Fame or Shame: Pro Wrestling Discussion Thread

[HappyGilmore]

Yeah pretty much the majority of his matches were like that. Only Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage and Mr. Perfect arguably got more out of him...probably because they could carry him to better than usual matches.

And his Wrestlemania VI match with Hogan most likely was well pre-planned and laid out.

I read they spent the weekend together with McMahon and a few agents and worked most of it out between the six of em or whatnot, in effort to get the best match possible.

It was the complete opposite while in WCW.  They didn't talk at all and went out and it was terribly done.

[JaseSF]

Boris Zukhov joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Zukhov, trained by Ric McCord, actually started out as Pvt. Jim Nelson, a member of Sgt. Slaughter "Cobra Corps" in Jim Crockett Promotions NWA where he'd frequently team up with Don Kernodle and would feud with Porkchop Cash. In fact as Nelson, he'd twice win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship with Kernodle. He'd also win the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship and would feud also with Porkchop Cash in Southeastern Championship Wrestling. He'd also twice win the NWA Canadian Television Championship. In 1985, despite being born in Virginia, Nelson would transform himself into the Siberian Russian Boris Zukhov upon entering the AWA taking on Chris Markoff as his manager and going on to feud with and challenge Rick Martel and later Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. He'd also have a memorable feud with Sgt. Slaughter over the AWA Americas Championship. In 1987, he'd form a successful tag team with Soldat Ustinov managed by Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie and the pair would capture the AWA World Tag Team Championship defeating the Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty). However Zukhov would jump to the WWF while still tag team champion and would be replaced in the team with Ustinov by Doug Somers who'd quickly drop the titles to Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. Upon entering the WWF in October 1987, he'd quickly form a tag team with Nikolai Volkoff replacing the departed Iron Sheik. The team with Volkoff would be named The Bolsheviks but would never become serious contenders to the WWF World Tag Team titles despite teaming together for a long time and being managed by Slick. Zukhov and Volkoff would split in 1989 with Volkoff eventually becoming a fan favourite and feuding with his old partner Zukhov. Zukhov would frequently be made fun of by announcers for his larger than usual cranium but really Zukhov had a good villainous look even if he didn't really look Russian.

Billy Red Lyons joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. After a long and successful wrestling career competing all around the world, Lyons memorably became the voice of Canada's Maple Leaf Wrestling and later worked with the WWF frequently acting as host for the Canadian telecasts. Lyons had a likable charm and friendly, easygoing quality and always seemed the true professional, a class act at his job. He'd also work as a behind the scenes interviewer for the WWF and did a very good job in the role interacting with the wrestlers in a professional manner yet in a surprisingly personable fashion. His "Don't ya dare miss it" was the catchphrase I'd come to most remember from my childhood.

[JaseSF]

Kevin Sullivan joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Sullivan mostly has acted as a cornerman/leader of a stable and still usually remained an in-ring competitor as well. He started off as being the leader of a frightening and greatly hated devil-worshipping stable (including Maniac Mark Lewin, Bob Roop, Superstar Graham, The Lock, Luna Vachon) in Florida. Later in Jim Crockett's NWA, he'd become "The Gamesmaster", the leader of the Varsity Club stable (Mike Rotundo, Rick Steiner, Steve Williams, Dan Spivey) and later the Slaughterhouse stable which included Cactus Jack and Buzz Sawyer. Then he'd go on to manage in 1991 WCW the likes of the One Man Gang, Black Blood and the Angel of Death. He also acted as the masked Merlin, manager of Oz (a young Kevin Nash). After this later in WCW, he'd become the leader of the Three Faces of Fear with the Butcher [Brutus Beefcake] and Avalanche [Earthquake]. Finally he'd become the "Taskmaster", leader of the Dungeon of Doom stable (Kamala, The Barbarian, Meng, The Yeti, Hugh Morrus, Loch Ness, One Man Gang, Big Bubba Rogers, Lex Luger, The Giant and brought back Beefcake now called the Zodiac and Avalance now called the Shark and briefly Big Van Vader was also a member), the role for which he is arguably best remembered as the group feuded with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Sting. Eventually Jimmy Hart was also added to the group as a manager, allowing Sullivan a more active in-ring role, after Hart turned on Hogan and cost him the WCW World title in a bout with the Giant.

Cyndi Lauper joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Lauper was technically billed as the manager of WWF Women's Champion Wendi Richter during the heights of the crossover 80s Rock 'n' Wrestling era. Lauper was in Richter's corner for some key wins over the Fabulous Moolah and later Lelani Kai for her two WWF Women's Championships. She'd also appear in Lauper's "She Bop" music video. Technically Lauper wasn't a real manager at all, just a celebrity cornerperson as became common for WWF at Wrestlemania for years afterwards. Still Lauper aligning herself with Richter helped Richter become much more popular than she likely would have otherwise.

[JaseSF]

Killer Kowalski joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Kowalski, a Canadian born son of Polish immigrants, would be trained by the great Lou Thesz for the squared circle and would go on to have quite a storied career mainly as a ruthless villain who liked to hurt and maim his opponents, a reputation he largely got after accidentally knocking Yukon Eric's cauliflowered ear off during a match and later for accidentally kicking guest referee Jack Dempsey in the stomach during a bout with Pat O' Connor. Ironically Kowalski was known outside the ring for his friendly demeanor, his willingness to help others which lended itself well to his later days as a trainer and for his living an healthy vegetarian lifestyle.

Kowalski who wrestled from 1947 to 1977 and battled practically everyone who was anyone from Orville Brown to Buddy Rogers to Gorgeous George to Bruno Sammartino (whom he long feuded with) to Dominic DeNucci to Pedro Morales and many, many more. Kowalski actually started out as a babyface and used the names Hercules Kowalski, The Polish Apollo and Tarzan Kowalski early on. In his era, Kowalski quickly made an impression with his then much larger than usual build of 6' 7" and weighing 280 pounds. His size and look soon made him a natural heel and his name would be changed to Wladek Kowalski and of course eventually his most famous Killer moniker. He'd battle for World Championships in the AWA, NWA and WWWF but would only become a recognized World Heavyweight Champion in Canada's Montreal and Atlantic territories and in Australia (in both of which he'd become a multi-time World Champion).

