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WWE Hall of Fame (2016)

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WWE Hall of Fame (2016)
The 2016 WWE Hall of Fame set
PromotionWWE
DateApril 2, 2016
CityDallas, Texas
VenueAmerican Airlines Center
WWE Hall of Famechronology
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2017

WWE Hall of Fame (2016)was the event which featured the introduction of the 17th class to theWWE Hall of Fame.The event was produced byWWEon April 2, 2016, from theAmerican Airlines CenterinDallas, Texas.The event took place the same weekend asWrestleMania 32.[1]The event aired live on theWWE Network,and was hosted byJerry Lawler.A condensed one-hour version of the ceremony aired the following Thursday onUSA Network,afterSmackDown.[2]

Event

[edit]

Due to the launch of theWWE Networkshortly beforeWrestleMania XXX,this event featured the third ever "Red Carpet" event as a one-hour pre-show prior to the start of the event. The pre-show was hosted byMichael ColeandMaria Menounos.

The Godfatherwas inducted by his long-term friend whom he often traveled the road with, the members ofThe Acolytes Protection Agency,John "Bradshaw" LayfieldandRon Simmons.

Stan Hansenwas inducted by his overseas partner and rivalVader.

Jacquelinewas inducted byThe Dudley Boyz(Bubba Ray DudleyandD-Von Dudley).

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.[3]All inductees in 2016 are inducted posthumously and were recognized with a video package at the ceremony.[4]Those inducted in the 2016 legacy category wereMildred Burke,Frank Gotch,George Hackenschmidt,Ed "Strangler" Lewis,Pat O'Connor,Lou Theszand"Sailor" Art Thomas.

The Fabulous Freebirdswere the group inductee into the Hall of Fame. Representing them wereMichael Hayes,Terry Gordy(represented by his son,Ray Gordy),Buddy Roberts(represented by his son Buddy Roberts Jr.),Jimmy Garvin.The Freebirds were inducted byThe New DaymembersBig E,Kofi Kingston,andXavier Woods.Following their induction Hayes sang their songBadstreet U.S.A.

Big Boss Manwas inducted bySlick.Due to his death in 2004, his induction was accepted by his wife Angela and his daughters Lacy and Megan.

Snoop Doggwas inducted byJohn Cena.Snoop Dogg spoke about what it was like growing up a fan of professional wrestling, and gave what an honor it is to see his cousinSasha Banksnow wrestling for WWE.

FollowingThe Ultimate Warrior's death in April 2014,[5]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."[6]Joan Lundenbecame the second recipient of The Warrior Award.The Ultimate Warrior's wife Dana inducted Lunden and spoke of her recent return to the public eye and openly discussing herbreast cancerdiagnosis in addition to becoming a spokeswoman forSusan G. Komen.

Stingwas the final inductee and was inducted byRic Flair.Sting spoke about what a long journey it was to come to WWE, and how proud he was to finally be in WWE. Sting then announced that he wanted to retire in WWE and used the opportunity to officially announce his retirement.[7]Despite this, Sting later debuted in rival promotionAll Elite Wrestling(AEW) in late 2020, coming out of retirement, and competed in his first match in over five years at AEW'sRevolutionpay-per-viewon March 7, 2021.[8][9]

Inductees

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Individual

[edit]
  • Class headliners appear inboldface
Image Ring name
(Birth Name) 		Inducted by WWE recognized accolades
Sting[10]
(Steve Borden) 		Ric Flair Six-timeWCW World Heavyweight Champion
Two-timeWCW International World Heavyweight Champion
Two-timeNWA World Heavyweight Champion
Two-timeWCW United States Champion
Three-timeWCW World Tag Team Champion 		The Godfather[11][12]
(Charles Wright) 		The Acolytes Protection Agency
(John "Bradshaw" LayfieldandRon Simmons) 		One-timeWWF Intercontinental Champion
One-timeWWF Tag Team Champion[13]
Big Boss Man[14][15]
(Ray Traylor Jr.) 		Slick Posthumous inductee: represented by his widow Angela and his daughters Lacy and Megan
Four-timeWWF Hardcore Champion
One-timeWWF Tag Team Champion[16]
Jacqueline[17][18]
(Jacqueline Moore) 		The Dudley Boyz
(Bubba Ray DudleyandD-Von Dudley) 		Two-timeWWF Women's Championand the firstAfrican AmericanWWF Women's Champion
One-timeWWE Cruiserweight Champion(the only woman to win the title in WWE)
The first African American woman to be inducted
One-timeUWF Women's World Champion
14-timeUSWA Women's Champion
Stan Hansen[19][20]
(John Hansen II) 		Vader One-timeAWA World Heavyweight Champion
One-timeNWA United States Heavyweight Champion[21]

Group

[edit]
Image Group Inducted by WWE recognized accolades
The Fabulous Freebirds[22][23] The New Day
(Big E,Kofi Kingston,andXavier Woods) 		Six-timeWCCW World Six-Man Tag Team Champions
Two-timeWCW World Tag Team Champions
Two-timeWCW United States Tag Team Champions
One-timeWCW World Six-Man Tag Team Champions
Credited for creating the "Freebird Rule"
Michael Hayes(Michael Seitz) – One-timeNWA United States Heavyweight Champion.
Terry Gordy– Posthumous inductee: represented by his sonRay Gordy.One timeNWA Americas Heavyweight Champion,one-timeWCW World Tag Team Champion,one-timeNWA World Tag Team Champion.Two-timeTriple Crown Heavyweight Championand seven-timeWorld Tag Team ChampioninAll Japan Pro Wrestling.
Buddy Roberts(Dale Hey) – Posthumous inductee: represented by his son Buddy Roberts Jr. One-timeNWA Texas Heavyweight Champion,one-timeWCCW Television Champion.
Jimmy Garvin(James Williams) – Four-timeNWA American Heavyweight Champion,one-timeAWA World Tag Team Champion

