Fame or Shame: Pro Wrestling Discussion Thread

[HappyGilmore]

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.

Someone tried telling me that was just a terrible gimmick gone wrong, ie, giving him the persona of a non-informed play by play guy.  Kinda like how Michael Cole is a "character" as well.  Either way, Adamle was TERRIBLE.

[JaseSF]

"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Hennig, the son of wrestler Larry "The Axe" Hennig, was without a doubt one of the finest wrestling performers to ever step foot between the ring ropes. He had great matches with nearly every opponent night after night after night. Hennig started out in the AWA  as a clean cut babyface where he formed a brief team with his gruff formerly heel father before moving on to greater success teaming with Scott Hall and capturing the AWA World Tag Team championships defeating Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin and "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal on January 18, 1986. Hall & Hennig would later lose the title in controversial fashion via countout to "Playboy" Buddy Rose and "Pretty Boy" Doug Sommers as both Hennig and Hall seemed more poised to now pursue singles careers. Hennig would later go on to team with Greg Gagne but the two soon came to see each other as rivals for Nick Bockwinkel's AWA World Heavyweight title, a belt Hennig would eventually capture in controversial fashion supposedly using a roll of coins provided by Larry Zbyszko to clock Bockwinkel and win the title. Following this, he'd engage in a long feud with Greg Gagne that also saw involvement from both men's fathers. Hennig would eventually be managed by Madusa Miceli during his AWA World champ heel days and would also come to join Diamond Dallas Page's Diamond Exchange alongside Madusa, Badd Company and Colonel DeBeers. Hennig would have an impressive AWA World title reign lasting 53 weeks before finally losing the title in controversial fashion in Memphis to Jerry "The King" Lawler on May 8, 1988.

Hennig shortly thereafter would make his return to the WWF (he'd had a previous run in the early 80s as an undercard performer and teamed with a young Eddie Gilbert). This time Hennig debuted via vignettes as "Mr. Perfect" which well worked to show just how perfect and arrogant Hennig was. The vignettes proved very entertaining and Mr. Perfect would become one of the WWF's most enduring characters. During his first year, he enjoyed a long lived undefeated streak defeating the likes of the Blue Blazer, the Red Rooster and Jimmy Snuka. Eventually he'd add "The Genius" Lanny Poffo as a manager and would even help Genius defeat WWF World champion Hulk Hogan by countout on Saturday Night's Main Event. Hennig would pursue Hogan's title unsuccessfully in the early 1990s and would be the last man eliminated from the 1990 Royal Rumble by winner Hulk Hogan. Hennig would ultimately lose his undefeated streak to Brutus Beefcake although he'd had previously untelevised losses as well to the likes of the Ultimate Warrior and Hogan.

Hennig hired Bobby "The Brain" Heenan as his new manager and began pursuing the WWF Intercontinental title, a title that became vacant following Ultimate Warrior's WWF World title victory at Wrestlemania VI. Hennig would defeat Tito Santana in the tournament finals to become WWF Intercontinental champ. He'd lose the title four months later to "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich at Summerslam 1990 but regained it in November thanks to outside interference from Ted DiBiase. Hennig went on to have an impressive run the second time around fending off challenges from the Big Bossman and winning a battle royal before finally losing the title to Bret "The Hitman" Hart at Summerslam 1991 in a fantastic match despite the fact that Hennig was in fact competing injured with a broken tailbone and bulged discs. By this time manager Bobby Heenan had more or less retired from managing and was briefly replaced by manager Coach John Tolos. After his loss at Summerslam, Hennig took time off to recover from his injuries and went on to become Ric Flair's Executive Consultant aiding Flair in his 2 WWF World Heavyweight title wins. He also went on to work as a color commentator on Superstars of Wrestling until Hennig returned to the ring in surprising fashion at Survivor Series 1992 as Randy Savage's surprise partner in a match against Flair and Razor Ramon. Hennig went on to feud with Flair eliminating him from the 1993 Royal Rumble and eventually a Loser Leaves the WWF match.

The face Hennig then went on to feud with newcomer heel Lex Luger who defeated him in controversial fashion at Wrestlemania IX. Perfect eventually ending up feuding with and pursuing Shawn Michaels Intercontinental title but interference from HBK's bodyguard Diesel kept the title out of his reach. Perfect in fact created "The Heartbreak Kid" nickname for Michaels. He went on to compete in the 1993 King of the Ring losing a classic quaterfinal bout to eventual winner Bret "The Hitman" Hart. Perfect's back injuries though had begun to bother him again so he briefly disappeared from TV again until he appeared in a special guest referee role at Wrestlemania X where he disqualified Lex Luger and set up a potential feud with him with this time Perfect as the heel but the back injuries kept it from happening. In late 1995, he returned in a color commentary role that lasted into 1996. He also worked as a special guest referee during a King of the Ring match between HBK and the British Bulldog. He was finally set to make his return to the ring in October 1996 against Triple H in what turned out to be a ruse to get "Wildman" Marc Mero to defend his Intercontinental title against Helmsley whom Perfect eventually helped win the title. Perfect briefly served as a mentor to HHH before leaving the WWF shortly before the 1996 Survivor Series.

Hennig signed with WCW in 1997 under his original Curt Hennig moniker since "Mr. Perfect" was a WWF trademark. Both the Four Horsemen and the nWo seemed interested in adding Hennig to their respective factions. Hennig seemingly chose sides with the Horsemen but then in a swerve betrayed Flair and the Horsemen and joined the nWo leading to a feud with Flair and the Horsemen as well as Diamond Dallas Page whom Hennig also turned on in a tag team match. Hennig would defeat Steve `Mongo` McMicheal for the WCW United States championship in September 1997 and defended it against the likes of Flair, Lex Luger, The Giant, Chris Benoit, Jeff Jarrett and Diamond Dallas Page to name just a few before losing it to Page at Starrcade 1997. He battled a knee injury for much of 1998 but briefly joined the face nWo Wolfpac version before turning on Konnan and rejoining nWo Hollywood alongside Rick Rude. He`d battle WCW World Heavyweight champion Goldberg in a losing effort at Bash at the Beach 1998. His injury would take him off TV and he wouldn`t return until Starrcade 1998 when he aided Eric Bischoff in his match against Ric Flair. In early 1999, Hennig began teaming with Barry Windham and lost a match to Flair and son David Flair. Following this, the nWo attacked and humilated Flair and son. Not long after that, Hall booted Hennig out of the nWo. Hennig & Windham nevertheless went on to win the WCW World Tag Team titles and Hennig would eventually become leader of the West Texas Rednecks group including himself, Barry Windham, Kendall Windham and Bobby Duncum Jr.. They were supposed to be the heels in a feud with Master P`s No Limit Soldiers but WCW fans cheered the West Texas Rednecks and their `Rap is Crap`country song to boot. Following the disbandment of the Rednecks, Hennig went on to have forgettable feuds with Harlem Heat and Shawn Stasiak before losing a retirment match to Buff Bagwell.

In 2001-2002, Hennig competed in the X Wresling Federation which proved short-lived as the WWF bought up most of its talent incluidng Hennig himself. Hennig did have a memorable loss to Hogan while there.

In 2002, Hennig returned to the WWE as a participant in the 2002 Royal Rumble and made it to the final three combatants before being eliminated by Triple H. Perfect had a strong Royal Rumble showing holding his own against the likes of Kurt Angle amongst others. He would go on to have a brief WWF run defeating Val Venis and feuding briefly with Steve Austin and Rob Van Dam. Hennig would also briefly team with Shawn Stasiak and Big Bossman before an incident occured with Brock Lesnar on the infamous Plane Ride From Hell leading to his WWE release. He would briefly compete in TNA and would challenge Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight title in 2002-2003 before being found dead in his hotel room in February 2003.

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office declared acute cocaine intoxication to be the cause of his death. His father said that steroids and painkillers also contributed to his death.

- Wikipedia.

Joel Gertner joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Gertner is of course best known as the brash color commentator who joined Joey Styles in ECW during its ECW on TNN days. His constant use of sexual inneundo and referring to himself as the Quinessential Stud-muffin soon got pretty tired although in all fairness, that was his act. Sadly it was a pretty lame and limited one. Still there is no denying he did have his share of fans who did enjoy his rhyming limericks loaded with sexual inneundo. Gertner also had a run as manager and ring announcer for the Dudley Boyz even referring to himself as Studley Dudley at one point. In a match against the Eliminators Gertner acquired a neck injury after suffering the Total Elimination finisher and wore a neck brace for years after that. He did manage the Dudleys to a record 8 ECW World Tag Team titles. While on ECW on TNN, Gertner turned face to feud with Cyrus and the Network. The feud came to an head with Gertner facing Cyrus in a match at Anarchy Rulz, a match won by Gertner thanks to outside interference from the Sandman. Gertner remained with ECW until its closure in 2001. He showed up at the final ECW PPV Guilty as Charged where he began to cut a promo but was attacked by Cyrus and Da Baldies. He would return later that night during the main event attacking Cyrus and helping Rob Van Dam perform a Van Terminator on Cyrus. Gertner made a brief debut in TNA in 2002 where he introduced the Rainbow Express of Bruce and Lenny Lane before disappearing again shortly thereafter. He next showed up during the WWE/ECW One Night Stand show where he was pie-faced by JBL and begged Eric Bischoff for a job. He also appeared on the ECW Hardcore Homecoming show where he reignited his feud with Cyrus. Gertner also works as promoter for a Connecticut wrestling promotion named MXW. Gertner returned during the TNA Hardcore Justice PPV to manage Team 3D.

[JaseSF]

Brian Pillman joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Following a stint in football playing in the CFL and the NFL with the Cincinatti Bengals, Pillman turned to pro wrestling in Calgary following his career as a Calgary Stampeder. He sought out training in the famed Hart Dungeon to be trained by Stu Hart and his sons. Pillman shortly after his debut formed a tag team with Bruce Hart known as Bad Company. In April 1987, they captured the Stampede International tag team titles defeating Rotten Ron Starr and the Cuban Assassin in a tournament final to win the gold. They held the titles until October when they were held up following a match against Makhan Singh and Jerry Morrow. Bad Company would defeat Singh & Morrow in a rematch to win back their titles but dropped them to the Cuban Commandoes tag team of The Cuban Assassin and Jerry Morrow in July 1988. Pillman wowed in Stampede thrilling fans with both his determination in matches and his exciting high risk aerial moves. While in Stampede, Pillman also used then girlfriend Beulah McGillicutty, getting her to play his taunted "sister" to help get him over as a face.

