Fame or Shame: Pro Wrestling Discussion Thread

[JaseSF]

Doom joins the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. The tandem of Butch Reed and Ron Simmons proved very impressive in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Initially brought in as a masked tandem under the management of Woman to get revenge on the Steiner Brothers in 1989, the would defeat the Steiners in their debut with a loaded mask and would go on to defeat other teams including Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich but their success would be short-lived as they would be dominated at Starrcade' 89's Night of the Iron Men tournament, Woman would drop them as a team and they'd lose a match to the Steiners which forced them to unmask.

Actually this turned out to be a blessing for Doom who prospered anew under the management of former referee turned heel manager Theodore Long. The hard-hitting Doom went on to shock the world defeating the Steiner Brothers at Capitol Combat 1990 to win the NWA/WCW World Tag Team titles. Doom dominated a talented tag team division included fending off the former champs the Steiners, The Rock 'n' Roll Express, Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk, The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys before entering into a feud with the arrogant Four Horsemen group who objected to sharing a dressing room with Doom thus turning Doom face. Doom went on to battle Ric Flair and Arn Anderson to a double countout at Halloween Havoc 1990 and battled Barry Windham and Arn Anderson to a no-contest at Starrcade 1990. Doom continued to hang on to their titles despite a non-title loss to Sting and Lex Luger.  Finally at WrestleWar 1991, miscommunication between Simmons and Reed lead to their downfall and cost them their tag team belts at the hands of Fabulous Freebirds Michael "P.S." Hayes and Jimmy "Jam" Garvin. Following the match, Reed attacked Simmons and ignited a feud between the two partners thus ending the Doom tag team. Reed, managed to Long, battled the now babyface Simmons in some intense, hard-hitting bouts. The feud ended in a "Thunder-Doom" cage bout at SuperBrawl I when Simmons pinned Reed. Reed left WCW shortly thereafter and Simmons became a singles star even going on to win the WCW World Heavyweight championship in 1992 with Long occasionally appearing as his manager. Years later in the WWE, when Teddy Long was to get "married" (storyline) both Reed and Simmons appeared at his bachelor party and as ushers at his wedding with their history as Doom being mentioned.

Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. According to his autobiography, Al-Kaissie was in fact born in Iraq and supposedly went to high school with Saddam Hussein. He had an amateur wrestling career in Iraq before moving to the United States to attend Oklahoma State University following which he began wrestling as a pro in Oklahoma under the name Adnan Kaissey. Kaissey changed his gimmick while competing in the Pacific Northwest and the WWWF in the 1960s and 1970s and became Billy White Wolf, a fan favourite "Native American" Indian. He went on to win the WWWF World Tag Team titles with Chief Jay Strongbow under this gimmick until he was attacked and injured by Ken Patera's swinging neckbreaker which forced White Wolf to need neck surgery and cost him the tag titles with Strongbow as the Indians were stripped of the titles shortly thereafter.

Al-Kaissie returned to Iraq to compete supposedly under the direction of Saddam Hussein and there he defeated Andre the Giant in the early 1970s in Bagdad, Iraq. When he returned to the U.S. in the late 70s, he again used an Indian gimmick claiming to be a master of the Indian Death match while feuding with Tor Kamata in Hawaii in the late 70s. Apparently Al-Kaissie also briefly tried to bring pro wrestling to Iraq but by this time, Hussein had assumed power and saw Al-Kaissie as a potential rival forcing Al-Kaissie to flee back to the United States.

In 1981, with tensions running high between the U.S. and the Middle East, he debuted in the AWA as Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie with the goal of winning the AWA World Heavyweight title from Nick Bockwinkel. He failed to defeat Bockwinkel although the two had some great and close bouts. As a manager, Al-Kaissie would have considerable success in the AWA. After failing to win the tag team titles himself paired up with "Sheik Ayatollah" Jerry Blackwell, he acquired Ken Patera's contract from Bobby Heenan and paired him up with Blackwell as a pair of unlikely Sheiks. Blackwell and Patera, managed by Al-Kaissie would capture the AWA World Tag Team titles from the High-Flyers tandem of Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell. Al-Kaissie remained in the AWA as the top heel manager from then on thereafter right up until 1991. He managed quite a collection of frightening and talented grapplers including Blackwell, Patera, Bruiser Brody, Nord the Barbarian, Boris Zhukov, Kokina Maximus, King Tonga, The Mongolian Stomper, Bobby Duncum, Mr. Saito, The Masked Superstar, Kamala, Abdullah the Butcher, Soldat Ustinov, Teijho Khan, Crazy Luke Graham and Superstar Billy Graham. He also managed Zhukov & Ustinov to the AWA World Tag Team titles. In 1991, he'd return to the WWF to manage newly heel Sgt. Slaughter, now an Iraqi sympathizer while Slaughter was WWF World Heavyweight champion. He also managed Colonel Mustafa (The Iron Sheik) who teamed with Slaughter and himself in a 1991 losing Summerslam effort against Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. In the AWF, he managed a Rat Pack stable that included Cowboy Bob Orton Jr., Mr. Hughes and Manny Fernandez.

[JaseSF]

The Kings of Wrestling join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Mainly this team consists of Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli but overall the faction has included several other wrestlers such as current members Sara Del Ray and Shane Hagadorn and former members Arik Cannon, Icarus, Gran Akuma, Chuck Taylor, Max Boyer, Mitch Ryder, Larry Sweeney and Shanyne Hawke.

The team started in 2005 when Chris Hero turned on Super Friends partner Mike Quackenbush and joined Castagnoli and Arik Cannon in Chikara. Cannon would leave the group by that same December but Hero and Castagnoli continued their tag team and in 2006, became the first ever Chikara Campeones de Parejas by winning the 2006 Tag World Grand Prix tournament defeating Milano Collection A.T. and Skayde in the finals. Hero & Castagnoli also had previous success in Combat Zone Wrestling winning the CZW Tag Team titles on September 10, 2005 from the Tough Crazy Bastards Tony Klein and Necro Butcher. During 2005, Hero began feuding in CZW with Eddie Kingston with Hero and Castagnoli teaming up with Super Dragon to take on Kingston and his BLKOUT stable. In February 2006, the Kings of Wrestling would lose their CZW Tag titles to Kingston and Joker. In later 2005, Hero would also begin a war with Ring of Honor.