Celebrity

[edit]
Image Recipient
(Birth name) 		Occupation Inducted by Appearances
Snoop Dogg[24]
(Calvin Broadus Jr.) 		Rapper John Cena Master of Ceremonies for thePlayboyBunnyMania Lumberjillmatch atWrestleMania XXIVand accompaniedSasha Banksto the ring for her match atWrestleMania 32.
Rawguest host in 2009 and guest star in 2015[25]

Warrior Award

[edit]
Image Recipient
(Birth name) 		Presented By Notes
Joan Lunden[26][27]
(Joan Blunden) 		Dana Warrior Long-time former co-host ofGood Morning America.
Returned to the public eye in recent years for openly discussing herbreast cancerdiagnosis.
Spokeswoman forSusan G. Komen for the Cure[28]

Legacy

[edit]
Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		WWE recognized accolades
Mildred Burke One-time and firstNWA World Women's Championfor almost twenty years from 1930 to 1950
Two-timeWomen's World Champion
Frank Gotch One-timeWorld Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
Three-timeAmerican Heavyweight Champion[3]
George Hackenschmidt
(Georg Hackenschmidt) 		One-timeEuropean Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championand first everWorld Heavyweight Wrestling Champion[3]
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
(Robert Friedrich) 		Four-timeWorld Heavyweight Champion
One-time holder of theBoston version of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
One-timeNWA Florida Heavyweight Champion[3]
Pat O'Connor One-timeNWA World Heavyweight Champion
Three-timeNWA Central States United States Heavyweight Champion
One-time (and inaugural)AWA World Heavyweight Champion
One-timeAWA World Tag Team Champion[3]
Lou Thesz
(Aloysius Thesz) 		One-time holder of theBoston version of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
Two-timeWorld Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
Three-timeNWA World Heavyweight Champion[3]
"Sailor" Art Thomas Billed by WWE as "one of sports-entertainment's first African-American stars", a frequent challenger for theNWA World Heavyweight Championship[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"WWE Hall of Fame Show Preview".1 April 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  2. ^"How to watch the WWE Hall of Fame 2016 ceremony".Retrieved11 April2018.
  3. ^abcdefg"Congratulations to the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees".WWE. April 2, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2016.RetrievedApril 2,2016.
  4. ^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.Archivedfrom the original on April 3, 2016.RetrievedApril 3,2016.
  5. ^"Ultimate Warrior passes away".WWE. Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2014.
  6. ^"WWE fan Connor Michalek to receive first-ever Warrior Award at 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony".WWE. March 9, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2015.RetrievedMarch 9,2015.
  7. ^Martin, Damon (April 3, 2016)."Sting announces his retirement during WWE Hall of Fame induction".Fox Sports.Archivedfrom the original on April 10, 2016.RetrievedApril 3,2016.
  8. ^Lambert, Jeremy (January 21, 2021)."Sting Set To Compete At AEW Revolution, Teams With Darby Allin Against Team Taz".Fightful.RetrievedJanuary 21,2021.
  9. ^Powell, Jason (March 7, 2021)."AEW Revolution results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley in an Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match for the AEW Championship, Young Bucks vs. Chris Jericho and MJF for the AEW Tag Titles, surprise debut, Face of the Revolution ladder match for a TNT Title shot".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedMarch 7,2021.
  10. ^"WWE's Sting on the Hall of Fame, Seth Rollins and life after wrestling".1 April 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  11. ^"The Godfather Is The Latest Inductee To The WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2016".22 February 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  12. ^"WWE adds 'The Godfather' to Hall of Fame class of 2016".22 February 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  13. ^"The Godfather to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2016".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 29,2016.
  14. ^"Big Boss Man's greatest WWE rivalries: From Nailz to Hulk Hogan".Retrieved3 April2018.
  15. ^"Big Bossman to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame".7 March 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  16. ^Pappolla, Ryan."Big Boss Man to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2016".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2016.RetrievedMarch 7,2016.
  17. ^"Jacqueline joins WWE Hall of Fame class of 2016".14 March 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  18. ^"Jacqueline Moore Added to WWE Hall of Fame - InvestorPlace".14 March 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  19. ^"Stan 'The Lariat' Hansen joins WWE Hall of Fame class of 2016".21 March 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  20. ^"Stan Hansen And His Bullrope To Be Inducted Into WWE Hall Of Fame With Class Of 2016".21 March 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  21. ^Melok, Bobby."Stan Hansen to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2016".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on March 23, 2016.RetrievedMarch 21,2016.
  22. ^"Fabulous Freebirds to Enter WWE Hall of Fame – Finally".Retrieved3 April2018.
  23. ^"The Fabulous Freebirds to Be Inducted in WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016".1 March 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  24. ^"Snoop Dogg Channeled Hulk Hogan And Ric Flair To Celebrate His WWE Hall Of Fame Induction".1 April 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  25. ^Melok, Bobby."Snoop Dogg to be Celebrity Inductee in WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2016".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2016.RetrievedMarch 28,2016.
  26. ^"Joan Lunden To Receive 'Warrior Award' From The WWE At Hall Of Fame Ceremony In Texas!".28 March 2016.Retrieved3 April2018.
  27. ^"WrestleMania Fever Hits North Texas".Retrieved3 April2018.
  28. ^"Joan Lunden to receive 2016 Warrior Award at 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on March 31, 2016.RetrievedMarch 28,2016.
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