In 1989, Pillman moved to the NWA which would later become WCW. There he would become a popular fan favourite under the name "Flyin' Brian" again exciting fans with high risk aerial moves like his flying missile dropkick and diving crossbody. Pillman was quite popular with the ladies too due to his athletic good looks. Still he seemed too small to truly succeed in WCW, something he worked hard to prove he really wasn't. He tasted his first WCW title success winning the NWA United States Tag Team titles alongside "The Z-Man" Tom Zenk in February 1990. The pair went on to have surprisingly good matches with the Freebirds amongst others. They'd lose the titles in May 1990 and would go their separate ways. Pillman returned to singles wrestling and went on to feud with Barry Windham who defeated him controversially in a Loser Leaves WCW match which led to Pillman wearing a mask and appearing as the Masked Yellow Dog, a perennial torn in Windham's side until he was finally reinstated. Pillman would go on to impress as WCW World Light Heavyweight Wrestling champion, a title he'd hold twice, and would go on to have fantastic matches against the likes of Jushin "Thunder" Liger, Richard Morton, Brad Armstrong and a young Scotty Flamingo.

Pillman shocked many by turning heel in September 1992 frustrated over Brad Armstrong's vacating the World Light Heavyweight title due to injury. In November, he'd form a tag team with old rival Barry Windham to pursue the WCW World Tag Team titles held by Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas but failed to defeat them at Starrcade 1992. The team lasted until January 1993 when they split as Windham sought the NWA World Heavyweight title. Pillman went on to form his most famous tag tandem The Hollywood Blonds with Stunning Steve Austin. On March 27, 1993, the Blonds defeated Steamboat & Douglas to win the WCW World Tag Team titles. They'd go on to feud with and impress in rematches with Steamboat & Douglas and eventually forged an identity as a surprisingly popular heel tag team. Next they'd feud with the Four Horsemen but most specifically Arn Anderson and Ric Flair, whom they even parodied in hilarious fashion in an interview skit entitled "A Flare for the Old". During the feud, Pillman would suffer a leg injury and Austin and substitute partner Lord Steven Regal would lose the WCW World Tag Team titles to the unlikely Horsemen pair of Arn Anderson and Paul Roma. Not long after the Blonds would split with Austin turning on Pillman returning Pillman to face status. Pillman began to pursue Lord Steven Regal's WCW World Television title and even battled him to a 15 minute draw but he failed to capture the title. In 1994, Pillman would be part of a WCW-ECW talent exchange where he'd go on to team with Shane Douglas in a losing effort against Ron Simmons and 2 Cold Scorpio. In late 1994, Pillman returned to WCW as a face but soon turned into a tweener feuding with the likes of Brad Armstrong, Eddie Guerrero, Alex Wright and Marcus Alexander Bagwell. In September 1995, Pillman would form a tag team with Arn Anderson as the two feuded with Ric Flair. Then Flair asked Sting to be his partner in the feud but it was all a ruse as Pillman, Anderson & Flair were in cahoots all along. Eventually they'd add Chris Benoit and form a new version of the Four Horsemen.

Shortly after this, Pillman began to evolve his "Loose Cannon" character becoming more reckless, wild and out of control in terms of his behaviour both inside and outside the ring. He began cutting worked shoots that blurred the line between fantasy and reality and once grabbed Bobby Heenan unexpectedly by the collar live on Nitro and later outed Kevin Sullivan as WCW's booker while the two feuded.

Pillman moved to ECW in 1996 where he continued his "Loose Cannon" gimmick referring to former boss Bischoff as a "gofer" and "a piece of crap". He'd later threaten to urinate in the ring. All this was building to a potential feud with Shane Douglas until Pillman was badly injured following a car accident in Kentucky after he fell asleep at the wheel. He was in a coma for a week and suffered a shattered ankle. Pillman would sign a contract with the WWF in June 1996 where Pillman continued his "Loose Cannon" gimmick albeit perhaps a little more toned down. Following Wrestlemania 13, Pillman would join the Hart Foundation stable led by Bret "The Hitman" Hart and including Davey Boy Smith, Owen Hart and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and start feuding with old tag team partner "Stone Cold" Steve Austin during which Austin "injured" Pillman's ankle with a chair. During the beginning of their feud, there would also be the infamous Pillman's "got a gun" angle which later the WWF would apologize for and admit it was in bad taste. After this, Pillman went on to feud with Goldust and his manager/then wife Marlena with whom Pillman claimed to have had an affair (they had previously dated before the Runnels got together). The bizarre feud would also see Pillman forced to wear a dress and win Marlena at one point as a prize. "Some time during the night or early morning prior to the October 5, 1997 In Your House: Badd Blood pay-per-view in St. Louis, Pillman died in a Bloomington, Minnesota hotel room at the age of 35. An autopsy found that a previously undetected heart condition, arteriosclerotic heart disease, had led to his death. The condition had also led to the death of his father. Pillman's use of drugs and alcohol also contributed to his death."- Wikipedia

Paul Heyman joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Heyman would take over the reigns as color commentator on WWF Raw after Jerry "The King" Lawler left to support then wife Stacy Carter. Heyman would do a commendable job and actually seemed rather fresh following King's long stint that had seen him become a little predictable. Heyman would eventually use the position to promote the agenda of the WCW/ECW Alliance as he would essentially become their on-air mouthpiece. Heyman though wasn't really a stranger to color commentary having previously worked with Jim Ross back in his WCW Paul E. Dangerously days commentating matches on WCW World Championship Wrestling on WTBS. While in this role, he'd feud with Ross, Missy Hyatt and even Hyatt's then boyfriend Jason Hervey. He'd also impress as a manager leading the Dangerous Alliance in 1992. When the WCW/ECW Alliance lost the war against the WWF at Survivor Series 2001, Heyman would be "fired" as an announcer but would later return as a manager of Brock Lesnar and then the Big Show. Heyman would later go on to have a stint as Smackdown! General Manager before returning to managing the likes of the Dudley Boyz and Heidenreich. After being sealed in a coffin by the Undertaker, he'd disappear for a while but would return with ECW One Night Stand in 2005 and later the rebirth of the ECW brand in WWE where he'd go on to manage ECW World Champions Rob Van Dam and the Big Show before parting ways with the WWE in late 2006 over creative disputes backstage.

The Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Actually many today think of Shelley and Sabin as wrestling's best current tag team and they certainly are successful and have impressed in TNA winning the TNA World Tag Team titles and having great matches against Beer Money Inc. and Generation Me. Both Shelley and Sabin are former TNA X-Division champions and have impressed with their high flying moves and fluid teamwork. Yet personally I'd also argue they very much fit in with today's spot monkeys who don't sell moves enough and move from one spot move to their next. Sabin and Shelley first started teaming in Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX in 2006. On August 25, 2006, they won the  ZERO-1 MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Championship from Minoru Fujita and Ikuto Hidaka which they held for nearly two years before dropping them back to the Fujita and new partner Takuya Sugawara. They also made appearance in ROH and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. In April 2007, they made their debut in TNA where they'd go on to feud with Team 3D and Sonjay Dutt & Jay Lethal. In late 2007, they also won the Illinois based All American tag team championship. Eventually the X-Division title would play a part in their feud with Team 3D who helped Johnny Devine gain the title and kept it out of the Guns' hands. In 2008, they joined A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe in the Frontline group that tried to fend off the Main Event Mafia but the group had little success and the Machine Guns eventually turned their backs on their allies becoming heels in the process disrespecting legends like Mick Foley and attacking Lethal Consequences (Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed). They would lose in a title match with Beer Money Inc. and also to Lethal Consequences leading to the attack and the feud. The debuting Suicide would also target the Machine Guns. Shelley would go on to defeat partner Sabin in the finals of a tournament to crown a new X Division champion but Shelley shortly thereafter would lose the title to Suicide. In January 2009, the Guns captured the IWGP Junoir Heavyweight tag team titles from No Limit (Tetsuya Naitō and Yujiro) in Japan. Following 3 succcessful titles defenses, the Guns lost the titles to Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) on July 5, 2009. In August 2009, the Guns would return to being faces when alongside Daniels they battled the World Elite faction. They'd go on to defeat Lethal Consequences in an Ultimate X match to become number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team titles held by the British Invasion but the Brits fended off their challenge. Later the Guns defeated Generation Me in yet another Ultimate X match to earn another TNA World tag team title shot but again they failed to capture the titles from Matt Morgan and replacement partner for an injured Hernandez - Amazing Red. The Guns however would not be deterred and earn yet another title shot winning a number one contender spot by beating Team 3D and Beer Money Inc. in a three way dance. On July 11, 2010, the Guns finally captured the now vacant TNA World Tag Team titles defeating Beer Money Inc. to win the belts. The Guns and Beer Money then engaged in a memorable Best of Five match series with the Guns eventually coming out on top with the titles and thereafter impressively fended off the challenge of Generation Me and Team 3D. Beer Money Inc. however have since regained the titles.

[HappyGilmore]

The Guns are decent enough in todays tag scene, even though theyre kinda spot monkeys.

[JaseSF]

I know these awards are largely worked but they did win the PWI Tag Team of the Year 2010 award.

[HappyGilmore]

I know these awards are largely worked but they did win the PWI Tag Team of the Year 2010 award.

Yeah.  Just reading that issue.

Seeing as WWE doesn't really have a 'tag scene', and considering TNA is the number 2 promotion here, by and large the MCMG are the best overall team.  Granted, I'm a bigger fan of The Briscoes in ROH and The Kings of Wrestling, but, eh.

[JaseSF]

Yeah I like the ROH teams better too although I bet the MCMG in ROH probably worked more holds and had more match time than they likely get in TNA.

