Fame or Shame: Pro Wrestling Discussion Thread

[JaseSF]

Shawn Michaels joins the Singles Hall of Fame. When I think truly great wrestling matches and performers who've delivered time and time again, inevitably I think of "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels who probably would be near the top of the list to watch the greatest matches of constantly if I could choose just one performer. Very few performers can rival the number of matches of the year Michaels has been in not to mention his numerous runner-up bouts.

Michaels got his start in Mid-South after being trained by Mexican legend Jose Lothario. Eventually he would move to Texas All-Star Wrestling and would form a tag team with Paul Diamond called the American Force and together they successfully held the TASW tag titles. He'd also compete in Central States wrestling where he'd win the Central States tag titles while teaming up with Marty Jannetty. After brief appearances in WCCW, Michaels eventually debuted in the AWA where he'd reform his tag team with Marty Jannetty and together they would adopt the Midnight Rockers moniker, obviously inspired by previous teams like The Rock 'n' Roll Express and the Midnight Express. The Midnight Rockers would soon find themselves not only tremendously popular especially with the young female fans but were soon in contention for the AWA World Tag Team titles held by "Playboy" Buddy Rose and "Pretty Boy" Doug Sommers, managed by Sherri Martel. Eventually the Rockers would upend Rose & Sommers for the titles but only after a series of hard fought, bloody mat classics between the two teams. In 1987, the Rockers would be signed by the WWF and would drop the tag titles to Boris Zukhov & Soldat Ustinov however would find their stay there short-lived as a bar incident landed them in Vince McMahon's bad graces and they were shortly thereafter back in the AWA again where they would win a second AWA World tag team title, this time from the Midnight Express of "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey and "Ravishing" Randy Rose, managed by Paul E. Dangerously. Around this period, the Rockers also journeyed to Memphis wrestling where as heels for perhaps the first time, they defeated the Rock 'n' Roll Express but only after a controversial match which initially saw the titles held up. In Memphis, the Rockers would also capture a pair of Southern tag team titles. The Rockers would eventually drop the AWA World tag titles to Badd Company: Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond, managed by Diamond Dallas Page.

In July 1988, the Rockers would finally be brought back to the WWF where they'd prove popular favourites yet again. Of course women cheered them for their looks but also many fans cheered them on as underdogs the fans wanted to see pull off that big upset. In the WWF, the Rockers had great and memorable matches with the likes of the Rougeau Brothers, the Orient Express, Demolition, the Hart Foundation and even the Legion of Doom. They came close to capturing the WWF World tag team titles from the Hart Foundation in October 1990 but the decision would be eventually overturned supposedly because a turnbuckle pad fell off during the match. In reality, it was because Jim Neidhart resigned with the WWF instead of moving elsewhere. After failing to capturing the WWF World Tag Team titles, particularly after falling to the Legion of Doom, Michaels eventually and quite shockingly turned on Marty Jannetty throwing him head first through a plate glass window on Brutus Beefcake's Barber Shop interview segment, perhaps the most memorable thing to ever happen on said show.

After that, Jannetty briefly disappeared from the company and Shawn Michaels reinvented himself as "The Boy Toy" with Sensational Sherri as his infatuated manager. Michaels was now brash, cocky and arrogant and even began coming to the ring to his "Sexy Boy" music, initially sung by Sherri.  He started to pursue Intercontinental gold and while failing to capture it from Bret Hart, he would defeat the British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith for the title on an October 27, 1992 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event. He'd go on to challenge Bret "Hitman" Hart for the WWF World title at Survivor Series 1992 but would fall short despite a great match and a great effort. In early 1993, Marty Jannetty made a surprise return and began challenging Michaels for the Intercontinental title. As the feud progressed, Sherri would eventually wind up in the middle and would be blamed for Michaels loss of the title to Jannetty on a May 17, 1993 Raw. After dumping Sherri and hiring a new bodyguard named Diesel, Michaels would regain the title from Jannetty on June 6.

In September 1993, Michaels was stripped of his Intercontinental title as he was suspended from the WWF for undisclosed reasons (possibly steroids). After denying offers from WCW, Michaels would return to the WWF and also compete briefly in Memphis' USWA. He'd make his return at Survivor Series 1993 as a substitute for Jerry Lawler in a match with three Knights vs. the Hart Family. Michaels next set his sights on the new Intercontinental champion Razor Ramon and claimed he was still the champion himself as he had never lost the title. The controversy would come to an head at Wrestlemania X when both belts were suspended above the ring and Michaels and Ramon competed in an unforgettable ladder match that saw Ramon successfully defend his title. While recovering from injuries, Michaels began hosting his own interview segment called "The Heartbreak Hotel". In August 1994, Michaels and Diesel successfully teamed up to capture the tag team titles from the Headshrinkers Samu and Fatu. However Ramon would go on to defeat Diesel for another Intercontinental title when outside interference from Michaels backfired leading to tension between the two. They finally split apart following Survivor Series 1994 and Michaels would go on to win the 1995 Royal Rumble bringing his feud with Diesel to an head as he challenged him at Wrestlemania XI. Michaels also hired a new bodyguard named Psycho Sid (Vicious/Justice) to be in his corner. However when Michaels falled to capture the title, Sid turned on HBK leading to a face turn for HBK.

