As has become a tradition on this blog, I will be writing short pieces on the latest inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The ceremony takes place tonight and the following names will be given their plaque and ring:
BOB UECKER
Uecker is best known for being a former baseball player and sportscaster. His involvement with WWE only took place on two occasions - WrestleMania's III and IV - where he worked as a celebrity announcer and interviewer. He will be another celebrity induction along the lines of a Pete Rose and William Perry.
MAD DOG VACHON
Maurice Vachon was one of Quebec's most famous wrestlers. He worked mainly as a heel in the AWA and was its version of World champion on five occasions. Modern-day fans will remember that his artificial leg was used as a weapon in the no holds barred match between Shawn Michaels and Diesel at the In Your House event in April of 1996.
WENDI RICHTER
Richter was one of the popular faces during the initial WWF Rock N Wrestling Connection back in the mid-80s when WWF was involved with MTV and people like Cyndi Lauper. The most memorable part of her career, however, was how she left WWF. She was refusing to sign a new contract with the company and Vince McMahon sent out a masked Fabulous Moolah into the ring in what was meant to be a Richter versus Spider Lady squash match. Moolah kept her opponent's shoulders pinned to the ground for the pinfall in a double-cross in order to ensure the title belt stayed in the company similar in ways to how Bret Hart was screwed for the male version of the title twelve years later.
GORGEOUS GEORGE
George Wagner is one of the most copied wrestlers ever. He was one of the first television heels in the business who used his flamboyance and charisma to turn the crowd and viewers against him. I've seen old black-and-white tapes of him wrestling and he comes across as an arrogant homosexual kind of performer. He would spray perfume into the ring before he wrestled and would hate locking up with his rival as it would spoil him. It was very clever for its time as - back then - the majority of wrestling fans were the stereotypical hardboiled males with cigars and trench coats. There was recently a book and WWE are in the process of creating a movie of his life and death so it's the right time to have his legend introduced to a new audience. I also need to point out that Muhammad Ali was one of the people who used Gorgeous George's approach to cast his persona on. The braggadocios boxer wouldn't have been the same had it not been for George Wagner.
ANTONIO INOKI
Speaking of Ali, Antonio Inoki was once pitted against the boxer in a wrestler versus boxer match in Tokyo in 1976. Inoki is a mainstream name in his home of Japan and was once the owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling which was one of the big two companies in that country back in the day. Inoki was also also once a politician after gaining a seat on the Japanese Diet.
STU HART
Stu Hart was the father of many wrestler and the trainer of many more. He is best known for his training ground - named 'The Dungeon' - which was in the basement of his Calgary home. It is here that many stars learnt the workings of professional wrestling. Hart was also the owner of Stampede Wrestling which - at its time - was Canada's most popular wrestling company.
TED DIBIASE
Ted Dibiase was one of the best technical wrestlers to ever step foot into the ring. His most famous character, however, didn't need this expertise as he made an even bigger name for himself as the devious Million Dollar Man who could buy himself anything he pleased. This character was one of the most popular back during the WWF boom of the '80s and early '90s.
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