[JaseSF]

Sable joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Sable debuted in the WWF as an escort to the ring for Hunter Hearst Helmsley during his Wrestlemania XII match against the Ultimate Warrior, which Helmsley lost in embarrassing fashion. Afterwards as Helmsley was taking his frustrations out on Sable, the debuting "Wildman" Marc Mero came to Sable's rescue and took her on as his manager. Actually she was already his then wife, who had been signed to a WWF contract along with Mero. She would manage Mero to a WWF Intercontinental title win which he'd win in a tournament final over Farooq, who was then managed by Sunny. Mero would go on to lose the title to Helmsley. Sable would remain Mero's manager until he was injured in 1997. While Mero was injured, Sable's popularity, especially among many male fans, skyrocketed. Mero grew jealous of Sable's spotlight and began to mistreat her backstage yet Sable would remain his manager a little longer. At Wrestlemania XIV, the duo teamed up to defeat Goldust and Luna Vachon with Sable getting the win. Mero's jealousy would grow even more and he would come to cost Sable an Evening Gown match againts Luna at Unforgiven 1998. This led to Sable finally splitting from Marc Mero and even challenging him to a match. Mero would replace Sable with Jacqueline and a new feud between Jacqueline and Sable was born. This eventually led to a bikini contest which Sable won showing her breasts which were painted with hand impressions. The next night Sable would be disqualified since she technically did not wear a bikini. The feud with Jacqueline & Mero climaxed at Summerslam 1998 when with a debuting Edge as her mystery partner they defeated Mero & Jacqueline. Sable and Jacqueline would go on to compete for the newly reinstated WWF Women's title which was won by Jacqueline after interference from Mero. At the 1998 Survivor Series, Sable would defeat Jacqueline to win the Women's title powerbombing both Mero & Jacqueline during the bout. During the height of her popularity, Sable would guest star on Pacific Blue. Luna Vachon under a mask as the Spider Lady attacked Sable leading to a Strap match at the Royal Rumble 1999 which was won by Sable after interference from a Sable "fan" named Tori. After Sable appeared in the 1999 April Playboy issue however she turned heel becoming more arrogant and conceited and considering herself "Hollywood" and above others. This led to feuds with former "fan"/ally Tori and a now face Luna. She started to grind her pelvis suggestively during and before matches and often stated "This is for all the men who want to see me and all the women who want to be me." Sable's feud with Tori climaxed at Wrestlemania XV when Sable won with help from new bodyguard Nicole Bass. Sable went on to hold the Women's title for six months before losing it controversially to Debra who won it in an Evening Gown match despite being the one disrobed, which usually signals a loss. In reality, Sable was locked in a dispute with the WWF and so was stripped of the title. In June 1999, Sable (Rena Mero) filed a 110 Million Dollar lawsuit against the WWF citing sexual harrassment and unsafe working conditions. She would reduce the amount sought when Vince McMahon countersued for the Sable character name. The case would be settled out of court in August 1999 and Rena Mero would again appear in Playboy in the September 1999 issue. Around this time, Rena appeared on the Howard Stern show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. She also made guest TV appearances on First Wave and Relic Hunter as well as appearing in the films Corky Romano and Ariana's Quest. She went on to release her autobiography Undefeated in August 2000. She also released a comic book starring herself as a superheroine entitled The 10th Muse. She'd go on to make brief appearances in the XWF in late 2001 as an on-air CEO. Surprisingly Mero returned to the WWE as Sable in April 2003 where she'd go on to feud with Torrie Wilson and then Stephanie McMahon when she took part in a storyline where she portrayed Vince McMahon's mistress. Sable and Stephanie would engage in several brawls but Sable would gain an upper hand when A-Train became her ally. Sable would go on to manage A-Train during his Summerslam match against the Undertaker but Taker would eventually aid Stephanie in gaining a measure of revenge. Sable briefly returned to being a face when she appeared in Playboy for the third time this time alongside Torrie Wilson, the first time a pair of divas appeared together. The Playboy appearance led to a feud with Miss Jackie and Stacey Keibler whom Sable & Wilson defeated at Wrestlemania XX. Sable quickly turned heel again after this and went on to defeat Wilson at the Greast America Bash 2004. Shortly thereafter Sable and the WWE parted ways with Rena claiming she left to spend more time with family. After Mero & Sable were officially divorced in 2004, she began dating Brock Lesnar whom she later married. She would make some appearances alonsgide Lesnar in New Japan Pro Wrestling before Lesnar left wrestling behind. The couple now have two children.

Sabu joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Sabu would become legendary for his reckless in-ring aerial style and all-out hardcore assaults on opponents during matches. He truly came across as a crazed maniac in the ring who didn't mind at all hurting himself as long as he hurt his opponents worse. Billed as The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death–Defying (Maniac)" Sabu, he worked hard to tried and live up to that crazy nickname.
Trained by his uncle, the Original Sheik, Sabu went on to compete in Japan's hardcore promotion Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling. While there, he competed in numerous Japanese hardcore matches. It was here Sabu acquired many of his now trademark scars, cuts and bruises. While in Japan, Sabu teamed with the Original Sheik, Tiger Jeet Singh and Horace Boulder and feuded with the likes of Tarzan Goto and Mr. Onita.

Sabu debuted in ECW in 1993 as an uncontrollable madman who had to be brought to the ring by handler 911 and had to be strapped to a gurney and wore an Hannibal Lecter style mask. Around this time, Sabu became infamous for breaking tables during his matches even if it meant putting his own body through one. Early on, Sabu portrayed himself as a non-speaking wrestler in the mode of his famous Uncle. Sabu would go on to compete for the ECW World Heavyweight title which he'd win in October 1993 from Shane Douglas and lost in December 1993 to Terry Funk. He'd also have a memorable one hour draw against Terry Funk and Shane Douglas. He'd also team up with the Tazmaniac to feud with Public Enemy and the pair would capture the ECW World Tag Team titles. Sabu would later be fired for no-showing an ECW event in favor of appearing in Japan.

In September 1995, Sabu would debut in WCW against Alex Wright whom he defeated. He went on to defeat Mr. J.L. (Jerry Lynn) after throwing a fireball at him (rather like the Original Sheik). He's also defeat Disco Inferno and would attempt to put him through a table but would miss. Sabu would leave WCW shortly afterwards.

He returned to ECW in 1996 and started feuding with Rob Van Dam with whom he'd later team to win two ECW World Tag Team titles. Meanwhile former partner Taz was calling out Sabu for a long time before the two finally clashed at Barely Legal in a match won by Taz. After the match however Taz's manager Bill Alfonso would turn on him in favor of Sabu & RVD. Sabu would be a part of the ECW WWF invasion angle and would leap off the WWF Raw R on to team Taz (actually he accidentally fell off the R and was caught by them). Following this, Sabu & RVD proclaimed loyalty to the WWF and began feuding with ECW loyalists Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman. Sabu would defeat Terry Funk in a brutal No Ropes barbed wire match in August 1997 to win his second ECW World title, a match so brutal and gruesome it's achieved legendary status. During the match Sabu received a ten inch gash in his arm he just taped up and continued the match?! During his time in ECW, Sabu racked up numerous injuries including broken ribs, a broken jaw and two broken necks, one at the hands of Chris Benoit and the other Taz. Sabu recovered enough from these injuries to continue wrestling and would remain in ECW until 2000 when he left after refusing to put over Super Crazy.

Sabu would move on to a short stint with Juggalo Championship Wrestling where he'd win the JCW Heavyweight championship in a battle royal but would lose it one day later to Vampiro. Sabu also appeared in WWA in Australia where he feuded with Devon Storm. While there he also battled with and defeated the likes of Perry Saturn, Simon Diamond and Joe E. Legend.

He also appeared in TNA in 2002 and battled the likes of Malice and Ken Shamrock but usually ended up in no contests or disqualifications. In 2004, he teamed with Raven to defeat Raven's former proteges the Gathering (C.M. Punk & Julio Dinero) before moving on to feud with Monty Brown and Abyss who double-teamed him numerous times with Raven's failing to watch Sabu's back. Raven would go on to challenge Sabu to an empty arena match but Sabu refused on the advice of his Uncle. Thereafter Raven started targeting Sabu's ally Sonjay Dutt leading to Sabu finally accepting the match which Raven then won. A scheduled rematch never happened as Sabu suffered a legit back injury. While injured, Sabu contracted a virus that hospitalized and sidelined him for ten months. On December 12, 2004 a benefit show would be held entitled "A Night of Appreciation For Sabu" by the AWWL which would raise enough funds to cover Sabu's medical costs and he'd make a full recovery. Sabu went on to appear at ECW Hardcore Homecoming where he competed in a no ropes barbed wire match against Terry Funk and Shane Douglas and won and went on to compete in WWE's One Night Stand ECW PPV where he defeated Rhyno.

Sabu returned to TNA in July 2005 to team with old enemy Raven against Jeff Jarrett and Rhino. Rhino won the match by goring Raven through a table while Sabu was attacked by Abyss during the match starting a new feud between them. Abyss went on to defeat Sabu at Unbreakable hitting him with the Black Hole Slam on top of thumbtacks. Sabu would also compete in a brutal Monster's Ball match against Rhino, Abyss and Jeff Hardy in a bout ultimately won by Rhino. Abyss again defeated Sabu at Genesis this time Black Hole slamming him on a barbed wire covered steel chair. The feud came to an head in TNA's first Barbed Wire Massacre match at Turning Point, a bloody war which Sabu finally won. Sabu would take some time off following this and would next appear. despite a broken forearm, at Lockdown 2006 where he would be defeated by Samoa Joe.