Castagnoli, who was a member of the ROH roster, had claimed he would remain loyal to ROH despite his CZW team with Hero and during a feud between the two companies, Castagnoli would turn on ROH during its 100th Show helping CZW win a six-man match over ROH and uniting for the first time with Hero in ROH. In ROH, they started feuding and battling teams like B.J. Whitmer and Adam Pearce. Finally on July 15, 2006 at Death Before Dishonor 4 Team ROH (Samoa Joe, B.J. Whitmer, Adam Pearce, Ace Steel and Bryan Danielson -later replaced by Homicide) defeated Team CZW (Hero, Castagnoli, Necro Butcher, Nate Webb and Eddie Kingston) in a Cage of Death match to end the feud. On August 2006, the ROH Tag Team titles were stolen from Austin Aries and Roderick Strong. Later Hero revealed that he and Castagnoli were the culprits and would be challenging for the titles. On September 16, 2006, they successfully defeated Aries and Strong to win the ROH Tag Team titles with their new KRS-ONE finisher after illegal smashing Aries in the ribs with an attache case. On October 14, 2006, the Kings of Wrestling defeated three other teams at the CZW show Last Team Standing to become two-time CZW Tag Team champions. This made the Kings of Wrestling the only Independent Triple Crown Tag Team champions in history (as they were tag champs in Chikara, CZW and ROH). They also attempted to win the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Tag Team titles but failed to dethrone tag champs Super Dragon and Davey Richards. In late 2006, with rumors of Castagnoli going to WWE, the Kings of Wrestling lost their CZW tag gold to Sabian and Robbie Minero, their Chikara  Campeonatos de Parejas to Team F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma and Icarus) following which Hero turned on Castagnoli and threw him out of the stable and finally they lost their ROH Tag Team titles to Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels. On December 22, 2006, Larry Sweeney debuted in ROH helping the Kings of Wrestling defeat the Briscoe Brothers and afterwards Castagnoli revealed he wasn't going to WWE. In February 2007, Chikara held the first ever King of Trios tournament where the Kings of Wrestling stable was to include Hero and Team F.I.S.T. but Hero was replaced at the event by Chuck Taylor and the group lost in the semifinals. On April 22, Hero defeated Castagnoli in a match where if Castagnoli lost, he would have to rejoin Hero. At May 26's Chikara's Anniversario! event the two factions within the Kings of Wrestling faced each other with Team F.I.S.T. consisting of Icarus, Gran Akuma and Chuck Taylor defeating Hero, Castagnoli and Larry Sweeney but following the match all six men united. In fact, they even added new members Mitch Ryder, Max Boyer and Shayne Hawke. At September's Cibernectico and Robin Chikara event the Kings faced Team Mucha Lucha in the annual torneo cibernectico match. The Kings won but were then forced to face each other as the match could have only one winner. In the end, Castagnoli won the match and his freedom from the Kings of Wrestling faction. On December 9, 2007, Castagnoli defeated Hero to end their first feud. Afterwards Hero left Chikara and disbanded the Kings while Team F.I.S.T. continued as a faction all their own.

In December 2009, the Kings reunited in ROH at Final Battle 2009, ROH's first live PPV attacking new ROH Tag Team champions the Briscoe Brothers. The Kings of Wrestling became a new stable in ROH adding Sara Del Ray (whom they dubbed "The Queen of Wrestling") and manager Shane Hagadorn. Hero & Castagnoli would again attack the Briscoes at ROH's 8th Anniversary Show also brawling with the Dark City Fight Club. In January 2010, the Kings entered Pro Wrestling NOAH's Global Tag League but lost all three matches there. They rebounded in a big way at ROH's April Big Bang! show defeating the Briscoes for the ROH Tag Team titles for their second reign. On August 15, 2010, Hero and Castagnoli defeated the Thomaselli Brothers, The Briscoe Brothers, and the Ring Rydas at Juggalo Championship Wrestling's Bloodymania IV to become new JCW Tag Team champions.

In July, ROH announced the Tag Wars with 12 tag team vying to determine which three teams would get to challenge the Kings of Wrestling in an Ultimate Endurance elimination match. On August 28, the Kings defeated The Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis and Kory Chavis), The All Night Express (Rhett Titus and Kenny King) and the Briscoe Brothers to retain their ROH Tag Team belts in the Ultimate Endurance match and to win the Tag Wars tournament. In November, the Kings returned to NOAH and this time impressed during a three week tour going undefeated in tag team matches until the final night of the tour when they lost to GHC Tag Team champions Takuma Sano and Yoshihiro Takayama in a match for the GHC Tag belts.

The World's Greatest Tag Team, also previously known as Team Angle, join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Actually Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas were two very talented wrestlers and a great tag team especially while teaming with Kurt Angle in Team Angle (they debuted as a gift from Paul Heyman for Kurt) yet somehow they just seemed to lack something, most likely charisma, especially without Angle in the lead. As part of Team Angle, they defeated Los Guerreros for the WWE Tag Team titles in February 2003 and successfully defended them against teams such as Chris Benoit & Rhyno and Los Guerreros before losing them to Eddie Guerrero and new partner Tajiri in a May 19 Ladder match at Judgment Day 2003. Following the loss, Haas and Benjamin split with Angle, whom they blamed for recent misfortunes and lack of leadership and changed their name to the Best Damn Tag Team Period and eventually the (Self-Proclaimed) World's Greatest Tag Team. They would regain the WWE Tag Team titles for a second time in early July and would successfully fend off challenges from Rey Mysterio Jr. and Billy Kidman and the APA. They'd finally lose their titles to Los Guerreros in September and would fail thereafter to regain them from either Los Guerreros or later tandems including Scotty2Hotty and Rikishi.

The team would split in 2004 when Benjamin would be drafted to Raw and would gain newfound singles success winning three Intercontinental titles over the next two years. Haas meanwhile would continue on Smackdown! where he'd win another WWE Tag Team title while paired up with Rico and valet Miss Jackie. Haas would eventually end up as a unsuccessful singles star and briefly teamed with Hardcore Holly before being released in 2005.

He would return to the WWE in 2006 and impress by defeating former partner Benjamin and Raw in April. By December, Haas and Benjamin had reformed their old tag team with Haas acting very strangely seemingly thinking himself black. This eventually led to a feud with Cryme Tyme, in which the WGTT usually came out on the losing end although they did end Cryme Tyme's undefeated streak on Raw. The WGTT also defeated the High Landers around this time. A feud with Ric Flair and Carlito followed which saw both teams trade back and forth wins until Carlito turned on Flair. This led to a World Tag Team title Ladder match against the Hardys at One Night Stand which the WGTT lost. Next they briefly feuded with newcomers Brian Kendrick and Paul London and eventually came out on top in said feud. Haas and Benjamin continued on as a team but had only sporadic success even battling makeshift teams like Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes and Hacksaw Duggan & Super Crazy. Finally the team would disband when Benjamin was traded to ECW. In 2009, when both grappler ended up on Smackdown! they had a brief reunion while Benjamin feuded with John Morrison that saw them lose to C.M. Punk and Morrison before Benjamin was traded back to ECW and both men got released in 2010.

They would reform their tag team in the independents and at ROH's Glory By Honor IX September 2010 event renaming themselves Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team losing a ROH Tag Team title match against the Kings of Wrestling. On American Wrestling Rampage tours, they recently lost two bouts to La Resistance in November although they got a win over Scott Steiner and Booker T.. Haas and Benjamin are superb wrestlers, a fine tag team yet they lack that certain something most likely a lack of focus and charisma, in fact they are downright dull in many respects. They are a team badly in need of guidance. Perhaps if paired again with Angle, or even better a quality manager, Haas and Benjamin could still have a fine future ahead of them as a tandem.

[HappyGilmore]

Haas and Benjamin were a fine team and great addition to Smackdown at that time.  They featured a bit more technical wrestling at the time, so to see a roster with Angle, Benoit, Guerrero, Haas, Benjamin, etc made a decent program.  Benjamin looked to be a bit of a breakout star in '04 or so, but they never really did anything much with him.  Shame.

[JaseSF]

Bob Backlund joins the Singles Hall of Fame. The "All-American Boy" who grew up to become WWWF World Heavyweight champion, Backlund seemed to add a real legitimacy to the WWWF World title in the 70s and early 80s. He seemed to fit the mold of the typical NWA World Heavyweight champion in some respects, a great wrestler who nevertheless seemed beatable to fans (yet he retained his World title for over 5 years) so he got them watching to see if he'd lose the title yet impressed with win after win. In his initial run though, it would have been hard to imagine Backlund in the successful heel role he'd pull off decades later given how he always seemed a true good guy, who always followed the rules, did the right thing and won the right way. A great example, an All-American amateur wrestling who became a WWWF World champion wrestling hero.