In May 1995, Michaels defeated Jeff Jarrett for another Intercontinental title reign and would fend off Razor Ramon's challenge in a return ladder match at Summerslam 1995. Behind the scenes, Michaels would become leader of the "Kliq", a group backstage who perhaps held too much sway at the time with Vince McMahon and used their clout to their advantage. In October 1995, HBK was legit attacked by several men outside a bar. This would eventually be exaggerated and played up into an angle where HBK would drop the I-C title to Dean Douglas via forfeit for being unable to compete and would "collapse" on screen during his televised Raw match vs. Owen Hart. This made Michaels extremely popular with fans many of whom truly believed Michaels had collapsed and that the whole thing wasn't scripted (actually it was). After briefly teasing possible retirement, HBK would win the 1996 Royal Rumble and riding a tremendous wave of popularity would go on to challenge fellow fan favourite Bret "Hitman" Hart for the WWF World title at Wrestlemania XII in an Iron Man match. The match would go to a draw but an overtime period would be added which Michaels would win finally capturing his first WWF World title. While champion, Michaels would hold off challenges from Mankind, Vader, British Bulldog and many others but would finally drop the title at Survivor Series 1996 to old rival Psycho Sid. He'd regain the WWF World title from Sid at the 1997 Royal Rumble. In February however, Michaels would vacate the title claiming he'd "lost his smile" and had a knee injury (which he did) although many felt he was unwilling to drop the title back to Bret Hart as was planned. Michaels would return a few months later following knee surgery and would team up with Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWF World Tag team titles. The real life tension and feud was brewing and boiling over between Bret and Shawn backstage. At Summerslam 1997, Michaels officiated a title match between then WWF World champion the Undertaker and Bret Hart which Hart won after HBK accidentally hit Taker with a chair intended for Hart. At One Night Only 1997 in Birmingham, England, HBK defeated the popular British Bulldog for the European title much to the British fans' disgust. The chair hit to Undertaker led to a feud that culminated in the first ever Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood 1997 , a brutal but terrific match which HBK won after Kane interfered attacking Undertaker.

After forming DeGeneration X with old buddy Triple H and Chyna along with Rick Rude to aid him in his feud with Bret Hart and his Hart Foundation, the more adult WWF attitude era started to come to full bloom with DeGeneration X performing shocking and offensive skits on TV weekly, all trying to get the goat of the more traditional Bret Hart. The feud would come to an head at Survivor Series 1997 when the infamous Montreal screwjob occurred with Vince McMahon calling for the bell as Bret Hart was in HBK's sharpshooter despite Hart's obviously not having tapped out. It was insurance by McMahon than Hart wouldn't take the WWF World title with him to WCW, which he'd join signed a deal with. HBK would begin his third WWF World title reign under these circumstances. In 1998, HBK though would acquire a career threatening back injury in a casket match vs. the Undertaker at Royal Rumble 1998 forcing Michaels to retire after losing the WWF World title in memorable fashion to Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XIV.

Michaels would return in non-active roles over the next few years, first as WWF commissioner on November 28, 1998 replacing Sgt. Slaughter and eventually joining Vince McMahon's Corporation group as they feuded with the second version of DeGeneration X. In early 1999, HBK rejoined DX but had to take time off for back surgery. When he returned, DX were no more. He'd continue to play the Commissioner role up until 1999 before disappearing for a while. He'd return to officiate an Iron Man match between the Rock and Triple H in May 2000 and appeared briefly handing over the Commissioner role to Mick Foley one month later. Michaels believing his career was over began to focus on training new wrestlers and started a wrestling school but eventually turned it over to trainers he hired.

In 2002, Michaels returned first as a member of the WWE NWO but the group soon disbanded. Michaels next sought out Triple H hoping to get him to restart the DeGeneration X group with him. However after teasing a reunion, Triple H attacked HBK leading to an unsanctioned grudge match at Summerslam 2002. Michaels had returned and proved, even though he was smaller than before, he could go as well as he ever could. At Survivor Series 2002, Michaels won his fourth World title defeating Triple H in the first ever Elimination Chamber match. Michaels would lose the title back to Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell match at Armageddon 2002. Next Chris Jericho targeted Shawn Michaels hoping to make a name at his expense. At Wrestlemania XIX, HBK defeated Jericho in a great match. By Wrestlemania XX, Michaels was still heavily in the mix still battling and continuing his long rivalry with Triple H leading to a Triple Threat match between HHH, HBK and Chris Benoit at Wrestlemania XX which Benoit would eventually win. Michaels feud though continued with Triple H with him losing an Hell in the Cell match to Triple H at Bad Blood 2004. Despite injury at Taboo Tuesday, HBK would be voted by fans to face Triple H in yet another World title match and Michaels would once again deliver a tremendous effort on the losing end.

Michaels next entered into a feud with Kurt Angle that saw the two finally collide at Wrestlemania 21 where Angle actually defeated HBK via submission thanks to his ankle lock. Next Michaels found himself the target of Muhammad Hassan and Daivari and eventually called upon help from the legendary Hulk Hogan to defeat the two. Eventually though Michaels would turn on Hogan during a match and superkick him challenging him to a match at Summerslam 2005 which Michaels lost pointing out after that Hogan refused to job. Next Michaels got embroiled in a feud with Vince McMahon for failing to accept accolades for the Montreal screwjob leading to a tasteless match which saw Michaels team with God to face the McMahons. Later the feud also involved McMahon hired guns the Spirit Squad and the Big Show. Eventually Shawn Michaels would gain a measure of revenge defeating Vince McMahon in a street fight at Wrestlemania 22 and reforming his original DX pairing with Triple H, who also turned fan favourite in the face of McMahon's machinations. Soon thereafter, DX would find themselves feuding with Rated RKO: Edge & Randy Orton. While right on the verge of defeating Rated RKO for the tag team titles, Triple H legit suffered a torn quadriceps and the DX reunion had to be put on hold. With Triple H out of action, Michaels teamed up with John Cena to defeat Rated RKO for the World tag team titles but Micheals soon had his eyes on another prize - John Cena's WWE championship. At Wrestlemania 23, Cena successfully defended the title against HBK. The next night on Raw, the pair dropped the tag team titles to the reunited Hardys. Michaels would also have a return match vs. John Cena on a live April Raw that would prove the best match of the year. Next Michaels continued the feud with Randy Orton started initially between DX and Rated RKO which saw Orton eventually injure Michaels following a punt to the head causing several "concussions". The storyline injury allowed Michaels to have needed knee surgery and he returned as the top contender for Orton's WWE championship but failed to capture it at Cyber Sunday and Survivor Series. Michaels helped make Orton a bonafide star with these matches.