Sabu moved to the WWE in 2006 (and to be part of the new WWE version of ECW) where he wrestled Rey Mysterio Jr. for the WWF World Heavyweight title, the match ending in a no-contest. Sabu next targeted John Cena who would defeat him at Vengeance. In July Sabu and Rob Van Dam would be arrested for drug possession and would be fined $1000 by the WWE and its Wellness Policy. Towards the end of 2006, Sabu started talking for himself and challenged the Big Show for the ECW World title. This led to a number one contenders match between Rob Van Dam and Sabu which Sabu won in a ladder match. Sabu though failed to defeat the Big Show. On ECW, he basically became a main eventer who competed mainly in Extreme Rules matches. He also teamed up with Rob Van Dam and the Sandman around this time to face Big Show & allies Test and Matt Striker. Sabu was a part of Team Cena at the 2006 Survivor Series which won over Team Big Show despite Sabu's being eliminated by Show. Sabu did eliminate Test during the match. Sabu would originally scheduled to be part of the December to Dismember Elimination Chamber match but would be replaced by Hardcore Holly. C.M. Punk & RVD would team up to defeat Test & Holly and would dedicate the match to Sabu. When Heyman had his security guards attack RVD & Punk after the match, Sabu with an heavily tapped arm made the save. Sabu would go on the join the ECW Originals team of himself, Tommy Dreamer, RVD and Sandman during their feud with the New Breed team of Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Kevin Thorn and Matt Striker. The ECW Originals would win at Wrestlemania 23 but would lose an ECW Extreme Rules rematch when Burke did the Elijah Express on Sabu through a table. Sabu would be released from his WWE contract in May 2007.

Sabu moved on to compete in Mexico's AAA where he joined Konnan's heel stable alongside X-Pac and Ron Killings. He also made appearances in JCW where he teamed with the Insane Clown Posse. Sabu would also move on to feud with Raven while there and even defeated Raven in a "Raven's Rules" match. He made appearances with the Australian Wrestling Federation and CWA Pro Wrestling in South Carolina. In August 2010, Sabu returned to TNA to take part in the ECW reunion show Hardcore Justice where he lost to former partner Rob Van Dam in an hardcore match. He'd become part of Extreme, Version 2.0 and would feud with Ric Flair's Fourtune group. At No Surrender, Sabu failed to defeat Doug Williams for the TNA X Division title. At Bound for Glory 2010, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino and Stevie Richards defeated Fourtune in a Lethal Lockdown match. Sabu & Rob Van Dam would go on to lose tag matches to Beer Money Inc. and dissension grew between the two with them shoving one another. At Turning Point, EV 2.0 put their individual careers in TNA on the line against Fourtune with A.J. Styles defeating Sabu ending his TNA career.

[JaseSF]

Rey Mysterio Jr. joins the Singles Hall of Fame.  Rey Mysterio Jr. it can now be argued has achieved legendary status in the pro wrestling/sports entertainment business.  He has succeeded despite his small size (5' 6" and 175 pounds) in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions often defying the odds and defeating much, much larger opponents. Rey Mysterio Jr. was trained by his Uncle, the original Rey Mysterio, in Mexico, from a young age. He was trained in the Mexican high-flying luchador tradition and has used it to achieve success around the world. Rey  Jr. debuted in Mexico at age 15 and would go on to have feuds there with the likes of Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera. Rey would also team with his Uncle to face Juventud and his father Fuerza Guerrera in Mexico's AAA. In 1995, Rey made an impressive debut in ECW and while his stay there was short-lived, he did have a memorable run against Psicosis culminating in a terrific Mexican Death match.

Rey moved to WCW in 1996 to then compete in their cruiserweight division. He soon targeted Cruiserweight champion Dean Malenko. Rey failed to defeat Malenko in his first attempt at the 1996 Great American Bash but at Bash at the Beach would defeat Psicosis to earn another title shot. Shortly thereafter on a July 8th edition of WCW Monday Nitro he defeated Malenko to win his first WCW Cruiserweight title. He'd have a three month title reign successfully fending off challenges by Malenko, Ultimo Dragon and Super Calo before dropping the title back to Malenko at Halloween Havoc 1996. Mysterio next pursued Dragon's J-Crown championship but failed to defeat him at World War 3 1996. He'd thereafter begin pursuing the WCW World Television championship held by Prince Iaukea but lost to him at SuperBrawl VII when Lord Steven Regal interfered. He'd also lost another rematch at Uncensored 1997. Eventually he'd move into a feud with Eddie Guerrero which would eventually lead to a mask vs. title match for the Cruiserweight championship at Halloween Havoc 1997 where Rey would win protecting both his mask and winning his second WCW Cruiserweight championship. He'd drop the title back to Guerrero on the November 10th edition of WCW Monday Nitro and would lose a rematch at World War 3 1997. Mysterio did not give up his pursuit however and again captured the WCW Cruiserweight championship for the third time defeating Juventud Guerrera on a January 18th edition of WCW Thunder. However he'd lose in just nine days later at Souled Out 1998 to Chris Jericho following which Jericho attacked Mysterio with a tool box and injured his knee (he actually needed knee surgery). When he returned six months later at Bash at the Beach 1998, he got his revenge defeating Jericho for what would have been his 4th WCW Cruiserweight title. However the next night on Nitro, the decision would be overturned and the title returned to Jericho due to outside interference from Dean Malenko. Next Rey found himself the target of Eddie Guerrero's LWO (Latino World Order) group who insisted he join. Rey battled the LWO members including Psicosis but eventually a loss to Eddie Guerrero forced him to reluctantly join the group. Rey however enlisted ally Billy Kidman to still battle the LWO even after Mysterio became part of the group. Eventually this would lead to a three way battle for the title between Kidman, Juventud Guerrera and Mysterio with Mysterio failing to win the title in several matches involving the three and also Psicosis.

In 1999, when the nWo reformed, they insisted the LWO disband which Mysterio refused to do leading to a mask vs. hair match between The Outsiders (Kevin Nash & Scott Hall) and Konnan and Rey Mysterio, which after losing saw Mysterio forced to unmask, something Mysterio was strongly against behind the scenes. Following this Mysterio suddenly got pushed as a giant killer scoring many upset wins over much larger opponents including Kevin Nash, Bam Bam Bigelow and Scott Norton. Despite this, Mysterio was not seen by the powers that be in WCW as a main event star.

Nevertheless, he'd go on to finally defeat Billy Kidman on the March 15th  edition of WCW Monday Nitro to win his 4th WCW Cruiserweight championship. Mysterio would finally receive his first WCW World Heavyweight title shot against Ric Flair in a match Flair would win by DQ despite interference from Arn Anderson. The next week, Rey Mysterio & Kidman defeated Flair's Horsemen stablemates Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko for the WCW World Tag Team titles making Mysterio a double champion. Mysterio would successfully defend the Cruiserweight title against Kidman before losing it to Psicosis in a four way match also involving Juventud Guerrera and Blitzkrieg.  He'd quickly regain the WCW Cruiserweight championship for the 5th time from Psicosis but at Slamboree 1999, he and Kidman would lose the tag team titles to Perry Saturn & Raven in a three way match also involving Benoit & Malenko. In the summer of 1999, Mysterio began teaming with Konnan and joined Master P's No Limit Soldiers during their feud with the West Texas Rednecks. When Master P left, Rey formed a new team with Eddie Guerrero and Billy Kidman called the Filthy Animals. They'd go on to feud with the Dead Pool. On August 19th, 1999, Rey Mysterio lost the WCW Cruiserweight title to Lenny Lane but he and Konnan would go on to defeat Harlem Heat for the WCW World Tag Team titles in October but Mysterio got injured and replacement partner Kidman & Konnan lost the titles back to Harlem Heat not long after. Mysterio returned in the Spring of 2000 and eventually joined the New Blood faction along with his fellow Filthy Animals which was feuding with the Millionaires Club. Filthy Animals Rey & Juventud Guerrera went on to defeat The Great Muta and Vampiro for the WCW World Tag Team titles but were stripped of the title following a stipulation that if Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated Disco Inferno, a Filthy Animal member, they would be. The Filthy Animals went on to feud with the Natural Born Thrillers. In 2001, the Animals started feuding with Lance Storm's Team Canada. Mysterio & Kidman would lose in the finals of a tournament for the newly created WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team titles but would win the titles from Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo shortly before WCW was sold to the WWF.

In 2001-2002, Mysterio competed on the independent circuit and in Mexico competing for the short-lived XWF, in CMLL in Mexico and IWA Mid-South where he lost in a three way match for the IWA Mid South Heavyweight championship also involving C.M. Punk & Eddie Guerrero.

In June 2002, Rey signed with WWE. Rey debuted in WWE with mask and as a fan favorite. He soon found himself in a feud with Kurt Angle and the two clashed at Summerslam 2002 in a terrific match eventually won by Angle. Not long after, Rey formed a tag team with Edge on WWE Smackdown! to pursue the newly created Smackdown WWE Tag Team titles. They lost in the finals of the tournament at No Mercy 2002 to Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle. Mysterio & Edge worked their way back into contention defeating Los Guerreros (Eddie Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero Jr.) to earn another title shot before defeating Angle & Benoit on a November edition of Smackdown in a best two out of three falls match to win the tag titles. They'd lose the titles just 13 days later in a Triple Threat Elimination match to Los Guerreros in a match also involving Angle & Benoit. Rey would move back to focusing on his singles career and started pursuing the WWE Cruiserweight championship. He failed to defeat Matt Hardy at Wrestlemania XIX but finally defeated him in a June rematch to capture the WWE Cruiserweight title, his sixth Cruiserweight championship.  He'd hold the title until September 2003 when he'd lose it to Tajiri. On a new year's edition of Smackdown!, he regain the Cruiserweight title (his 7th) from Tajiri and would successfully defend it against Jamie Noble at the Royal Rumble 2004 before losing it to Chavo Guerrero Jr. at No Way Out 2004. On a June 17th edition of Smackdown! , he defeat Chavo Classic (Chavo Guerrero Sr.) for his record 8th Cruiserweight championship.  He'd successfully fend off the Chavos but would lose the title to a newly heel Spike Dudley in late July.

