Fame or Shame: Pro Wrestling Discussion Thread

[JaseSF]

The Magnificent Muraco (AKA: Don "The Rock" Muraco) joins the Singles Hall of Fame. A former state champion in amateur wrestling in Hawaii, a young Don Muraco chose a career in pro wrestling over a possible football career and got his start and early training in Vancouver, Portland, Florida and Los Angeles before getting a big break as a babyface in Verne Gagne's AWA in the early 1970s. While there, Muraco impressed with his mat ability, good looks and athleticism forming a tag team with Jimmy Snuka and battling with the likes of Larry Hennig, Ivan Koloff and a young Dusty Rhodes. In 1973, Muraco having grown tired of life in the cold Minnesota climate moved to San Francisco and a year later to Florida where he was often compared to NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco and Muraco would go on to impress in a match against Brisco reversing his figure four lock, something that then surprised the world and helped make Muraco a star despite his still losing said bout via disqualification.

Muraco would briefly compete in Texas and Georgia before moving to California and winning his first gold - the NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship as well as the San Francisco version of the NWA World Tag Team titles alongside Invader # 1. It was during this mid 70s stint in Roy Shire's San Francisco territory Muraco first learned how to work as an heel. It was help springboard him to new heights of success. He'd go on to make a name and rack up more Championships competing in Florida, San Francisco and his native Hawaii. He'd capture the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, the NWA Florida Television Championship, NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida) alongside Jos Leduc, the NWA Macon Tag Team Championship (Georgia) alongside Robert Fuller, the NWA Pacific International Championship, NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (New Zealand).

In 1979, Muraco would compete under a mask under the name "The Magnificent M" which didn't surprise many when it was revealed to be Muraco although many were surprised to see him with a bald head at the time. His most memorable pre-WWF feud occurred in Florida with Muraco attacking a young Barry Windham and unforgettably piledriving Windham on the concrete floor. Windham would eventually get his revenge and gained legitimacy and stardom in the process during his feud with Muraco.

Muraco debuted as The Magnificent Muraco in the WWF in 1981 where he'd attain his greatest success. Managed by the Grand Wizard, Muraco captured the WWF Intercontinental Championship on June 20, 1981 from Pedro Morales and started an intense bloody rivalry/feud with Morales that peaked with Morales regaining the belt from Muraco five months later in a Texas Death match. In 1981, Muraco also battled WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund in impressive fashion taking the champion to several 60 minute draws. In 1982, Muraco moved to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling where he briefly teamed with Roddy Piper before returning to the WWF in the Fall. Now under the management of Captain Lou Albano, Muraco captured his second WWF Intercontinental Championship from Pedro Morales on January 22, 1983 and soon an intense and bitter feud ignited between Muraco and Albano's former protege Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka that saw Snuka turn face to feud with Muraco and Albano. The feud culminated on October 17, 1983 in a famous steel cage match at Madison Square Garden that saw Muraco actually win in clever fashion as he was headbutted towards the door. Snuka however attained his revenge dragging Muraco back in the ring and unforgettably delivering his Superfly splash from the top of the 15 foot high steel cage.

Muraco was a fantastic heel, one of the best of all time. He exuded arrogance and demanded respect while he himself showed little class or respect for anyone else. Once he ate a submarine sandwich in the ring to show how easily he could defeat his opponent. He also often dedicated his piledriver finisher to whoever he was feuding with at the time and he did have memorable and bloody early 1980s feuds with Backlund, Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson. The fans took to calling him "Beach Bum!". On February 11, 1984, Muraco lost his second I-C title to Tito Santana and failed to regain it from him. Muraco briefly faded from the spotlight but returned in 1985 alongside new manager Mr. Fuji, who fit surprisingly well with Muraco as manager, arguably better than any other. Muraco soon went on to challenge WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan in some great, bloody battles and gave Hogan all he could handle. On June 21, 1985, Hogan won a bloody steel cage match over Muraco to end the feud. Muraco rebounded on July 8 by winning the first ever King of the Ring tournament before going on to have a bloody and intense feud/rivalry with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Fuji & Muraco also debuted their immensely entertaining (and embarrassingly bad) parody of Miami Vice entitled "Fuji Vice" and later "Fuji General" parodying General Hospital.