In 1969, Backlund became an All-American in both football and wrestling while at Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, IA. Backlund would become an All-American in wrestling a second time and would go on to win the Division II NCAA in 1971. In 1972, he moved up to the heavyweight division and finished fifth at the NCAA Division II Nationals.

Backlund decided to turn Pro in 1973 and would be trained by Eddie Sharkey before making his debut in the AWA that year. Backlund was soon a very popular babyface due to his obvious clean cut persona and considerable in-ring technical skills. Backlund moved on to the NWA territories where he would win the NWA Western States Heavyweight championship from Terry Funk in Texas. He'd win the title three times before moving on to Georgia where he'd team with Jerry Brisco to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team titles from Mr. Fuji and Prof. Toru Tanaka. Backlund would leave Georgia in 1976 for Florida where he'd team up with Steve Keirn to defeat Bob Orton Jr. and Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Tag Team titles. While working in Florida, Backlund also worked in St. Louis where he defeated the legendary Harley Race for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight championship, a title he'd eventually lose to Jack Brisco.

In early 1977, Backlund signed with Vincent J. McMahon's WWWF where he was managed by "The Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland. Backlund very quickly was given title shots in the WWWF and was clearly being groomed for the role he would soon play atop the promotion. On February 20, 1978, Backlund finally managed to gain a pinfall victory, something elusive, over WWWF World Heavyweight champion "Superstar" Billy Graham albeit in controversial fashion as Graham's leg was on the ropes during the pinfall which went unseen by the referee. Backlund would also win the WWF World Tag Team titles with Peter Maivia until Maivia turned on him. During one backstage interview, which was hardly Backlund's strong point at the time, Backlund showed a glimpse of his future self by going berserk during an interview about Maivia. While WWWF World champion, Backlund actually tangled with NWA World Heavyweight champion Harley Race battling Race to a 60-Minute Draw. Backlund would go on to tangle three more time with Race but no clear winner ever emerged. Backlund would also battle Ric Flair while he was NWA World champion but again a clear victor was not evident. Backlund also tangled with AWA World champion Nick Bockwinkel again without a clear winner. Backlund also had memorable battles with Japanese legend Antonio Inoki who would actually defeat Backlund for the WWWF World title in Japan although the title change was never officially recognized in the U.S. at the time. Backlund regained the title and successfully battled and fended off challenges from an who's who of talented grapplers including the Magnificent Muraco, Billy Robinson, Pat Patterson, Greg Valentine, Ray Stevens, Superstar Graham, Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, The Masked Superstar, Adrian Adonis, Sgt. Slaughter, Dusty Rhodes, The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, Victor Rivera, Spiros Arion, Larry Zbyszko, Jimmy Snuka, Mr. Fuji, Mr. Saito, Prof. Toru Tanaka, Swede Hanson, Ivan Koloff, Stan Stasiak, Ken Patera, Bobby Duncum, Big John Studd, Johnny Rodz, Blackjack Mulligan, Charlie Fulton, Iron Mike Sharpe, Killer Khan, Afa, Sika, Johnny Valiant, Jerry Valiant, The Moondogs, Lou Albano, Bob Orton Jr., Buddy Rose, Baron Mikel Scicluna, Peter Maivia, Ernie Ladd, Bulldog Brower, King Curtis, Killer Kowalski, George "The Animal" Steele, the Original Sheik and even more! On August 9, 1980, Backlund teamed with Pedro Morales to win the WWF World Tag Team titles from the Wild Samoans but they were forced to vacate the titles due to a rule at the time that did not allow for one man to hold two titles. At the end of 1980, Backlund had considerable tag team success in Japan teaming with Antonio Inoki to win the MSG Tag Team League Tournament with wins over Hulk Hogan and Stan Hansen along the way.

Aside from the controversy surrounding the recognized in Japan only title change with Inoki, there was also a storyline with Greg Valentine where Valentine was at one point accidentally rewarded the title by a confused referee. By 1983, fans seemed to be growing weary of Backlund and his thoroughly clean cut "Howdy Doody"  (as he was referred to by the Gran Wizard) image. He was criticized also for not facing fellow fan favourite wrestlers in title defenses. Also the WWF was taken over by the young Vincent Kennedy McMahon around the time and he soon wanted a more charismatic, popular muscular champion in one Hulk Hogan soon setting into motion the events where Backlund would be storyline injured by the Iron Sheik's Persian clubs leading to a stunning upset where Sheik defeated Backlund after manager Skaaland threw in the towel (which actually saved Backlund face considering he himself never actually gave up) after which the injured Backlund never ever received a return title match either against the Sheik or the man the Sheik soon lost the title to - Hulk Hogan. Backlund left the WWF in August 1984.

Backlund next showed up in Pro Wrestling USA, a joint promotion by the AWA and the NWA to combat the expansion of the more popular than ever WWF, where Backlund unsuccessfully challenged Rick Martel for the AWA World Heavyweight championship before disappearing from the scene. Many thought Backlund retired until he unexpectedly showed up in Herb Abrams' UWF in 1991 where he would feud with and defeat Ivan Koloff. Backlund also appeared in Japan's UWFI, a quasi-shoot wrestling promotion where he had memorable battles with Nobuhiko Takada. In 1992, Backlund returned to a vastly different WWF. Many fans didn't remember Backlund and he seemed truly out of place in the more gimmick laden WWF yet he still managed to impress in mid-card matches and especially at the 1993 Royal Rumble lasting over an hour in the match. At Wrestlemania IX, Backlund's first, he'd lose to Razor Ramon.  Eventually Backlund would receive a WWF World Heavyweight title match with WWF World champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart in a battle of Old vs. New generations. Hart would win the match and shockingly afterwards, Backlund would just snap, going completely crazy, attacking Hart and locking him in his Crossface Chicken Wing submission hold. Backlund soon claimed he should still be recognized as WWF World champion since he never actually lost to the Sheik and was soon attacking anyone who dared cross in the present or the past including Duke "The Dumpster" Droese and former manager Arnold Skaaland (whom Backlund attacked for throwing the towel in on him). At the 1994 Survivor Series, Bob Backlund would face Bret Hart for the WWF World Heavyweight championship in a Threw in the Towel submission match, a match Backlund would ultimately win and gain his second WWF World Heavyweight title albeit with a lot of help from Owen Hart who manipulated his mother Helen into throwing in the towel on his then hated rival, his brother Bret. Unfortunately for Backlund though, his second title reign would only last three days as he lost the WWF World Heavyweight title to Diesel (Kevin Nash) in an 8 second squash only 3 nights later on an house show. Following this loss, Backlund trimmed down his work schedule tremendously but did work one more memorable match against Hart, an "I Quit" match at Wrestlemania XI, which he lost. Backlund did a brief but silly and forgettable angle where he was trying to run for U.S. President before moving into a managerial role for the Sultan alongside old adversary the Iron Sheik before leaving again for a few years. He'd briefly return in 2000 to manage Kurt Angle before Angle would eventually fire him for putting him in a Wrestlemania 2000 triple threat match that cost him both the Intercontinental and European title without him ever being pinned or defeated himself. Backlund briefly appeared in TNA in 2007 judging the finals of Kevin Nash's Paparazzi Challenge Series which Backlund eventually ruled a draw causing Nash to restart the match allowing Alex Shelley to defeat Austin Starr (Aries). Starr would blame Backlund for the loss and pie face Backlund leading Backlund to snap and lock him in the Crossface Chicken Wing. Backlund later defeated Alex Shelley at Slammiversary and would lose a tag team match partnered with Jerry Lynn to Shelley and Chris Sabin, managed by Nash, at Victory Road before Backlund again just seemingly disappeared from the scene. On the 15th Anniversary Raw show, Backlund participated in a special 15th Anniversary Battle Royal where he was quickly eliminated  by Skinner. Backlund also appeared in the 2007 Comedy film In the Land o Merry Misfits as well as being a guest on MTV's Singled Out.

