] 39

1996

N / A

Karl Gotch
(Karl Istaz) [80]
Wrestling

Gewann die IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal), die WWWF World Tag Team Championship (1 Mal) und Ohio's AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) [80] 40

1996



Billy Graham
(Wayne Coleman) [81]
Wrestling

Gewann die WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die San Francisco-Version der NWA World Tag Team Championship (2 Mal) [82] [83] 41

1996

N / A

Eddie Graham
(Edward Gossett) [84]
Ringen und Fördern

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA World Tag Team Championship (7 Mal) und die NWA United States Tag Team Championship (4 Mal); war im Besitz von Championship Wrestling aus Florida und diente als Präsident der National Wrestling Alliance [84] 42

1996

N / A

René Guajardo

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; nahm im Mittelgewicht in Mexiko teil [85] [86] 43

1996

N / A

Gory Guerrero
(Salvador Guerrero Quesada) [87] [87] Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA World Welterweight Championship (1 Mal), die NWA World Middleweight Championship (1 Mal) und die mexikanische National Middleweight Championship (1 Mal) [87] 44

1996



Georg Hackenschmidt

Ringen

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die griechisch-römische Meisterschaft im Schwergewicht (1 Mal) und die World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (1 Mal) [88] 45

1996



Stan Hansen
(John Stanley Hansen) [89]
Wrestling

Gewann die Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (4-mal) und die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) [89] [90] 46

1996



Bret Hart

Wrestling

Gewann die WWF-Meisterschaft (5-mal), die WWF-Tag-Team-Meisterschaft (2-mal) und die WCW World Heavyweight Championship (2-mal) [91] [92] [93] [93] ] 47

1996

N / A

Stu Hart

Ringen, Fördern und Trainieren

Besitz und Förderung von Stampede Wrestling; trainierte viele bekannte Wrestler [94] 48

1996



Bobby Heenan
(Raymond Louis Heenan) [95] [95]
Verwalten und Kommentieren

Verwaltete Ringer in der American Wrestling Association, dem Georgia Championship Wrestling und der World Wrestling Federation; lieferte Farbkommentare für die World Wrestling Federation und World Championship Wrestling [95] 49

1996



Danny Hodge

Ringen

Gewann die NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (7-mal) [96] 50

1996



Hulk Hogan
(Terry Bollea) [97]
Wrestling

Gewann die WWE World Heavyweight Championship (6 x) und die WCW World Heavyweight Championship (6 x). [91] [93] 51

1996



Antonio Inoki
(Kanji Inoki) [98]
Ringen und Fördern

Gewann die All Asia Tag Team Championship (3 Mal), die NWA International Tag Team Championship (4 Mal) und die IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal). gründete New Japan Pro Wrestling [99] 52

1996

N / A

Rayo de Jalisco, Sr.
(Maximino Linares Moreno) [100] [100] Wrestling

Gewann die mexikanische National Tag Team Championship (zweimal) und trat in Luchador-Filmen auf [101] [102] [103] 53

1996



Tom Jenkins

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die amerikanische Meisterschaft im Schwergewicht (3-mal) [104] 54

1996

N / A

Don Leo Jonathan
(Don Heaton) [105]
Wrestling

Gewann die NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (15-mal) und Omahas World Heavyweight Championship (2-mal) [105] 55

1996



Gene Kiniski

Wrestling

Gewann die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal), die NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) [106] 56

1996

N / A

Fred Kohler
(Fred Koch) [60]
Förderung

posthume Aufnahme; förderte Wrestling-Events in Chicago, Illinois, und half, das Wrestling von Tag-Teams in den Vereinigten Staaten zu popularisieren [107] 57

1996



Killer Kowalski
(Edward Walter Spulnik) [108]
Wrestling and Training

Gewann die IWA World Heavyweight Championship (6 x) und die WWWF World Tag Team Championship (1 x); trainierte viele bekannte Wrestler [109] 58

1996

N / A

Ernie Ladd

Wrestling

Gewann die Mid-South North American Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (4-mal), die WWA World Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (1 Mal) und die NWF Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (1 Mal) [110] 59

