WS Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame 2025 Induction Ceremony

[Hoss]

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Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
2025 Induction Ceremony
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Back for the year six, it's time for the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!

Five classes in and it's still an excruciating process trying to narrow it down to five inductees, but that's all a part of the fun. This year, we sped through things a little faster than normal, but it did nothing to detract from the quality of the class selected. I think this year is a groundbreaking one for the Hall of Fame, as you'll all soon see. It's probably our most eclectic class. It will definitely be one to remember, so let's go ahead and get down to business.

Induction will begin soon and continue over the upcoming week, as we honor this year's inductees one-by-one. Follow along to see who made the final cut, and will be joining this highly venerable Hall of Fame, as voted on by the members of Wrestling Smarks.​

 

[Hoss]

Alrighty Smarks, welcome to another installment of the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame where we honor the best of the best in the history of the business. Tonight, we won't be honoring our first inductee of the Class of 2025, because tonight, we proudly induct not one, but two forces of nature! A duo whose impact on tag team wrestling is immeasurable. From the moment their earth-shattering music hit and they stalked to the ring, rocking their intimidating spiked shoulder pads and that signature face paint, the whole building knew they were in for the ride of their lives! Their power was awe-inspiring, their aura was overwhelming, and their intensity was unmatched. Tonight, we honor the first-ever tag team to be enshrined in our Hall of Fame. For the very first time it is my pleasure to announce the following *inductees*. Please welcome to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame --

HAWK & ANIMAL
THE ROAD WARRIORS

At long last, the first tag team has broken through the glass ceiling, and who can argue with the pedigree? They began their journey by blazing a trail of destruction through Georgia Championship Wrestling, where their stiff style and no-nonsense attitude immediately captivated audiences. Debuting the painted face, spiked shoulders look that would soon become iconic, Hawk and Animal weren't just a team; they were a phenomenon. It was at this time that the legendary "Road Warrior pop" was born – that instantaneous, earth-shattering roar that erupted the second their music hit, eliciting a primal reaction out of their faithful fans as they anticipated the beatdown that was about to unfold. Right out of the gate, the overpowering tandem of Hawk and Animal were strategically guided by the managerial genius of Paul Ellering, who would remain a crucial presence in their corner for years to come. The team continued to be an absolute juggernaut as they joined the National Wrestling Alliance, where they captured the NWA World Tag Team Championships and engaged in unforgettable wars with and against legendary rivals like the Midnight Express, Dusty Rhodes and Ivan Koloff and the brilliantly cunning Four Horsemen. The global appeal of The Road Warriors was undeniable. They took their brand of destruction to Japan, where they became bigger stars than ever, capturing the NWA International Tag Team Championship in AJPW and the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice in NJPW. Their impact transcended borders, solidifying their status as a truly international phenomenon. Their arrival in the World Wrestling Federation in the late 1980s was yet another massive shock to the system, as The Road Warriors — or Legion of Doom if you prefer — arrived and immediately put the company on notice. They captured the WWF Tag Team Championships and continued their reign of dominance, engaging in memorable feuds with other beefy teams like Demolition and The Nasty Boys. The "Road Warrior pop" echoed in arenas across North America, a testament to their enduring popularity and captivating presence.

However, their journey wasn't without its darker periods. Injuries and personal struggles would oftentimes cloud their path, and the accumulation of these issues would ultimately shorten their peak. In the tumultuous landscape of the Attitude Era, dying days WCW, and even through a brief reboot during the Ruthless Aggression featuring Heidenreich that I’m okay forgetting about, the legendary Road Warriors, despite sporadic reunions and attempts to recapture their iconic magic, were too often derailed by their personal demons and the physical toll of their hard nosed lifestyle. In the face of whatever struggles they may have been dealing with, the core intensity and, above all, the undeniable connection with the audience remained. The image of Hawk soaring off the top rope, clipping the opponent off of Animal’s shoulders to execute the despised Doomsday Device electrified audiences across the globe for multiple decades and the team known as The Road Warriors created a legacy of devastation that has led them directly to this moment. Tonight, the focus of our celebration is on their achievements and the impact they made. We honor the unparalleled influence of Hawk and Animal, The Road Warriors. Their innovative style, their intimidating presence, and the sheer excitement they generated every time they stepped into the ring. Their accolades speak for themselves – 2-time WWF World Tag Team Champions, 1-time WCW World Tag Team Champions, 2-time IWGP Tag Team Champions, 1-time NWA World Tag Team Champions, 1986 Crockett Cup Winners and 3-time PWI Tag Team of the Year, just to name a few – but it was the feeling they evoked… that raw, untamed energy, that truly set them apart. Join me tonight, as I am incredibly proud to announce the first-ever induction of a tag team into the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, Class of 2025! OOOOOHHHH YEAH! WHAT A RUSH!​