[JaseSF]

Chyna joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame.  After being trained by Killer Kowalski, Chyna went on to join then boyfriend/fellow trainee Triple H in the WWF as his hired bodyguard. Chyna, a muscular woman who initially more closely resembled a man proved quite the startling attraction as she became a new kind of oddity even being referred to in the WWF as "The Ninth Wonder of the World". She initially debuted by attacking Marlena/Terri Runnels who was managing Goldust at the time whom Triple H was then feuding with. Chyna went on to have great success alongside Triple H and later Shawn Michaels as part of the initial DeGeneration X along with Rick Rude.  While a member of the successful D-X stable, Chyna started getting involved more and more in the in-ring action and eventually started wrestling with the men even getting entered into the Royal Rumble at one point.  Following her Royal Rumble appearance, Chyna surprised many by turning heel and joining Vince McMahon's Corporation stable teaming with Kane. The stable eventually morphed into the Corporate Ministry with Chyna eventually betraying Kane and Triple H eventually joining the group with him and Chyna turning on their old D-X teammates with Chyna continuing to manage and accompany Triple H.

In 1999, Chyna began to concentrate more on her own in-ring singles career and began pursuing singles success competing with the men becoming the first woman to qualify for King of the Ring and also becoming number 1 contender for the World Heavyweight championship at one point. Chyna would start a long feud with Jeff Jarrett eventually defeating Jarrett for the WWF Intercontinental title at No Mercy in a Good Housekeeping match and eventually winning Jarrett's manager Miss Kitty as well. Chyna went on to feud with Chris Jericho over the title with Jericho defeating Chyna for the Intercontinental title at Armageddon. However a rematch between the two ended controversially with both participants pinning each other leading to them becoming Intercontinental co-champions. At the Royal Rumble, Jericho won a Triple Threat match over Chyna and Hardcore Holly to become sole champion but Chyna became his manager shortly thereafter. This would prove short-lived however when Chyna would betray Jericho to join forces with "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero. Originally an heel pairing, they proved so popular with fans they were quickly made fan favourites. Guerrero and Chyna went on to face Val Venis and Trish Stratus in an Intergender Tag Team match with the Intercontinental title on the line with Chyna eventually winning the title yet again. Eddie would later use some rather sneaky tactics to defeat Chyna for the title in a Triple Threat match also involving Kurt Angle. Surprisingly Chyna stayed with Guerrero for a while longer until he protested her Playboy photos and she caught him cavorting with the Godfather's "Hos". During her Playboy centerfold appearance, Chyna began a feud with Ivory and her Right To Censor group eventually defeating Ivory for the WWF Women's Championship. Chyna went on to successfully defend the title against Lita but shortly thereafter vacated the title as she learned of Triple H's affair with Stephanie McMahon for whom Triple H eventually left her. Not long after this, she was gone from the WWF.

Chyna, real name Joanie Laurer, next appeared in New Japan Pro Wrestling refereeing a match between the Steiners and Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kensuke Sasaki. Despite her WWF success, Chyna was always a rather limited in-ring performer who was well put over and protected by those she had performed with in the WWF so she had little real success in Japan. She lost to Masahiro Chono and performed her last in-ring match in Japan teaming with the Fake Great Muta in a losing effort against Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kenzo Suzuki.

Following wrestling, Chyna went on to make several lower end celebrity appearances including embarrassing ones on The Howard Stern Show, an MTV Music Awards Presenter,  an appearance on Fear Factor, the host of Robot Wars: Grand Champions, appearances on Hollywood Squares before making her debut in reality TV with The Surreal Life, a cameo on My Fair Brady and on The Surreal Life: Fair Games. In 2006, she appeared in the films Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy and Illegal Aliens. She also appeared on Cristina's Court as a plaintiff. By far her most notorious movie though was her porno sex tape with X-Pac (Sean Waltman) entitled 1 Night in China. The former Chyna is still known for her constant battle with drugs and her substance abuse issues. As recently as September 2010, she was admitted to the hospital for overdosing on sleeping pills.

Steve Corino joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Corino had his greatest success in ECW and the NWA albeit when both were well past their heydays with Corino becoming ECW and later NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Corino is a fine wrestler and one who follows a real old-school mentality despite succeeding very well even in the most extreme and hardcore environments. Corino has held numerous independent titles and is a quality wrestler capable of putting on great matches night after night yet always seem to lack just a little something in regards to charisma that perhaps kept him out of the big leagues and definitely seems more like a territory wrestler from the 70-80s era of wrestling in many ways.

Abu Wizal joins the Manager/Valets Hall of Fame. Wizal was the heel manager of the Stampede Wrestling heel stable known as Karachi Vice including the likes of Makhan Singh (Norman/Bastion Booger), Vulkan Singh (Gary Albright), The Great Gama Singh, The Cuban Commandoes of Gerry Morrow and the Cuban Assassin, Johnny Smith, the Dynamite Kid, Lethal Larry Cameron, Don Muraco, Duke Myers, Kerry Brown, Beef Wellington, Stev DiSalvo, Bad News Allen, Jason the Terrible, Zodiac, Phil LaFleur and briefly even Harley Race. From 1987 to 1990, Wizal was basically the top heel manager in the Stampede promotion despite only being 5 foot 2. This page from the SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame covers him pretty well - http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/wizal.html

[JaseSF]

The Dream Team of Greg "The Hammer" Valentine and Brutus Beefcake managed by Luscious Johnny V joins the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Actually Valentine & Beefcake were a surprisingly successful tandem in their heyday and even captured the WWF World Tag Team titles from the U.S. Express of Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo, managed by Captain Lou Albano, thanks to some timely interference allowing the heels to use Johnny V's lit cigar on Windham to illegally get the win. While Valentine was definitely the more talented of the pair, he meshed surprisingly well with the young Beefcake. They'd next be challenged by the ultra-talented British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid) now managed by Captain Lou. Initially they'd find underhanded ways to retain their titles again and again. The Dream Team would also successfully defend against the Killer Bees and both versions of the U.S. Express (Windham & Rotundo and Rotundo & replacement partner Dan Spivey). Finally at Wrestlemania 2 in 1986 in what was billed as the Bulldogs last shot, the Bulldogs, accompanied by Ozzy Osbourne in a special appearance, finally captured the gold. The Dream Team continued a while longer as unsuccessful challengers to the Bulldogs before moving down the card to feud with the New U.S. Express, the Killer Bees and finally the Rougeau Brothers. While feuding with the Rougeaus, manager Johnny V suddenly added the newly heel strongman Dino Bravo as the team third cornerman. At Wrestlemania 3, the team would have a falling out and finally Bravo & Valentine would bail on Beefcake kicking him out of the team. Bravo & Valentine's New Dream Team were actually less successful than the originals and did not even seem to mesh as well as a team. Beefcake would go on to reinvent himself as Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake and would team with the Rougeaus to feud with the New Dream Team and their manager Johnny V. The New Dream Team had some success against the Islanders and got some title shots against the Hart Foundation but failed to win the titles and quietly split apart after about a year together with Bravo and Valentine moving on to pursue singles careers.