Kowalski had a great villainous look and his deep menacing voice and his punishing looking finisher the Iron Claw, often applied to his opponent's stomach, only added to the look. Kowalski would win many championships in his day including titles in the Central States, Florida, Hawaii, Vancouver, NWA Hollywood Wrestling, San Francisco, Texas Big Time Wrestling, Calgary Stampede Wrestling, the United States Wrestling Federation, IWA Australia and finally the WWWF where he won a United States Tag Team championship with Gorilla Monsoon and later a WWF World Tag Team title with Big John Studd under masks as the masked Executioners. He'd also wrestle under a mask in Canada as the masked Destroyer. He pretty much won titles everywhere he went and was certainly an entertaining draw as a top villain in many territories. In 1972, Kowalski was the first man to pin Andre the Giant in North America in a match then billed as "The Battle of Giants". Following his in-ring career, Kowalski trained many future superstars for the sport including the likes of Triple H, Chyna, Perry Saturn, John Kronus, Eddie Edwards, Kofi Kingston, Big John Studd, A-Train, Chris Nowinski, Frankie Kazarian and Kenny Dystra to name just a few of the most famous ones.

The Russians: Ivan and Nikita Koloff join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Ivan Koloff, then NWA World Tag Team champion with an American turncoat named Don Kernodle and a former WWWF World Heavyweight Champion having ended Bruno Sammartino's first legendary reign, brought in his young (kayfabe) nephew "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff, a raw powerful muscular powerhouse to help as he then put it prove Soviet superiority. First Nikita would accompany "Uncle" Ivan and Kernodle to learn the ropes from them and would also compete in Puerto Rico to gain more experience eventually becoming good enough for the Russians to oust the American traitor Kernodle attacking him and driving him out of the group. Ivan & Nikita would then add Krusher Kruschev (Barry Darsow) to the group and would go on to defeat Dusty Rhodes and Manny Fernandez for the NWA World Tag Team Championship on March 18, 1985. The trio would then have any two of them defend the titles with Ivan and Kruschev eventually dropping the titles to the Rock 'n' Roll Express. The Russians would also become dominant in the six-man division and would hold the NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship. They'd regain the NWA World Tag Team Championship a second time regaining them from the Rock 'n' Roll Express on October 13, 1985. They'd also feud with the AWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors throughout much of 1985 battling over either the AWA World Tag Team titles or the NWA World Tag Team titles. The two teams would have a series of legendary and brutal Russian Chain Steel Cage matches with Lights Out stipulations. The Koloffs would eventually lose the NWA World Tag Team Championship back to the Rock 'n' Roll Express at Starrcade '85. In mid-1985, Nikita was pushed into the NWA World Heavyweight Title picture as a top contender selected by the Russian Kremlin (kayfabe) to defeat Ric Flair and bring the NWA World title back to the U.S.S.R.. Flair was drawn into the battle after Nikita attacked NWA interviewer David Crockett. Ivan acted as a trainer and cornerman for Nikita during this run. In Spring of 1986 with the backing of his fellow Russians Ivan and Kruschev, Nikita started to pursue Magnum T.A. and his NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, a belt he'd eventually win in a Best of Seven Series but not without the help of his Russian allies. After this, he'd defeat Wahoo McDaniel to win the National Heavyweight Championship which he then unified with the U.S. Title. A potential future feud with Magnum T.A. would not happen however after Magnum T.A. had a career ending car accident. With Russians gaining more acceptance in the wider world as Mikhail Gorbachev gained in popularity due to his reforms which pretty much was the beginning of the end of the Cold War era villains, booker Dusty Rhodes decided to turn Nikita face leading to a then quite shocking face turn. A lone Dusty was booked to take on Ole Anderson and J.J. Dillon in a cage and needed help and fans absolutely erupted with Nikita Koloff came out to Rhodes aid and formed a new tag team with Rhodes, The Superpowers eventually joining forces with the Road Warriors, to battle the Four Horsemen. This ended the Russians tandem with Uncle Ivan who would go on to feud with Nikita while he teamed with Vladimir Petrov and later Dick Murdoch as a member of Paul Jones's army. While with Jones, Ivan Koloff would eventually team with the Powers of Pain to win a second Six-Man Tag Team Championship and later would team with the masked Russian Assassins who eventually turned on Ivan and he too found himself an unlikely face. Ironically none of the Russians were really Russian (Ivan's from Canada while Kruschev and Nikita were both American) but they sure did play up their parts as being legit playing themselves as legitimately Russian in and out of the ring to maintain kayfabe even learning to speak the language to a degree.

[JaseSF]

Lord James Blears joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Blears was a veteran retired wrestler, a very successful one who won many titles in many NWA and WWA regional territories and was also nicknamed "Tally Ho". He'd become a color commentator on AWA wrestling in the 80s alongside Ron Trongard and Larry Nelson. Blears seemed kind of out of place in the role but did try his best to add some wrestling knowledge to the in-ring goings on. However mostly he just kind of agreed and went along with the other announcers when he probably would have been better served playing the heel role. He also would appear in a couple of TV shows including "Magnum P.I." and "Hawaii Five-O" and appeared as a contest director on "North Shore". He'd also appear as himself in the film The Wrestler (1974) and in the documentary The Endless Summer (1966).

"Adorable" Adrian Adonis joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Adonis, who'd previously played a straight New York biker gimmick in tag teams with Dick Murdoch and Jesse Ventura would drastically change his image by "coming out of the closet" (only in kayfabe though as he wasn't gay in reality) and played it up to the hilt wearing dresses, lipstick, blush, eye shadow, rouge, scarves, leg warmers, wigs and more. He was greatly hated for it in the 1980s WWF by the majority of wrestling fans especially when he took over the old Piper's Pit talk show with his "Flower Shop" interview segment even employing Piper's former bodyguard "Ace" Bob Orton as his own complete with new pink cowboy hat and well as befriending Magnificent Muraco and a then heel "Macho Man" Randy Savage. In the ring, Adonis was a hard working, bumping machine despite his enormous size but seemed somewhat uncomfortable in the more flamboyant interviewer role although he was aided somewhat by his manager Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart. On the Flower Shop though, the roots for Paul Orndorff's turn on Hulk Hogan were laid with Adonis needling Orndorff about being in Hogan's shadow. When "Rowdy" Roddy Piper returned, naturally a rivalry and later a war between the two talk segments and their respective hosts began especially after Adonis, Orton and Muraco attacked Piper "injuring" his leg and covering him in lipstick before Adonis and crew laid waste to the Piper's Pit set. Piper would return a week later with a baseball bat and wreck havoc on Adonis's Flower Shop set. The feud, which actually had turned Piper from a loathed heel to a beloved babyface, climaxed at Wrestlemania III in what was billed as Piper's retirement match in an Hair vs. Hair match which saw Brutus Beefcake cut Adonis's hair following the match after Piper put Adonis to sleep with a sleeperhold.