In 1986, Muraco joined forces with "Adorable" Adrian Adonis and "Cowboy" Bob Orton during their feud with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He'd also earlier that year get some revenge on Hogan helping King Kong Bundy injure Hogan's ribs leading up to Wrestlemania 2. Eventually Piper would win the feud and Adonis would leave the WWF leading to Orton & Muraco becoming a tag team. Unfortunately despite their years of experience, they didn't find much success losing to the Can-Am Connection and others a lot less experienced. This led to an eventual falling out between the two with Muraco turning face to feud with Orton in July 1987. Later that November, Muraco would come to the aid of "Superstar" Billy Graham who would become Muraco's new manager with Muraco changing his look and image to one similar to Graham's wearing tie-dye shirts and becoming a more muscular defined grappler changing his name to Don "The Rock" Muraco. Muraco would replace Graham on Hulk Hogan's team at the 1987 Survivor Series although said team would lose to Andre the Giant's team. As "The Rock", Muraco made it to the quarterfinals of the WWF World Heavyweight Title tournament at Wrestlemania IV for the then vacant championship. Muraco did not enjoy his WWF face run and it proved a lot lackluster as he feuded with Greg Valentine in forgettable fashion and lost to Dino Bravo at Summerslam 1988. Muraco would be fired by the WWF in late 1988. He'd go on to compete in several promotions in the late 1980s, early 1990s including Stampede Wrestling (where he captured the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship from Makhan Singh and defended it against Harley Race and Davey Boy Smith), the AWA (where he tried to get into AWA World Heavyweight Title contention) and Herb Abrams' UWF where he feuded with a young Cactus Jack. In the early 1990s (1992-1993), Muraco was one of the early Eastern Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champions winning it twice and rekindling old wars with Tito Santana and Jimmy Snuka. After retiring, Muraco moved back to Hawaii. In 2004, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Eddie "The Brain" Creatchman joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Creatchman was a Canadian wrestler/referee who turned hated manager making his most memorable mark in Gino Brito's Montreal territory where he managed such hated villains as the Original Sheik, The Great Samu, Abdullah the Butcher. Don Leo Jonathan, Sailor White, Tarzan "The Boot" Tyler, George Cannon, Gilles Poisson and Steve Strong. As a manager, Creatchman was known for wearing sunglasses, smoking cigars, wearing a Star of David and pointing to his head referring to his superior intelligence and brains. Sometimes he was also called "The Boss". While managing the Sheik in 1970, he caused a riot at the Montreal Forum which impressed the Original Sheik so much, he brought Creatchman with him to manage him in Detroit. Aside from being a wrestling manager, Creatchman also ran a scrapyard for many years before he died in 1994. His son Floyd Creatchman would also become a wrestling manager.

Triple H joins the Singles Hall of Fame. Triple H is one of the WWE mainstay top stars from the late 1990s into today. He has dominated WWE for most of that period and was largely one of the WWE's main figurehead stars especially in the early 2000s. Born Paul Michael Levesque, Triple H started his wrestling career after being trained by Killer Kowlaski in the Independent Wrestling Federation and became IWF Heavyweight Champion. He'd move to WCW in 1994, billed as a muscular powerhouse then known as Terra Ryzing, the same name he used in the IWF and feuded with Brian Armstrong. Later he'd change his persona into one of a wealthy aristocrat patterned after Lord Steven (William) Regal of whom he was said to be a protege and took the name Jean Paul Levesque. The two would briefly team together and Jean Paul would have a forgettable feud with Alex Wright. He'd bring a similar style gimmick to the WWF with him when he moved there in 1995 this time as a Connecticut wealthy sophisticate blueblood named Hunter Hearst Helmsley, arguably becoming even more arrogant and frequently snubbed his nose at fans. He even did a number of vignettes where he discussed how to use the proper etiquette.