Next HBK faced Ric Flair in a career threatening match at Wrestlemania XXIV, a match that once again proved the best, and definitely the most emotional, of the year. After this, he found himself the target of Batista who wasn't happy to see his old friend and ally go. Michaels defeated Batista by faking an injury and then hitting Sweet Chin Music. Chris Jericho would eventually point out HBK's discretion leading to tension between them. Batista would exact some revenge defeating HBK in a stretcher match at One Night Stand but the feud with Jericho would get even more fuel after Jericho slammed Michaels head through the television screen he used for his Highlight Reel show. A long and bitter feud developed between Jericho and HBK leading to a terrific series of grudge matches and eventually a world title ladder match between the two won by Jericho. Next HBK found himself in perhaps his worst ever storyline as an hired employee of JBL as he pursued the WWE championship. After eventually defeating JBL and winning his freedom, HBK next targeted the Undertaker and his Wrestlemania undefeated streak only to lose to Taker in what some call the greatest Wrestlemania match ever at Wrestlemania XXV. Michaels' obsession with defeating the Undertaker would continue throughout the next year and despite a reuniting of DX with Triple H and the pair finally winning WWE World tag team gold from Chris Jericho and Big Show, Michaels main focus remained on Undertaker to the point he put his career on the line vs. Undertaker's undefeated streak at Wrestlemania 26 only to lose following yet another outstanding match.

[JaseSF]

Lord Alfred Hayes joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Personally I always kind of liked his Lordship. I felt he brought a quaint sense of humor and a sense of British sensibility to the often cartoonish WWF. I honestly found him to often be quite funny. I guess many people though might have been put off by the goofiness of a lot of the more cartoony aspects of the 1980s and 1990s WWF and Lord Alfred Hayes was often a big part of that especially during his frequent appearances on Tuesday Night Titans as Vince McMahon's sidekick often involved in numerous silly slapstick sketches that often saw his refined Britishness get humiliated in some fashion or another, often with something dumped over him. Or perhaps it's because Hayes had such a distinguished career as an in-ring performer and manager and his WWF persona made you forget that he was in fact once a great wrestler.

[HappyGilmore]

Lord Alfred Hayes joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Personally I always kind of liked his Lordship. I felt he brought a quaint sense of humor and a sense of British sensibility to the often cartoonish WWF. I honestly found him to often be quite funny. I guess many people though might have been put off by the goofiness of a lot of the more cartoony aspects of the 1980s and 1990s WWF and Lord Alfred Hayes was often a big part of that especially during his frequent appearances on Tuesday Night Titans as Vince McMahon's sidekick often involved in numerous silly slapstick sketches that often saw his refined Britishness get humiliated in some fashion or another, often with something dumped over him. Or perhaps it's because Hayes had such a distinguished career as an in-ring performer and manager and his WWF persona made you forget that he was in fact once a great wrestler.

He was funny, but for some reason I couldn't just get a great liking to him.  Maybe I was just a bigger fan of Ventura, McMahon, Monsoon and Heenan.

[JaseSF]

Singles

Hall of Fame

01. Ric Flair
02. Hulk Hogan
03. The Undertaker
04. Terry Funk
05. Gorgeous George
06. Mick Foley
07. Rowdy Roddy Piper
08. Rob Van Dam
09. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
10. Sting
11. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
12. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
13. The Rock
14. Bruno Sammartino
15. Tommy Dreamer
16. Shawn Michaels

Hall of Shame

01. Lex Luger
02. Doink the Clown
03. The Sandman
04. Hillbilly Jim
05. The Patriot
06. Goldberg
07. Abdullah the Butcher
08. Owen Hart
09. Sgt. Slaughter
10. Brock Lesnar
11. Jeff Jarrett
12. The Iron Sheik
13. Jesse "The Body" Ventura
14. George "The Animal" Steele
15. Kane
16. Jerry "The King" Lawler
17. Ox Baker

Tag Teams

Hall of Fame

01. The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley)
02. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid)
03. The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan)
04. DeGeneration X (Shawn Michaels & Triple H)
05. The Road Warriors/The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal)
06. Edge & Christian
07. Demolition (Ax & Smash)
08. The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg Jesse James & Bad Ass Billy Gunn)

Hall of Shame

01. The Killer Bees (Jumping Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair)
02. Harlem Heat (Booker T. & Stevie Ray)
03. The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy)
04. Pretty Wonderful ("Pretty" Paul Roma & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff)
05. The Moondogs (King, Rex & Spot)
06. Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez
07. The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher)
08. APA/The Acolytes (Bradshaw & Farooq)

Managers/Valets

Hall of Fame

01. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
02. The Grand Wizard
03. Captain Lou Albano
04. Classy Freddie Blassie
05. Sensational Sherri Martel
06. Paul Bearer/Percy Pringle III
07. Mr. Fuji
08. James J. Dillon

Hall of Shame

01. Miss Elizabeth
02. Sunny/Tammy Lynn Sycth
03. Jim Cornette
04. Paul E. Dangerously/Paul Heyman
05. Gary Hart
06. Colonel Robert Parker/Tennessee Lee
07. Harvey Wippleman/Downtown Bruno
08. The Doctor of Style, Slick

Hosts/Announcers

Hall of Fame

01. Rowdy Roddy Piper
02. Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Hall of Shame

01. Tony Schiavone
02. Brother Love
03. Lord Alfred Hayes

This is the updated lists for these games. However, if I have to copy and post this every time, these threads are going to get pretty long seems to me. The modify post time limit means I can no longer go back and edit the posts on the first page.