[JaseSF]

Prince Nana joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Nana has been a rather successful manager/in-ring competitor best known for his work in Ring of Honor managing several different versions his Embassy stable. Claiming to be a real Ghana, West Africa Ashanti Prince, Nana lays claim to many riches for the many heel grapplers who decide to join him in his stable which has had its up and down moments of success. One of the more successful versions of the Embassy saw Nana manage John Walters as ROH Pure Champion and lead Jimmy Rave, Alex Shelley and Abyss to win a Trios tournament. Jimmy Rave has definitely been one of the most consistent and long-lasting Embassy members. A later notable version consisted of Bison Smith, Ernie Osiris and later included the likes of Necro Butcher, Claudio Castagnoli, Joey Ryan, Erick Stevens and Shawn Daivari. The most recent version included Osiris, Mia Yim, Robert Evans and Tommasso Ciampa. He's also managed the likes of Angel Williams, Christopher Daniels, Daizee Haze, Dave Taylor, Excess 69, Diablo Santiago, Fast Eddie Vegas, Jade Chung, Josh Daniels, Killer Kruel, Masato Yoshino, Oman Tortuga, Petey Williams, Ricky Morton, Sal Rinauro, Vanessa Harding and Xavier.

Tarzan Tyler joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Tyler was a longtime successful veteran wrestler having held many major titles in the NWA territories (Central States, Florida, Mid-South), Japan and the WWWF (where he was a WWWF World Tag Team champion alongside Crazy Luke Graham). Tyler was also extremely successful in Canada as a top heel grappler where he captured the Grand Prix Heavyweight Championship three times in Montreal in the 1970s. When his in-ring career began winding down in the early 80s, he turned to managing his young protege Mad Dog Pierre LeFebrve in Montreal's International Wrestling and the pair seemed poised for success there when tragically they were both killed in a car accident at Laurentides Provincial Park upon returning from a wrestling event in Chicoutimi, Quebec on December 24, 1985 along with referee Adrien Desbois.   Tyler was 58 years old.

The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn & Stan Lane) join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. While the Fabulous Ones were arguably the original fun-loving pretty boys tag team that inspired later teams like the Rock 'n' Roll Express, Fantastics and Midnight Rockers, their success was actually rather limited outside of the South although they did compete in the AWA and NWA and were very popular there as well, they just never seemed to rise things to that next level they might have had the ability to given their sticking to the Memphis/Continental territory where they remained at their most popular and successful. In early 1982, they were pushed in Memphis as a pair of pretty boys who appeared in music videos using ZZ Top song "Sharp Dressed Man" and Billy Squier's "Everybody Wants You" while wearing top hats, sequin tuxedos and bow ties. Local Memphis legend "The Fabulous" Jackie Fargo would even lend his name to the team giving them credibility instantly with local fans. They'd go on to have memorable feuds with Jimmy Hart's New York Dolls ("Dream Machine" Troy Graham and Rick McGraw) and later the Original Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose and Norvell Austin). Eventually the Fabs would win the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship and would hold them a total of 15 different times altogether as well as holding the CWA World Tag Team Championships twice.  The Fabs would start a legendary and long and bloody feud with the Sheepherders (Luke Williams and Jonathan Boyd) most of their battles over the AWA Southern Tag Team titles. They'd also go on to feud with the Moondogs over the Southern titles as well. The Fabs would move to Texas and would be awarded the Southwest Championship Wrestling World Tag Team titles which they'd soon reignite their feud with the Sheepherders over. In 1984 and 1985, the Fabs moved to the AWA and had great success in terms of popular appeal while feuding with the likes of the Road Warriors, Jesse Ventura, Nick Bockwinkel, Mr. Saito and manager Bobby Heenan. The Fabs however would fail to capture the AWA World Tag Team titles from the Road Warriors. The Fabs would soon return to Memphis and would battle with the likes of Rick Rude and King Kong Bundy over the Southern Tag titles whom the Fabs eventually upended, then traded the titles with the Interns before entering into a feud with the PYT Express (Koko Ware and Norvell Austin) managed by Jimmy Hart. Before long, the Fabs were once more embroiled in a bitter feud with the Sheepherders, this time the Rip Morgan and Jonathan Boyd version. The Fabs would move on to compete in the NWA and would actually lose in the first round of the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup 1986 to the Fantastics, a team that was pretty much a rip-off of them. The Fabs would go on to compete at AWA WrestleRock 1986 only to lose yet again, this time to the U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo) before moving on to compete in Florida where they were soon battling those pesky Sheepherders yet again over the newly created NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championships and would return for one more tour of Memphis where you guessed it, they again were embroiled in a feud with the Sheepherders, this time seemingly running them off for good. The Fabs would break up not long after with Lane becoming "Sweet" Stan Lane and joining "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton and Jim Cornette in the Midnight Express while Keirn turning to training and competing in singles action. In 1990, Lane & Keirn would actually reunite in Memphis by now the USWA and would win the USWA Tag Team Titles from Tony Anthony and Doug Gilbert. By 1995, the Fabs were only teaming sporadically and both men are now retired from active in-ring competition.

[HappyGilmore]

I love Prince Nana.  Love his work in ROH.

I remember seeing him back in 2000/2001, even early '02 in several jobber/tryout matches on WWF television.  Used to work matches on WWF Sunday Night Heat and WWF Metal/Jakked against the likes of Dean Malenko, Jerry Lynn, Perry Saturn, The Godfather and other underutilized WWF talent.  Good stuff.

[JaseSF]

Josh Matthews joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Matthews actually started out as a contestant on WWE Tough Enough back in 2001-2002 and was a runner-up in the competition. He'd move on to compete on the independent circuit in the XWF before moving back to the WWE in later 2002 as a behind the scenes/backstage interviewer on WWE Smackdown as well as eventually becoming the lead announcer on WWE Velocity, in terms of wrestling arguably the WWE's most entertaining show at the time. Matthews took to the role very well indeed and soon became one of the WWE most consistentally entertaining and informative announcers. While appearing on Smackdown! he'd wind up involved in an angle where he was abused by JBL and his lead henchman Orlando Jordan leading to Matthews eventually teaming up with Booker T and surprisingly winning. In the end though, JBL would dish out some severe punishment for Matthews interference in his and Jordan's plans. He'd also be attacked on Smackdown! by Kurt Angle and the Undertaker. Matthews would eventually move to Raw where he'd be a part-time commentator and interviewer as well as working on WWE Heat. Matthews would also move on to become lead announcer on ECW when Todd Grisham moved to Smackdown! and he'd also get to announce the early seasons of WWE NXT before being moved himself to Smackdown! to replace Grisham, who was moved to NXT, and work alongside Micheal Cole and Booker T.. Matthews more recently has also begun frequently appearing and announcing on WWE Raw, often being the most consistent voice on the show as his fellow commentators Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole are engaged in a bitter, personal feud which has since involved former WWE Raw/Smackdown! announcer Jim Ross. Matthews is arguably the best young announcer in wrestling today.