1996

N / A

Dick Lane

Kommentieren

posthume Aufnahme; arbeitete als Kommentator für Wrestling-Shows in Südkalifornien [111] 60

1996



Jerry Lawler

Ringen und Fördern

Gewann die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal), die USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (27-mal) und die Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (40-mal) [112] 61

1996



Ed Lewis

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (5-mal) [113] 62

1996

Jim Londos
(Chris Theophelos) [114]
Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (1 Mal) und die NWA / NBA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) [114] 63

1996

Salvador Lutteroth
(Salvador Lutteroth Gonzalez) [115] [115]
Förderung

posthume Aufnahme; gründete Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre [116] 64

1996

N / A

Akira Maeda

Ringen und Fördern

Wettkampf in Europa und Japan; gründete Fighting Network Rings und eine Inkarnation der Universal Wrestling Federation [117] [118] [119] 65

1996

N / A

Devil Masami
(Masami Yoshida) [120]
Ringen der Frauen

Am kanadischen Stampede Wrestling sowie an Japan teilgenommen; trainierte mehrere bekannte Wrestler [121] [122] 66

1996



Mil Máscaras
(Aaron Rodríguez) [123]
Wrestling

Gewann die WWA / NWA Americas Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (4-mal), die mexikanische nationale Halbschwergewicht-Meisterschaft (2-mal) und die georgische IWA-Weltmeisterschaft im Schwergewicht (1 Mal) [123] 67

1996



Dump Matsumoto
(Kaoru Matsumoto) [124]
Wrestling der Frauen

Konkurrierte im All-Wrestling von Frauen und der World Wrestling Federation; hielt mehrere Tag-Team-Titel mit Bull Nakano [124] [125] 68

1996



Earl McCready

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (2-mal) [126] 69

1996

N / A

Leroy McGuirk

Ringen und Fördern

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die World Light Heavyweight Championship (2 Mal); Shows für National Wrestling Alliance in Oklahoma [69] [127] [128] 70

1996 gefördert

N / A

Vincent J. McMahon

Förderung

posthume Aufnahme; gründete die World Wide Wrestling Federation [129] 71

1996

Vincent K. McMahon

Förderung

Besitz und Bereitstellung von Kommentaren für die World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE; gewann die WWF-Meisterschaft (1 Mal) und die ECW-Weltmeisterschaft (1 Mal) [91] [130] [131] 72

1996

N / A

Danny McShain

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die Weltmeisterschaft im Halbschwergewicht (11-mal) und die NWA Texas Heavyweight-Meisterschaft (9-mal) [18] [132] 73

1996

N / A

Ray Mendoza
(Jose Diaz) [133]
Wrestling

Gewann die NWA-Weltmeisterschaft im Halbschwergewicht (6-mal) und die UWA-Weltmeisterschaft im Halbschwergewicht (4-mal) [133] 74

1996



Mitsuharu Misawa

Wrestling

Gewann die Triple Crown-Meisterschaft im Schwergewicht (5-mal); gründete Pro Wrestling Noah [134] [135] 75

1996

N / A

Toots Mondt
(Joseph Mondt)

Förderung

posthume Aufnahme; gründete die World Wide Wrestling Federation [136] 76

1996

N / A

Sam Muchnick

Förderung

Gründete die National Wrestling Alliance und war von 1950 bis 1960 sowie von 1963 bis 1975 deren Präsident. Besitz und Förderung des St. Louis Wrestling Club [137] [138] 77

1996

N / A

Bronko Nagurski
(Bronislau Nagurski) [139]
Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die NWA / NBA World Heavyweight Championship (2-mal) [139] 78

1996

Pat O'Connor

Wrestling

posthume Aufnahme; gewann die AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) und die NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 Mal) [140] 79

1996



Kintaro Oki
(Kim Il)

Wrestling

Won the All Asia Heavyweight Championship (4 times) and NWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[141]80

1996



Atsushi Onita

Wrestling and promoting

Competed in Japan and founded Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling[142]81