[JaseSF]

Ox Baker joins the Singles Hall of Shame. With his huge hairy frame at 6'5 and over 300 pounds, bald head, big fuzzy mustache and pointed eyebrows plus mean looking beady eyes, Baker looked the part of evil villain (something he'd also use to eventually land parts in the movies too including parts in ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and BLOOD CIRCUS). He just had a great look. He was also capable on the microphone and the addition of his Heart Punch finisher (which was actually rumored to have killed men in the ring and two wrestlers - Alberto Torres and Ray Gunkel- did in fact die after receiving it - although this is disputable) added a cool element to what was in fact a very limited in-ring performer. Surprisingly Baker had considerable success despite this winning the WWA World title from Cowboy Bob Ellis and the WWC Title from Carlos Colon in Puerto Rico. He also held numerous tag team titles including the NWA Australian tag team titles (with King Kamata), AWA Midwest tag titles (with Rock Rogowski, the Claw and The Great Kusatsu on 3 separate occasions), NWA Florida tag titles with Superstar Billy Graham, NWA Mid-Atlantic tag titles with Carl Fergie, NWA Georgia tag titles with Skandor Akbar, NWA Americas tag titles with Enforcer Luciano and the Los Angeles version of the NWA World tag titles also with Enforcer Luciano, NWA Autra-Asian tag titles with Butcher Brannigan and the WWA World tag titles with Chuck O' Connor (AKA: Big John Studd). He'd also win significant singles titles including NWA Florida Southern heavyweight title, the IWA North American title, NWA American Heavyweight title, NWA Texas title, NWA Detroit U.S. title, NWA British Commonwealth title, NWF North American title, NWA Southeastern title, Stampede North American title and the WWC Puerto Rican title. Perhaps his most significant win though was over the Sheik for the Detroit version of the NWA U.S. title thanks to his patented heart punch. The Heart Punch is reputed to have defeated over 8000 men including the likes of Jimmy Snuka, Fritz Von Erich, David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, Verne Gagne, Ernie Ladd, Harley Race, Bulldog Brower, Mil Mascaras and even Hulk Hogan.

James J. Dillon joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. After a long in-ring career, Dillon successfully turned to managing. Today he's best remembered as the manager and brains behind the Four Horsemen. He successfully led several versions of the Horsemen including the original consisting of Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard (whom Dillon managed even before the Horsemen were officially formed), Arn & Ole Anderson. He also led the team of Flair, Blanchard, Arn Anderson & Lex Luger and the team of Flair, Blanchard, Arn Anderson & Barry Windham. He led the Horsemen to numerous titles including NWA World (Flair), Tag Team (Anderson & Blanchard), U.S. (Luger, Windham) and Television titles (Blanchard, Anderson). He wasn't afraid to get involved in matches and sometimes tangled with his team's adversaries in bloody warfare be it in a Texas Bullrope match vs. The Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes) or actually taking part in a War Games match! He won Pro Wrestling Illustrated manager of the year awards in 1982, 1983, and 1988 (when the Horsemen held the NWA World, U.S. and World Tag titles all at once). He also successfully managed Bearcat Wright, the Mongolian Stomper and Abdullah the Butcher.

Slick joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. "The Doctor of Style" may have provided many humorous moments for viewers and even I have to admit to getting a kick out of "Jive Soul Bro" but it was very much a negative stereotype played to the hilt by the WWF. Slick, looking very much the part of shady street hustler crossed with pimp, debuted in the mid-1980s taking over many of the men under contract to "Classy" Freddie Blassie including the likes of Nikolai Volkoff, the Iron Sheik, "The Natural" Butch Reed and Hercules. He later managed the Big Boss Man, Akeem (a reinvented One Man Gang), Rick "The Model" Martel, The Warlord, Boris Zhukov, whom he teamed with Volkoff to form the Bolsheviks and Paul Roma, whom he teamed with Hercules to form Power & Glory. He did make history as the first African American wrestling manager in WWF history.

Slick, real name Ken Johnson, actually started out in Texas All-Star Wrestling managing Mad Maxx and Lord Humongous. He changed his name to Slick and moved to Central States Wrestling where he managed Art Crews, Bulldog Bob Brown, "Diamond" Timothy Flowers, Bobby Jaggers and Butch Reed. There he and his men mainly feuded with Rufus R. Jones until he and Reed lost a Loser Leaves Town match to Bruiser Brody leading to their move to the WWF.

In late 1991, after getting powerslammed on air by the British Bulldog, Slick took some time off and reinvented himself as the reformed Reverend Slick (Slick in fact is now an ordained minister in reality), denouncing his old ways and striving to be a better man and better example. He would appear on WWF programming offering an uplifting message but rarely mentioning God or Jesus. While in this role, he eventually lured Kamala away from the influence of Harvey Wippleman and Kim Chee who were mistreating the big man. Kamala successfully became a full fledged baby face with Slick as manager but had very limited success in this role. Slick won a Slammy Award in 1987 for Best Personal Hygiene.

[JaseSF]

Thanks to Andrew, I've now gone back and updated the Halls on Page 1.

[JaseSF]

Jim Ross joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Good Ole J.R. as he's come to be affectionately known to fans has become almost a comforting familiar voice after so many long years broadcasting and being the main play by play man in the WWF/WWE from the mid-90s until recent years. He's had his ups and downs with the company and has even been fired and taken off the air due to his physical appearance. Like me, Jim Ross has suffered through several bouts of Bell's Palsy, an horrible sickness that leaves one half of your face temporarily paralyzed. In some cases, people's faces return to normal (I myself still show some effects but not as much as Jim Ross). In others, they do not.

Jim Ross actually got his start in Mid-South wrestling under Bill Watts as a referee from 1974-1977. He would be brought back in 1982 as an announcer in Mid-South which would eventually become the Universal Wrestling Federation. Ross was fantastic as a wrestling play by play in those days when he wasn't hampered by someone always in his ear telling him what to say and what to push, sell to fans. He helped build up wrestlers like Ted DiBiase, the One Man Gang, Eddie Gilbert, Sting and many others into stars. When Jim Crockett Promotions purchased the UWF and merged it with the NWA in 1987, Ross would move there and would soon become their top play by play man. Ross was superb as an NWA announcer and worked tremendously well with practically whoever they paired him up with be it Jim Cornette, Terry Funk, Tony Schiavone and/or Bob Caudle calling some of the greatest matches of all-time including the 1989 series between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat. When the NWA would turn into WCW, Ross remained for several more years until he and Eric Bischoff eventually came to rub each other the wrong way.