[JaseSF]

"The Franchise" Shane Douglas joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Douglas came into his own in ECW where he made a major name for himself after throwing down the NWA World title he just won and declaring himself the first Extreme Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. Douglas actually first came to national attention in the UWF in the late 1980s after spending some years in the independents as Troy Orndorff, fictional nephew of "Mr. Wonderful" and doing some jobs in WWF actually putting over "Mr. Wonderful" himself on a few occasions. Douglas billed as a young up and comer in UWF pulled off some surprising upsets defeating "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert for the UWF World Television title and getting involved in Sting and Chris Adams' feud with Hotstuff International and Terry Taylor. Eventually Douglas would drop the title to Taylor. He'd move to the NWA in 1989 as a member of a surfer/skateboarder tag team with Johnny Ace called the Dynamic Dudes but fans could see that their gimmick was phony and not true to the men portraying it. The most notable thing from the Dudes would be their feud with the Midnight Express over manager Jim Cornette with Cornette eventually betraying the Dudes in favor of the Midnights. The Dudes would split with Ace going to compete in All-Japan Pro Wrestling. He'd move back to the independents before debuting in the WWF in 1990 as a bright young and up and comer. He'd impress and get some wins but would never rise very far up the card. He'd eventually leave to take care of his ailing father in 1991. He'd return to WCW in 1992 and would form a successful tag team with Ricky Steamboat and the pair would capture the WCW World Tag Team Championships from Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes before becoming embroiled in a long feud with the Hollywood Blonds (Steve Austin & Brian Pillman) that even saw Douglas and Steamboat wrestle under masks as Dos Hombres. After losing the tag titles to the Blonds, Douglas would move on to compete in ECW.

It would be in ECW that Douglas would firmly establish himself as a top tier star being a very impressive Champion and forming a stable with Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko called the Triple Threat. Douglas would have memorable feuds with the Sandman and Cactus Jack before moving to the WWF in 1995 as Dean Douglas, a cheesy college dean character, a character that would be rather similar to the one portrayed by Matt Striker years later. He'd briefly win the WWF Intercontinental title via forfeit from Shawn Michaels after Michaels was allegedly assaulted by a group of thugs in Syracuse, New York. The title reign would prove rather short-lived however when at the same In Your House show, he was forced to defend his newly won title against Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) who'd defeat him for it that very same night. By January 1996, Douglas was back in his old ECW stomping grounds and was soon targeting ECW World Champion Raven. He'd have a memorable feud with the now departing Cactus Jack and then 2 Cold Scorpio eventually winning the ECW World Television title from Scorpio but he'd drop it to PitBull # 2 a month later. Douglas would however regain the title in a four way dance defeating Chris Jericho, PitBull # 2 and 2 Cold Scorpio after the PitBulls manager Francine turned on the Pitbulls and sided with Douglas helping him regain the title. His partnership with Francine would prove very successful for Douglas and he'd go on to form a new Triple Threat with Chris Candido and Brian Lee, who would later be replaced by Bam Bam Bigelow. Douglas would hold the TV title for a year before finally losing it to Taz. He'd then focus on the ECW World Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk eventually defeating Sabu and Funk in a Three Way Dance to win the ECW World title a second time. He'd briefly lose the title to Bam Bam Bigelow in October but would regain it 15 days later at November to Remember. He'd then keep a firm grasp on the title until January 1999 when he finally lost it to Taz, who had been battling and chasing after/feuding with him throughout 1998. He'd briefly turn face and would team with Tommy Dreamer against the Impact Players before leaving for WCW yet again in 1999. There he'd reform his old Triple Threat team with Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit and would add Perry Saturn to form a new group called Revolution stating he wanted to wipe out the cancer in WCW referring to Ric Flair. Eventually he'd also join the New Blood faction during their feud with the Millionaires Club that included Flair. Douglas would go on to win another WCW World Tag Team Championship this time with Buff Bagwell as well as a United States Heavyweight Championship and would be managed for a while by Torrie Wilson.

Following the demise of WCW, Douglas competed in XPW and won its World Heavyweight Championship but the promotion would be short-lived. He'd also compete in the Australia based WWA before moving to TNA in 2003. There he'd reignite his feud with Raven while a member of the New Church climaxing in a Hair vs. Hair match that saw Raven's brutally get his head shaved by Douglas after interference from Vampiro. He'd then leave the New Church and hire valet Traci Brooks and would take on Michael Shane as a new protege before the egos of the pair would eventually clash and they'd feud. Douglas would take on more of a behind the scenes role after this before becoming the manager for the Naturals for a brief time hoping to reignite the fire they had when paired with his own late ally Chris Candido. Eventually he'd end his pairing with the Naturals following an embarrassing loss to Team 3D. In 2009, Douglas returned to more of an in-ring role in TNA feuding with Christopher Daniels and A.J. Styles seemingly trying to steal their place in the roster with Douglas himself eventually losing his spot to Daniels. Douglas still competes on the independent circuit (Renegade Wrestling Alliance).

The Valiant Brothers ("Handsome" Jimmy, "Luscious" Johnny and "Gentleman" Jerry Valiant) join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Johnny and Jimmy first debuted in 1974 in the World Wrestling Association as a pair of heel "brothers" (kayfabe) quickly impressing defeating Dick the Bruiser and Bruno Sammartino on January 5th, 1974, their debut winning the WWA World Tag Team Championship. A rematch with Bruno and the Bruiser would see the titles held up but another rematch saw the Valiants winning a second WWA World Tag Team Championship. They'd quickly become dominant, clever cheating heels and would quickly gain popularity holding the titles for a few months before dropping the belts to Pepper Gomez and Wilbur Snyder. Shortly after dropping the WWA belts, the Valiants (Jimmy and Johnny) signed with Vince McMahon Sr. World Wide Wrestling Federation, paired up quite naturally with manager Captain Lou Albano, winning the WWWF World Tag Team Championships in short order defeating Tony Garea and Dean Ho on May 8, 1974. They'd hold a previously almost unheard of grasp on the tag belts holding them for over a year before dropping them on May 13, 1975 to Dominic DeNucci and Victor Rivera. The Valiant Brothers would hold the record as longest reigning WWWF World Tag Team champions until the late 1980s when Demolition would finally break their old record. The Valiants would also memorably feud with Haystacks Calhoun and Chief Jay Strongbow in the WWWF. In 1976, Jimmy and Johnny moved to the NWA territories and toured throughout them collecting more titles along the way including the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championships (from Dean Ho and Ken Mantell), the NWA World Tag Team Championships (San Francisco version) (defeating the Royal Kangaroos Jonathan Boyd and Norman Frederick Charles III), and finally they were awarded the NWA United States Tag Team Championships (Florida version) in January 1978 before going on to lose them to Steve Keirn and Mike Graham. Later in 1978, the Valiants returned to the WWWF but Jimmy was now retired from in-ring competition (although he'd return later) and was replaced by "Gentleman" Jerry Valiant in the team although Jimmy was still there as manager. On March 24th, 1979, Johnny and Jerry won the WWF World Tag Team Championship from Larry Zbyszko and Tony Garea. The new Valiants were successful but Johnny and Jerry was never quite as flamboyant and popular with fans as heels as Jimmy and Johnny had been. Johnny and Jerry lost the WWF World Tag Team titles to Ivan Putski and Tito Santana on October 22, 1979 and could never successfully regain them leading to the team eventually splitting up. Jimmy and Johnny would be inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1996.

