WWEpositions itsHall of Fameas the highest honor that any professional wrestler can achieve in the industry, even greater than becoming a World Champion. While WWE does not have a physical version of the Hall of Fame, the prestige of each inductee is symbolized by each entrant receiving a ring and accompanying plaque.
WWE frames the honor as a significant one that only a select few are chosen to receive. 245 people have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, seven of which have been inducted twice. Everyone has their own opinions about the Hall of Fame, but the fact remains that it is expected to be reserved for those who left the biggest impressions in the minds of the WWE Universe. That being said, there are some Superstars or otherwise significant protagonists of WWE’s history who have yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
10Cyndi Lauper
The Pioneer of Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection
Cyndi Lauper is one of the few non-wrestlers on this list, but those familiar with her work understand just how important she is to wrestling history.One chance encounter on a plane with Captain Lou Albano produced a domino effectthat would change the landscape of wrestling forever. Lauper, an avid wrestling fan, featured Albano in a cameo capacity in her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” music video in exchange for her to make her own in-ring appearance.
She’d take a bump with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, co-sign future Hall of Famers like Hulk Hogan and Wendi Richter, and most importantly,pave the way for WWE to enter the mainstream. That in itself opened the door forthe first (albeit, nearly disastrous)WrestleManiato be accomplished. It’s most shocking she hasn’t been inducted already.
9Sid Vicious
Memorializing a Legend
He’s a man of many names, but under all of these names, the late Sid Eudy achieved success. As Sid Justice, he main eventedWrestleMania VIIIagainst Hulk Hogan and becamethe first man to ever kick out of the Atomic Leg Drop(albeit, due toa mistiming issue with Papa Shango). As Sid Vicious, he was a former World Champion in both WCW and WWE. As Sycho Sid, he walked into the main event ofWrestleMania 13as WWE Champion against The Undertaker, cementing his legacy as a part of The Deadman’s Mania Streak.
Following his untimely death last year, fans and critics alike have campaigned fora Sycho Sid induction for the HOF. Since he died at the tail-end of the summer, some will argue that it may be too soon for Sid to be inducted, but alternatively, others would say thatnow could not be a better time to pay homage to the Ruler of the World.
8Victoria
WWE Quietly Teasing a Return?
In a January episode ofFriday Night SmackDown, the former Women’s Champion was seen in the crowd. Having not been seen in a WWE ring since the 2021 Royal Rumble, it would be easy to speculate that this appearance is meant to foreshadow aneagerly anticipated Rumble return for 2025. Alternatively,it could be foreshadowing a 2025 Hall of Fame induction.
During a time in the Ruthless Aggression Era that was heavy on over-sexualizing the WWE Divas,Victoria was a consistent highlight in the ring, delivering some of the best women’s matches of that era. After leaving WWE, she proceeded to find continued success by going to Impact Wrestling, where she won the TNA Knockouts Title. Her career continues to be celebrated, and a WWE HOF appearance would further immortalize her career.
7Demolition
Arguably WWE’s Best Tag Team of All Time
Up until the past decade, this staple of the late 80s and early 90s professional wrestling tag team scene held the record for WWE’s longest-reigning tag team champions. That alone should be reason enough to give them a shot at Hall of Fame glory, but alas, neither Axe nor Smash have been inducted. Both men behind the face paint - Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow - have been vocal about their interest in the prospect, but they’ve also been vocal about why they haven’t been inducted.
In an interview withSports Illustrated (h/t 411Mania), Eadie expressed that he believed they had been excluded from HOF participation becausethey were among the ex-WWE stars who were part of a class action lawsuit against the companyregarding concussions issues first filed in 2014. Still, WWE is in a new era, and Triple H has always been good at mending bridges (he was responsible for bringing back Bruno Sammartino), so now is the right time to give Demolition the recognition they deserve.
6Mickie James
Time for One Last Rodeo (Again)
Along with being a multi-time WWE Women’s and Divas Champion, Mickie James also found success under the Total Nonstop Action brand as TNA Knockouts Champion. As such, thanks to WWE’s partnership with TNA, she entered the 2022Royal Rumbleduring her final reign, officially becomingthe first TNA champion to enter a WWE ring. This also took place during Mickie’s Last Rodeo angle in TNA. Reminiscent of Ric Flair’s 2007-08 retirement storyline, James vowed that on the night she lost her title, she’d hang up her boots.