He moved to the WWF in 1992 originally working on Coliseum Home Video releases. Eventually he was moved up to working PPVs as a play by play man and also came to replace Gorilla Monsoon on WWF Wrestling Challenge.  Eventually however Vince McMahon resumed lead PPV play by play position and would also remain the main voice heard by WWF fans on TV play by play for some years more. Ross eventually assumed more of a role on Radio WWF broadcasts but would be fired in February 1994 after suffering his first Bell's Palsy attack. He shortly thereafter became play by play man for Smoky Mountain Wrestling as well as working for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, his second time there as an announcer. WWF rehired Ross in 1994 to replace Gorilla Monsoon after Vince McMahon had to leave the air to address legal issues. However when McMahon was acquitted of charges, Ross would be let go by WWF again and again he'd return to Smoky Mountain Wrestling. The WWF rehired Ross yet again for Wrestlemania XI and thereafter Ross would go the primary WWF announcing team alongside Vince McMahon leading to an eventual angle that saw Ross turn heel briefly in late 1996 introducing a fake Diesel and Razor Ramon and also criticizing McMahon on air, criticisms he surely most of had for real. Ross would become the main voice of the WWF by Survivor Series 1997 as McMahon eventually assumed more of an air villainous persona. Ross however would again have to take a break from WWF due to an attack of Bell's Palsy following his mother's death in 1998.

They attempted to turn this into an angle where McMahon allegedly fired him due to his condition and Ross brought in "Dr. Death" Steve Williams as his personal enforcer and also attacked his replacement Michael Cole. The angle would quickly be scrapped and forgotten however when fans cheered Ross and booed Cole. Ross would resume his lead play by play position at Wrestlemania XV. Throughout the popular Monday Night Wars, Jim Ross and Jerry "The King' Lawler would remain the voice of Monday Night Raw and fans soon came to become familiar and happy with that pairing although Lawler would leave and be replaced by Paul Heyman due to issues with Stacy Carter and then return again. In 2005, Ross was involved in a storyline angle that saw him "fired" (kayfabe) by Linda McMahon. In fact, Ross had to leave for Colon surgery. While away, he was replaced by Joey Styles until Styles left Raw for the new brand ECW in 2006. In 2007, Ross was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Stone Cold Steve Austin, whom Ross had also helped build into a superstar during the Attitude Era. During the 2008 WWE Draft, Ross would be traded to WWE Smackdown after 12 years on Raw. Ross initially upset with the move decided to work hard to improve Smackdown and did a fine job there as lead play by play man where he remained until October 2009 when he suffered his third bout with Bell's Palsy. He has since recovered and still works with WWE behind the scenes.

Ross himself has also been involved in several storyline incidents on WWE and unfortunately seems to have been humiliated quite frequently be it being made to join Vince McMahon's Kiss My Ass Club, being set on fire by Kane, having his arm "broken" by Triple H although he does hold a win over Triple H thanks to Batista or publicly "fired" by the McMahons. Through it all though, the fans loved J.R. and still rooted for him and supported him and I'm sure many fans today would still like to see Jim Ross return as lead play by play man.

[JaseSF]

Joey Styles joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. "Oh My God!" and "Catfight! Catfight!" are two of his more well-known catchphrases during his era announcing for ECW. Styles was the main voice of ECW throughout its entire existence often acting as both play by play man and color commentator as one of the few wrestling play by play men to ever fly solo as he did through a lot of his run on ECW Hardcore TV and also on  PPV, being the only man to ever call a PPV on his own. Later on he would be joined by Rick Rude on ECW Hardcore TV, Joel Gertner on ECW on TNN and Cyrus on PPVs but Styles' was the unmistakable voice of ECW, who showed both a good knowledge of wrestling history and a good sense of comic timing. Styles would sign with WWE in 2005 to commentate at One Night Stand alongside Mick Foley. He'd later move to WWE RAW in 2005 replacing Jim Ross when Ross had to leave briefly for colon surgery. Styles was visibly uneasy in the role of sports entertainment host with someone constantly shouting instructions in his ear, something he didn't have to deal with in ECW, and eventually did a worked shoot condemning sports entertainment and McMahon's WWE. This was done all on purpose though to set up his return to the new WWE take on ECW that was started in 2006. Styles would remain the voice of the new ECW alongside Tazz until April  2008 when he was moved to WWE.com (something that might have been a relief for Styles to get away from the WWE style of broadcasting) and was replaced by the horrendously awful Mike Adamle.

[HappyGilmore]

Joey Styles joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame.

I think you mentioned your displeasure with him as a host/announcer.  I liked him a lot though.  Thought he did add a lot to the shows.  Glad he made it in.

[Mr. DS]

Joey Styles joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame.

I think you mentioned your displeasure with him as a host/announcer.  I liked him a lot though.  Thought he did add a lot to the shows.  Glad he made it in.

Theres something about Joey Styles thats really likeable, I can't put my finger on it though.  I think its because he reminds me a lot of an 80s Vince McMahon's intensity on the play by play mic. 

Lord Alfred Hayes joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Personally I always kind of liked his Lordship. I felt he brought a quaint sense of humor and a sense of British sensibility to the often cartoonish WWF. I honestly found him to often be quite funny. I guess many people though might have been put off by the goofiness of a lot of the more cartoony aspects of the 1980s and 1990s WWF and Lord Alfred Hayes was often a big part of that especially during his frequent appearances on Tuesday Night Titans as Vince McMahon's sidekick often involved in numerous silly slapstick sketches that often saw his refined Britishness get humiliated in some fashion or another, often with something dumped over him. Or perhaps it's because Hayes had such a distinguished career as an in-ring performer and manager and his WWF persona made you forget that he was in fact once a great wrestler.

He was funny, but for some reason I couldn't just get a great liking to him.  Maybe I was just a bigger fan of Ventura, McMahon, Monsoon and Heenan.

His prude nature always made me laugh, especially when he cohosted TNT.

[JaseSF]

I thought he was just fine in ECW albeit a bit overrated perhaps with how much internet fans seemed to rave on about him. Anyways I didn't feel he fit in as well with WWE style sports entertainment...really think he's better suited to the old-school style of wrestling announcing.

[HappyGilmore]

I thought he was just fine in ECW albeit a bit overrated perhaps with how much internet fans seemed to rave on about him. Anyways I didn't feel he fit in as well with WWE style sports entertainment...really think he's better suited to the old-school style of wrestling announcing.