Paul London and Brian Kendrick join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. In 2005, Paul London and Brian Kendrick formed a high-flying, fast-moving young tag team quite popular with fans. By May 2006, the duo won the WWE Tag Team Championship from MNM (Joey Mercury and John Nitro/Morrison). They'd go on to have a surprisingly long reign as champions holding the titles for the fourth longest length of time of any pair of WWE/WWWF/WWF Tag Champs retaining their titles until April 2007 when they finally lost the titles to newcomers Deuce and Domino. Later in 2007, they'd be moved to the Raw brand where they'd briefly win the World Tag Team Championships as well. London and Kendrick, despite their relatively small size were surprisingly dominant tag team champions dominating in feuds with MNM and K.C. James and Idol Stevens (during which they added Ashley Massaro to counteract Michelle McCool who managed James and Stevens at the time) before having a losing streak against William Regal and Dave Taylor which was supposed to lead to a title match but would eventually be changed to a 4 way ladder match against the Hardys, MNM and Taylor & Regal with London and Kendrick still managing to hang on to their title belts. Moving to Raw, they'd dominate again against the World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) and would briefly capture the World Tag Team Championships from Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch at a house show in South Africa with Cade & Murdoch winning back the titles 3 days later. They'd eventually split for a while when London suffered a foot injury leading to a singles run for Kendrick. Upon London's return, they'd reform their team with limited success eventually leading to tension between the two losing more at this point than they won. Not long after this, Kendrick would be revamped as a newly heel "The Brian Kendrick" and London not long after was released by WWE. They`d reunite as a team on the independent circuit in 2010 in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Dragon Gate USA battling the likes of Generation Me and Jack Evans & Jimmy Jacobs.

Sonny Onoo joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Onoo, a friend of Eric Bischoff since the 1970s when the two became friends during Onoo's Martial Arts career with Onoo having won numerous accolades in that area. In 1994, Bischoff hired his old friend to WCW as an off screen consultant. Eventually he'd become more involved with overseas promotions including the Collision in Korea PPV. In 1995, he'd first debut as Sonny Onoo, a manager/language interpreter for many Japanese stars who appeared on WCW shows who wore stylish suits and sunglasses and came across as more than a little weaselly. At Starrcade 1995, Onoo managed Team Japan (Jushin Liger, Koji Kanemoto, Masahiro Chono, Masa Saito, Shinjiro Otani, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Kensuke Sasaki) against Team WCW in a Best of Seven World Cup series. Eventually Chono and later the Great Muta would turn on Onoo to join the nWo (Japan version). Onoo at this time also managed Ultimo Dragon, who had great success winning the WCW Cruiserweight Championship with help from Onoo at Starrcade 1996. The win temporarily united the title with the 8 championships of the J-Crown. Dragon would lose the J-Crown to Jushin Thunder Liger while retaining the WCW Cruiserweight title which he'd eventually lose to Dean Malenko at Clash of the Champions XXXIV following botched interference from Onoo. Dragon would go on to win the WCW World Television Title from Prince Iaukea and defended the title against "Lord" Steven Regal. Onoo tried to interfere on Dragon's behalf but Dragon admonished Onoo showing he didn't want to win that way leading to Onoo betraying Dragon and helping Regal win. In August 1996, Onoo would manage Bull Nakano during her WCW feud with Madusa. He'd also manage Malia Hosaka but would finally gain success with Akira Hokuto who defeated Madusa to win the WCW Women's Championship in a tournament final to crown a new champion with Hokuto also winning a series of rematches and even forcing Madusa into retirement at one point. However when Hokuto left WCW, the title would be quickly dropped and forgotten. Onoo next turned to the Cruiserweight division managing La Parka and Psychosis during his feud with Dragon. When they failed, he turned to Yuji Nagata with Nagata finally defeating Dragon giving Onoo a measure of revenge. Onoo next started managing Ernest "The Cat" Miller during feuds with Perry Saturn and Jerry Flynn. Onoo would also manage the likes of Judy Bagwell, Kaz Hayashi, Ohara, Kaz Onoo and Yuji Yasuraoka. He'd be released in 1999. In February 2000, Onoo and a number of African American grapplers filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against WCW claiming wrongful dismissal.

Corey Maclin joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Corey Maclin was an announcer/promoter in Memphis Wrestling bringing a bright level of energy and enthusiasm to shows but yet was never particularly good seemingly preferring to joke and kid around and have conversations more so than call the action. Also his use of slang during interviews and commentary often leaves something to be desired although he does have a likable down home charm to him.

[HappyGilmore]

Shane Douglas was a pretty decent performer, but seemingly had a lot working against him in major companies like the WWF. 

[JaseSF]

"The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Following his successful pairing with the Dynamite Kid as the legendary British Bulldogs tag team who captured WWF World Tag Team gold as well as gold in Stampede wrestling, Davey Boy turned back to singles wrestling which he'd had some previous success before tangling with the likes of former tag team partner Dynamite Kid, even winning the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title from him at one point, and Bret Hart years back in Stampede and also forming a successful team with Bruce Hart. Prior to this, he had competed in Britain's World of Sport against the likes of Dave Finlay, Blackjack Mulligan and Marty Jones. He also teamed with Big Daddy and had a series of matches with Jim Breaks from whom he won the British Welterweight Championship in 1979. He'd also compete in New Japan against the Dyamite Kid and the Cobra over the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship. Davey, by now far more muscular and massive, would again return to singles action in Stampede after splitting with Dynamite Kid who formed a tag team with his "cousin" Johnny Smith to then feud with Davey and a young Chris Benoit. Davey would go on to capture the Stampede North American Championship on two occasion once in 1984 from Bad News Allen and again in 1989 from Don Muraco.

He finally made his return to the WWF, this time as a singles star nicknamed "The British Bulldog" in 1990 first feuding with the Warlord. It wasn't long before Smith became a megastar in the U.K. as the WWF's popularity grew overseas. Smith would go on to impress winning a 20 man battle royal and having a good showing in the 1992 Royal Rumble. He also won feuds with I.R.S. and The Mountie before moving into contention for Bret Hart's WWF Intercontinental Championship, a title he would capture in the Main Event of Summerslam 1992, one of the rare occasions the secondary title would headline a major PPV event, this one before 80, 355 of Davey's fellow countrymen in Wembley Stadium. The main event win for Smith is generally considered the highlight of his career. He'd lose the I-C title to Shawn Michaels later in November 1992 and would be released by the WWF when it was discovered he was receiving shipments of Human Growth Hormone.

