The WWE Hall of Fame originated in March 1993 as a way of honouring the recently deceased, Andre ‘The Giant’ who was the only inductee that year.
From 1994 to 1995, WWE staged Hall of Fame ceremonies in conjunction with the King of the Ring pay-per-view and in 1996, it was held alongside Survivor Series.
The ceremony was ditched for eight years, before it was revived to coincide with the twentieth WrestleMania event. From that point forward, it has been an annual tradition and a key event over WrestleMania weekend.
There have been 228 total inductees over the past three decades. However, there are several notable omissions who have yet to receive the call for the WWE Hall of Fame. This feature lists the 10 most notable names still absent from the hallowed Hall.
#10 Ivan Koloff
Every single WWE Champion, from the title’s inception, through to November 1991 have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. All, that is, aside from Ivan Koloff.
It is incredible that the man who dethroned Bruno Sammartino on January 18, 1971 in one of the most infamous moments in wrestling history has yet to be honoured. That title victory ended Sammartino’s record breaking seven year reign.
The “Russian Bear” actually hailed from Canada, but despite his true heritage he was one of the most feared “foreign” menaces in American wrestling history – particularly during the 1960s and 1970s.
Koloff also had a hugely successful career in the NWA, capturing numerous titles, including the Television Title on three occasions.
Sadly, Koloff passed away in 2017 at the age of 74.
Unfamiliar to modern fans, Koloff’s eventual induction is likely to be part of the Legacy Wing.
#9 Jerry Jarrett
Jerry Jarrett had a reasonably successful wrestling career, but his Hall of Fame credentials are based upon his superlative work over several decades as a booker.
Jarrett promoted the Memphis territories, the CWA and later the USWA, with his friend and top star, Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Memphis was famed for being the home of wild, chaotic, violent and engrossing brawls. Notably, it also played host to the wacky Lawler versus Andy Kaufman feud that gained national attention, with the pair’s infamous appearance on Letterman.
The USWA was one of the only territories that survived Vince McMahon’s 1980s national expansion. The company continued to not only survive but thrive into the 1990s.
However, business eventually declined and Jarrett sold his stake in 1995 to Lawler and Larry Burton. So highly respected was Jarrett that he was lined up to become Head Booker of the WWF had McMahon been convicted and imprisoned during the 1994 steroid trial.
After several years out of the limelight, Jarrett and his son Jeff set up a new promotion in 2002; NWA:TNA (now Impact Wrestling). After the death of WCW and ECW, TNA became the second biggest wrestling promotion in the United States for over a decade. However, Jarrett left the promotion in 2005, after disagreeing with the creative direction of the company.
One of the greatest bookers of all time; Jarrett is well deserving of a Hall of Fame berth. His relationship with TNA and his son’s acrimonious departure from the WWF in 1999 likely precluded his omission for many years. However, Jeff’s induction in 2018 should pave the way for his long overdue enshrinement.
#8 Giant Baba
Giant Baba co-founded All Japan in 1972. He was the company’s premier performer for a decade. He captured All Japan’s PWF World Championship four times and also reigned as NWA World Champion on three occasions.
Baba became a part time in-ring performer in the mid-1980s and sought to put over the next generation of talent such as: Genichiro Tenryu, Riki Choshu and Jumbo Tsuruta. He concentrated on being the company’s Head Booker and under his stewardship All Japan was one of the most successful wrestling promotions in the world throughout the 1990s, routinely selling out Budokan Hall.
Legendary figures such as: Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Big Van Vader and Stan Hansen excelled under Baba’s booking, producing hard hitting, classic matches that thrilled fans.
Baba sadly passed away on January 31, 1999 from colon cancer. However, his legacy is still felt over two decades since his death. His Hall of Fame credentials are not in doubt. Baba would be a leading contender for induction as part of the Legacy Wing in the very near future.
#7 Demolition
The most famous tag team of the 1980s were The Road Warriors. The problem for WWF Chairman, Vince McMahon was that they worked for the other team.
Hawk and Animal crushed opponents in highly powered squash bouts for Jim Crockett Promotions, and later WCW, as they became the most famous team in the business.
