WS Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame 2024 Induction Ceremony

[Comrade Khan]

I'm honestly so happy and I don't even care who else gets it now lfg

 

[Chris]

This is what I like to see

 

[Hoss]

Now would be the perfect time to rewatch/watch for the first time this little trinket

 

[Barry Poppins]

Cena, Misawa, and Kobashi. Quite the HOF this year.

Hoping for Hennig/Vader/Andre among the last two

 

[Hoss]

With the festivities of WrestleMania XL weekend behind us, it’s time to see who will join Cena, Kobashi and Misawa in this year’s Hall of Fame class.

Our fourth inductee is one of the most foreboding pro wrestlers to ever step into the squared circle. A notoriously dangerous opponent with an unflinching resolve and a flair for brutality. This monster carved out a reputation based on his toughness, and leveraged his dynamic athleticism into becoming one of the most sought after acts of the 1990s, headlining a plethora of major shows in the United States, as well as Japan, where he would accumulate a legacy as one of the premier gaijins of all-time. Throughout his peak, he was inarguably the foremost super heavyweight performer in the world, paving a way for the multi-faceted big men of today’s sport, who can not only deliver in the power department, but possess an unexpected nimbleness beyond what their large frames would portray. And while his influence permeates throughout the wrestling world to this day, I would argue that there has yet to be a performer who quite matches this man’s combination of size, strength, agility, intimidation and presence. Please welcome to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame –

“THE MAN THEY CALL”
VADER

The undeniable force that is Big Van Vader joins this year’s class, and quite appropriately so following the inductions of Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa, with whom he shares quite a bit of history.

Joining the wrestling industry through the AWA in the late 1980s, it didn’t take long for Vader’s unique look and skillset to set him on a course for greatness. Only two years after debuting, Vader would set sail for NJPW where he debuted with a victory over Antonio Inoki, an absolutely unprecedented feat that would set the tone for a legendary career in the Land of the Rising Sun. He would capture his first World Title in 1989, winning the IWGP World Title with a victory over the highly decorated Riki Choshu. While Vader continued to be a dominant force in Japan, submitting some classic battles in the process, he also began to be booked for WCW, quickly making his presence felt as the latest and greatest monster on American soil. By 1992, he would become the preeminent villain in the company, winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and embarking on unforgettable feuds with Sting and Cactus Jack; as well as being the ultimate, seemingly insurmountable challenge for WCW’s franchise player, Ric Flair. During his tenure in WCW from 1992 to 1995, Vader would headline nearly a dozen PPVs, including Starrcade 1993. As the landscape of WCW shifted, with an influx of new stars, Vader migrated to the WWF, debuting in 1996. While in McMahon’s promotion, Vader was notoriously stifled by politics and creative mismanagement, spending two years in The Fed without doing much of note, beyond a rousing SummerSlam main event against Shawn Michaels in 1996. Once he wrapped up with WWF, Vader returned to Japan, where he would pick up where he left off - this time in AJPW, where the era of the Four Pillars of Heaven was in full swing. Though at this point in his career, Vader was more reliant on his aura and sheer toughness, he would continue to stack up accolades heading into the new century. Vader would depart AJPW along with Misawa and many of his contemporaries in 2000 to compete in NOAH for the final stretch of his prime years as a competitor. His time there would wrap up in 2003, after which time Vader would only make the occasional appearance in major promotions - perhaps his final appearances of note being in 2012 where he defeated Heath Slater on an edition of WWE Raw, and then returned a month later to help Lita defeat Slater as well. Vader, aka Leon White, would ultimately pass away in 2018, with tributes pouring in from across the world. The colossus left behind an immense legacy, including some of the most extraordinary brawls in wrestling history as well as three WCW and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship reigns, two AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship reigns and a 1993 PWI Wrestler of the Year Award. Now, we welcome the greatest big man in the history of professional wrestling to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2024! ​

 

[Chris]

Fucking nice

 

[Hoss]

IT'S TIME!

IT'S TIME!