Davey Boy would move to WCW in 1993 and would quickly become a main eventer and a top challenger to Big Van Vader's WCW World Heavyweight Championship yet would fail to capture the title. He also formed an alliance with Sting and also feuded with Sid Vicious. He would apparently be released by WCW later in 1993 when he was involved in an altercation allegedly involving a man making advances towards his wife.

He returned to the WWF in 1994 and sided with Bret "The Hitman" Hart in his ongoing family feud with brother Owen Hart and brother in-law Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Smith's team at Survivor Series 1994 captained by Razor Ramon won the match against Shawn Michaels' team despite Davey Boy getting counted out. Davey Boy and Shawn Michaels would continue their rivalry into the 1995 Royal Rumble with both men starting the match and lasting until the end with Michaels surprising Davey Boy at the end after he mistakenly thought Michaels had been eliminated. Next Davey Boy would form a tag team with Lex Luger called The Allied Powers but the team would have very limited success. Eventually Davey Boy turned heel by turning against then WWF World Champion Diesel and aiding Men on a Mission in a post match beatdown. Davey Boy would take on Jim Cornette as his manager and would join Owen Hart and Yokozuna in Cornette's stable. Davey Boy became a top challenger to Diesel's title in short order gaining wins over Bam Bam Bigelow and defeating Diesel in a six man match. During his title match with Diesel, Smith would win by DQ but would not win the title after Bret Hart interfered. After surviving at the 1995 Survivor Series, Davey became a top challenger for Bret Hart, the new WWF World Champion. The two had another terrific match as in 1992 but this time Bret Hart emerged victorious. At the 1996 Royal Rumble, Davey made it to the final four before being eliminated by Shawn Michaels and teamed with Owen Hart and Vader to defeat Yokozuna, Ahmed Johnson and Jake "The Snake" Roberts at Wrestlemania XII and later teamed with Owen to defeat the team of Johnson and Roberts. Davey Boy next emerged as a top challenger for Shawn Michaels, now the WWF World Champion after accusing Michaels of hitting on his wife Diana Hart, sister of Bret Hart. In the end while he'd come close, Michaels would retain his WWF World Championship.  Davey next formed a tag team with brother in-law Owen Hart which would prove both very good and very successful eventually capturing the WWF World Tag Team titles from the Smoking Gunns and successfully defending them against the likes of Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon, Vader and ManKind and the Legion of Doom. In 1997, the WWF created a new European Championship that saw the tournament final conclude between tag champs Davey Boy and partner Owen. Davey would defeat Owen to become the first ever WWF European Champion in another terrific bout. It would not be long after that Davey Boy and Owen would make amends with Bret Hart and would form the powerful Hart Foundation stable also including Jim Neidhart and Brian Pillman. In Canada, the Hart Foundation were beloved fan favourites while they became hated heels in the U.S. feuding with American anti-heroes likes "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Goldust, Vader, D-X, Ken Shamrock and the L.O.D.. Owen and Davey would lose the tag team titles to Austin and Shawn Michaels and a subsequent tournament final to Austin and Dude Love (Mick Foley). Not long after Davey lost the European title to Shawn Michaels in the main event of a British PPV called One Night Only. Shortly thereafter following the events of the Survivor Series 1997 Montreal Screwjob, Davey Boy along with Bret and Jim Neidhart left for WCW. Smith and Neidhart as a tag team had very limited success in WCW and clearly it was only Bret WCW was really interested in at this time. After suffering a series of unfortunate injuries including a bad knee injury and a much more serious spinal infection that nearly paralyzed him (after landing awkwardly on a trap door put in place for the Warrior to emerge from under the ring later in the show) and put him out of action for six months. While recuperating, he received his release in the mail from WCW. He returned to the WWF in September 1999 but was never quite the same wrestling now in blue jeans and with a darker attitude. He would defeat the Big Bossman for the WWF Hardcore title before forfeiting it to Al Snow. He'd eventually turn heel to pursue the WWF World Championship yet again now pursuing the Rock but would fail to defeat him. He'd later defeat D-Lo Brown for the WWF European Championship on October 26, 1999 but would lose the belt to Val Venis in December. On May 6, 2000, he'd defeat Crash Holly in England to win the WWF Hardcore Championship but Holly would regain it again in a May 11th Smackdown! rematch. Not long into 2000, Smith would enter a drug rehabilitation clinic at the behest and at the expense of Vince McMahon citing his problems with prescription painkillers although this wasn't the only drug he was abusing. Davey Boy would die on May 18, 2002 of an heart attack at just 39 years old and it is suspected by many his past steroid and other drug abuse may well have played a part. His son Harry Smith has since become a pro wrestler now called David Hart Smith in WWE.

Jim Cornette joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Despite being a very successful manager in many federations including the NWA, WCW, WWF, SMW, ROH, CWA, Mid-South, WCCW and elsewhere no doubt due in large part to his tremendous gift of gab. Well said gift of gab also translated well to those times he has also worked as a ring announcer and color commentator most notably on the syndicated NWA show on TBS on Saturday Nights alongside Jim Ross. In 1997 in the WWF, he also become a commentator and would do a series of very entertaining "worked shoots" about the state of the wrestling industry at said time and his own personal response to it sometimes berating certain grapplers while at other times singing the praises of others.

The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustafa Saed) join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. The Gangstas first emerged on the scene in SMW and included a three man pairing of D-Lo Brown, New Jack and Mustafa Saed. There they became a very controversial team cutting promos about activist Medgar Evers and O.J. Simpson sure to infuriate the largely white Southern crowd. They often used fried chicken and watermelons as props to help them win matches and sometimes announcers would confuse their hometown of Los Angeles with Louisiana leading to New Jack berating the ring announcer. They'd actually be awarded their first and only SMW Tag Team Championships from the Rock and Roll Express after threatening a racial discrimination lawsuit over the referee's decision which originally saw them lose the match. They'd lose the titles back to the Express two months later and in controversial fashion would jump from SMW to ECW, starting a dispute between Paul Heyman and Jim Cornette. In ECW, the now two man team of New Jack and Mustafa Saed became known for bringing a shopping cart of weapons including staple guns, guitars, crutches and trash cans to the ring with them. Unlike in SMW where they had been hated heels, the Northeastern crowd quickly took a liking to them and they'd go on to successfully capture two ECW World Tag Team Championships defeating the Eliminators in August 1996 and the Dudley Boyz in July 1997. The team would split in 1997 when Mustafa Saed left ECW. New Jack would go on to form a new Gangstanators tag team with John Kronus after his Eliminators partner Perry Saturn went to WCW. The Gangstanators would win the ECW World Tag Team titles on one occasion as well. In 1999, Mustafa Saed would return to feud briefly with New Jack, by now a beloved fan favourite in ECW. The Gangstas also held the NGWA Tag Team Championships.

