Tonight, WWE inducts a new class of the most important Superstars and others into their Hall of Fame. Greats like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Booker T, and Shawn Michaels are part of this historic group, and tonight we add more to their prestigious company. This year’s class includes Diamond Dallas Page, Beth Phoenix, The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express, Teddy Long, Eric LeGrand, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, and Kurt Angle.
Diamond Dallas Page
The owner of DDP Yoga made a name for himself in WCW as one of their top babyfaces. While he only started his career at 35 years old, Diamond Dallas Page was a top star who feuded with the N.W.O. and worked with NBA stars like Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone. Page would then move to WWE when WCW was bought out, and he was immediately put into a huge feud with The Undertaker. His last appearance for WWE was in WrestleMania 32’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and he is inducted by the controversial Eric Bischoff.
Accomplishments:
3-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WCW United States Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 4-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, WWE European Champion, and WWE Tag Team Champion
Beth Phoenix
Beth Phoenix is one of the best female Superstars of all time, who was too good for the time she was active. During the time she was competing, women’s wrestling was at an all-time low after the losses of Trish Stratus, Lita, and the rest of that great group of women. Phoenix, known as the “Glamazon,” would be head and shoulders above the competition and would help keep the division afloat until the Women’s Revolution picked up after her departure.
Accomplishments:
WWE Divas Champion, 3-time WWE Women’s Champion, Diva of the Year (2008 Slammy’s), Royal Rumble Participant (eliminated the Great Khali)
The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express
In 1983, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson got some spandex, embraced Rock n’ Roll, and became one of the most influential tag teams of all-time. They made waves when they feuded with the Midnight Express, a rivalry which lasted until their last match together in 2011. After wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions and Smoky Mountain Wrestling among other territories, they would join WWE during the beginning of Monday Night Raw. They have influenced dozens of tag teams since the peak of their careers, and they return to WWE for the first time in 20 years.
Accomplishments:
4-time NWA Tag Team Champions and 10-time Smoky Mountain Wrestling Tag Team Champions
Theodore Long
Most people recognize Teddy Long as the long-time SmackDown General Manager who loves tag team matches and putting Superstars against the Undertaker. Long got his start in the wrestling business working for Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW where he worked for the ring crew, as a referee, and as a manager. Long would move to WWE in 1998 as a referee, then worked the rest of his career as a General Manager since 2004.
Long is inducted into the Hall of Fame by JBL and Ron Simmons.
Eric LeGrand
Every year, WWE gives the Warrior Award to “an individual who has exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance, and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of Ultimate Warrior.” WWE.com explained LeGrand’s inspirational story and why he was chosen for the award.
LeGrand was a key player on the Rutgers University football team, before a spinal cord injury sustained during a game in October 2010 left him paralyzed from the neck down. LeGrand’s tremendous courage and unwavering strength throughout his rehabilitation captured the attention of the nation. He resumed his college classes via Skype and launched his sports broadcasting career as an analyst for Rutgers Football Radio Network. LeGrand founded the charity Team LeGrand of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation in 2013, and is now a highly sought-after motivational speaker. In support of LeGrand’s mission – raising funds for research to find a cure for paralysis and to help improve the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries – WWE will make a $25,000 donation to Team LeGrand.
“Ravishing” Rick Rude
For almost all of his career, “Ravishing” Rick Rude would take turns wrestling in WCW and WWE. He started in WCW, went to WWE, went back to WCW, wrestled for a bit in ECW, went to WWE in 1997, and finished his career in WCW until his death in 1999. Throughout his 15-year-long career, he was part of the Paul Heyman’s Dangerous Alliance, Bobby Heenan’s Family, joined the NWO, and even co-founded D-Generation X. Known for his physique and arrogance, Rude was one of the greatest heels of his time.
Accomplishments:
3-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, WCW United States Champion, NWA World Tag Team Champion, and WWE Intercontinental Champion
Kurt Angle
At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Kurt Angle won a gold medal in wrestling with a broken freakin’ neck. Two years later, Angle signed an eight-year-long contract with WWE and ended up becoming one of the best Superstars of all-time. Angle arguably has the most natural wrestling ability, and his work as a comedic performer as well as a serious performer is second to none. The Olympic Gold Medalist would go on to have memorable WrestleMania matches against Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, and Eddie Guerrero just to name a few.
Angle’s last match was in August 2006 in the reboot of ECW against Sabu. The Wrestling Machine will be inducted by none other than John Cena.
Accomplishments:
WCW Champion, WCW United States Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, 4-time WWE Champion, WWE European Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, and 2000 King of the Ring