This character sure enough was soon feuding with more common man character types like Duke "The Dumpster" Droese and Henry O. Godwinn, feuds which really didn't seem to be helping his career much neither did an embarrassing loss to the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania XII. After losing, Helmsley decided to take his frustrations out on valet Sable which led to a feud with "Wildman" Marc Mero. Backstage Levesque became known as a member of the behind the scenes Kliq which welded political power in the WWF at that time. But when the Kliq broke kayfabe to say goodbye to each other (Hall & Nash were leaving for WCW) at the infamous Madison Square Garden Incident, Hunter found himself in the doghouse and was suddenly demoted to a jobber to the stars role. Helmsley however would soon rebound taking on Mr. Perfect as his manager and defeating Marc Mero for the WWF Intercontinental Championship on October 21, 1996. Hennig soon left the WWF but Helmsley continued on his own as champion and held the title for four months before being upset by newcomer Rocky Maivia. Briefly Helmsley hired Mr. Hughes to be his bodyguard but soon replaced him with "The Ninth Wonder of the World" Chyna during his feud with Goldust and she proved more than effective in taking out Marlena and in the role as support for Helmsley. Helmsley started to get a push again in 1997 and won the 1997 King of the Ring tournament beating Mankind in the finals.

Soon a lot of his real persona began to blend in with his character especially when he formed a team with Shawn Michaels, Chyna and briefly Rick Rude known as DeGeneration X, a group known for pushing all the boundaries and particularly in response to Bret Hart's more reserved, traditional, respectable face gimmick. Helmsley and Michaels got more and more risque telling people to "Suck It!" and using a crotch chop motion. Helmsley eventually completely dropped the blueblood gimmick altogether and started wearing T-shirts and leather to the ring shortening his name to Triple H. Following the end of the feud between DX and the Hart Foundation, Triple H continued to feud with Owen Hart over the WWF European Championship. He also feuded alongside Michaels with Ken Shamrock, the Patriot and then WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter. Following Wrestlemania XIV, Michaels was forced into retirement due to a serious back injury which left Helmsley to lead a new version of DeGeneration X that included himself, Chyna, X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws. The new DX proved surprisingly popular in short order and were soon moved from villains to heroes. Triple H at this time also began a long-lived feud with the Rock who was recently taken control of and formed a new Nation of Domination.

Triple H feuded with the Rock over the WWF Intercontinental title which he won from Rock at Summerslam 1998 in a ladder match but he didn't hold the title long as he was sidelined with a legit knee injury. When the Rock won the WWF Championship at Survivor Series 1998 becoming Mr. McMahon's Corporate Champion, the feud between DX and the new Corporation stable and their respective main stars Triple H and the Rock escalated. Soon Chyna would betray Hunter and join the Corporation. This led to a feud with Kane and a match between them at Wrestlemania XV where Chyna betrayed Kane to aid Triple H. Many thought Chyna had rejoined DX but later that night Triple H betrayed X-Pac to help Shane McMahon retain the WWF European Championship showing that Triple H had in fact turned heel and joined the Corporation too.

Triple H changed his look away from his DX persona becoming more somber and serious in his hunt for the WWF Championship. Eventually he'd get a Triple Threat match against WWF Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and ManKind at Summerslam 1999 which ManKind would win. The next night on Raw, Triple H would defeat ManKind to win his first WWF Championship. Triple H would surprising lose his title to Vince McMahon on the September 16, 1999 edition of Smackdown! but regained it at Unforgiven in a six pack challenge also involving Davey Boy Smith, Big Show, Kane, The Rock and ManKind. He'd successfully defend the title against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin before losing it to the Big Show at the 1999 Survivor Series. Triple H continued his feud with Vince McMahon going as far to shockingly "marry" his daughter Stephanie McMahon (later they would be married for real). Eventually Stephanie turned on her family and the Helmsley-McMahon era began.