1996



Pat Patterson
(Pierre Clermont)[83]
Wrestling

Won the San Francisco version of NWA World Tag Team Championship (11 times), AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), and WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)[83]82

1996

N/A

Antonio Peña
(Antonio Peña Herrada)[141]
Promoting

Founded Asistencia Asesoría y Administración[141]83

1996

N/A

John Pesek

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[69]84

1996



Roddy Piper
(Roderick Toombs)[143]
Wrestling

Won the NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)[143]85

1996



Harley Race

Wrestling

Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (8 times); founded World League Wrestling[69]86

1996



Dusty Rhodes
(Virgil Runnels, Jr.)[144]
Wrestling

Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (10 times)[145]87

1996

Rikidōzan
(Kim Sin-Nak)[146]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), and All Asia Tag Team Championship (4 times)[146]88

1996

The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)
(Michael Hegstrand and Joseph Laurinaitis)[147]
Wrestling

Won the AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), and WWF Tag Team Championship (2 times)[92][147]89

1996

N/A

Yvon Robert

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and Boston's AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[148]90

1996

N/A

Billy Robinson

Wrestling

Won the PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times), and AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship multiple times[6][149][150]91

1996



Antonino Rocca
(Antonino Biasetton)[151]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) and WWWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[152]92

1996

N/A

Buddy Rogers
(Herman Rohde)[153]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[33][91]93

1996

N/A

Lance Russell
(Lanier Russell)

Commentating

Worked as commentator and ring announcer for wrestling shows in Memphis, and to a lesser extent, World Championship Wrestling and Smoky Mountain Wrestling[154]94

1996



Bruno Sammartino

Wrestling

Won the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time), and WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)[155]95

1996

N/A

Billy Sandow

Promoting and managing

Posthumous inductee; managed Ed "Strangler" Lewis and was an influential promoter in the early twentieth century[156]96

1996



El Santo
(Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta)[102]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the Mexican National Welterweight Championship (2 times), Mexican National Middleweight Championship (4 times), and Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time); appeared in several luchador films[9][23][102][157]97

1996

N/A

Jackie Sato
(Naoko Sato)[158]
Women's wrestling

Won the WWWA World Single Championship (2 times)[158]98

1996



Randy Savage
(Randy Poffo)[159]
Wrestling

Won the WWF Championship (2 times), WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time), and WCW World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)[91][93][160]99

1996

N/A

The Sheik
(Ed Farhat)[161]
Wrestling and promoting

Won the Detroit Version of NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (12 times) and NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (2 times); owned and promoted Big Time Wrestling[161][162]100

1996

N/A

Hisashi Shinma

Promoting

Was active in Japanese professional wrestling and served as president of the World Wrestling Federation[99][163]101

1996



Dara Singh
(Dara Singh Randhawa)[164]
Wrestling

Won the World Wrestling Championship, NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (1 time) and Commonwealth Championship.[42][165][166]102

1996



Gordon Solie
(Francis Jonard Labiak)[167]
Commentating

Worked as commentator for the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling[168]103

1996

N/A

El Solitario
(Roberto González Cruz)[169]
Wrestling

Won the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time)[169][170]104

1996



Ricky Steamboat[171]
(Richard Henry Blood)

Wrestling

Won the NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (4 times), NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)[171][172]105

1996

N/A

Joe Stecher

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (4 times)[173]106

1996

N/A

Tony Stecher
(Anton Charles Stecher)[173]
Wrestling and promoting

Posthumous inductee; won several regional championships; co-founded the National Wrestling Alliance[173]107

1996

N/A

Ray Steele
(Peter Sauer)[174]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[69]108

1996

N/A

Ray Stevens

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) (2 times), the NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (3 times) and the AWA United States Heavyweight Championship (7 times)[69]109

1996



Nobuhiko Takada

Wrestling and promoting

Won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time); founded the Union of Wrestling Forces International[67][175]110

1996



Genichiro Tenryu
(Genichiro Shimada)[176]
Wrestling

Won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[177][178][179]111

1996

Lou Thesz
(Aloysius Martiz Thesz)[180]
Wrestling

Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)[180]112

1996

N/A

Satoru Sayama
(Satoru Sayama)[181]
Wrestling

Wrestled as "Tiger Mask", won the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[181]113