Ronnie P. Gossett joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Gossett was a successful manager in Memphis wrestling, a man known for his large size, thick glasses and bald head. He would manage many successful wrestlers there including Jerry "The King" Lawler, the Master of Pain who would later become the Undertaker, Cowboy Bob Orton Jr., Dirty White Boy Tony Anthony and Jeff Jarrett. Gossett was talented on the microphone and could get around the ring surprisingly well for a big man. His manager character reflected his real life as a braggart and a gambler who knew how to weasel people out of their money using his name and reputation to trick many in the biz out of their hard earned dollars. In the end, he would be known as a con man but also a person who could work people as well in reality as he could as a manager.

[JaseSF]

Bret "The Hitman" Hart joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Hart worked his way to the top by paying his dues and earning it the hard way, starting at the bottom and gradually moving up through the ranks. After some success in the amateur ranks in high school and college, Hart would eventually move on to compete in his father's Calgary Stampede promotion eventually collecting every important title there more than once (5 NWA Calgary International Tag Team titles, 4 with brother Keith and one with Leo Burke, 3 Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championships, 6 Stampede North American Heavyweight Championships), his most notable matches coming after further training with Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada. These matches of particular note were against the Dynamite Kid and Tiger Mask. When Stampede was purchased by the WWF, Bret would be brought there and would eventually form a successful tag team tandem with Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart named the Hart Foundation which would go on to capture 2 WWF World Tag Team Championships.

The Hitman soon gained renown for his "Excellence of Execution" as Gorilla Monsoon was fond of naming his wrestling style. Gorilla also quickly pointed out how Bret wasn't afraid to mix it up and get into a brawl as well if that was what was called for. The Hitman soon started impressing in singles after long years as a member of the successful Hart Foundation tandem when he defeated Curt Hennig for the Intercontinental title (a title Bret would win again in 1992 from "Rowdy" Roddy Piper at Wrestlemania VIII), a victory that catapulted Bret into the spotlight like never before. After competing in a main event losing effort to brother in-law Davey Boy Smith in England at Summerslam 1992, The Hitman would go on to win the WWF World title unexpectedly from one "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in 1992 and soon thereafter took on all comers and managed to keep the firmest grasp of all on the title from late 1992 to 1997 going on to win it 5 times in total. The Hitman's strengths lie in his determination, his never say die attitude and the way he gradually wore his opponents down and out.

Hart had a wide repertoire of holds and maneuvers and could reverse, counter wrestle and escape many holds. A few he made use of often was a diving axe-handle/elbow smash from the top rope, a Russian legsweep, a suplex, a piledriver, a figure-four leglock, a side suplex and a Boston Crab. His main finisher was the Sharpshooter although he used a flying clothesline during his Hart Foundation days. Hart was also quite capable of pinning an opponent with a small package cradle or roll-up. If Hart had any weakness, it was that sometimes he was too determined to participate and mix it up when it wasn't wise for him to do so.

Following the infamous Survivor Series 1997 Montreal Screwjob that saw Bret unfairly robbed of his WWF World Heavyweight Championship in a plot including WWF owner Vince McMahon Jr., referee Earl Hebner, opponent Shawn Michaels and adversary Triple H to ensure the title remained in the WWF, Bret bitterly left for WCW. WCW though seemed to have no clue how to use or book "The Hitman". Despite this, Bret went on to capture several WCW championships (including 4 WCW United States Championships, 2 WCW World Heavyweight Championships and 1 WCW World Tag Team Championship with Bill Goldberg) until being accidentally injured in a match with Goldberg. This led to concussion problems and Bret was forced to retire from pro wrestling. Eventually Bret would suffer a stroke that left him totally paralyzed on his left side. Bret would work his way back to health and would shockingly make a surprise return to the WWE in 2010 hoping to bury the long and bitter grudge held by him against McMahon, Shawn Michaels and others. Bret and Shawn would unexpectedly enough quickly forgive the past and move on but Bret, although certainly no longer truly the Bret of old,  ended up feuding with Vince and then defeated him in humiliating fashion at Wrestlemania XXVI finally exacting a long-awaited revenge with no small amount of help from the rest of the Hart family. Bret would have yet another surprise up his sleeve upsetting the Miz for his United States championship before quickly relinquishing it upon becoming Raw General Manager. He'd also help the Hart Dynasty tag team tandem of Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith, along with Natalya Neidhart, to capture their first and only WWF World Tag Team titles. Hart's time as GM though would prove short-lived when Bret would become a target of and would be taken out by the Nexus.

"Sycho" Sid Vicious joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Sid certainly had the look and build for wrestling being an imposing 6 ft 9 inch muscleman weighing well over 300 pounds. Early on in his career, many fancied him a future Hulk Hogan yet it was not truly to be. Sid had the looks and a certain monstrous charm but yet never truly became as popular or charismatic as I'm sure many promoters would have liked. He was also somewhat limited in ring yet when he stuck to power moves, few could do those better. Plus Sid seemed to get injured amongst every time his  career seemed set to really take off. Under his real name Sid Eudy, he was discovered by Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo. After being trained by Tojo Yamamoto, Eudy made his debut teaming with Austin Idol against Nick Bockwinkel and Jerry Lawler. Shortly thereafter he adopted the masked persona Lord Humongous, obviously based on the villain from Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, to whom Sid had a similar build. He competed early on in the Continental regional circuit (Alabama, Memphis and Georgia) and captured several titles there including the CWA Heavyweight Championship, the NWA Southeastern Wrestling Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) and the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship with Shane Douglas. He also competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling under the name Vicious Warrior and even challenged Tatsumi Fujinami for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship but failed to win it. He also briefly appeared in World Class Championship Wrestling where he first used the name Sid Vicious borrowed from the more famous Sex Pistols bass player.

In 1989, Sid moved to the NWA and World Championship Wrestling and would soon form the imposing Skyscrapers tag team with Dan Spivey managed by Teddy Long. The Skyscrapers would have memorable feuds with both the Steiners and the Road Warriors but the team would prove surprisingly short-lived when Sid would suffer a broken rib and punctured lung in a bout with the Steiners. Following this, he would be replaced in the tag team by Mean Mark Callous, the future Undertaker. When Sid recovered in May 1990, he returned as a new member of the newly reformed Four Horsemen lead by Ric Flair. As an Horseman, he'd go on to feud with Paul Orndorff and Junkyard Dog until he attacked NWA World Champion Sting in August setting up a match between himself and Sting at Halloween Havoc 1990 where Sid defeated a fake Sting (Barry Windham in disguise) in a plot to steal the title until the real Sting returned on the scene and defeated Sid. Following this, Sid seemed to begin having some troubles with the Horsemen and would briefly reform his old Skyscrapers team with Spivey to defeat the Mr. Hughes and the Motor City Madman. This apparent face turn though would soon be scrapped and Sid returned to being a full fledged heel taking out Trucker Norman and squashing Joey Maggs. He returned to being a full fledged Horseman as well taking part in the 1991 February War Games against Sting's Squadron. The Horsemen would amicably split in April 1991 and Sid would announce his intentions to move to the WWF losing a feud to El Gigante on his way out.