After failing to regain the Cruiserweight title, Rey formed a new tag team with Rob Van Dam and went on to defeat Kenzo Suzuki and Rene Dupree for the WWE Tag Team titles in December 2004, titles they'd drop to the Basham Brothers in January 2005 following an injury to RVD. Mysterio formed a new tag team with Eddie Guerrero to regain the WWE Tag Titles from the Bashams at Now Way Out 2005. At Wrestlemania 21 however, the tag partners faced off against one another with Rey winning starting a little dissension between them. At ECW One Night Stand, Rey faced and defeated Psicosis for the first time in about five years. Eventually the dissension between Rey and Eddie led to Eddie attacking Rey before a match against MNM which saw them lose the titles to MNM. The feud between Rey and Eddie took a strange turn when Eddie claimed to be the biological father of Rey's son Dominick leading to a Summerslam ladder match for custody of the child?! The feud ended when Eddie defeated Rey in a steel cage match.  Right on the heels of a likely new face turn, Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room leading the WWE to do tribute shows on both Raw and Smackdown to Eddie. Rey wrestled and defeated Shawn Michaels during the special. Rey next found himself the target of the much larger Big Show leading to an eventual tag team war between Rey & new partner World Heavyweight champion Batista and World Tag Team champions Kane & the Big Show. Now long after, Rey & Batista would go on to defeat MNM to win the WWE Tag Team titles. At the battle between champions however, Rey & Batista lost to Kane & Big Show when Kane pinned Mysterio following a chokeslam. In December 2005, MNM evoked their rematch clause and defeated Batista & Mysterio to regain the titles with help from their new ally Mark Henry.

Rey next focused on the upcoming Royal Rumble and shocked many by winning the 2006 Royal Rumble match despite entering at Number Two also setting a record for longevity in the match lasting over 62 minutes. Rey dedicated his win to his late friend Eddie Guerrero. Rey's win earned him a title match at Wrestlemania 22 which Randy Orton eventually cheated his way into as well leading to a Wrestlemania 22 Triple Threat match between Rey, Orton and World Heavyweight champion Kurt Angle. Rey defeated Orton to win the match and his first World Heavyweight Championship. Rey successfully defended the title against Orton and Angle before entering into a feud with then United States champion JBL. JBL brought in monsters Mark Henry and the Great Khali to defeat and weaken Rey in non-title matches but Rey still retained the title against JBL and eventually driving JBL off Smackdown! after defeating him in embarrassing fashion. Mysterio was next challenged by ECW legend and WWE newcomer Sabu at ECW One Night Stand 2006 but the match ended in a no-contest meaning Rey kept his title. Next Rey found himself the target of King Booker and his King's Court stable. King Booker would eventually defeat Rey for the World Heavyweight title at the Great American Bash 2006 when Chavo Guerrero Jr. surprisingly turned on Rey turning heel and costing Rey his championship. This led to an "I Quit" match between Rey and Chavo where Chavo storyline injured Rey's knee. (He once again needed knee surgery). Mysterio would return at the 2007 Summerslam and gain a measure of revenge on Chavo and also in a brutal "I Quit" rematch on Smackdown!. Mysterio once more began to pursue the World title chasing then champion the Great Khali and seeing himself involved in a Triple Threat bout also featuring ally Batista. After failing to regain the title, Rey entered into a feud with Finlay which eventually saw Rey defeat Finlay in a Stretcher match at Cyber Sunday 2007. Rey moved back into the World title picture earning a World title shot against Edge after winning a Beat the Clock challenge but again he failed to regain the belt. Mysterio however would again be forced out of action following a biceps injury and wouldn't return until the June 2008 Draft where he was sent to WWE Raw.

Rey defeated Santino Marella and went on to feud with Kane before competing in the WWE Championship Scramble match. Mysterio went on to challenge JBL for the WWE Intercontinental title at Wrestlemania XXV which he won in impressive fashion becoming the 21st WWE Triple Crown winner.

During the 2009 Draft, Rey was sent back to Smackdown! as Intercontinental champion. On Smackdown!, he soon found himself in a bitter feud with Chris Jericho leading to Jericho eventually defeating him for the I-C title at Extreme Rules 2009 eventually culminating in a Title vs. Mask match at the Bash which was won by Rey. Following a Wellness Policy suspension, Rey dropped his I-C title to John Morrison in a great match. Mysterio returned from suspension to team with Batista and face Chris Jericho and Big Show for the WWE Unified World Tag Team championships but they failed to defeat JeriShow. At WWE Bragging Rights, Mysterio was unsuccessful in a Fatal 4 Way match for the World Heavyweight title between then champion the Undertaker, C.M. Punk and Batista. Following the match, Batista turned on long-time friend Mysterio blaming him for costing him the match. This led to a feud where Batista constantly brutalized Mysterio in match after match until Mysterio finally upset Batista in a match to become # 1 contender to Undertaker's World title but Batista interfered in the title match. Rey would go on to win a Beat the Clock challenge and would edge out Batista in a steel cage match to earn a shot against Undertaker at Royal Rumble 2010. Undertaker however defeated Rey at the Rumble. Mysterio next qualified for the 2010 Elimination Chamber match and soon found himself embroiled in a bitter feud with C.M. Punk and Punk's Straight Edge Society. Mysterio would go on to defeat Punk at Wrestlemania XXVI. Punk won a rematch with his hair on the line at Extreme Rules but lost his hair in a rematch against Rey at Over the Limit effectively ending the feud with Rey on top.

Rey next fought Undertaker to earn a spot in a Fatal 4 Way World title match for Jack Swagger's World title. Undertaker won the match but also was injured during the bout leading to a Battle Royal to fill the spot, which was eventually won by Rey. At Fatal 4 Way, Rey went on to win his second World Heavyweight title in a match also involving Swagger, C.M. Punk and The Big Show. Swagger however continually attacked Rey and put him in the Ankle Lock in an attempt to weaken him in hopes of regaining the World title. At Money in the Bank 2010, Rey successfully defended the title against Swagger but soon thereafter found himself the target of Money in the Bank winner Kane who quickly defeated the weakened Mysterio successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. Mysterio earned a title rematch against Kane, who blamed Mysterio for putting his "brother" Undertaker in a vegetative state, at Summerslam but Kane defeated him. However after the match, it was revealed that Kane was the true culprit clearing Mysterio's name. Shortly thereafter, Rey was upset by the debuting Alberto Del Rio who storyline injured Rey's arm following a No DQ match with Kane the next week. A lengthy feud between Rey and Del Rio was born with whom Mysterio continues to feud.

"Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Kerry was a much beloved superstar in his home state of Texas, arguably the most successful and well-known member of the famous Von Erich clan. Kerry, the son of Fritz Von Erich, along with his brothers David and Kevin (and later Mike and Chris) were real life heroes to those who watched them in the Lone Star state. Kerry had a great look, a chiseled muscular body, was a true athlete with success in track & field and discus throwing, a winning smile and he could go with the best of them in the ring too. Unfortunately Kerry also had many demons which bogged him down and arguably kept him from achieving those heights he otherwise most likely would have achieved. Known as "The Modern Day Warrior" in Texas, fans cheered the youthful Kerry on hoping he'd achieve victory over the travelling NWA World Heavyweight champion of the time and indeed Kerry did make for an imposing challenge be it for Harley Race or later "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Kerry seemed on the cusp of becoming a great NWA World Heavyweight champion if one of his brothers didn't beat him to it.

Kerry started in his father's NWA Texas Big Time Wrestling in 1979 and went on to hold the Texas tag team and Americas Tag Team titles. When it became World Class Championship Wrestling in the early 1980s, he had considerable success both as a singles star there and in tag teams with his brothers and Bruiser Brody. He won his first NWA American Heavyweight title defeating Gino Hernandez for the then vacant championship. He'd drop the title to Ken Patera but would thereafter regain it from the Masked Superstar. He also teamed with Terry Orndorff to win the Americas Tag Team titles. Eventually he'd form a tag team with his brother Kevin. In June 1982, he defeated former NWA World Heavyweight champion Harley Race which elevated him to a main event star. Not long after, he began pursuing and feuding with NWA World Heavyweight champion Ric Flair. Flair would retain his championship in a two out of three falls match but on December 25, 1982, Kerry would receive a no –DQ steel cage rematch for the NWA World title with Michael "P.S." Hayes acting as special guest referee.  The Freebirds would help Kerry defeat Flair and win the title but Kerry refused to take the win that way leading to Terry Gordy slamming the door on Kerry's head and Flair retaining his title also igniting the historic and red hot feud between the Freebirds and the Von Erichs. In 1983, Kerry would also win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship. Kerry went on to team with Bruiser Brody to defeat the Fabulous Freebirds for the NWA Americas Tag Team titles while Kerry teamed with brothers David & Kevin to win the NWA Texas Six-Man Tag Team titles from the Freebirds as well. The Von Erichs would lose the Six-Man titles back to the Freebirds a little over a month later. On November 24, 1983, Kerry defeated Michael Hayes in a Loser Leaves Texas steel cage match. On December 2, 1983, the Von Erichs regained the Texas Six-Man titles from the Freebirds.

Unfortunately the Von Erichs would suffer a tragic loss in early 1984 when David Von Erich, who seemed on the cusp of a potentially great wrestling career, was found dead in Japan.  Kerry's career high came shortly thereafter when he defeated "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair to win his first and only NWA World Heavyweight Championship at the May 6, 1984 David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions show, a show held in tribute to his late brother. Kerry would lose the title just 18 days later in Japan back to Flair in controversial fashion as Kerry was pinned with his feet under the ropes.  (In reality, Kerry was told to drop the belt back to Flair due to his substance abuse problems.) On July 4, 1984, the Von Erichs lost the Texas Six-Man titles back to the Fabulous Freebirds. However the titles would be held up due to outside interference from Killer Khan.  On September 3, 1984, the defeated the Freebirds to regain the Six-Man titles for the fourth time in a Handicapped Steel Cage Loser Leaves Town Match. As the feud with the Freebirds finally concluded, the Von Erichs moved into a feud with a newly heel Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez and Jake Roberts who eventually defeated them for the Six-Man titles. On October 25, 1984, he defeated Gino Hernandez for his fifth American Championship.  On December 25, 1984, Kerry finally got a rematch against Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight title but Flair intentionally got himself disqualified to retain the title. On  December 31, 1984, the Von Erichs defeated Roberts, Adams and Hernandez to regain the Six-Man titles.