1996

N/A

Jumbo Tsuruta
(Tomomi Tsuruta)[182]
Wrestling

Won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[182]114

1996

N/A

Frank Tunney

Promoting

Posthumous inductee; promoted wrestling events in Toronto, Ontario and served as president of the National Wrestling Alliance[183]115

1996

N/A

Maurice Vachon

Wrestling

Won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (5 times), AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times), and Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)[184]116

1996

Big Van Vader
(Leon White)[185]
Wrestling

Won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and WCW World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[93][186]117

1996

N/A

Johnny Valentine
(Jonathan Wisniski)[187]
Wrestling

Won the NWF Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and NWA/WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (4 times)[188]118

1996

N/A

Fritz Von Erich
(Jack Adkisson)[189]
Wrestling and promoting

Won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA American Heavyweight Championship (13 times); served as president of the National Wrestling Alliance and founded World Class Championship Wrestling[189][190]119

1996

N/A

Whipper Billy Watson
(William Potts)[191]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (12 times)[191]120

1996



Bill Watts

Wrestling and promoting

Won the AWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time); founded Universal Wrestling Federation and served as president of World Championship Wrestling[192][193][194]121

1996



Jaguar Yokota
(Rimi Yokota)[195]
Women's wrestling

Won UWA World Women's Championship (1 time)[196]122

1996



Stanislaus Zbyszko

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (2 times)[197]123

1997



Édouard Carpentier
(Edouard Wiercowicz)[198]
Wrestling

Won the Boston's Atlantic Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Omaha's World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and NAWA/WWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[198]124

1997



El Hijo del Santo
(Jorge Guzmán)[199]
Wrestling

Won the AAA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), Mexican National Middleweight Championship (1 time), and Mexican National Welterweight Championship (1 time)[9][23][200]125

1997



Toshiaki Kawada

Wrestling

Won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (5 times)[177]126

1997

N/A

Jimmy Lennon

Ring announcing

Posthumous inductee; worked as a ring announcer in Los Angeles[201]127

1997

William Muldoon

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won American Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[202]128

1997



Chigusa Nagayo

Women's wrestling

Founded Gaea Japan; won the AAAW Single Championship (2 times)[203][204]129

1998



Dos Caras
(José Rodríguez)

Wrestling

Won the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and Mexican National Trios Championship (1 time)[157][205]130

1999



Lioness Asuka
(Tomoko Kitamura)

Women's wrestling

Competed in Japan and the United States[206]131

1999



Jushin Thunder Liger
(Keiichi Yamada)[207]
Wrestling

Won the J-Crown (1 time) and WCW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)[208][209]132

1999



Keiji Mutoh

Wrestling

Won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and IWGP Heavyweight Championship (4 times)[118][177]133

1999



Jim Ross

Commentating

Worked as commentator for Universal Wrestling Federation, WCW, and WWF/E[210]134

2000

(Steven James Williams)[211][n 2]
Wrestling

Won the WWF Championship (6 times), WWF Intercontinental Championship (2 times), and WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[91][160][172]135

2000

Mick Foley

Wrestling

Won the WWF Championship (3 times) and TNA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[91]136

2000



Shinya Hashimoto

Wrestling

Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times), and Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[177][213][214]137

2000

N/A

Akira Hokuto
(Hisako Uno Sasaki)

Women's wrestling

Competed in Japan and the United States; won the WCW Women's Championship (1 time)[215]138

2000

N/A

Bill Longson

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[216]139

2000

N/A

Frank Sexton

Wrestling

Won the Boston-based AWA World Heavyweight Champion (2 times)[217]140

2000

N/A

Sandor Szabo

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[218]141

2001

N/A

Black Shadow
(Alejandro Cruz Ortíz)[60]
Wrestling

Won the Mexican National Tag Team Championship (1 time) and Mexican National Lightweight Championship (1 time)[101][219]142