McMahon responded by creating his own version of the elite squad. That team were Demolition. Initially regarded as a cheap knock off; the act developed into a credible tandem in their own right. The talented duo became the premier team in the WWF. Demolition won three Tag Team Championships. Their longest reign lasted for a record 478 days. That was the longest tag title reign in WWF history, until it was surpassed by The New Day in 2016.
Despite their huge success, Demolition are persona non grata in WWE, due to being outspoken critics of the company and part of class action lawsuits against the promotion. That makes their Hall of Fame induction extremely unlikely in the near future.
#6 Owen Hart
There is little doubt that WWE would love to induct Owen Hart into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, Owen’s widow, Martha is understandably opposed to WWE using her late husband’s name and likeness due to the circumstances surrounding his tragic death and aftermath.
It appears as if Owen’s legacy will be celebrated by AEW, rather than the company with whom he became a star. 2022 will see AEW wrestlers compete for The Owen Hart Cup, as ‘The Rocket’s’ sterling wrestling legacy will be celebrated.
Owen was the youngest of Stu and Helen Hart’s 12 children. Along with his elder brother, Bret, Owen achieved international stardom in wrestling. They were the only two of the Hart children to do so.
Despite never achieving the success, his older brother did, Owen was every bit his equal in the ring. The pair contested the feud of the year in 1994, participating in sterling battles at WrestleMania X and SummerSlam.
Owen never became a World Champion, but he won every other title the WWF had to offer. He reigned as Intercontinental, European and Tag Team Champion in a glittering 16-year career. ‘The Black Hart’ would undoubtedly have achieved so much more had his life not been cut short at the age of 34 in a horrific accident that occurred at the 1999 Over The Edge pay-per-view event.
Set to compete as the comedy character, ‘The Blue Blazer’, Owen was supposed to be lowered to the ring from the rafters during a gimmicked entrance. Tragically, his harness prematurely opened, sending him falling over 90 feet to his death.
Owen’s WWE Hall of Fame induction may never occur and seems likely to remain long overdue.
#5 The Dynamite Kid
The Dynamite Kid was a wrestler almost two decades ahead of his time. Boasting an arsenal replete with lightning quick snap suplexes and daring high flying manoeuvres. Dynamite inspired generations of wrestlers who followed him.
With his cousin, Davey Boy Smith, he formed the legendary tag team, The British Bulldogs. The tandem had a lengthy reign as WWF Tag Team Champions between 1986-87. They contested blistering bouts with The Hart Foundation, The Dream Team and The Islanders. The cousins departed the Federation following the 1988 Survivor Series.
Dynamite never returned. The pair next worked for Stampede and All Japan. Smith re-joined the WWF in 1990, utilising ‘The British Bulldog’ name, which he had trademarked. This prevented Dynamite from using the moniker, which drove a wedge between the cousins which was never resolved. Any chance of a reconciliation was ended when Smith died in 2002.
During 1990, Dynamite predominantly worked in Japan before suffering a career ending injury in late 1991. He made several short-lived comebacks over the next five years.
Sadly, Dynamite spent the final years of his life in a wheelchair and in very poor health. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 60.
Nearly 30 years after his retirement, Dynamite’s influence is still felt in the industry, with his style inspiring the likes of Daniel Bryan and Kenny Omega.
Surely, Dynamite will finally receive a posthumous Hall of Fame induction in 2022.
#4 Vader
Big Van Vader was one of the greatest big men in wrestling history. Unfortunately, Vader’s legacy is yet to be celebrated with a WWE Hall of Fame induction.
Vader first made a splash in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the late 1980s. Billed as a warrior from Japanese folklore, Vader wowed crowds with his intimidating entrance and stiff brawling in-ring style.
‘The Mastodon’ captured the IWGP World Title on April 24, 1989, defeating Shinya Hashimoto. His success in Japan did not go unnoticed and he began competing for WCW in 1990. He divided his time between NJPW and WCW for over a year before committing to WCW full time in 1992. Vader won three WCW World Championships, before he joined the WWF in January 1996.
