WWE Hall Of Fame News

News

Ricky Steamboat has cleared a deal with his ex-wife Bonnie over the rights to the “Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat” name and can now use it on TV. This will allow WWE to use him as a Legends character and one day induct him into their Hall of Fame.

Jerry Lawler was very reluctant about being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. He wanted Lance Russell, a wrestling broadcast icon in Memphis, to induct him, which Kevin Dunn was not keen on because hardly any of the modern audience knows Russell. The company wanted Jim Carrey, who played Andy Kauffman in Man on the Moon and had an apparently legit altercation with Lawler during filming, to do the induction but Carrey turned them down. They are now trying to get William Shatner to do it instead, as Lawler and Shatner worked a TV angle about a decade ago when Shatner was on Raw promoting a new TV show on the USA Network.

Lawler was also unhappy to learn that the ceremony was on the 31st March. “The Cleveland Indians are playing their final pre-season exhibition game in my home town. I was so excited to go to this and, of course, it’s Hall of Fame night, March 31” he moaned. When Dunn told him the announcement was to be made in Fresno on the 26th February, Lawler said “Oh, really?” in a negative tone. Dunn asked him what was wrong and Lawler told him “It makes me feel old.” Dunn’s response was “Well, you are old, damn it. Get over it.” Lawler noted that the NFL and MLB don’t induct anyone until they retire but, since nobody really retires in wrestling, it’s quite different. He eventually calmed down about it. “They explained to me it has to do with what you’ve done in the past, and not what you are going to do in the future. Looking at it in that context, then it’s okay.”

Meanwhile, Bobby Heenan is expected to induct Nick Bockwinkel. Sabu will induct his uncle, The Shiek. Dustin and Cody Runnels are going to induct their father, Dusty Rhodes. Cody is currently making a good impression in WWE developmental.

Credit: Wrestling Observer newsletter (click here for subscription information)