2001

N/A

Diablo Velasco
(Cuahutémoc Velasco)[60]
Training

Posthumous inductee; trained many well-known wrestlers[69][220]143

2001

N/A

Lizmark
(Juan Baños)

Wrestling

Won the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Mexican National Middleweight Championship (2 times), and Mexican National Welterweight Championship (1 time)[9][23][157]144

2001



Bull Nakano
(Keiko Nakano)[221]
Women's wrestling

Won the WWWA World Single Championship (1 time), WWE Women's Championship (1 time) and CMLL World Women's Championship (1 time)[124]145

2001

N/A

El Satánico
(Daniel López)[222]
Wrestling

Won the Mexican National Middleweight Championship (3 times) and Mexican National Trios Championship (3 times)[9][205]146

2002



Martin Burns

Wrestling and training

Posthumous inductee; won the American Heavyweight Championship (1 time); trained many well-known wrestlers[223][224]147

2002

Jack Curley
(Jacques Armand Schuel)[225]
Promoting

Posthumous inductee; promoted wrestling events and helped popularize professional wrestling in the United States[225]148

2002

Kenta Kobashi

Wrestling

Won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[177][226]149

2002

N/A

Wahoo McDaniel
(Edward McDaniel)[227]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the NWA United States Championship (5 times), NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (5 times), and NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[228]150

2002



Manami Toyota

Women's wrestling

Won the AAAW Single Championship (1 time)[204]151

2003



Chris Benoit

Wrestling

Won the World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and WCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[229]152

2003

Earl Caddock

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (1 time)[230]153

2003

N/A

Francisco Flores

Promoting

Promoted wrestling events in Mexico[231]154

2003



Shawn Michaels
(Michael Shawn Hickenbottom)[232]
Wrestling

Won the WWF Championship (3 times), World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and WWF/World Tag Team Championship (4 times)[91][92][233]155

2004



The Undertaker
(Mark Calaway)[234]
Wrestling

Won the WWF/E Championship (4 times), World Heavyweight Championship (3 times), and WWF Tag Team Championship (6 times)[91][92][233]156

2004



Bob Backlund

Wrestling

Won the WWWF Heavyweight Championship/WWF Championship (2 times) and WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time)[91][92]157

2004



Masahiro Chono

Wrestling

Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[213]158

2004

N/A

Tarzán Lόpez
(Carlos Lόpez Tovar)[60]
Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times), Mexican National Middleweight Championship (1 time), and Mexican National Welterweight Championship (1 time)[9][23][157]159

2004



Kazushi Sakuraba

Wrestling and MMA

Competed in several professional wrestling organizations as well as mixed martial arts fighting[235]160

2004



Último Dragón
(Yoshihiro Asai)[236]
Wrestling

Won the J-Crown (1 time) and WCW Cruiserweight Championship (2 times)[208][209]161

2004



Kurt Angle

Wrestling

Won the WWF/E Championship (4 times), World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and TNA World Heavyweight Championship (6 times) [91][233]162

2005



The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, and Buddy Roberts)
(Michael Seitz, Terry Gordy, and Dale Hey)[237][238]
Wrestling

Won the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship/Texas version of the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (6 times)[239]163

2005



Paul Heyman

Promoting

Owned and promoted Extreme Championship Wrestling; managed in American Wrestling Association, National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling[240]164

2005



Triple H
(Paul Michael Levesque)[241]
Wrestling

Won the WWF/E Championship (9 times), World Heavyweight Championship (5 times)[91][233]WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (5 times), and WWF European Championship (2 times)
165

2006

N/A

Paul Bowser

Promoting

Posthumous inductee; promoted Boston's American Wrestling Association[242]166

2006



Eddie Guerrero

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the WWE Championship (1 time), WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (2 times), and WCW/WWE United States Championship (2 times)[243]167

2006

N/A

Hiroshi Hase

Wrestling

Won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and IWGP Tag Team Championship (4 times)[244][245]168

2006



Masakatsu Funaki

Wrestling, MMA and promoting

Competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling and as a mixed martial artist; founded Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling[246][247][248]169