[JaseSF]

Lita joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Lita, real name Amy Dumas, first started on the independent circuit as Angelica in MCW where she managed Christopher Daniels and ended up in ECW as Miss Congeniality, the on-screen love interest of Danny Doring before signing a development deal with and moving to the WWF in 1999 after attending Dory Funk Jr. wrestling school alongside 23 men and impressing despite this.

She'd debut in the WWF as the valet Lita for Essa Rios, who'd go on to win the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Lita would often mimic Rios' high-flying moves including the moonsault and hurricanrana wowing fans at the time and gaining significant attention eventually leading to a feud with the pair of Eddie Guerrero and Chyna over Guerrero's European title although Guerrero and Chyna would win out in the end. Heat would start between Rios and Lita when she caught him cavorting with the Godfather's "Hos" with Rios eventually turning on and attacking Lita when she cost him a match. She would be rescued by Matt and Jeff Hardy and together they would form the widely popular Team Extreme and Lita started wearing more revealing clothing including a visible thong above her baggy pants. Lita would often get physically involved in the Hardys matches including even in TLC matches. In June 2000, Team Xtreme started feuding with T & A managed by Trish Stratus starting a long-lasting sometimes very heated feud/rivalry between Stratus and Lita that would go on and off for the next six years. Lita would next target WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and would eventually defeat her for the Women's title on August 21, 2000, her first of four Women's titles. She'd also continue to aid the Hardys as a member of Team Xtreme and this would eventually cost her as during a feud between Edge & Christian and the Hardys, E & C would help Ivory defeat her for the Women's Championship. Ivory was then a member of Right to Censor who frowned upon Lita's dress and behaviour. Ivory's partner and leader in Right to Censor Steven Richards generally helped her retain and keep the title out of Lita's grip. Lita would next become the focus of a love-smitten Dean Malenko whom Lita would come to reject and embarrass and would even challenge for his WWF Light Heavyweight Championship in a losing effort. During her feud with Malenko, Matt Hardy would come to her aid and help him defeat him in a match leading to a surprising on-screen kiss between them turning their then real life romance also into an on-screen one. In mid-2001, Lita and Stratus would actually join forces to battle the ECW/WCW Invasion's Stacey Keibler and Torrie Wilson with Lita and Stratus dominating the feud. Eventually Lita would end up between a newly feuding Hardy Boyz leading to tension and eventual storyline injuries for all as Jeff become a challenger to the Undertaker's hardcore title.  With time off, they'd reconcile and would return in February 2002 with Lita pursuing Jazz's Women's title at Wrestlemania X8, in a losing effort in a match that also included Trish Stratus. While filming a scene for the Dark Angel series, Lita suffered an injury during a stunt meaning she had to take on a noncompetitive role while she recovered so she became a color commentator on Sunday Night Heat before being fired in April 2003 after rejecting the advances of then Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff. She'd return in September saving Trish Stratus from an attack by Gail Kim and Molly Holly with then co-GM Steve Austin explaining he had rehired Lita. Lita would soon become a top challenger to Molly Holly's Women's championship but would fail to defeat her and would eventually lose an intergender match teaming with Matt Hardy against Bischoff and Molly when Matt turned on her for not putting his interest before her own despite the stipulation she would be fired if she lost the match. However Christian, then a potential love interest for Lita, would use a favor to get her reinstated. Lita would have the first ever Women's Steel Cage match against Victoria the next week losing after Matt interfered. Christian and Lita as well as Chris Jericho and Trish Stratus seemed to be moving into storyline love interests until it was revealed the two men had bet one Canadian dollar as to who could get each lady into bed first leading to a battle of the sexes feud between Lita and Trish vs. Christian and Jericho with the men eventually winning the showdown between them in-ring.

Lita would go on to win a battle royal to become # 1 contender to Victoria's Women's Championship but would fail to defeat her. Not long after that, she and Matt Hardy would reunite and reconcile with Matt trying to protect her from Kane, who had begun to make romantic advances towards her. Eventually Kane would kidnap Lita and one point and would continually attack and beat up Matt week after week. Eventually it would be revealed (in a terrible storyline) that Lita was pregnant and had slept with Kane to save Hardy from all these beatings. This eventually led to a match with Lita's hand in marriage on the line between Kane and Matt eventually won by Kane. Kane and Lita would memorably get "married" on the August 23rd, 2004 Raw episode with Trish Stratus making a memorable appearance to torment Lita at one point. Despite being "married" and accompanying Kane to the ring, Lita often cheered for and aided his opponents until another terrible storyline had Lita miscarry after Gene Snitsky hit Kane with a chair causing him to fall on Lita. This led to Kane and Lita finally joining forces together as allies against Snitsky. Lita also continued her feud with then WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus who had relentlessly tormented her for weeks with Lita eventually winning her second Women's title from Stratus despite botching a suicide dive that nearly killed her at one point. In a January 2005 rematch, Lita would tear her ACL when executing a Thesz press from the ring apron in a title loss to Stratus. Lita would return in March 2005 as newcomer Christy Hemme's mentor during Hemme's Women's title match against Stratus at Wrestlemania 21. Lita continued feuding with Stratus and teaming with Kane until the May 16th episode of Raw when she betrayed Kane helping Edge, then known for controversially having had an affair with Lita in real life, defeat him in the Gold Rush tournament. Her pairing with Edge would arguably be Lita's best and the pair would have great success together successfully winning feuds against Kane and later Matt Hardy. She'd also be in Edge's corner when he defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship at New Year's Revolution in 2005. The next night on Raw, she and Edge were involved in a controversial and highly rated "live sex celebration" that would eventually be interrupted by John Cena and would see Lita's bare breast momentarily exposed when Cena returned to the ring to attack and FU her. She'd go on to team with Edge in a losing effort against Cena and Maria.  She'd continue to manage Edge and would aid him in his hardcore style feud with Mick Foley with the pair so impressing Foley he'd eventually turn heel and team with them himself against his former ECW alumni Terry Funk, Tommy Dreamer and Beulah McGillicutty whom they defeated at One Night Stand. Not long after, Lita, still managing Edge, would upset Mickie James for her third Women's Championship before Edge & Lita moved on to feud with Stratus and her new ally Carlito. Trish would go on to defeat Lita for the Women's Championship in her retirement match, Lita would regain and win her fourth Women's title after winning a tournament over such opponents as Candice Michelle, Maria and finally Mickie James in the finals. Lita announced her impending retirement and would go on to lose her Women's title to Mickie James during her retirement match at Survivor Series 2006. Lita largely retired as well because of all that fan backlash and harassment against her because of her betrayal of Matt Hardy despite being a very hot heel valet in terms of heat at the time.