One June 4, 1986, Kerry was in a serious motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life and left him with a dislocated hip and a badly injured right leg. Doctors eventually had to amputate his right foot. Kerry wore a prosthetic foot and it was generally well hidden from wrestling fans that Kerry now actually only had one foot. However during one match against Colonel DeBeers, DeBeers did accidentally pull the prosthetic foot in Kerry's boot off. During the dying days of WCCW with Kerry as WCCW World Champion, Kerry would become embroiled in a bitter feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler, then AWA World Heavyweight Champion over who should be the Undisputed World Champion. This would led to their infamous clash at SuperClash III during which Kerry badly cut his arm even before the match and also suffered a cut to the head during the bout. Kerry bled so excessively that despite him having Lawler trapped in his trademark submission clawhold, the referee stopped the match and rewarded it and Kerry's WCCW championship to Lawler. Rumor has it though that Kerry was in no condition to even really work the match which makes it remarkable it came off as well as it did.

Kerry continued to work for the new USWA promotion in Texas which had acquired the World Class banner, forming a tag team with Jeff Jarrett and winning the Texas Heavyweight title twice. In 1990, Kerry began a violent feud with Matt Borne, who had turned heel and later also with manager Percy Pringle and his stable but during the angle, Kerry suddenly left the USWA and signed with the WWF where he became known as "The Texas Tornado" although he was still occasionally referred to as Kerry Von Erich. At Summerslam 1990, Kerry substituted for the then injured Brutus Beefcake  to defeat "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Kerry held the I-C title for three months defending it against Haku amongst others before losing it back to "Mr. Perfect"  due to outside interference from "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. At the Survivor Series, prior to losing the title, Kerry teamed with the Ultimate Warrior and the Legion of Doom. Kerry would be eliminated by Hennig but his team won the match. At the 1991 Royal Rumble, he would be eliminated by the Undertaker. He made his Wrestlemania debut at Wrestlemania VII defeating Dino Bravo with a discus punch. At Summerslam 1991, he teamed with Davey Boy Smith and Ricky Steamboat to defeat The Warlord and Power & Glory. At the 1991 Survivor Series, he teamed with Sgt. Slaughter, Hacksaw Duggan and Tito Santana against Colonel Mustafa, The Berzerker, Skinner  and Hercules. He didn't eliminate anyone but his entire team survived. He made his last WWF PPV appearance at the 1992 Royal Rumble where he was eliminated by eventual winner and new WWF World Champion Ric Flair. He then was relegated to a jobber status until he finally left in the summer of 1992. In 1992, he returned to Texas to compete in the Global Wrestling Federation and team with Chris Adams. Kerry would be inducted along with his brothers and father into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.

"Kerry had a history of drug problems, and drugs may have been a factor in the motorcycle crash in 1986 that cost him his right foot. Kerry committed suicide (as had done his brothers Mike and Chris before him) by shooting himself with a magnum revolver in the chest, at his father's ranch in Denton, Texas, on February 18, 1993. Kerry drove a Jeep over a steep embankment at the time he shot himself. It was only one day after being indicted on a drug charge." - Wikipedia

The Outsiders, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall, join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Hall & Nash certainly made their mark and left a lasting impression as core members of the now legendary nWo faction in WCW alongside a newly heel Hollywood Hulk Hogan. While in the nWo, Hall & Nash became known as "The Outsiders" referencing the idea that they could possibly be WWF, where they were previously known as Diesel and Razor Ramon, invaders in WCW. The two powerhouses, Nash a former WWF Triple Crown winner and Hall a multi-time Intercontinental champion, made for quite an effective tag team running roughshod over the competition in WCW.  Actually the two had previously teamed before in WCW back in the early 1990s but in less memorable circumstances back when Hall was the Diamond Studd and Nash was known as Vinnie Vegas, the pair then managed by Diamond Dallas Page.  Hall would go on to achieve WWF fame as Razor Ramon and Nash of course became Diesel. While in the WWF, they became friends backstage and part of the infamous behind the scenes Kliq group which once held considerable political sway behind the scenes (and maybe even still does).

When they both left the WWF in 1996 to return to WCW, the whole Outsiders invade nWo idea was born with WCW eventually forced to drop the idea the Outsiders still worked for the WWF when the WWF threatened a lawsuit. Shockingly they were soon joined by a newly heel Hulk Hogan, something that once seemed unthinkable. Hogan reinvented himself as Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Hall & Nash became his main allies and backup, the true core of the group. The Outsiders would go on to win the WCW World Tag Team titles six times first defeating Harlem Heat at Halloween Havoc 1996.  They'd lose the titles to the Steiner Brothers at Souled Out 1997 only for now nWo member and WCW President Eric Bischoff to reverse the decision the next night. A mirror repeat of these events occurred after a match between the Outsiders vs. Lex Luger & The Giant at SuperBrawl VII with Giant & Luger seemingly winning the titles and Bischoff returning them the next night. In October 1997, fellow nWo member Syxx Pac substituted for an injured Nash defending the titles several times alongside Hall. Hall & Syxx would eventually lose the titles to the Steiner Brothers on October 13, 1997. The Outsiders and the Steiners continued to trade the belts back and forth until Scott Steiner eventually turned heel, turned on his brother Rick and also joined the nWo by doing so in turn helping Hall & Nash regain the tag belts. In May 1998, the Outsiders split up briefly as the nWo split into two factions with Hall choosing to stay with nWo Hollywood and Nash joining the nWo Wolfpac, a name originally used to refer to the trio of Hall, Nash & Syxx.  Hall's personal demons and drinking problems began to surface even on national TV leading to Nash playing a game of tough love with his old partner. In early 1999, they reunited and stayed a team even after a new version of the nWo fell apart. After an aimless couple of months, they won the WCW World Tag Team titles for the last time in December 1999 until Hall's personal demons cost them again leading to the team being stripped of the titles after Hall no-showed an event.

In 2002, the original nWo of Hogan, Hall & Nash reformed in the WWE as Hogan was set to battle The Rock and Hall was set to face Steve Austin. However the reunion would be short-lived as Hogan turned babyface yet again shortly after his hit Wrestlemania X8 match with the Rock, Nash was injured and Hall would be released now long after his arrival. They next turned up in TNA in late 2004 and early 2005 where they teamed as the Kings of Wrestling with former nWo 2000 teammate Jeff Jarrett. Hall & Nash would aid Jarrett in retaining his NWA World Heavyweight title in a match against Jeff Hardy at Victory Road 2004. The Kings of Wrestling declared themselves better than everyone else in TNA leading to a war with A.J. Styles, who dared to stand up to them, Hardy and a newly arrived Randy Savage. Savage, Jeff Hardy & Styles would team up to defeat the Kings of Wrestling at Turning Point. Savage seemed poised for a shot at Jarrett's title but left TNA shortly thereafter. This led to a three way match to determine a number one contender between Monty Brown, Diamond Dallas Page and Jarrett's KoW ally Kevin Nash. As Nash started to pursue the title, it led to friction in the group with Nash finally earning his title shot at Against All Odds where he failed to win the title. The KoW parted ways shortly thereafter.  Hall & Nash were scheduled to return in 2007 but Hall would no-show the event for what he sighted as health problems. On the January 4th live three hour Monday broadcast of TNA Impact!, Hall & Sean Waltman (formerly Syxx) made their return to TNA and quickly reformed their team with Nash now referring to themselves as the Band. Nash & Waltman, replacing a then injured Hall, went on to have a tag match against Beer Money Inc. who defeated them. Not long after Hall & Waltman seemingly turned on Nash who then recruited Eric Young. However at Destination X 2010, Nash turned on his partner Young to help Waltman & Hall win TNA contracts. At Lockdown 2010, Hall & Nash finally returned to teaming losing a steel cage match to Team 3D. Following an attack by Samoa Joe on Matt Morgan, who was holding the TNA Tag Team titles by himself, Nash cashed in his Feast or Fired contract and teamed with Hall to defeat Morgan to win the TNA World Tag Team titles. The Band added Eric Young as their third member and the three shortly defended the title until they were stripped of the belts due to Hall's legal problems.

Hall & Nash also main evented Dream Stage Entertainment's May 8, 2004 Hustle 3 PPV losing to the team of Shinya Hashimoto and Naoya Ogawa. On August 10, 2008, Hall & Nash teamed as the Outsiders to defeat the Thomaselli Brothers as Bloodymania II in Juggalo Championship Wrestling.  Nash also positioned himself as a member of the Juggalo World Order, of which Hall was already a member. On March 21, 2009, the Outsiders were billed against the former New Age Outlaws in a battle of nWo vs. D-X but Nash walked out on Hall during the match.

Jack & Jerry Brisco joins the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Arguably one of the most technically sound tag teams in wrestling history, few men knew their wrestling like the Briscos. Jack was a former two-time NWA World Heavyweight champion while Jerry was a former NWA Jr. Heavyweight World Champion.  Jack & Jerry began teaming in the early 1970s after Jack had trained his younger brother for the squared circle. They first teamed together in Florida winning the NWA Florida Tag Team championship on February 16, 1971. They'd drop the belts to Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk the next month but would regain them a month later. In late 1972, Jack Brisco would once more return to Florida to team with his brother and captured another Florida Tag Team title. In July 1973, Jack would capture his first NWA World Heavyweight title from Harley Race, would lose it to Giant Baba in December 1974 and thereafter regain it for a second time just four days later. He'd  finally lose his second NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Terry Funk in December 1975 continuing the intense and long feud/rivalry with the Funks. Upon Jack Brisco's return to Florida, he and his brother would once again capture Florida tag team gold this time from Bob Roop and Bob Orton Jr.. They'd eventually lose the titles to Superstar Billy Graham and Ox Baker but would regain them in a rematch. In January 1978, they won the Florida belts yet again this time beating Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito. While holding these titles, they also won the Florida United States tag team titles from Mike Graham and Steve Keirn. They'd then lose and regain the belts from Keirn & Graham. They then did the same against Killer Karl Kox and Bobby Duncum and later Mr. Saito and Mr. Sato and would also defeat Saito & Sato to win yet another Florida Tag Team championship. The Briscos would win the NWA Florida United States Tag Team titles five times in total.

In the late 1970s, in Georgia Championship Wrestling, the Briscos defeated the Funks to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team titles and won them a second time in November 1979 from Austin Idol and The Masked Superstar. In 1980, the Briscos would eventually reform their tag team to win yet another NWA Florida Tag Team title (which they won 8 times altogether). Together they also won the NWA North American Tag Team titles twice winning the initial title tournament in Florida and then losing and regaining the titles from the Funks.