2006



Aja Kong
(Erika Shishido)

Women's wrestling

Competed in Japan and the United States; won the AAAW Single Championship (3 times)[204][249]170

2007



The Rock
(Dwayne Johnson)[250]
Wrestling

Won the WWF/WWE Championship (8 times), WCW/World Championship (2 times), WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (2 times), and WWF World Tag Team Championship (5 times)[91][251]171

2007



Evan Lewis

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; won the American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[223]172

2007

N/A

Tom Packs

Promoting

Posthumous inductee; promoted wrestling events in St. Louis, Missouri and the Midwestern United States[252]173

2008

N/A

Paco Alonso
(Francisco Alonso)

Promoting

Promoted the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre[253]174

2008



Martín Karadagian

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee; competed in Argentina[254]175

2009

(Charles Ashenoff)

Wrestling

Won the AAA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times), WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time), WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times), WCW World Television Championship (1 time)[69]176

2009

N/A

Everett Marshall

Wrestling

Won the MWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[69]177

2009

N/A

The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane and Dennis Condrey)

Wrestling

Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA United States Tag Team Championship (3 times), and NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)[69]178

2009

N/A

Bill Miller

Wrestling

Won the AWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time), AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time)
179

2009



Masa Saito
(Masanori Saito)

Wrestling

Won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time), WWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times)[69]180

2009

N/A

Roy Shire
(Roy Shropshire)

Promoting

Won the Amarillo version of NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA Southwest Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[69]181

2010



Chris Jericho
(Christopher Irvine)

Wrestling

Won the Undisputed WWF Championship (1 time), World Heavyweight Championship (3 times), WCW/World Championship (2 times), WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (9 times), and WWE United States Championship (2 times)[69]182

2010



Rey Mysterio, Jr.
(Oscar Gutierrez)

Wrestling

Won the World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), WWE Championship (1 time), WCW/WWE Cruiserweight Championship (8 times), 2006 Royal Rumble winner[69]183

2010

N/A

Wladek Zbyszko
(Władysław Cyganiewicz)

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. Won the Boston version of AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[69]184

2011

N/A

Kent Walton

Commentating

Posthumous inductee. World of Sport commentator[255]185

2011

N/A

Steve Williams

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. Won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 time), UWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[255]186

2011

N/A

Curtis Iaukea

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. Won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time)[255]187

2012

N/A

Mick McManus
(Michael Matthews)

Wrestling

Won the European Middleweight Championship (4 times), British Welterweight Championship (2 times) and British Middleweight Championship (1 time)[256]188

2012

N/A

Alfonso Morales
(Gilberto Alberto Morales Villela)

Commentating

Commentator for both AAA and CMLL on Televisa[256]189

2012



John Cena

Wrestling

Won the WWE Championship/WWE World Heavyweight Championship (13 times), World Heavyweight Championship (3 times), and WWE United States Championship (5 times)[256]190

2012

Hans Schmidt
(Guy Larose)

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. Won the Montreal version of AWA International Heavyweight Championship (2 times), Chicago version of NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and Los Angeles version of NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)[256]191

2012



Lou Albano

Wrestling and managing

Posthumous inductee. Won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. Manager of 15 different WWF World Tag Team Champions[256]192

2012

N/A

Gus Sonnenberg

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Original World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and Boston version of AWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[256]193

2013

N/A

Takashi Matsunaga

Promoting

Posthumous inductee. Founder and promoter of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling[257]194

2013

N/A

Henri Deglane

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. The most famous wrestler in the history of France. Credited with making professional wrestling popular there. Decorated Greco-Roman wrestler[257]195

2013

N/A

Dr. Wagner
(Manuel González)

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee.Won the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and Mexican National Tag Team Championship (1 time). Patriarch of the Wagner wrestling family[257]196

2013

[257]197

2013

Kensuke Sasaki

Wrestling

Won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times), IWGP Heavyweight Championship (5 times), GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time), IWGP Tag Team Championship (7 times), GHC Tag Team Championship (1 time) and WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[257]198