 

[Comrade Khan]

Congrats to the first tag team Hall of Famers

 

[Barry Poppins]

Very fitting group for sure

 

[Mitch Buchannon]

Finally, they were my number 3 in my top 5

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Congrats to Road Warriors. Oh What a Rush !!!

 

[Hoss]

Continuing now, right on schedule, it is time to reveal the second inductee of the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2025! After inducting our first ever tag team with The Road Warriors, let us now turn our attention to the next honoree…

The next man we’ll be honoring was a trailblazer and the face of a revolution that took place in small venues across the northeast in the early 2000s. Not to be contained to the small stage, this hard-hitting hybrid athlete would blaze a path of destruction through companies across the globe, dominating in any company he set foot in. One look is all it takes to understand what he’s about. With a stoic, intimidating aura, bolstered by a venomous wit, this man has mastered the art of psychological warfare, deconstructing his opponents before the bell ever rang. Like many of our past inductees, this man broke the mold, steering wrestling in a new direction and making an indelible mark on the industry that has cemented his place among our esteemed Hall. In arenas across the world, his name continues to echo: “Joe! Joe! Joe! Joe!”. Please welcome to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame --

"THE SAMOAN SUBMISSION MACHINE"
SAMOA JOE

The dismaying force that is Samoa Joe makes his long-overdue entrance into our Hall of Fame, bringing with him a legacy of violence and destruction that continues to this day. With a career ranging from being the ace of early day ROH, to becoming one of the stars most synonymous with the TNA brand, to becoming a main event talent on the world’s biggest stage in WWE, and finally ending up in AEW, where he has flourished yet again, tacking another World Championship reign onto his already incredible resume in the golden years of his wrestling career. Joe’s legacy as a wrestler is no doubt built upon his smashmouth offense. Indeed, Joe is due a lot of credit for popularizing the Strong Style in North America, and was masterful at adapting his style to a broad range of opponents throughout his career. Of course when you think of Joe’s opponents over the years, some key rivals immediately spring to mind. Namely, you have AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, CM Punk and Kurt Angle as some of Joe’s most notorious opponents. You can put on any Joe match with those guys and you’re guaranteed a slobberknocker, with some of the finest technical wrestling you’ll ever see. Those rivalries are so good, they almost make you forget about some of Joe’s other unforgettable adversaries. Kenta Kobashi. Necro Butcher. Sting. Homicide. And what that group of names helps illustrate to me is Joe’s ability to adapt his very specific style to a variety of workers. Ultimately, Samoa Joe has faced (and beaten) just about every top guy there’s been since he came into the business. Not by some stroke of luck, but because he is a cold blooded killer when the cameras are rolling. No one fits more naturally into a convincing badass role in wrestling than Samoa Joe. He punishes opponents in the ring, making it look easy, and his ability to eviscerate an opponent on the mic is second to none. That’s why he’s a 1-time AEW World Champion, 1-time TNA World Champion, 3-time NXT Champion, 1-time ROH World Champion, a 5-time TNA X-Division Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time AEW TNT Champion and is a reigning and defending AEW Trio’s Champion as of the writing of this induction. Joe earned his accolades through his all-around greatness. Pure skill. Untouchable aura. For his unparalleled impact as a pioneer, his consistent excellence, and his unmistakable presence, I am proud to welcome the indomitable Samoa Joe to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame!​

 

[Loochblade]

Well-deserved induction.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Congrats Joe