Tazz, Mick Foley and Styles commented that with the "WWE Style", it's harder, because while wearing the headset, you not only have to listen to your partner, but you also have 2 producers, a writer, and Vince McMahon barking at you, feeding you lines to say.  So you got like, 5/6 people yelling at you, while trying to watch the match, and fans are yelling in your ear.

[JaseSF]

The Hart Foundation joins the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Honestly I'm hard pressed to think of any think that gelled as well with a combination of speed (Bret "The Hitman" Hart) and power (Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart). They to me are the prototype of a what a great tag team should be all about.

Initially Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart was a villainous heel lower mid-card grappler who initially was managed by Mr. Fuji who sold his contract to Jimmy "The Mouth of the South" Hart. Bret Hart initially was a forgettable fan favourite who the WWF planned to give a lame cowboy gimmick. Bret turned that down and suggested the team with Neidhart. Bret added the shades and arrogant attitude that would become the Hart Foundation's trademark along with the bright hot pink and black tights. You just knew the guys had to be real tough just to pull off that look.

The Hart Foundation along with manager Jimmy Hart proved a very capable tag team and quickly rose through the ranks having fantastic matches with the British Bulldogs and the Killer Bees. At their first PPV as a team, the Hart Foundation were the last two men left in the ring along with eventual winner Andre the Giant in a 20 Man Invitational Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 2. After a lenghty feud with the Killer Bees, the Harts turned their attention towards the WWF World Tag Team champions - the British Bulldogs. On the February 7th, 1987 edition of WWF Superstars of Wrestling, the Hart Foundation finally defeated the Bulldogs along with a bit of help from crooked referee Danny Davis capturing their first WWF World Tag Team championship. Eventually Davis would join the Harts as a member under the name "Dangerous" Danny Davis. Soon the trio would gain the ire of Tito Santana after Davis hit Santana with Jimmy Hart's megaphone in a tag match between the Foundation and Santana, who was teamed with Dan Spivey.

This led to a Wrestlemania III match that saw The British Bulldogs team up with Tito Santana vs. The Hart Foundation and Davis in which Davis again used the megaphone, this time on Davey Boy Smith, to win the match for his team. The Harts held off the challenges of the Bulldogs amongst others but would eventually drop the titles to Tito Santana and his new partner Rick Martel, who had formed Strike Force, on an October 27, 1987 edition of WWF Superstars of Wrestling.

Next Jimmy Hart signed former Hart rivals the Rougeau Brothers to contract and redubbed them The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers leading to tension within the Hart Foundation which meant the Harts began hearing cheers for the first time as did Bret himself a little bit previously due to a falling out with Bad News Brown after the end of a Wrestlemania IV battle royal. The Hart Foundation next pursued Demolition, who captured the titles at Wrestlemania IV, for the WWF World Tag Team titles but failed to win them at Summerslam and then later lost an October rematch on Saturday Night's Main Event thanks to outside interference from the Rougeaus. Naturally the Hart Foundation would come to feud with both the Rougeaus and former manager Jimmy Hart. At Royal Rumble 1989, the Harts gained a measure of revenge teaming up with Hacksaw Jim Duggan to defeat the Rougeaus and Dino Bravo in a best two out of three falls six-man tag team match. In late 1989, the Foundation split briefly but reunited in early 1990 and battled the Rockers at an April Saturday Night's Main Event that saw Demolition interfere. Demolition went on to feud with both teams thereafter but the Hart Foundation would ultimately defeat Demolition, with a bit of timely distraction help from the Legion of Doom, in a best two out of three falls match for their second WWF World Tag Team title reign at Summerslam 1990. The Harts would retain their championship in the face of numerous challengers including both the Rockers (who nearly defeated them) and the Legion of Doom but would finally lose the titles to the Nasty Boys, now managed by Jimmy Hart at Wrestlemania VII when the Nasties used Jimmy Hart's helmet as a weapon against Jim Neidhart. Following Wrestlemania VII, the original Hart Foundation broke up with both men pursuing singles careers.

In late 1991, a young Owen Hart would team up with the veteran Neidhart, also his brother in-law, to form the New Foundation who briefly teamed up to feud with the Beverly Brothers and the Nasty Boys. They had very little success but did win one PPV match at Royal Rumble 1992 over the Orient Express. Eventually Owen would be on his own as Neidhart would leave the WWF.

In 1994 Neidhart returned to team with a now heel Owen in a feud with former partner Bret. During this feud, Bret would team up with brother in-law Davey Boy Smith and a feud of brother in-laws started. Eventually Bret and Davey would pretty much win this feud.

In 1997, with Bret "The Hitman" Hart embroiled in a feud with the suddenly popular Stone Cold Steve Austin, who was known to attack from anywhere and also being part of federation full of large stables including DeGeneration X and The Nation of Domination, Bret would call upon former enemies and allies within his family to unite against a common American enemy. Eventually a stable including Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Owen Hart, "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and "Loose Cannon" Brian Pillman was formed. This group was arguably the most successful stable since the 1988 glory days of the Four Horsemen with Bret as WWF World champion, Owen as Intercontinental champion, Davey Boy Smith as European champion and the team of Owen and Davey, who by that time had formed quite a quality tag team in their own right, as WWF World tag team champions. The Foundation would dissolve in late 1997 following the untimely death of Pillman and the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series 1997 that saw Bret, Smith and Neidhart all move to WCW, who had no clue how to use any of them. Nowadays the spirit of the Hart Foundation lives on in new team the Hart Dynasty with David Hart Smith, the son of the British Bulldog, and Tyson Kidd, managed by Natalya Neidhart, the daughter of "The Anvil" Jim Neidhart - although the team honestly reminds me quite a bit of the British Bulldogs too.

