WWE Hall of Fame (2013) explained

WWE Hall of Fame (2013)
Promotion:WWE
Date:April 6, 2013
Venue:Madison Square Garden
City:New York City, New York
Event:WWE Hall of Fame
Lastevent2:2012
Nextevent2:2014

WWE Hall of Fame (2013) was the event which featured the introduction of the 14th class to the WWE Hall of Fame. The event was produced by WWE on April 6, 2013, from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.[1] The event took place the same weekend as WrestleMania 29.[2] The event was hosted by Jerry Lawler. A condensed one-hour version of the ceremony aired on the USA Network the following Tuesday.[3] In March 2015 the ceremony was added to the WWE Network.[4]

Background

After leaving the WWF (now WWE), Sammartino became an outspoken critic of the path on which Vince McMahon has taken professional wrestling. He particularly criticised the use of steroids and "vulgar" storylines.[5] [6] [7] In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the Hall of Fame, after having declined several times in prior years. He finally accepted the offer to join because he was satisfied with the way the company had addressed his concerns about the direction of the business.[8] In April 2018, Sean Waltman announced on his podcast, that should Sammartino not have accepted the invitation to be inducted, D-Generation X would have been inducted.[9]

Event

Mick Foley was inducted by his long time friend Terry Funk. The two discussed all their times on the road together which included time at WWE, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling. Foley also said that he had regrets from his career. The main one was that he never beat Chris Jericho. Jericho then ran up on the stage, laid down, and told Foley to pin him. Foley originally acted like he couldn't and was walking away when he ran back and dropped an elbow on Jericho. He then pinned Jericho and CM Punk counted the one-two-three, jokingly giving Foley his first victory over Jericho.

Bob Backlund was inducted by Maria Menounos.

Trish Stratus was inducted by Stephanie McMahon. During Stratus' speech she announced that she was expecting her first child, a son, later in 2013.[10]

Vince McMahon inducted businessman and future U.S. president Donald Trump. Vince spoke of Trump and their working relationship during WrestleMania IV and WrestleMania V, as well as the "Battle of the Billionaires" at WrestleMania 23.

Booker T was inducted by his brother Stevie Ray, whom he had teamed together with for many years as Harlem Heat. Booker T later admitted during an interview with John Layfield, on his show Legends with JBL on the WWE Network, that prior to him asking Stevie Ray to induct him, that the brothers had not spoken in nearly 5 years.[11]

The final inductee of the evening was Bruno Sammartino who was inducted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although Sammartino saw great success in New York City during his career,[12] this event marked Sammartino's return to the WWE after 25 years.[13] It was just the second time in Hall of Fame history that Vince McMahon would be seen on camera, after 2009 when he inducted Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Aftermath

Sammartino appeared on the October 7, 2013, episode of Raw and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh.[14] On March 28, 2015, Sammartino inducted Larry Zbyszko into the Hall of Fame class of 2015.[15]

Inductees

Individual

ImageRing name
(Birth Name)
Inducted byWWE recognized accolades
[16] Wrestled using various ring names, namely Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love
Three-time WWF Champion
Eight-time WWF Tag Team Champion
Two-time ECW World Tag Team Champion
One-time WCW World Tag Team Champion
First WWF Hardcore Champion[17]
Two-time WWWF/WWF World Heavyweight Champion
One-time WWF Tag Team Champion[18]
Trish Stratus[19]
A record Seven-time WWF/E Women's Champion
One-time WWF Hardcore Champion. Three-time WWE Babe of the Year
Voted Diva of the Decade during the Raw 10th Anniversary special[20]
Booker T
Stevie RayFive-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
One-time World Heavyweight Champion
A record six-time WCW World Television Champion
Four-time WWE United States Champion
One-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
Two-time WWF Hardcore Champion
Three-time World Tag Team Champion
A record 11-time WCW World Tag Team Champion (10 of which came with his brother Stevie Ray as Harlem Heat)
2006 King Of The Ring winner[21]
[22] Two-time WWWF World Heavyweight Championship/WWWF Heavyweight Championship
Holds the records for longest consecutive and cumulative reigns of seven and 11 years, respectively[23]

Celebrity

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WrestleMania 29: It's all 'Axxess' for global WWE fans. 6 April 2013 . 3 April 2018.
  2. Web site: WWE Announces WrestleMania Coming To MetLife Stadium Next Year. 16 February 2012. 3 April 2018.
  3. Web site: WWE Hall of Fame 2013: Date, TV Schedule, Inductees, Snubs, Highlights and More. . 11 April 2018.
  4. Web site: WWE Network Lowdown: WrestleMania Plans, Free Gifts, 'Every' Hall of Fame?. March 2015 . 11 April 2018.
  5. Web site: Sammartino no fan of McMahon. October 20, 1999. Molinaro. John. April 22, 2018. Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer.
  6. Web site: Sammartino: McMahon is 'a sick-minded idiot'. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706234039/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/04/16/4035027.html. dead. July 6, 2015. April 16, 2007. Mackinder. Matt. April 22, 2018. Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer.
  7. Web site: Bruno's bad call on WWE Hall of Fame shows Vince is right – everyone has a price. https://web.archive.org/web/20160517094515/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/GuestColumn/2013/03/20/20672231.html. dead. May 17, 2016. March 20, 2013. Muchnick. Irving. April 22, 2018. Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer.
  8. Web site: Robinson . Jon . February 3, 2013 . WWE to induct Bruno Sammartino into HOF . ESPN. June 19, 2015.
  9. Web site: X-Pac habla de Bruno Sammartino y su introducción al WWE Hall of Fame. 20 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
  10. Web site: WWE Wrestlemania 29: Trish Stratus' Big Reveal - MTV UK. 3 April 2018.
  11. Web site: Legends with JBL. WWE Network. 3 April 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180403144815/http://network.wwe.com/video/v996875083/?contentId=&contextType=wwe-show&contextId=legends_with_jbl. 3 April 2018.
  12. Web site: Why NYC loved Bruno. . 3 April 2018.
  13. Web site: Pittsburgh-area legend Bruno Sammartino OK with WWE now (with Video). 14 June 2000 . 3 April 2018.
  14. Web site: Caldwell . James . October 7, 2013 . Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 10/7 (Hour 1): Battleground PPV fall-out, WWE Title match to continue at next PPV, one "firing", Bruno Sammartino, more . Pro Wrestling Torch. October 7, 2013.
  15. Web site: Caldwell . James . March 28, 2015 . WWE Hall of Fame report 3/28 . Pro Wrestling Torch . June 19, 2015.
  16. Web site: LI pro wrestler joins WWE Hall of Fame. 3 April 2018.
  17. Web site: Mick Foley. WWE. January 11, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130116115710/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/mickfoley. January 16, 2013.
  18. Web site: Bob Backlund. WWE. January 27, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130123171004/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/bob-backlund. January 23, 2013.
  19. Web site: Trish Stratus Inducted To 2013 WWE Hall Of Fame: Photos Of Patricia Anne Stratigias' Career. . 29 January 2013. 3 April 2018.
  20. Web site: Trish Stratus. WWE. April 7, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130412122332/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/trishstratus. April 12, 2013.
  21. Web site: Booker T. WWE. April 7, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130410233517/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/bookert . April 10, 2013.
  22. Web site: Bruno Sammartino Set To Be Inducted Into Wrestling Hall Of Fame. 4 April 2013. 3 April 2018.
  23. Web site: Bruno Sammartino. WWE. April 7, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130330194150/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/bruno-sammartino. March 30, 2013.
  24. Web site: Donald Trump Headed to WWE Hall of Fame. 26 February 2013 . 3 April 2018.