 

[Hoss]

Thank you all for your patience throughout this process - it is now time to bring things home with this year’s headlining act, joining John Cena, Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa and Big Van Vader in this year’s Hall of Fame class. Again, I find this wrestler segues quite naturally from the previous inductee because, while I described Vader as the greatest big man performer in wrestling history, I would imagine that most would agree that our headliner qualifies as the greatest giant in wrestling history. A spectacular worldwide attraction unlike any other. The man who single handedly casts the largest shadow in the history of professional wrestling. Though his time on this planet was all too brief, this man ascended to a seminal status that so few athletes throughout history will ever dream of, and his legacy as a performer, as well as a human being, is undying. Please welcome to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame --

“THE 8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD”
ANDRE THE GIANT

Andre’s illustrious career is one that will never be replicated. Breaking into the business in the mid-60s and taking some time to find his role in the industry, Andre would eventually find his footing by touring around the world as an absolute marvel of a man, first breaking out properly as a competitor in Japan. After taking up residence in the Montreal territory, his appeal as a spectacle started to take a hit as audiences got accustomed to him, leading to him becoming a touring attraction all around the world at the advice of Vincent J. McMahon. As such, he would appear throughout various American territories, as well as Canada, Europe, Japan and Mexico, never sticking around too long, so as to preserve the novelty of his act. In any territory he appeared in, Andre could be seen easily handling multiple adversaries at once in handicap matches, dominating battle royals, or mixing it up with the biggest stars across the globe, such as Antonio Inoki, Nick Bockwinkel, Jerry Lawler, The Sheik, Mil Mascaras and Dusty Rhodes just to name a few. In doing so, his celebrity status would quickly rise, making Andre one of the first pro wrestling stars to crossover into the mainstream consciousness. Before long, Andre would become the undeniable most recognizable wrestling star in history during the late 70s and early 80s. As the WWF continued to expand, Andre would become exclusive to Vincent K. McMahon’s promotion, where he would contribute to some of the most culturally significant moments in wrestling history - namely his WrestleMania III main event against Hulk Hogan which drew a record-shattering crowd to the Pontiac Silverdome to witness Hogan bodyslam “The 8th Wonder of the World”, in what was the linchpin moment of the 1980s wrestling boom. Andre braved the physical pain he was constantly experiencing by this time to help propel WWF into a national powerhouse and shape the sport into a cultural obsession, setting up future generations for success. His career in the latter half of the 1980s would be spent largely as a special attraction, aligned with The Heenan Family and participating in the tag team known as The Colossal Connection alongside Haku in an effort to lessen the physical burden on Andre. However, there was an inevitable end to Andre’s impending, and he would participate in his final broadcasted match in WWF at WrestleMania VI, teaming with Haku against Demolition in a match that he was not physically fit enough to tag into. He would continue to return to WWF for occasional angles and also compete in tours of All Japan Pro Wrestling and Universal Wrestling Association to close out his career, albeit not in shape to participate much physically.

Andre passed away in 1993 due to congestive heart failure associated with his gigantism. In his short 46 years on Earth, Andre created a life and career that will never be forgotten. A man that came from humble beginnings as a farmer’s son in a small village in France, and grew into the most globally recognizable sports figure of his time, to the point where he was less of a professional wrestler and more of a cultural icon. While Andre’s individual stardom was absolutely transcendent, his condition cruelly meant that his body would be in steep decline as the industry as a whole was reaching its zenith of popularity. Nonetheless, the benevolent giant loved entertaining, and the sacrifices he made to elevate the wrestling industry and provide joy to countless adoring fans will never be forgotten. His impact was such that the WWE Hall of Fame was created in the wake of his passing, making him the inaugural inductee, and now in 2024 he becomes the latest and largest superstar to headline the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame!​

 

[Rosie]

Great inductees, but DDP was robbed.

 

[Hoss]

Great inductees, but DDP was robbed.

He stands a good chance next year. Later I might post the results of the voting, just for curiosity sake.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Yeah I think Curt Hennig, DDP, and a few others have a great chance of getting in.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Heck of a class

 

[Professor Booty]

This years class brought to you by MEAT

 

[O-Blaze]

Only two of mine got in(Andre and Cena ) and both was my 4th and 5th picks. But both very well deserved

For anyone who is interested in how I voted

1. DDP
2. Paul Heyman
3. Curt Hennig
4. Andre the Giant
5. John Cena

 

[Chris]

This was mine

1. Kenta Kobashi
2. Mitsuharu Misawa
3. Manami Toyota
4. Paul Heyman
5. Curt Hennig