[JaseSF]

Scott Hudson joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Hudson who started off in the Global Wrestling Federation back in the early 1990s proved to be one of the better and more capable and knowledgable play by play/color men. You could also tell he really truly seemed to be a fan of the product. He would move to WCW alongside Tony Schiavone on WCW Monday Nitro in 1998 and the duo would call the final show in 2001. In 2001, WWE wanted both Hudson and Joey Styles to come in full-time but both men turned down the offer. Hudson however would briefly take part in the Invasion angle and called a WCW style match on WWE between Buff Bagwell and Booker T. alongside Arn Anderson. In 2003, he'd move to TNA where he worked as a backstage interviewer and fill-in announcer. In 2005, he would work for Vince Russo's Ring of Glory Christian wrestling promotion/ministry and on May 5, 2007 would act as ring announcer for a Women's Extreme Wrestling show.

Hector Guerrero joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Hector Guerrero, of the famous Guerrero wrestling family, son of Gory and brother to Eddie, Chavo and Mando had the most success in his career teaming with his brothers Chavo and Mando before adopting some goofy gimmicks including a Lazer Tag style gimmick with Lazer-Tron during which he did win the NWA Jr. Heavyweight Championship while often teaming with "Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant. Later he'd move to the AWA and would win the AWA World Tag Team titles alongside Dr. D. He'd take his goofiest gimmick yet moving to the WWF in 1990 as the masked Goobledly Gooker. In the mid to late 1990s, Hector competed in ECW and then WCW with mixed success, winning some matches but probably losing more. In 2007, he signed with TNA as a Spanish color commentator and road agent and would end up getting involved with the tag team LAX (Homicide and Hernandez) becoming their on-screen mentor and adviser (and sort of inspiration, only Hector's career was hardly as inspiring as that of his siblings Eddie and Chavo). In 2008, Guerrero though did manage LAX successfully to several key win and a TNA World Tag Team Championship helping them along the way. In September 2008 however LAX lost a "Loser's Manager Leaves Town" match to Beer Money Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) effectively ending his short-lived managing career of a couple of months

[JaseSF]

"The Polish Power" Ivan Putski joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Putski, a Polish powerhouse with a bodybuilder's physique who had competed in strongman competitions, was one of the most popular and beloved wrestlers of his era in the 1970s and early 1980s. He always seemed to be the favourite of many a grandmother and many older fans. His in-ring offense wasn't always convincing though to many an home viewer and no doubt led many to suspect if pro wrestling was really on "the up and up" back in his time. He was known for his "Polish Hammer" finisher, a double axe-handle to his opponent's chest, his power wear down holds the bearhug, headlock, scoop slam and vertical suplex. But he definitely had a likable everyman charm that made him widely appealing to fans. He often competed also in arm-wrestling and posedown challenges especially when feuding with fellow muscular powerhouses like "Superstar" Billy Graham, who he'd challenge unsuccessfully for the WWWF World Heavyweight title and later Jesse "The Body" Ventura. He also had memorable feuds with the Iron Sheik and Ivan Koloff and made a memorable appearance on "Piper's Pit". Putski actually was a Polish immigrant to the United States moving with his family to Texas in his youth. Putski was smaller than most wrestlers given he was only 5' 6 " and typically weighed in the 220-250 pound range but was well built and muscular and always seemed larger than he really was by the way he carried himself. Putski would start out in the NWA territories in the early 1970s and would capture the NWA American Tag Team Championship and the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship while partnered with Jose Lothario defeating Brute Bernard and the Missouri Mauler. Putski often played an aloof happy go lucky buffoon who somehow always seemed to defeat his opponent when said opponent least expected it. By the mid-70s, Putski moved to the AWA and slimmed down to 215-220 pounds before moving on to the WWWF in 1974. Putski, a widely popular fan favourite often feuded with many top heels trying to position themselves into title contention and so feuded with the likes of Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen amongst others.  On October 22, 1979, Putski would team with Tito Santana to win arguably his biggest championship, the WWF World Tag Team Championship from Jerry and Johnny Valiant. They'd hold the belts for six months before losing them to the Wild Samoans. He'd win one more tag championship, the SWCW World Tag Team Championship with Wahoo McDaniel defeating Dory Funk Jr. and Larry Lane. By the mid-80s, Putski was mostly helping to put over rising WWF stars before retiring. He'd be inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995 by his son Scott Putski, also a wrestler. He'd even return to the ring one more time to team with Scott against Jerry Lawler and Brian Christoper on Raw, a match won by the Putskis.

The Invaders joins the Tag Team Hall of Shame. The Invaders were a Puerto Rican masked tag team known for their high-flying moves that often befuddled much larger opponents. They had some small success in the WWF but mainly the biggest part of their success was to be found in their home country in WWC. Invader 1 (José González) and Invader II (Roberto Soto) and later Invader III (Johnny Rivera). Invaders I & II would capture many tag titles in WWC including the WWC World Tag Team Championships on two occasions and the WWC North American Tag Team Championship. Later the team of Invader I and III would win the WWC World Tag Team Championships 3 times and the WWC North American Tag Team Championship twice. Later Invader II and III would join forces to feud with Invader I before themselves falling out and Invader II defeating Invader III in a match for his mask. Later Invader II would win an AWF World Tag Team Championship with a mysterious Invader IV. Of course González is best known today as the man who stabbed Bruiser Brody to death in the locker room showers during a wrestling event. González would be acquitted after the jury accepted he was acting in self-defense. The investigation has since been harshly criticized in two books about the life of Brody.

[JaseSF]

Joe Pedicino joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Pedicino spent some time commentating in Jim Crockett Promotions NWA in the 1980s and for World Championship Wrestling from around that era. He also appeared as a host on a show called "Superstars of Wrestling" along with wife Bonnie Blackstone and the legendary Gordon Solie, with whom he'd also co-host a show entitled "Pro Wrestling This Week". The "Superstars of Wrestling" show featured wrestling from several different territories and organizations including the Continental Wrestling Association, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Mid-South Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling as well as footage from all the many NWA territories early on. Later he'd become an announcer for a promotion he co-owned, the Global Wrestling Federation and their "Global Superstars of Wrestling" show. He'd also play a similar role in the short-lived LPWA (Ladies Professional Wrestling Association). Given the nickname "The Round Mound of Sound", he was one of the last familiar voices during the end of the territory era.