By January 2000, Triple H had dubbed himself "The Game" referring to his cunning and shrewdness putting him on top of the wrestling world. Later he'd also be given the nickname "The Cerebral Assassin" by Jim Ross. On January 3, 2000, Triple H defeated the Big Show to win his 3rd WWF Championship and started a bitter/bloody war with Mankind/Mick Foley with Triple H defeating Foley in a Street Fight and Hell in a Cell match which at that time sent Foley into retirement. At Wrestlemania 2000, he'd pin the Rock to retain his Championship. However the Rock would defeat him at Backlash 2000. Three weeks later though Triple H won his 4th WWF Championship defeating the Rock in an Iron Man match at Judgment Day 2000 but then dropped it back to the Rock at King of the Ring 2000. Next he feuded with Chris Jericho and shortly thereafter "Stone Cold" Steve Austin after it was revealed he paid Rikishi (storyline) to run down Austin. The feud culminated with a Three Stages of Hell match won by Helmsley. In early 2001, he started feuding with the Undertaker who defeated Triple H at Wrestlemania X-7. The next night, he formed a new Alliance with the newly heel "Stone Cold" Steve Austin known as the Two Man Power Trip helping Austin beatdown the Rock. Triple H shortly thereafter defeated Chris Jericho for his 3rd WWF Intercontinental Championship and dropped it and regained it from Jeff Hardy a few weeks later to become a 4-time Intercontinental Champion. Triple H & Austin, who was also the WWF Champion, also won the WWF Tag Team Championships at Backlash 2001 defeating Kane and the Undertaker with both Austin & Hunter becoming double champions. It would come to an end however unexpectedly shortly thereafter when Triple H suffered a severe injury on the May 21, 2001 edition of WWF Raw suffering a tear in his left quadriceps muscle as he and Austin lost the WWF Tag Team titles to Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. The tear put Helmsley on the shelf for eight months requiring surgery and then a rigorous rehabilitation process meaning Triple H missed the entire Invasion storyline.

Triple H returned as a fan favorite in January 2002 and won the Royal Rumble earning a WWF Undisputed Championship match at Wrestlemania X8 against Chris Jericho whom he'd defeat to win his 5th WWF Championship. He'd lose it a month later at Backlash 2002 to a newly face Hulk Hogan. Triple H would end up on Smackdown following the WWF Draft Lottery and would continue to feud with Chris Jericho finally defeating him in an Hell in a Cell match at Judgment Day. Triple H would defeat Hogan in a # 1 Contenders match to earn a title shot against the Undertaker but would fail to defeat Taker for the belt. During this time, the on-screen McMahon-Helmsley faction crumbled with Hunter and Stephanie's (storyline) marriage being on the rocks, a fake pregnancy by Stephanie to win Hunter back and her eventually joining forces with Jericho against Helmsley. Eventually storyline wise they were said to have divorced. Triple H was eventually brought over to the Raw brand, the original plan for him to possibly join the new nWo faction but when that faltered, he was supposed to possibly reunite with Shawn Michaels in DX but Helmsley turned on Michaels becoming Raw's top villain in the process. This led to a big Unsanctioned Street Fight match between the two at Summerslam 2002 which saw Michaels come out of retirement to win. Following the match however Triple H attacked Michaels with a sledgehammer.