[JaseSF]

The Machines join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. In 1986, after Andre the Giant was "suspended" from the WWF for missing several matches against the Heenan Family (Andre was actually touring Japan and trying to deal with health issues particularly his back problems), a mysterious new tag team suddenly appeared on the scene. In vignettes, Giant and Super Machine (formerly the Masked Superstar) from the Orient, wearing masks very similar to the one worn by Japan's Super Strong Machine, along with manager Captain Lou Albano were set to invade the WWF and prove themselves the greatest tag team. Bobby Heenan cried foul proclaiming how obvious it was to everyone that Giant Machine was in fact Andre, even as WWF announcers foolishly tried to claim it might be Giant Baba (who looks nothing like Andre physically). Heenan set out to prove himself correct which would result in Andre's permanent suspension. One week later with Andre really still not well enough to compete, Big Machine (formerly Blackjack Mulligan) was brought in as Super Machine's partner. The pair teamed up to feud with Bobby Heenan and his family especially Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy who were all determined to be rid of their nemesis Andre.

Andre's role would eventually be reduced to being much more on the sidelines with Big and Super Machine battling Bundy & Studd although sometimes new Machines appeared in matches to take on Bundy, Studd & Bobby Heenan in six man matches. It was pretty obvious who most of them were: Animal Machine (George "The Animal" Steele"), Hulk Machine (Hulk Hogan), Piper Machine ("Rowdy" Roddy Piper),  Crusher Machine (The Crusher, who appeared at an house show in Minnesota). Eventually the feud would come to an end with Bundy & Studd getting the upper hand and the Machines "disappeared" from the scene. Actually Blackjack Mulligan continued with the WWF for a few more years as a fan favourite while Super Machine once more re-invented himself as Ax of Demolition. Eventually in late November 1986, Andre suspension would be mysteriously lifted...it would soon be revealed Heenan himself was behind the lift as he had recruited Andre to face Hulk Hogan for the WWF World Title at Wrestlemania III. The whole thing with the Machines was just a silly failed gimmick angle although Andre being recruited by Heenan was brilliant booking.

[JaseSF]

Kurt Angle joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Angle, a 1996 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, is generally considered the best all around pro wrestling performer perhaps of all time. Not only is Angle technically proficient but he brings a great pound and ground and submission game. Also Angle is able to entertain with the best of them and can deliver great interviews and play part in hilarious vignettes when the need be. Angle has had quick success wherever he's went. Actually has no only had success. He's dominated and dominated arguably like no other before him.

After initially toying with the idea of ECW in 1996 even providing guest commentary for a match between Taz and Little Guido at High Incident, Angle would be turned off by an angle in which Raven "crucified" the Sandman on the very same show. Later he'd initially turn down offers from the WWF but would ultimately sign with them in 1998 and would compete there for the next eight years. After getting some seasoning in Memphis' Power Pro Wrestling and picking up an heavyweight title reign there, Angle would move up to the WWF in 1999 and quickly impress remaining undefeated for several weeks before finally losing to a debuting Tazz at Royal Rumble 2000. Angle continued to play himself up as an American Hero and claimed he owed all his hard work paying off to his three Is -Intensity, Integrity and Intelligence. Angle would come off as arrogant and a showoff to fans quickly making him the heel. Angle would go on to win the European and Intercontinental titles in February 2000 in almost unprecented quick fashion. While he would drop both titles in a Triple Threat Two Falls match with Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit at Wrestlemania 16 (2000), he himself would never actually be pinned during the match. Next Angle formed an alliance with Edge & Christian to fend off Rikishi and Too Cool and would defeat Rikishi in the King of the Ring finals adding the crown to his list of accomplishments. After briefly feuding with Triple H over the affections of Stephanie McMahon, Angle finally defeated the Rock for his first WWF Championship at No Mercy 2000. He'd successully fend off challenges from the Undertaker and Triple H and even would win a six-man Hell in a Cell match before dropping the title back to the Rock at No Way Out 2001.

Following this, Angle would find himself embroiled in a feud of respect between technical masters with Chris Benoit. Angle would defeat Benoit at Wrestlemania X-7 but would lose a Ultimate Submission rematch at Backlash. Finally the two clashed in a Best Two Out of Three Falls Match at Judgment Day that saw Angle win with a bit of help from allies Edge & Christian.

Angle shortly thereafter would turn face to join the WWF side in the fight against the invasion forces of the ECW/WCW Alliance. Angle and Steve Austin would be involved in several hilarious behind the scenes vignettes during this time. Eventually Austin would shock fans by turning on Team WWF to join the Alliance and suddenly a face Angle was feuding with an heel Austin. During this time, Angle even at one point drove a milk truck to the ring and sprayed the Alliance with milk as Austin had once done to the Corporation with beer. During the Invasion angle, Angle also managed to win the WCW World title, the WCW United States title and the WWF Hardcore title eventually dropping them all to Alliance members. Finally he'd defeat Austin for his second WWF Championship reign at Unforgiven but would lose the title back to Austin when Commissioner William Regal turned heel and joined the Alliance and cost Angle the title during an October Raw. Not long after this Angle himself once again turned heel and also joined the Alliance. However we would learn during a Winner Takes All showdown between Team WWF and Team Alliance that this was all a ruse when Angle betrayed the Alliance helping the Rock defeat Austin at Survivor Series and shortly thereafter taking all the credit for "singlehandedly" destroying the Alliance helping him maintain his heel status.

After losing the United States title to Edge, the two engaged in a bitter and personal feud that saw Edge lead fans of chants of "You Suck" to Angle's theme music. It would come to an head in an Hair vs. Hair match that saw Angle shaved bald after losing. Next he briefly feuded with Hulk Hogan when Hogan removed his ridiculous wig and headgear get up he'd wear to hide his bald head. Angle would successfully make Hogan submit, a mighty rare achievement at King of the Ring. Angle would next go on to win a new Smackdown version of the WWE Tag Team titles with Chris Benoit at No Mercy 2002 but the team remained a pretty shaky alliance and eventually dropped the titles to Edge & Rey Mysterio. Angle would go on to win his third WWE Championship at Armageddon defeating the Big Show with the help of Brock Lesnar. Angle would thereafter acquire the services of manager Paul Heyman and would form Team Angle with the World`s Greatest Tag Team: Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas. At Royal Rumble 2003, Angle successfully defeated Chris Benoit in a fantastic match while Lesnar won the Royal Rumble to earn a shot. Lesnar would go on to defeat Angle at Wrestlemania XIX despite a botched shooting star press attempt.