Vader’s 1996-98 tenure was forgettable. He was hampered by a shoulder injury when he first joined the company and was later out manoeuvred politically by ‘The Kliq’ which denied him a WWF World Title reign. The big man slipped down the card during the final months of his his WWF run and jobbed to opening card acts like Bradshaw and Mark Henry.
He requested a contract release in October 1998 and enjoyed a career resurgence in All Japan, capturing the Triple Crown twice in 1999.
Vader’s WWF tenure is the only blot on an otherwise outstanding career. However, his failure in the company appears to be precluding his WWE Hall of Fame induction.
Nevertheless, his enshrinement is long overdue. Vader’s eventual induction will be a posthumous one as the legend sadly passed away in 2018 at the age of 63.
#3 The Rock
WWE recently celebrated 25 years of The Rock, at the 2021 Survivor Series. However, despite ‘The Great One’ debuting for the company a quarter of a century ago, he is yet to be honoured with a WWE Hall of Induction.
The Rock, owing to his highly successful Hollywood career, is perhaps the most famous pro-wrestler of all time. That makes his lack of a Hall of Fame induction all the more puzzling.
‘The Brahma Bull’ is a former 10-time World Champion; having captured the WWE Championship eight times and the WCW World Title twice.
He also won two Intercontinental Championships, five Tag Team Titles and was the winner of the 2000 Royal Rumble. ‘The Great One’ headlined three consecutive WrestleMania events between 1999 and 2001 and returned to headline a further two ‘Mania’s between 2012 and 2013.
The Rock is assured his place in the WWE Hall of Fame one day. The only question is when will his induction finally occur?
WrestleMania 39 hails from Los Angeles, California. Given The Rock currently resides in the area, WrestleMania weekend in 2023 would appear a likely destination to play host to his long overdue Hall of Fame induction.
#2 The Undertaker
The Undertaker is the most successful gimmick performer in wrestling history. Vince McMahon’s greatest creation debuted at the 1990 Survivor Series.
His WWE tenure spanned 30 years, before he finally brought the curtain down on his epic career at the 2020 Survivor Series.
The Undertaker’s famed WrestleMania undefeated streak took in 18 victims across 21 matches before he was shockingly defeated by Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX. ‘The Deadman’ also main evented ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’ on five occasions.
‘The Phenom’ won four WWE Championships and three World Heavyweight Titles across his three decade run with the company. He held the Hardcore Title once and the Tag Team Championship on six occasions. The Undertaker also won the 2007 Royal Rumble; the first wrestler to do so from the number 30 slot.
WrestleMania 38 will hail from The Undertaker’s home state of Texas. Chances seem high that ‘Big Evil’ will headline the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame class.
#1 Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon is simply put, the most successful wrestling promoter of all time.
Purchasing the company from his father, Vince McMahon Sr. in 1982, McMahon soon began a national expansion of his North East regional promotion, the likes of which had never been seen before.
Obliterating the regional promotions across the United States by purchasing their name talent and signing them to huge contracts, McMahon set about making the WWF the number one wrestling promotion in the world.
Identifying that cable television and pay-per-view was the future of wrestling, McMahon gambled the future of his company on the success of the original WrestleMania in 1985. Mixing celebrities such as Cyndi Lauper, Mr T. and Muhammed Ali with his wrestlers, the likes of Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant became household names across the world.
McMahon employed the same trick 13 years later, with his company a distant number two to rival WCW, the promoter signed suspended boxer, Mike Tyson to a $3.5 million deal, to participate in WrestleMania XIV and give the superstar rub to his new top star, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Three years later and the WWF bought out it’s bitter enemy, WCW and became the only major wrestling promotion in the States.
Two decades on and the now-WWE is still the number one wrestling company in the world and McMahon is a billionaire.
McMahon is famously unwilling to be inducted into his company’s Hall of Fame. That doesn’t change the fact that he is the most deserving wrestling personality yet to be enshrined.
You can watch all of the WWE Hall of Fame ceremonies exclusively on the WWE Network.