When WWE Champion Brock Lesnar become an exclusive Smackdown! star, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff awarded the newly created World Heavyweight Championship, patterned after Ric Flair's old WCW World Championship, to Triple H declaring him champion in September 2002. Triple H would soon form an alliance with Flair who would act as a manager/ally of sorts. He'd successfully fend off the challenge of Rob Van Dam with Flair's help and later defeated Kane to merge the World Heavyweight Championship with the WWF Intercontinental Championship. He'd eventually lose the World Heavyweight Championship to Shawn Michaels in the first ever Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series 2002. Triple H would defeat Rob Van Dam to become # 1 contender and would regain the World Heavyweight Championship from Michaels in a Three Stages of Hell match at Armageddon 2002. In January 2003, Triple H formed a stable to watch his back. They were named Evolution and included veterans Helmsley and Flair alongside bright newcomers Randy Orton and Batista. Triple H, with Evolution backing him up, held the World Heavyweight Championship throughout most of 2003 until Unforgiven when he lost it to Bill Goldberg which he'd later regain in a Triple Threat match at Armageddon 2003, a match that also involved Kane. Evolution all left Armageddon with Championship gold. Triple H successfully fended off the challenge of Shawn Michaels at the Royal Rumble 2004 in a Last Man Standing match but lost the title to Chris Benoit, the Royal Rumble winner, in a Triple Threat match also involving Michaels at Wrestlemania XX. Triple H failed to regain the title from Benoit in several rematches. He however did end his feud with Michaels defeating him in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood. He also briefly feuded with Eugene who he defeated at Summerslam 2004.

Where Triple H had failed, Randy Orton succeeded leading to Evolution under the leadership of Triple H turning on Orton and beating him down. Triple H would regain the World Heavyweight Championship from Orton at Unforgiven 2004. The title however would be held up following a Raw title match between Benoit, Triple H and Edge. This led to a New Year's Revolution Elimination Chamber match for the vacant World title which was won by Triple H giving him his fifth World Heavyweight title (he'd also previously won five WWF Championships making him a ten time world champion). At Wrestlemania 21, Triple H would lose his World title to the 2005 Royal Rumble winner and former Evolution ally Batista who also defeated him in two rematches. After taking a few months off to recover from injuries, Triple H returned to Raw on October 3, 2005 to team with Evolution ally Ric Flair to defeat Chris Masters and Carlito. However after the match, Triple H turned on Flair and hit him with a sledgehammer and the two were soon feuding over Flair's WWF Intercontinental Championship, which Flair successfully retained in a steel cage match against Triple H at Taboo Tuesday. In the end, Triple H would defeat Flair in a non-title Last Man Standing match at Survivor Series 2005 to end the feud.

In 2006, Triple H won the Road to Wrestlemania Tournament giving him a shot at John Cena's WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 22 but Cena would defeat Triple H by submission. Triple H also failed to win a WWE Championship Triple Threat match also involving Edge leading to a frustrated Triple H attacking both men with a sledgehammer and giving the old DX crotch chop. Eventually Triple H found himself entangled in a feud with the McMahons whom he blamed for his woes. Not long after, Triple H reformed DeGeneration X with a returning Shawn Michaels making Triple H a fan favorite for the first time since 2002. D-X would defeat the Spirit Squad in embarrassing fashion and continue feuding with Vince and Shane McMahon, even doing a hilarious parody of them at one point. DX would go on to defeat the McMahons and the Big Show in an Hell in a Cell match at Unforgiven 2006 with DX shoving Vince's face into Big Show's rear end. Next DX feuded with Rated RKO (Edge and Randy Orton) until Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps (similar to the one he'd had previously in his left leg). This put Triple H on the shelf for several months.

He'd return at Summerslam 2007 as the King of Kings to defeat King Booker. Not long after he defeated Randy Orton for the WWE Championship (his sixth WWE Title) at No Mercy and would successfully defend it against Umaga at the same event before also at the same event dropping it back to Orton in a Last Man Standing match. He'd go on to win the 2008 Elimination Chamber match to earn a title shot against Orton but would fail to win the title from Orton, who successfully retained at Wrestlemania XXIV. One month later at Backlash 2008, Triple H defeated Orton, John Cena and JBL in a four way Elimination match to win the WWE Championship (his seventh). Triple H successfully retained his title against Orton in a steel cage and later a Last Man Standing match until Orton suffered a legit collarbone injury. During the 2008 WWE Draft, he was sent to WWE Smackdown along with the WWE Championship. There he'd successfully fend off challenges from the Great Khali, Jeff Hardy and Edge. It would be Edge who would ultimately defeat him for the belt at Survivor Series 2008. After briefly feuding with Vladimir Kozlov, Triple H qualified for the 2009 Elimination Chamber at No Way Out and won his eight WWE Championship (setting a new record in the process for most WWE Championships).