In July 1991, Sid debuted in WWF as a babyface named Sid Justice and went on to be the special guest referee in a match that saw Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior team up to face Sgt. Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa and General Adnan and would later that night save Randy Savage and Elizabeth from an attack by the Undertaker & Jake Roberts. Sid dominated a short feud with the Undertaker and was scheduled to feud with Roberts until a biceps injury took him out of action. He returned at the 1992 Royal Rumble and entered at # 29 ending up amongst the final four wrestlers left in the match. Sid eliminated both Randy Savage and then Hulk Hogan leaving himself in the ring with Ric Flair. Storyline plans were for Sid to turn heel by eliminating Hogan although at the time fans actually responded positively to Hogan's elimination and negatively to Hogan thereafter pulling Sid out of the match helping Flair capture his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship. This led to a feud between an heel Sid and a face Hogan leading up to Wrestlemania VIII especially after Sid walked out on Hogan during a tag match against the Undertaker and Flair and later attacked Hogan's friend Brutus Beefcake. Sid thereafter hired Harvey Wippleman as manager and began "injuring"opponents with multiple powerbombs. At Wrestlemania VIII, Sid lost his match to Hogan via DQ when Papa Shango came out to help Sid leading to the Ultimate Warrior making a surprise run-in to save Hogan. Sid would be gone from the WWF later in 1992.

Sid returned to WCW in May 1993 as a mystery opponent for Van Hammer managed by Colonel Robert Parker. Sid defeated Hammer in a stretcher match and went on to team with Big Van Vader and reignited his old feud with Sting. At Fall Brawl, Sting's Team (Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes and the Shockmaster) defeated Sid's Team (Sid, Vader and Harlem Heat) in a WarGames Match. At Halloween Havoc 1993, Sid had another match against Sting but lost. The following week, Sid fired Parker and became a babyface. During a UK tour, Sid and Arn Anderson would become involved in an hotel room scuffle with Arn Anderson during which Anderson would suffer several stab wounds from scissors. This lead to Sid being released from WCW despite the then plans being for him to likely defeat Vader for the WCW World title at Starrcade 1993, a spot that would go to Ric Flair instead.

After being forced out of WCW, Sid resurfaced in Memphis and the USWA and started up his old rivalry with Jerry "The King" Lawler. On July 16, 1994, Sid won the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship by forfeit when his earlier attack on Lawler left Lawler unable to defend the title. While Lawler was able to defeat Sid in non-title matches, Sid managed to retain the title in title defenses along with help from then ally the Spellbinder. Sid would also compete in Herb Abrams UWF around this time and would unsuccessfully challenge "Dr. Death" Steve Williams for the UWF World Heavyweight Championship in September 1994. On February 6, 1995, Lawler would finally defeat Sid to win back his USWA Unified World Championship. In February 1995, Sid returned to the WWF under the name "Sycho Sid" becoming the bodyguard of Shawn Michaels. He along with Jenny McCarthy would go on to accompany Shawn Michaels to the ring for his Wrestlemania XI title match against Diesel during which HBK would come to believe Sid's interference cost him the match. This led to Shawn instructing Sid he would have the night off for his return match with Diesel leading to Sid attacking HBK, powerbombing him three times turning Michaels face yet again and injuring him at the same time. Sid would go on to join Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation, replacing the departing Bam Bam Bigelow, and would thereafter challenge Diesel for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship instead of Michaels. Diesel would win the match when Tatanka interfered helping Sid leading to a double-team attack and eventual save by Bigelow who thereafter teamed with Diesel to defeat Sid and Tatanka at King of the Ring 1995. Diesel would go on to defeat Sid again in a lumberjack match to end the feud. Next Sid started pursuing Michaels and his Intercontinental title but lost a title match to HBK on Raw after suffering three superkicks to the mouth. Sid then briefly feuded with Henry Godwinn defeating him before moving on to face Intercontinental champion Razor Ramon. The 1-2-3 Kid would unexpectedly help Sid defeat Ramon in a non-title match turning the Kid heel as he joined the Million Dollar Corporation. Sid and Ted DiBiase would go on to help their Million Dollar Team win at Survivor Series aiding 1-2-3 Kid in victory over Marty Jannetty. Later on the same card, Sid was forced to team with Micheals in a "Wild Card" Survivor Series bout that would see Ramon eliminate Sid after partner Michaels hit him with a superkick. After being eliminated, Sid got his revenge by powerbombing Michaels. Sid briefly formed an unsuccessful tag team with 1-2-3 Kid before a severe injury took him off TV in early 1996.

Sid would return in July 1996 as a replacement for the recently departed Ultimate Warrior teaming up with former rival Michaels and Ahmed Johnson in a losing effort against Vader, Owen Hart and the British Bulldog. Sid would go on to feud with Bulldog and would defeat him at Summerslam 1996. Following Mankind's title match with Michaels in September 1996, Vader would come out and team with Mankind to assault Michaels until Sid came to Michaels' rescue. This led to a feud between Sid and Vader that Sid surprisingly would come to dominate. Sid would earn himself a WWF World Title match against Michaels which Sid would win illegally using a camera to his advantage.  Sid successfully defended the title against Bret Hart before facing Shawn Michaels in a championship rematch at the Royal Rumble which saw Michaels regain the WWF World Title which however he would shortly thereafter forfeit having "lost his smile". This led to Bret Hart winning the title in a Fatal4Way match and then losing the title to Sid the next night on Raw thanks to interference from Steve Austin. This would be Sid's second WWF World Heavyweight title. Sid would go on to lose the WWF World title to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 13. He'd later briefly return as a babyface to team with the Legion of Doom against the Hart Foundation of British Bulldog, Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart. Owen would win this match with a roll-up on Sid which Sid would later avenge by defeating Owen in a singles bout before leaving the WWF yet again.

After spending some time competing in Memphis, Sid briefly competed in ECW in 1999 against the likes of the Dudley Boyz, John Kronus and Skull Von Krush before leaving due to the money problems plaguing the promotion. Sid returned to WCW in mid-1999 joining forces with Randy Savage and his Team Madness stable. Sid would go on to impress with an undefeated streak and on September 12, 1999, Sid defeated Chris Benoit for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship at Fall Brawl 1999. He'd then go on to feud with Goldberg over the U.S. Title and would lose the championship to Goldberg due to Sid's excessive bleeding. Sid would also lose to Goldberg in an "I Quit" match ending their feud. Sid suddenly turned face and started pursuing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship suddenly vacated by Bret Hart who was suffering from a concussion. Sid would go on to lose a championship bout for the vacant title to Chris Benoit at Souled Out but Benoit would leave for the WWF leaving the title vacant yet again. Then WCW Commissioner Kevin Nash set up a special challenge for Sid. If he could defeat the Harris brothers in an handicap match, he would then face Nash in a Championship match for the vacant title later that night. Sid would defeat the Harris brothers and later Nash to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Two nights later on Thunder, Nash would strip Sid of the title for not pinning the legal Harris brother during the earlier challenge and set up a championship rematch between himself and Sid. Sid again defeated Nash to win his second WCW World Heavyweight Championship. He would go on to successfully defend the title against Scott Hall and Jeff Jarrett. During a bout with Jarrett, a returning Hulk Hogan would help Sid setting up a match between Hogan and Sid vs. Jarrett and Scott Steiner. During the match, Sid would turn on Hogan becoming an heel yet again.