In 1981, the Briscos also teamed together in Puerto Rico's WWC to win the WWC North American Tag Team titles from Los Pastores (The Sheepherders/Bushwhackers) holding them for a month before losing them to the Fabulous Kangaroos. The Briscos also teamed together to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team titles on three occasions. As clever and crafty heels, the Briscos defeated Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood for the belts on June 18, 1983. This set up a rivalry and saw the teams trade the titles back and forth with Steamboat & Youngblood regaining the titles on October 9, 1983 only to lose them back to the Briscos on October 21, 1983. They'd hold the titles for a little over a month before losing them back to Steamboat & Youngblood. The Briscos though would win the World Tag Team titles for a third time defeating Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood. Jack & Jerry Brisco were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.

The Hollys, Hardcore Holly, Crash Holly & Molly Holly, join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. The Hollys were essentially a comedy gimmick tag team in the late 1990s, early 2000s. They had surprising success in the WWF, at least on a mid-card level. In 1999 with Hardcore Holly relentlessly pursuing the WWF Hardcore title which he'd win six times, he'd eventually pair up with on-screen "cousin" Crash Holly (Mike Lockwood) and win the WWF World Tag Team Championship on one occasion defeating The Rock and Sock Connection of the Rock & Mankind eventually losing the titles back to Mankind and new partner Al Snow. Crash would have even greater success in the hardcore division than his bigger "cousin" Hardcore winning it a total 22 times and introducing the 24/7 rule defense for the championship. In 2000, another on-screen "cousin" named Molly Holly (Nora Greenwald) was introduced. Each Holly was billed as thinking themselves giants (each claimed at one time to be well over 400 pounds and they came to the ring with weight scales and claimed to be "super heavyweights" when it was obvious to everyone they were not) with big egos who believed they couldn't be knocked over or defeated despite the relative smaller size of each.  Each Holly though never backed down and met each competitor head on.

J.R. Foley joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Foley is best remembered as the manager for the then heel Dynamite Kid in Stampede Wrestling in the 1970s as he then feuded with the Hart family, mainly Bret Hart. Foley also managed the likes of Duke Myers, Kerry Brown, Honky Tonk Man Wayne Ferris, The Viet Cong Express and the Cobra.  He was one of Stampede's top heel managers of that 70s/80s era. Originally John Foley from Liverpool, England, he led his men in Foley's Army to feud with all the different Hart brothers of the era and their allies including a young Davey Boy Smith with whom Dynamite also feuded while managed by Foley. He wore khaki pants and a jacket to the ring and wore a German style WW2 helmet and also sported a small moustache similar to another German from WW2. He looked down upon fans and sported arrogance as wide as he was long. He soon eyed all the titles in Stampede and led The Great Gama Singh to the Mid-Heavyweight title on several occasions. He soon paired Duke Myers and Kerry Brown in pursuit of the Tag Team titles which they eventually captured from Bret & Keith Hart. He also led Archie "The Stomper" Gouldie to heavyweight gold. With outside interference, run-ins, sneak attacks and brass knuckles, he led his charges to many titles. In the 1980s, he'd change his name to J.R. Foley and change his look starting to wear a cowboy hat and playing the part of wealthy financier who paid lots of bills to acquire talents such as David Shultz, Rotten Ron Starr, The Cobra and Honky Tonk Wayne. As age crept upon Foley, he had henchman K.Y. Wakimatsu  do the run-ins and interference with his lethal kendo stick. This eventually led to a memorable storyline where the Harts ally Leo Burke turned on the Harts just so he could get some of Foley's money. In the 80s, he passed on his cheating ways to Bad News Allen, Les Thornton and the Viet Cong Express during their feuds with Ben Bassarab, Chris Benoit, Owen Hart & Johnny Smith.

"The Genius", AKA: Lanny Poffo, joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. After a lengthy run in the WWF as an enhancement talent Leaping Lanny Poffo despite previous success teaming with brother Randy Savage in Memphis and the ICW and in several NWA territories, Poffo would reinvent himself as The Genius, wearing a cap and gown to the ring and using a clipboard to clobber his charges opponents over the head, turning heel in the process. He still recited an original poem before his match as he had done as Leaping Lanny only now they tended to be much more on the heelish side than before. He would achieve his arguable career high in the WWF when he scored an upset victory over Hulk Hogan in a non-title match in which he was aided by charge "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig. The Genius however failed to lead Hennig to a WWF World title win and would eventually be fired by Hennig who would replace him with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan who led Hennig to his greatest heights of WWF success.  The Genius would later manage and team with charges the Beverly Brothers, Beau & Blake Beverly (formerly known as the Destruction Crew Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom in the AWA) but they'd have little if any real success.

Cyrus, AKA: Don Callis, joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Cyrus was arguably the best color commentator in ECW history broadcasting exclusively on ECW PPVs as Cyrus the Virus alongside Joey Styles.  Cyrus had previously wrestled as the Natural in Canada's West Four Wrestling Alliance where he became a five-time heavyweight champion. He had also previously teamed with Rick Martel as the Supermodels and with the Psycho as the Mercenaries of Mayhem.  While in the WFWA, The Natural would eventually engage in a long feud with former partner Rick Martel.  In 1996, he'd be hired by the WWF as a manager and debuted as The Jackyl leading the forgettable Truth Commission stable. He'd go on to have forgettable runs as a manger for the Human Oddities and later the Acolytes. Towards the end in ECW, he became a represent of the Network during ECW's woes with TNN working against ECW's more extreme nature and on screen lewdness. He'd join forces with an anti-hardcore Steve Corino who formed a stable with manager Jack Victory and hired guns Yoshihiro Tajiri and Rhino, collectively known as the Network and would eventually help Rhino capture the ECW World Heavyweight championship at their final PPV Guilty as Charged 2001.

Bruno Sammartino joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Following his legendary in-ring career, Bruno took on a role as color commentator on WWF Superstars of Wrestling alongside Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Vince McMahon. Bruno was still beloved by his many fans  the early 80s, many of whom still remembered his time on top as wrestling's top drawing card in the 60s & 70s and if not, his brutal feud with Larry Zbyszko in the early 1980s and no doubt the powers that be in the WWF hoped to take advantage. Bruno actually returned more in hopes of helping his son David Sammartino in his aspiring career but David, while a skilled grappler, lacked his father's natural charisma and the oomph and fire Bruno brought with him to the ring. Bruno's thick Italian accent and his frequent searching for words meant he was less than ideal as a color commentator yet many fans still clamored to see him and indeed Bruno would return to the ring, first to team with his son David against Brutus Beefcake and his manager Johnny V and later against Paul Orndorff and Bobby Heenan. Eventually David realized he was being used to get Bruno and the sell out crowds he brought with him in the Northeast back to the ring. David would quit but Bruno would keep on wrestling hoping to keep David in Vince McMahon's good graces leading to memorable feuds with Randy "Macho Man" Savage and later "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He'd also appear in the Wrestlemania 2 battle royal, would challenge the Honky Tonk Man unsuccessfully for the Intercontinental title despite winning most of the matches by DQ or countout and finally briefly feuding with Hercules Hernandez. Bruno's final WWF match saw him team with Hulk Hogan to defeat King Kong Bundy and the One Man Gang. He continued his color commentary job until March 1988. In the late 80s, early 1990s, Bruno did color commentary, just as poorly as he had done in the WWF, in Herb Abrams UWF in its failed attempt to go national and compete with the WWF and NWA. Bruno has been vocal in his criticism since leaving wrestling about the turn it has taken more towards lurid storylines, over the top, can you top this theatrics and the continued steroid and drug abuse going on behind the scenes.

[HappyGilmore]

I liked The Holly's quite a bit for what they were.

Cyrus was underrated.

[JaseSF]

Rico (Constantino) joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Constantino had a very interesting background prior to entering wrestling working as a paramedic, then a cop on the SWAT team, then a bodyguard. He was also a contestant on American Gladiators becoming champion for the first half of the 1990-1991 season and came within seconds of winning the Grand championship. He also appeared on th European game show Capture Ft. Boyard and was the only contestant to capture a necessary key on a bungee jump challenge He'd also end up a member of The Power Team and travelled the world impressing with feats of strength, becoming ordained as a minister and working with children's charities and the Special Olympics. In 1999, Constantino decided to pursue a new interest, a career in pro wrestling.

He started training in the Empire Wrestling Federation until he was noticed by WWE and sent to their developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling where he managed The Prototype (who would later become John Cena) and together they teamed to win the OVW Tag Team titles. He'd debut in WWE in 2002 as the hair stylist for the quasi-gay tag team Billy and Chuck whom he'd eventually come to team with and manage also embracing an effiminate persona. At one point, he'd be forced to team with Rikishi to defeat his team Billy and Chuck for the World Tag Team titles but shortly thereafter would turn on Rikishi and help Billy and Chuck regain their titles. In September 2002, he'd move to Raw and became manager of 3 Minute Warning (Rosey and Jamal) until he turned on them following a loss to the Dudley Boyz. He'd return to Smackdown! as a fan favourite playing up his over the top effeminate character. There he'd form an unlikely tag team with Charlie Haas, who together managed by Miss Jackie, would win the WWE Tag Team titles. Rico would turn things up a notch more becoming a character not too unlike Exotic Adrian Street, from whom he actually sought advice. He'd be unexpectedly released by WWE in November 2004. He'd go to All-Japan and team up with former WWE star Bull Buchanan beat  Mitsuya Nagai and Masayuki Naruse for the All-Japan Asian Tag Team titles. In May 2005, Rico decided to return to a career in law enforcement and retired from wrestling vacating the Asian tag titles.

[JaseSF]

Stevie Richards joins the Singles Hall of Shame. After being trained at Iron Mike Sharpe's wrestling school, Richards moved on to compete in Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992, a federation that would later reinvent itself as Extreme Championship Wrestling. He impressed wrestling to a 20-minute draw with Jimmy Jannetty before moving into a program with newcomer Raven after mocking Raven's old Scotty Flamingo identity. This led to Raven thrashing Stevie Flamingo and eventually transforming Stevie into his main flunky. Together Raven & Richards would win two ECW World Tag Team Championships. Richards would also prove memorable as a member of the Blue World Order where he and the group mocked and imitated many popular 90s grapplers and even some legends from the past. Stevie, mocking Kevin Nash, would take on the name Big Stevie Cool at one point. Richards' career highlight in ECW was participating in a #1 contenders match at Barely Legal, ECW's first PPV, where he lost in a war with Terry Funk and the Sandman. He'd later suffer a serious neck injury in a Fatal4Way match against Raven, Funk & Sandman that would hamper his career quite a bit and required numerous surgeries to fix.