In April 2003, Angle underwent crucial neck surgery ultimately opting for a less conventional surgery than initially planned (which perhaps was a mistake in hindsight) so he could return in three months instead of a year. Angle returned in June and went on to defeat the Big Show and Lesnar in a WWE Title match at Vengeance 2003 earning his fourth WWE championship. Angle would successully fend off Lesnar at Summerslam but would drop the title back to him in controversial fashion (with Lesnar turning heel and using a steel chair) in an Iron Man match on Smackdown. Eddie Guerrero would ultimately upset Lesnar for the title at No Way Out 2004 and Angle would next target him. However Guerrero would successfully defeat him at Wrestlemania XX. With Angle`s neck problems returning, he would eventually be moved to playing a GM role on Smackdown, a role in which he aided JBL in defeating Guerrero for the WWE Title.

After being fired as GM in July 2004 by Vince McMahon, Angle returned to the ring in late 2004 challenging young wrestlers to last three minutes with him in his Kurt Angle Invitational during which he put his gold medals on the line. Eventually Eugene would score the upset and get the medals igniting a brief feud with Angle with Angle defeating Eugene at Summerslam 2005. Despite winning a challenge over Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 21 in a mat classic, Angle eventually seemed to get lost in the shuffle on Raw. In January 2006, he returned to Smackdown in grand fashion winning the then vacant World Heavyweight title in a Battle Royal last eliminating Mark Henry turning face in the process. Angle would impressively fend off challenges from both Mark Henry and the Undertaker but would lose the title at Wrestlemania 22 to Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat match when Mysterio pinned the third participant Randy Orton. He`d next move to the new WWE branded ECW in the draft and would briefly feud with Randy Orton before finally getting released by WWE as he`d requestèd to deal with personal issues. He`d later say that WWE wouldn`t give him enough time off and expected him to work even at times he was severely hurt.

He`d debut in TNA in late 2006 and quickly impress scoring wins over the monster Abyss and the previously undefeated Samoa Joe. He`d go on to challenge former ally Christian Cage for the NWA World title at Against All Odds but would lose when Cage`s allies Tomko and Scott Steiner interfered. Angle got his revenge on Steiner in a brief feud before focusing again on Cage but would soon find himself up against Sting in the title hunt too. Just before Angle was set to wrestle Sting and Cage in a Triple Threat match for the Title at Sacrifice, the NWA withdrew recognition of the TNA claim to their World title. Angle would win the match in controversial fashion forcing Sting to submit just as he pinned Cage and claim to be the brand new TNA World champion. The title would be held up and put up for grabs in a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary 2007, which would be won by Angle. Following the match, Angle refused to shake opponent Samoa Joe`s hand leading to an heel turn. Joe, a newly crowned X Division champion would team with Angle at Victory Road to win a match over TNA World tag team champions Team 3D in a match where whoever scored the pin got the other man`s title meaning Joe now himself held the Tag and X Division titles. Joe went on to challenge Angle to a Winner Takes All match at Hard Justice with his X Division and Tag titles on the line vs. Angle`s TNA World and IWGP title (which Angle had won in Japan from Brock Lesnar although his reign was only recognized by the Inoki Genome Federation), a match which Angle won thanks to interference by his estranged wife Karen Angle meaning Angle now held every title in TNA and the IWGP title, the first and only wrestler to accomplish such a feat. Angle would go on to drop the X Division title to Jay Lethal and the TNA World Tag Team ttiles to Team Pacman (Pacman Jones & the Truth) at No Surrender and would drop the TNA World title to Sting at Bound For Glory 2007. However he`d regain it from Sting on an October episode of Impact!.

Angle next would form the Angle Alliance with A.J. Styles and Tomko to fend off Samoa Joe`s teaming with Kevin Nash & Scott Hall and Christian`s Coalition. Angle would successfully defeat Cage in two encounters thanks to interference from his allies but would finally drop the TNA World Title to Samoa Joe at Lockdown. After suffering a neck injury that briefly put him out of action, Angle returned to now feud with former ally A.J. Styles accusing Styles of having an affair with estranged wife Karen. Styles denied the claims and eventually went on to defeat Angle in the feud winning a series of grudge matches and even scoring his gold medal in a ladder match thanks to a bit of help from Jeff Jarrett. Angle shortly thereafter began feuding with Jarrett, who with the help of Mick Foley, defeated Angle at Bound For Glory 2008. Next Angle formed a new stable of villains named the Main Event Mafia with Sting, Kevin Nash, Booker T. and Scott Steiner. While the MEM dominated TNA in impressive fashion, Angle would come to feud with Sting over leadership of the group with Sting eventually winning it. However at Slammiversary, Angle would again win the title in a King of the Mountain match, this time thanks to interference from old enemy Samoa Joe, shortly thereafter announced as the newest member of the MEM after they all joined in attacking Sting making Angle their leader once more. Angle though would eventually lose his title in a five man match including Sting, Hernandez and Matt Morgan to A.J. Styles and the MEM would disband.

Next Angle would turn face and feud with newcomers Desmond Wolfe and Mr. Anderson, feuds in which he`d gain the upper hand although they sidetracked him from his pursuit of A.J. Styles TNA World title. Styles since has lost the title to Rob Van Dam but Angle once more seems poised to work his way back to the top moving steadliy through the contenders. I wouldn`t be at all surpised to see Angle add even more TNA and possibly even more WWE titles to his resume yet or he may yet even venture into the MMA world although that seems doubtful given his age and past injuries.

Ed Whalen joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Whalen was the voice of Stu Hart`s Calgary Stampede Wrestling serving as their main play by play man during that federation`s glory days from 1958-1983 and during its revival in 1985-1989. Whalen played his part as though he were broadcasting a real sport and was more than capable a lot of the time. He is remembered for his catch phrases ``It`s a Ring a Ding Dong Dandy`` and his sign-off ``In the mean time and in between time`.The only problem with Whalen was he`d sometimes seem to put himself over at the expense of the talent and often seems to want to get too involved on screen in the action almost as though he himself instead of the wrestlers was the star of the show. He was known to sometimes confront heels and get into heated arguments with them on air. Following his time in wrestling, he became the voice of Hockey`s Calgary Flames.