However the New Blood angle followed shortly thereafter with Sid being stripped of his title. He would be kept off TV for several months later returning to challenge Scott Steiner for the WCW World Heavyweight title in a losing effort at Starrcade 2000. On January 14, 2001, Sid suffered a severe (cringe-inducing to the viewer) injury that nearly ended his career for good during a Four Corners WCW World Heavyweight Championship match against Steiner, Jarrett and Road Warrior Animal. During the match, Sid suffered a leg fracture when attempting a big boot from the second  rope on Steiner. Sid broke his leg in half snapping both the tibia and fibula with at least one of the bones breaking through the skin in an injury too graphic for many TV stations to air. This injury nearly ended his career for good and a 17 inch steel rod had to be placed in his leg during a two hour surgery. Sid later sued WCW claiming they forced him to jump from the second rope despite his objections. WCW though would shortly thereafter be purchased by the WWF.

Sid would make some special appearances on a WWA Australian tour but would not compete. He would not return to the ring until June 2004 competing in the Canadian based Internet Wrestling Syndicate where he appeared as Pierre Carl Ouellet's mystery partner winning a ten team battle royal. Sid made his return to Memphis in mid-2007 restarting his old feud with Jerry Lawler and wrestled for the NWA throughout much of that year. Sid also appeared in Juggalo Championship Wrestling helping Tracy Smothers attack the JCW Heavyweight Champion Corporal Robinson. He battled Jerry Lawler in a losing effort at Memphis' 35th Anniversary Wrestling Event.

Terry Funk joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Funk became a color commentator for WCW in 1989-1990 alongside Jim Ross. Funk was more than capable in the role and often offered great and thoughtful insight. He also looked surprisingly classy dressed to the nines in a tuxedo and repeating that WCW and the NWA was where wrestlers wrestled. While in this role, Funk hosted a segment called "Funk's Grill" where he would amicably interview the top stars of WCW, both face and heel. However, Funk's time as a color commentator would prove short-lived as he soon craved being involved in the in-ring action.

[JaseSF]

Eric Garguilo joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. He's done notable work for both CZW and ROH but mostly he's known as the voice of CZW. After training with Jim Kettner and making several appearances in the ECWA, he started out as a ring announcer for ECW. Following this, he became the host of Pro Wrestling Radio out of Philadelphia and went on to interview many name stars including Steve Austin, Bruno Sammartino, Ricky Steamboat, Bret Hart, Tito Ortiz, Bret Hart, Edge, Dusty Rhodes, Chris Jericho and Superstar Billy Graham. Gargiulo joined CZW in 2000 as a ring announcer and commentator. He would eventually become their most familiar voice on video. He also announced for videos from Dangerous Women of Wrestling, Women's Extreme Wrestling, Major League Wrestling. He also did some early announcing on ROH video releases until conflicts started between CZW and ROH. He's also known for his involvement conducting shoot interviews for RF Video.

George "Crybaby" Cannon joins the Hall of Shame. Honestly I do have some fond memories of watching Cannon as an announcer for his weekly Canadian Superstars of Wrestling show although truthfully he himself often involved himself too actively in onscreen roles and battles, especially against the Original Sheik, taking away something from the other stars who appeared.

[HappyGilmore]

Eric Gargiulo is superb.

[JaseSF]

The Wild Samoans, Afa & Sika joins the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Playing a pair of savage Samoan wildmen, the Wild Samoans of Afa and Sika were a seeming unstoppable wrecking force in the ring using their raw power, size and intimidating qualities to their full advantage. They were masters of the Samoan Drop and basically landing one high impact power move after another. They were to be feared for more than just their wild appearance although that no doubt played a factor as well. The Samoans got their start in Stampede Wrestling where they captured the NWA Stampede International Tag Team titles. They moved on to success in other NWA territories and captured tag titles on the Gulf Coast (2 NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team titles),  Vancouver (NWA Canadian Tag Team championship), Detroit (2 NWA World Tag Team titles - Detroit version) and in the Southereastern territory (2 NWA Southern Tag Team titles). They also held the IWA Tag Team titles.

In the late 70s, early 80s, they'd move to the WWF where they achieved their greatest success and notoriety capturing three WWF World Tag Team championships and becoming arguably the most dominant tag team of that area. Managed by Captain Lou Albano, the two wild men were known for outrageous behaviour during interviews including eating raw fish and nose picking. Both men would also become top contenders for Bob Backlund's WWF World Heavyweight championship although they would fail to capture it.  They won their initial WWF World Tag Team titles defeating Tito Santana and Ivan Putski before losing them about five months later to Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales. Backlund however was not allowed to hold two titles at the time and had to forfeit the tag titles leading to the Samoans regaining them by winning a tag tournament defeating Tony Garea and Rene Goulet in the finals.  The Samoans would eventually lose the titles to Garea and new partner Rick Martel and would fail to regain them in rematches before leaving the WWF to compete in Mid-South where Ernie Ladd acted as their financial adviser.

In Mid-South, they captured the Mid-South tag team titles and feuded with Junkyard Dog and Dick Murdoch eventually turning on and attacking Ladd who would join forces with Iron Mike Sharpe and drive them out of the territory. They next turned up in Georgia Championship Wrestling where they captured the NWA National Tag Team titles by defeating the Fabulous Freebirds. They would eventually vacate the National titles and return to the WWF under manager Captain Lou Albano.

On March 8, 1983, the Samoans would start their third WWF World Tag Team titles reign after defeating Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow. They'd go on to feud with Rocky Johnson, Jimmy Snuka and Andre the Giant eventually adding the young son of Afa - Samula as a third member of their team as a replacement for an injured Sika. On November 15, 1983, they lost their tag team titles to Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas when Albano's interference with a chair backfired and cost the Samoans the match and their titles. After a brief run as fan favourites, the Samoans left the WWF in 1984 and went on to briefly compete in the AWA in the mid-80s as heels  (they did capture the AWA Southern Tag Team titles) but never again did they achieve their previous success. Sika would reappear in 1987, now managed by Mr. Fuji and would eventually form a nightmarish tag team with Kamala, the Ugandan Giant.

Afa went on to become a prominent trainer of wrestlers and his Wild Samoans Training Center graduates include Paul Orndorff, Junkyard Dog, Michael Hayes, Luna Vachon, Yokozuna, Bam Bam Bigelow, Rikishi, Sherri Martel, Virgil, Billy Kidman, Gene Snitsky, Chris Kanyon and Batista. Afa would also go on to manage the Headshrinkers tag team which included son Samu and Fatu (Rikishi) and later Seonne (the Barbarian) alongside former manager Captain Lou Albano. The Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

[JaseSF]

The Backseat Boyz of Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. This high-flying, high impact duo looked the part of party boys and were best known for their work in Combat Zone Wrestling where they captured the CZW Tag Team championship four times. They also made their mark in Ring of Honor becoming the first team in history to capture tag titles in both CZW and ROH. The Backseats started in CZW in 2000 with Dewey Donovan as their manager and became CZW Tag champs the first time by defeating the Haas Brothers in June 2000 before going on to feud with Nick Mondo and Ric Blade who would eventually defeat them for the CZW tag gold. They'd continue teaming and would battle the likes of the Briscoe Brothers (Jay & Mark), The H8 Club and VD. Both also competed in singles action and Trent Acid even collected some singles titles. In 2002 at Glory By Honor, the Backseats debuted in ROH as CZW "Invaders" and defeated Homicide and Steve Corino after Corino turned on Homicide. One year leter they won a tag team gauntlet match last defeating Special K to win the ROH Tag Team championships. They would lose the titles back to Special K a few weeks later. They continued in ROH until Kashmere left the company and Acid continued on as a singles performer. Together they also had success in practically every independent promotion which they teamed and collected tag titles in Assault Championship Wrestling, the East Coast Wrestling Association, Hardway Wrestling where they captured the tag titles three times, Jersey All Pro Wrestling where they won tag gold twice, Phoenix Championship Wrestling, National Championship Wrestling. They seemed to have a great deal of potential as a tag team yet perhaps were considered too small for the big leagues and possibly due to their substance abuse issues. Sadly Trent Acid passed away at age 29 as a result of an accidental drug overdose.