He moved to WCW in 1997 where he basically followed Raven and ended up his flunky again, this time as a member of Raven's Flock. However this would be short-lived as Richards didn't pass his physical exams. Richards would sign with the WWF in 1999 where he briefly reformed a tag team with the Blue Meanie before taking on an impersonation role yet again before basically being used as enhancement talent. He would however get a career boost with the Right To Censor gimmick reinventing himself as Steven Richards, a seeming conservative who was critical of WWF's then more risque programming, a parody of sorts of the problems the WWF had at the time with the Parents Television Council. Eventually Richards would form a full fledged stable that got a surprisingly high level of heat from the crowd. The group also included Ivory, The Goodfather, Val Venis and Bull Buchanan, with RTC having reformed Venis and the former Godfather. The group would most notably feud with Chyna. RTC would come to an end following an asault from the Undertaker. Richards would next target Taker with his new team Kronik, of whom he'd become manager and also a member of the ECW/WCW Alliance faction in WWE. Not long after arriving in WWE though, Kronik were quickly released. Richards remained a member of the Alliance and competed on WWE's B shows. After the Alliance lost the war against WWE, Richards as well as the rest of the Allance would be "fired".

He'd next turn up on Raw as a psychotic jobber who went on to win the WWE Hardcore Championship 22 times trading it with such opponents as Crash Holly, Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, Justin Credible, Bradshaw, Tommy Dreamer, Shawn Stasiak and even Terri Runnels. Richards later formed an alliance with Victoria and even helped her win the WWE Women's Title. They'd split when Victoria went face although Stevie would later briefly help her as the "mystery woman". Richards would go on to compete mainly on WWE Heat and even called himself its general manager at one point. Eventually he'd be used again as an enhancement talent. At least until the reunion of the BWO at ECW One Night Stand in 2005 but ultimately the group was short-lived and jobbed out and Richards returned to jobbing, this time on WWE Velocity. Richards would compete in the relaunched WWE version of ECW in 2006 but was still mostly used as an enhancement guy although he briefly turned heel to join the New Breed and later rejoined the ECW Originals in their feud with the New Breed later on replacing a departed Sandman. Richards did in ECW get in a brief run against Kevin Thorn where he pulled off a number of upset wins but utlimately failed to get into the ECW Title hunt when he lost the Elimination Chase event prior to his having throat surgery. Richards returned and had some brief success, most notably beating Mike Knox, before returning to his prior jobber status which he bascically maintained until he was released in 2008.

Before competing on the independent circuit, Richards had to battle and overcome the effects of a collapsed lung. Richards would return in January 2009 and would compete for NWA No Limits as well as Maryland Championship Wrestling. In February 2009, Stevie made his TNA debut as Dr. Stevie, Abyss's would be "therapist". Soon Stevie would become abusive to Abyss and would take on the heel role in the feud eventually teaming up with Daffney and a returning Raven against the big man. Later Stevie would briefly feud with Kevin Nash who'd powerbomb him. Later Mick Foley would get involved in the feud between Stevie and Abyss eventually taking Abyss's side and teaming with him against Raven and Stevie. Most recently Richards was a part of the TNA Hardcore Justice PPV where he defeated P.J. Polaco (the former Justin Credible) and thereafter became a member of EV 2.0 who went on to feud with Fourtune and Abyss. While in the group, Richards would challenge A.J. Styles for the TNA Television title but would fail to win it from Styles. Richards quit TNA in January 2011.

Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. This team would compete all over the world including All-Japan, UWA (Mexico), WWF/WWE and ECW but failed to have as much success anywhere else as they had in Japan where they were 5 time All Asian Tag Team Champions. They did however win one ECW World Tag Team Championship and  2 UWA Tag Team Championships. Lafon was originally billed as Dan Kroffat in Japan. Together both men were each smaller competitors with bot being 5' 11" with Kroffat bringing the speed and Furnas bringing the power. They initially feuded with Footloose (Samson Fuyuki and Toshiaki Kawada) over the All-Asian tag belts and fought with such teams as Kenta Kobashi & Tiger Mask II, Dynamite Kid & Johnny Smith and Joel Deaton & Billy Black. After winning the titles for the fourth time, they held on to them for 304 days before losing them to Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. In 1992, they'd more to Mexico's UWA as the Can-Am Express where they'd defeat Los Cowboys (Silver King & El Texano) for the UWA Tag Team titles igniting an historic feud between the two teams. Eventually they'd lose the titles to Villano IV and Villano V. They'd go on to have a long feud with the Villanos and would regain and lose the titles back to them. They would return to AJPW in 1993 and Kroffat would win the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship from Masanobu Fuchi. Eventually Kroffat would lose the title back to Fuchi but together with Furnas would capture a record breaking fifth All-Asian Tag Team Championship beating the Eagle and the Patriot. Kroffat would win back the World Junior heavyweight title becoming a double champ. Eventually Kroffat & Furnas would vacate the All Asian Tag belts to focus on the AJPW Unified World Tag Team titles but still set a record remaining champs for 451 days.

They'd debut in ECW in 1996 and had a great series of "respect" matches against Sabu & Rob Van Dam. In late 1996, they moved to the WWF and Kroffat renamed himself Phil Lafon. They debuted at Survivor Series 1996 and scored the win pinning then tag champs Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith. However they'd fail to defeat the champs for the tag titles in title matches and eventually a car accident briefly put them out of action. When they returned, they actually turned heel aiding the Hart Foundation and joining the Team Canada team at Survivior Series alongside British Bulldog and Jim Neidhart. The team defeated Team USA of Goldust, Vader, Marc Mero and Steve Blackman. Following this, Furnas & Lafon made a few appearances on WWF Shotgun Saturday Night before being sent to ECW, even having one match with the then little known Hardys. Upon their return to ECW, they'd join the Team WWF stable alongside Rob Van Dam and Sabu. They'd defeat the F.B.I. for the ECW World Tag Team titles on December 5th, 1997. Just 1 day later, they lost the titles to Chris Candido and Lance Storm in a three way bout also involving Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten. The team would break up shortly after the loss in early 1998. Furnas & Lafon were great in ring technicians and fine workers but lacked the necessary charisma to succeed outside of Japan where the audience had more appreciation for the talents Furnas & Lafon possessed in-ring.

Mark Madden joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Madden is one of those know it all types who previously worked for pro wrestling torch before joining WCW as a magazine writer and eventually an on-air color commentator. Madden was annoying for the way he got in little digs at wrestlers he for whatever reason seemed to dislike and also made disparaging comments about WCW, lobbied for the return of a fired Scott Hall (despite his unprofessional substance abuse history) and even disclosed information about the sale of WCW which led to him eventually getting fired. Madden is now a radio sports talk show host.

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. This one goes without saying. Heenan was simply one of the most entertaining men in the entire history of pro wrestling especially when he was put behind a microphone and given an opportinity to talk, especially if he had a little more freedom to improvise. Heenan was without any doubt one of the funniest color commentators in wrestling history and nearly always had something entertaining, funny or at least interesting and different to say. One thing's for sure, he was never boring. When working with Gorilla Monsoon, you got wrestling comedy gold at its very finest and he even managed to elevate WCW Monday Nitro despite having to work alongside inferior announcing talent. Heenan had a knack for getting fans interested and excited about whatever was going on.

[HappyGilmore]

Stevie Richards is a pretty underrated performer who never got a 'real' push for any number of reasons.

[JaseSF]

Shaniqua (also known as Linda Miles) joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Miles was a finalist from Season II of WWE's Tough Enough program where she trained under Ivory, Hardcore Holly, Al Snow, Chavo Guerrero Jr and Jacqueline. She and Jackie Gayda were the eventual co-winners from the program. Prior to training as a wrestler, Miles was a college basketball player who nearly made the WNBA. After completing her training under Ivory, Miles faced off against her in a match on WWE Velocity with Gayda in her corner. Gayda however quickly tuned villain and cost Miles the match by pushing her off the top turnbuckle. This led to then WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus coming to Miles aid and the pair defeating Gayda & Ivory on Smackdown!. The two would be placed on the Raw brand but during a match between Miles & Stratus vs. Gayda & Molly Holly, Gayda botched her moves so badly that her and Miles were sent down to OVW for further training and development. Miles would briefly begin a relationship with Shelton Benjamin and briefly managed him but this was forgotten once Benjamin joined Team Angle. Miles would return to WWE TV in 2003 as the dominatrix manager of the Basham Brothers now using the name Shaniqua. Despite her freqeunt interference in matches, the Bashams still struggled against jobbers. Being more muscular and powerful than most other divas, Shaniqua tried to exert dominance over them and feuded with the likes of Nidia, Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie in forgettable fashion. Eventually she'd lead the Bashams into a match with WWE Tag Team Champions Rikishi and Scotty2Hotty where she teamed with them in an handicap match that saw here suffer a Banzai drop and get pinned. Shortly thereafter she was released from WWE and her brief wrestling career lasting from 2002-2004 came to an early end. Now she works as a substitute teacher.

[JaseSF]

Larry Nelson joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Nelson was the familiar bearded backstage interviewer/host/behind the scenes announcer who frequently appeared on AWA programming in the late 80s trying to explain to fans recent developments in the AWA or interviewing wrestlers with regards to their actions backstage, often condemning heels or praising babyfaces. He almost felt like the host of the show in many regards especially in the late 80s although he started out more in the backstage/interview/explain recent goings-on role. Eventually he'd also announce and would feature prominently on Canadian AWA shows, which is part of why I remember him a bit in nostalgic fashion from my younger days. Nelson wasn't all that great really but was competent and solid in his role and definitely had a certain seriousness and enthusiam for the wrestling product.