WWE Hall of Fame (2005) explained

WWE Hall of Fame (2005)
Promotion:WWE
Date:April 2, 2005
Venue:Universal Amphitheatre
City:Los Angeles, California
Event:WWE Hall of Fame
Lastevent2:2004
Nextevent2:2006

WWE Hall of Fame (2005) was the event which featured introduction of the 6th class to the WWE Hall of Fame. The event was produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on April 2, 2005, from the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California. The event took place the same weekend as WrestleMania 21. The event was hosted by Gene Okerlund. A condensed version of the ceremony aired that evening on Spike TV, making this ceremony the first to be broadcast on television.[1] In March 2015 the ceremony was added to the WWE Network.[2]

Inductees

Individual

ImageRing name
(birth name)
Inducted byWWE recognized accolades

Sylvester StalloneSix-time WWF/E World (Heavyweight) Champion
Six-time and longest reigning WCW World Heavyweight Champion
One-time WWE World Tag Team Champion
Two-time Royal Rumble winner (1990, 1991)[3]
[4] [5]
One-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion
Three-time NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
Host of Piper's Pit
In 2006, Piper also won the World Tag Team Championship.[6]
Held numerous NWA regional titles[7]
Long-time manager in WWF and WCW[8]
Four-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion
One-time WCW World Television Champion
Three-time WCW World Tag Team Champion[9]

Three-time WWWF International Tag Team Champion
One-time WWF Tag Team Champion[10]

One-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion
One-time WWF Tag Team Champion[11]

Aftermath

On July 24, 2015, WWE terminated their contract with Hulk Hogan, stating that they are "committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds",[12] although Hogan's lawyer said Hogan chose to resign.[13] A day prior, WWE removed virtually all references to Hogan from their website, including his entry from its WWE Hall of Fame page. The termination coincided with the publication by the National Enquirer and Radar Online of an anti-black rant made by Hogan on his controversial leaked sex tape in which he is heard expressing disgust with the notion of his daughter with any black man, referenced by repeated use of the racial slur "nigger".[14] [15] Hogan also admitted to being "a racist, to a point".[15] However, no official statement about his removal had been made and he was still listed in the Hall of Fame entry of the official WWE encyclopedia released in October 2016.

On July 15, 2018, despite no prior official statements by the WWE declaring his removal from the Hall of Fame, Hogan was reinstated into the Hall of Fame, after his numerous public apologies over the past year, as well as volunteering work.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sylvestor Stallone to Induct Hulk Hogan into WWE Hall of Fame on Eve of Wrestle .... corporate.wwe.com. 11 April 2018.
  2. Web site: WWE Network Lowdown: WrestleMania Plans, Free Gifts, ‘Every’ Hall of Fame?. 11 April 2018.
  3. Web site: Hulk Hogan. WWE. April 24, 2007.
  4. Web site: WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper dies at 61. 3 April 2018.
  5. Web site: WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61. 3 April 2018.
  6. Web site: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. WWE. April 24, 2007.
  7. Web site: "Cowboy" Bob Orton. WWE. April 24, 2007.
  8. Web site: "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart. World Wrestling Entertainment. April 24, 2007.
  9. Web site: "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff. World Wrestling Entertainment. April 24, 2007.
  10. Web site: Nikolai Volkoff. World Wrestling Entertainment. April 24, 2007.
  11. Web site: The Iron Sheik. World Wrestling Entertainment. April 24, 2007.
  12. Web site: WWE has terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE. July 24, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150726190512/http://www.wwe.com/inside/wwe-terminates-contract-with-hulk-hogan-27695748. July 26, 2015. mdy-all.
  13. Web site: Kimble. Lindsay. Hulk Hogan Apologizes for 'Unacceptable' Racist Rant as He Is Scrubbed from WWE Hall of Fame. People. 25 July 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724215657/http://www.people.com/article/hulk-hogan-racist-rant-statement. July 24, 2015. mdy-all.
  14. Web site: WWE terminates Hulk Hogan's contract, erases him from Web site (updated). Matt Bonesteel. July 24, 2015. Washington Post. July 24, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724220009/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/07/24/wwe-erases-hulk-hogan-mentions-from-web-site/?tid=sm_fb. July 24, 2015. mdy-all.
  15. Web site: Hulk Hogan Racist Scandal — Pro Wrestling Icon Caught On Tape Saying N-Word In Bigoted Rant About Daughter Brooke's Dating – Radar Online. Radar Online. July 24, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724205043/http://radaronline.com/celebrity-news/hulk-hogan-racist-scandal-n-word-caught-on-tape-wrestling/. July 24, 2015. mdy-all.
  16. Web site: Hulk Hogan reinstated into WWE Hall of Fame. WWE. July 15, 2018.