Badd Company of Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Tanaka & Diamond are likely best remembered for being AWA World Tag Team champions managed by "Diamond" Dallas Page and accompanied to the ring by Page's Diamond Dolls. They would later reteam in the WWF under the name The Orient Express with Diamons wearing a mask to play Kato. Tanaka & Diamond first formed their team in the Continental Wrestling Association in 1986 following tag success for both men when previously paired up with Jeff Jarrett. Tanaka & Diamond would go on to hold the CWA/AWA International Tag Team titles four times first defeating Tarzan Goto and Akio Sato. Less than a month later, they'd lose the titles to the Sheepherders Luke Williams and Butch Miller. They'd regain them and then drop them to previous champs Goto and Sato in February 1987. They'd win the titles and start their third reign in May after defeating Mark Starr in an handicap match but quickly lost them back to Starr and his new partner Billy Joe Travis.  Finally they'd win their fourth title reign capturing the then vacant titles at the end of May only to lose them to Bill Dundee and Rocky Johnson in early July. Johnson & Dundee would be the last International tag champs. While competing in Memphis, Badd Company would go on to capture the company's top Tag championship, the AWA Southern Tag Team titles from Jeff Jarrett and Billy Joe Travis in August 1987. They'd lose them to the Nasty Boys about a month later. They'd move to the AWA and have great success under colorful talkative manager "Diamond" Dallas Page since neither member of Badd Company was really very good on the microphone. They`d move right into a feud with AWA World Tag Team champions The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) whom Badd Company would defeat for their first and only AWA World Tag Team championship on March 19, 1988. They`d hold on to the tag belts for over a year defending against teams like Chavo & Mando Guerrero, the Rock `n`Roll Express and the Top Guns. They`d finally lose the titles on March 25, 1989 to the Olympians Brad Rheingans and Ken Patera. Following this, they`d split up and shortly feud with one another before moving on to compete in singles action until 1990. In 1990, Pat Tanaka alongside old foe Akio Sato under manager Mr. Fuji debuted in the WWF as The Orient Express. Paul Diamond would also move to the WWF to compete mainly as an enhancement talent. When Sato left the U.S., Diamond took his place in the Orient Express as the masked Kato in 1991-1992. They`d go on to have a memorable feud with and some great matches with old adversaries the Rockers including a great bout at Royal Rumble 1991. They`d also compete against the New Foundation of Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart at Royal Rumble 1992. Shortly thereafter Tanaka would leave the WWF and Diamond would continue on as an enhancement talent both under his old ring name and in the Kato gimmick. Diamond also briefly played the Max Moon character with little success. After Diamond left the WWF, he reformed Badd Company with Tanaka in Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1993. In October 1993, they defeated Bad Breed Ian and Axl Rotten but failed to defeat ECW Tag Team champs Tony Stetson and Johnny Hot Body. They`d go on to battle Public Enemy in matches often including the Bad Breed as well with Public Enemy typically coming out on top. Badd Company would go on to defeat the makeshift team of Don E. Allen and Mr. Hughes and would defeat Public Enemy in singles bouts during their feud. However Public Enemy got a measure of bloody revenge defeating Badd Company in a South Philly hood match. Badd Company next targeted tag champs Kevin Sullivan and the Tasmaniac defeating them in several non-title matches. However they failed to win with the titles on the line. On March 27, 1994, Badd Company wrestled their last house show match for ECW defeating Rockin`Rebel and Pitbull # 1. In 1994, the pair signed with WCW and briefly reprised an Orient Express like tag gimmick with Tanaka calling himself Tanaka-san and Diamond wearing a mask and calling himself Haito. They really didn`t get used much and had little success in WCW. Before the end of the year, the pair were split up.

Harley Race joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. As a manager and a former 7 times NWA World Heavyweight champion with a vast knowledge of wrestling, Race`s greatest success was managing Big Van Vader whom he guided to three WCW World Heavyweight titles as well as a WCW United States championship. Race was a natural as a manager adding his gruff voice and timely interference to Vader`s already vast arsenal of weapons. Race prior to this had lead Lex Luger to a WCW World Heavyweight championship as well. He also managed monsters like Yoshi Kwan and Tyler Mane. Race`s successful career as a manager would be cut short due to injuries sustained in car accidents forcing him out of the spotlight.

"Coach" John Tolos joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Following a long and successful wrestling career in which he and brother Chris Tolos dominated as the Canadian Wrecking Crew and later known for his wild brawls with Fred Blassie, later in his career Tolos turned to managing. As a manager, Tolos added a gruff voice and an annoying whistle at ringside yet didn`t prove successful. He was always more annoying and irritating to fans than someone they really out and out hated. In the end, as a manager, he proved surprisingly forgettable.  He did however manage some notable talent including then Intercontinental champion "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig whom Coach took over from Bobby Heenan and then the Beverly Brothers. Eventually Coach would be quietly phased out and replaced by "The Genius" Lanny Poffo. Prior to this, Tolos had appeared as a manager and announcer for Herb Abrams UWF managing "Cowboy" Bob Orton and the Power Twins in what was arguably a precursor to the later Coach gimmick.

[HappyGilmore]

I loved the Backseat Boyz and still watch their matches I have on dvd.  Shame their apparent substance abuse/backstage behavior held em back to a degree.  They probably would've fit in quite well with the then WWE tag division, probably could've worked well with the Dudleys, Hardys, Edge and Christian, Too Cool, etc.

[JaseSF]

I really liked Badd Company when they were in the AWA, thought they had some great matches there as champs, but I never really bought them as the Orient Express since well neither guy on the team, not even manager Fuji  (although I think Akio Sato was) was actually Asian...

[HappyGilmore]

I really liked Badd Company when they were in the AWA, thought they had some great matches there as champs, but I never really bought them as the Orient Express since well neither guy on the team, not even manager Fuji  (although I think Akio Sato was) was actually Asian...

I liked Badd Company and they were fine wrestlers.  Only reason I voted against them was I don't like em as much as the others they were against.

[JaseSF]

Mike Adamle joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. A former NFL football turned American Gladiators co-host, Adamle might arguably be the worst play by play wrestling announcer and interviewer in pro wrestling history. Obviously hired for his entertainment background and appearance, Adamle seemed unprepared for his job clearly possessing little to no real knowledge of wrestling or its history nor did he even seem to like it. He also frequently made bad mistakes on air during broadcasts whether as an interviewer calling Jeff Hardy "Jeff Harvey" or during ECW broadcasts seemingly having little clue as to events going on with regards to ECW in the then present or past. Adamle always seemed like a big phony playing at being a wrestling announcer and only seemed to be there because someone thought his smile and appearance would be more pleasing than previous announcers who were by far more talented. Adamle would eventually be given a short run on WWE Raw as a General Manager but he'd continue to make many embarrassing mistakes on air and would eventually, and thankfully in the eyes of many fans, part ways with WWE.