2013



Hiroshi Tanahashi

Wrestling

Won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (7 times), IWGP Tag Team Championship (2 times), and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship (2 times)[257]199

2014



The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)
(Richard Morton and Ruben Cain)

Wrestling

Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic Version) (4 times), NWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times), SMW Tag Team Championship (10 times), and USWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times)[258]200

2014

N/A

Ray Fabiani
(Aurelio Fabiani)

Promoting

Posthumous inductee. Philadelphia promoter[258]201

2015



Brock Lesnar

Wrestling and MMA

Won the WWE Championship/WWE World Heavyweight Championship (4 times), WWE Universal Championship (2 time), IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and UFC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[3]202

2015



Shinsuke Nakamura

Wrestling

Won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times), IWGP Intercontinental Championship (5 times), IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time), NXT Championship (2 times) and WWE United States Championship[3]203

2015

N/A

Perro Aguayo, Jr.
(Pedro Aguayo)

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. Won the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1), Mexican National Tag Team Championship (3 times), CMLL World Trios Championship (1 time), and WWA Tag Team Championship (3 times)[3]204

2015

N/A

The Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto)

Wrestling

Won the Florida version of NWA United States Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (12 times), Vancouver version of NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), and Mid-America version of NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)[3]205

2015



Ivan Koloff
(Oreal Perras)

Wrestling

Won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (5 times), NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (7 times), NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (4 times), NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time), Mid-Atlantic version of NWA Television Championship (5 times), NWA United States Tag Team Championship (2 times), Mid-Atlantic version of NWA World Tag Team Championship (5 times), and WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[3]206

2015



Carlos Colón

Wrestling

Won the WWC World/Universal Heavyweight Championship (26 times), NWA World Heavyweight Championship (one time), WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (9 times), WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (8 times), WWC North American Tag Team Championship (11 times), WWC World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time), WWC World Tag Team Championship (3 times) and WWC World Television Championship (4 times)[3]207

2015

N/A

Eddie Quinn
(Edmund Quinn)

Promoting

Posthumous inductee. Montreal promoter[3]208

2016



Daniel Bryan
(Bryan Danielson)

Wrestling

Won the World Heavyweight Championship (WWE) (1 time), WWE Championship/WWE World Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and ROH World Championship (1 time).[259]209

2016



Gene Okerlund
(Eugene Okerlund)

Commentating

Worked as interviewer and announcer for American Wrestling Association, World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.[259]210

2016



Sting
(Steve Borden)

Wrestling

Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), WCW World Heavyweight Championship (6 times), WCW International World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and TNA World Heavyweight Championship (4 times).[259]211

2016

N/A

James McLaughlin

Wrestling

Posthumous inductee. Generally considered the first American professional wrestling champion.[259]212

2017

N/A

Mark Lewin

Wrestling

Won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time).[260]213

2017



AJ Styles
(Allen Jones)

Wrestling

Won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (2 times), NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times), TNA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and WWE Championship (2 times).[260]214

2017

N/A

The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike)

Wrestling

Posthumous inductees. Introduced modern professional wrestling to Japan. Won the San Francisco version (18 times) and the Chicago version (1 time) of the NWA World Tag Team Championship.[260]215

2017



Minoru Suzuki

Wrestling and MMA

Co-founder of Pancrase. Won the King of Pancrase Openweight Championship (1 time), Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (2 times), GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NEVER Openweight Championship (1 time), and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship (1 time).[260]216

2017



Pedro Morales

Wrestling

Won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time).[260]217

2018



LA Park

Wrestling

[261]218

2018



Jerry Jarrett

Wrestling and promoter

[261]219

2018



Jimmy Hart

Manager

[261]220

2018



Bill Apter

Journalism

Staff member for several magazines during the 1970s, 80s and 90s, notably Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[261]221

2018



Howard Finkel

Announcer

[261]222

2018



Gary Hart

Wrestling and manager

[261]223

2018



Yuji Nagata

Wrestling

Two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, one-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, 2001 G1 Climax tournament winner, 2011 Champion Carnival tournament winner[261]</sup>