In sport and sports entertainment as we know them, there are both icons and legends. Icons change with every generation but legends remain eternal. Their stamp on their respective game and even in society is permanent. WWE isn’t any different. Wrestlers come and go, but a select few remain in public memory long after their boots are hung up. And while action and fan affection is a WWE star’s biggest reward, an induction into the revered Hall of Fame is considered the biggest tribute to his or her phenomenal services. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 5 WWE stars who should be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Rock
The generations of the past have had their stalwarts, but we – the millennials – have Rhe Rock. No words can do justice to the impact Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson had and continues to have over this generation as well as the one after us. Besides being an ace in the ring, The Rock’s skills with the mike were second to none, which helped catapult him into worldwide superstardom. The 44-year-old was truly the epitome of the Attitude Era, during which saw him win a total of 17 trophies. With his status as WWE’s first true superstar sealed, Rock left the franchise to pursue his highly successful Hollywood career but still delights fans with surprise appearances every once in a while. Johnson’s contribution to WWE has undoubtedly been immense, making him more than a worthy candidate for a Hall of Fame induction. Let’s hope the future promises just that.
Chris Jericho
No list like this would be complete without the inclusion of Y2J. Not only was Jericho an excellent wrestler, probably one of the greatest of all time but also an excellent showman. The 45-year-old transformed characterisation into a true art form, with Jericho gaining enormous fame for his eccentric WWE character, which was a perfect blend of a rockstar and a wrestler. His experience as the lead singer of the rock band Fozzy, Jericho vastly included his on-stage persona into his wrestling. Besides being a world champion for an enviable six times, the 45-year-old holds the record for lifting the Intercontinental Championship an astonishing nine times. Such was his impact on WWE that fans voted him as the greatest champion in WWE history back in 2013, beating the competition by a landslide 63% vote. Few would disagree that a Hall of Fame induction is befitting for Jericho’s glittering contribution to WWE.
Kurt Angle
An iconic member of the WWE fold, there’s no way lists like these get completed without including Kurt Angle in them. Blessed with natural ability, Angle took WWE by storm when he made his debut for the franchise back in 1999. Fresh after coming back from the 1996 Olympics with a gold, the ultimate honour an athlete can ever achieve, Angle took no time in establishing himself with WWE. An astounding 13 titles with WWE followed, with his six-time world champion status his finest moment with the company. However, Angle’s enormous success took a toll on the wrestler, with steroid issues prematurely ending his glittering career with WWE. The 47-year-old picked up the pieces of his career at TNA, but fans will always remember him for his memorable stint with WWE. A Hall of Fame induction would be the ultimate tribute to Angle’s contributions.
Daniel Bryan
Granted, the other illustrious names that come up later on this list tower over Bryan’s in terms of status and experience but Bryan is a star in his own right. Blessed not only with outrageous talent but also with the gift of gab, it can be rightly said that Bryan is a self-made wrestler, whose skills made him a force to reckon with in a franchise oozing with superstars. Besides his skills, Bryan’s incredible gift of gab made him a huge hit with the fans and critics alike. Then came his sudden retirement which took the world by shock, but his new role as General Manager of RAW has opened up a whole new world for Bryan to work his magic in. It may take some time for him to gain his rightful place amongst the legends of the game, but one can hope it happens sooner rather than later. Would we like to see him in the Hall of Fame? Yes. Yes. YES.
Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon could easily give Donald Trump a run for his money when it comes to pompousness and downright arrogance. However, nobody can deny the fact that he’s done a lot not just for WWE but for professional wrestling as a whole. The business magnate transformed WWE from an American television hobby to one of the top sports franchises in the world, as well as changing the lives for countless wrestlers, who graduated from promising talents to global superstars. The 70-year-old is also counted as one of the major fulcrums of the Attitude Era, with his feud with Stone Cold being one of the most entertaining things on television. Vince is capable of turning a lot of scripts into surprises, but it’s highly unlikely that the WWE CEO would induct himself into the Hall of Fame while he’s still running the company. This could mean that McMahon will only be inducted when he steps down from the company or passes away. Whenever Vince’s induction time comes, few would argue about him being an unworthy fit amongst the talents he created.