The angle would be scrapped entirely due to an untimely injury, and as such, James continues to compete sporadically on the indies and in TNA. If Mickie James was ready to have one last run in the wrestling business, it’d be apropos to do so witha WWE return and a Hall of Fame ceremony befitting of her accolades.
5Shane Douglas
A Founding Father for ECW
If the WWE Universe is only familiar with Shane Douglas for his Dean Douglas character in WWE, as well as his 11-minute-long Intercontinental Championship reign, it would be hard to argue why he should be inducted. To understand Douglas' contributions to the wrestling landscape, one must look to his time in ECW, where one promo from himofficially rechristened ECW into Extreme Championship Wrestling, and must-see television.
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In direct contrast to his IC Title run, Douglas spent years as ECW Champion, carrying the brand on his back during its most instrumental storylines, including the infamous phone callangle that inspired WWE’s Bloodline. Douglas' influence on wrestling remains prevalent today. Even without a significant WWE run to his name, his impact on wrestling is undeniable and enough to justify a HOF induction.
4Miss Elizabeth
Unfortunately, She May Never Be Inducted
Miss Elizabeth carries a legacy as, arguably,the best manager to ever work for WWE. She added so much to the aura and character of “Macho Man” Randy Savage without needing to cut a promo. All she needed to do was stand by her husband’s side and it would produce a memorable moment. Sadly, Elizabeth Ann Hulette’s career would end prematurely in 2003 at the young age of 42 following an accidental mixture of painkillers and alcohol while in the company of Lex Luger, another legend who is still waiting for his call to the Hall of Fame.
Some fans have speculated that she has yet to be inducted becauseher family blames the wrestling business for her death, and thus won’t do business with WWE. Others have speculated that the tragedy of her death is something WWE shudders to touch on by inducting on. Whatever the reason may be, it’s a glaring omission that doesn’t look like WWE will rectify anytime soon.
3Batista
Announced in 2020, But Postponed
Batista has the distinction that, technically, his Hall of Fame induction was announced already. WhenWrestleMania 36and its HOF ceremony were originally set to be held in Tampa, Florida, theGuardians of the Galaxystar was announced to lead the 2020 Hall of Fame class. Unfortunately, 2020 was the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing a lockdown andcancelation of the Hall of Fame ceremony. Much of the 2020 inductees were moved to the 2021 class and ceremony, except for The Animal.
WWE would confirm that Dave Bautista personally requested that due to prior obligations, he could not make it to Mania weekend. In hopes of paying tribute to him with him present in front of a live crowd,WWE has chosen to respect Batista’s request to postpone his induction until he’s ready.
2Owen Hart
A Legacy That Should Come Back to WWE
Similar to Miss Elizabeth’s case,it’s unlikely that Owen Hart’s family will ever allow WWE to induct him into the Hall of Fame. In this case, Owen died directly under WWE’s watch as atOver the Edge, under the Blue Blazer character, Owen fell from the rafters to the ring in a stunt gone wrong. Then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon decided for the show to continue despite the wrestling ring being an active crime scene following Hart’s death.
It was one of the worst,lowest decisions Vince McMahon ever madein his time as Chairman, and to be frank,WWE’s top brass at the time failed Owen Hart. Even if the current regime wanted to make things right by honoring the King of Harts, the damage has been done beyond repair, costing a man his life. Instead, Owen’s wife Martha has found a way to honor her late husband through a relationship with AEW.
1The Rock
He Still Has a Lot Left in the Tank
After focusing on his Hollywood career, The Rock returned to a WWE ring for the first time in seven years, having a match atSurvivor Series2011. In the coming years, he’d have dream matches with John Cena andwin another WWE Championshipuntil suffering what was believed to be a career-ending injury atWrestleMania 29. Everyone assumed that The Rock would announce retirement after the fact, going into the Hall of Fame to mark the occasion.
Traditionally (excluding Ric Flair and Rey Mysterio, the only legends to join the WWE Hall of Fame while still being active performers), a HOF induction suggests the end of a wrestler’s career. There’s a chance that The Rock was never inducted becausehe was convinced that he still had a lot to offer the business, which, considering his latest run as The Final Boss, may be right. Until The Rock decides he’s done withWWEand wrestling overall, it’s not likely that he’d allow an induction to take place.
Source:Sports Illustrated (h/t 411Mania),WWE