During 2009, after Randy Orton attacked several of the McMahons including Vince, Shane and Stephanie, Triple H broke character on screen and admitted he was married to Stephanie leading to a feud with Orton. This led to Triple H defending the WWE Championship at 2009 Royal Rumble winner Randy Orton with Triple H successfully retaining the title at Wrestlemania XXV. Triple H however would lose the WWE Championship to Orton in a special six-man tag match which saw him team with Batista and Shane McMahon in a losing effort to Orton and Legacy members Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes. During the match, Orton did the running punt to Triple H's head putting him out of action for several weeks. In mid-2009, Triple H would recruit Shawn Michaels to reform DX and feud with Legacy whom they defeated at Summerslam 2009. At TLC 2009, DX would defeat Chris Jericho and the Big Show to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships in a TLC match, their first and only tag reign. They would however lose the titles a few short months later to the Miz and the Big Show with Shawn Michaels more concerned with the Undertaker at the time. At the 2010 Elimination Chamber, Triple H didn't win the WWE Championship but did eliminate the current WWE Champion Sheamus igniting a feud between the two. Triple H would go on to defeat Sheamus at Wrestlemania XXVI but Sheamus got some revenge defeating Triple H at Extreme Rules 2010 and that same night Triple H suffered a torn biceps muscle. Triple H recently returned apparently looking to challenge the Undertaker's legacy Wrestlemania streak at Wrestlemania XXVII.

Nick Bockwinkel & Ray "The Crippler" Stevens join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Bockwinkel & Stevens were a formidable tag team managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in the AWA during the 1970s. They were clever wrestlers who knew how to get around and manipulate the rules and officials to their advantage and soon had a stranglehold on the AWA World Tag Team titles for three years during which they won them three different times despite challenges from such impressive teams as Dick the Bruiser and the Crusher, Billy Robinson and Red Bastien and many others. They initially won the AWA World Tag Team titles from Red Bastien and the Crusher on January 20, 1972 and managed to hold on to the titles until December 30, 1972 when they lost the belts to Verne Gagne & Billy Robinson. They'd regain the titles about a week later on January 6, 1973 and would retain their grasp on them until July 21, 1974 when they lost them to The Crusher & Billy Robinson. On October 25, 1974, they'd regain them and would have yet another long reign finally losing the belts to Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher on August 16, 1975. In some ways, they were ahead of their time as they didn't feel like a thrown together pair of singles grappler but a very thoughtful, well executed team of arrogant blond bombers. Several years later, Stevens would also win another AWA World Tag Team titles alongside Pat Patterson and of course had a long distinguished in-ring career across many promotions while Bockwinkel would eventually become the top guy as AWA World Heavyweight Champion shortly thereafter.

[JaseSF]

Tylene Buck better known to pro wrestling fans as Major Gunns joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Tylene first gained attention appearing in WCW as one of the fitness/bikini models who accompanied the nWo members Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner to the ring during 1999. Eventually she was hired and put in the role of a backstage interviewer which would prove short-lived. She was then given the name "Major Gunns" referring to her considerable breast endowment and joined the "Misfits in Action" group consisting of General Rection, Lt. Loco, Corporal Cajun and Major Stash as manager and sometimes in-ring competitor feuding with the female managers of rival factions including Tygress of the Flithy Animals and Miss Hancock (Stacy Keibler). Eventually she would turn on the Misfits and General Rection aiding Lance Storm in defeating Rection for the WCW United States Championship.  Thereafter she would join and become the manager/valet for Lance Storm's Team Canada (consisting of Storm, Elix Skipper, Mike Awesome and Hacksaw Jim Duggan) and made a surprisingly likable good fit with the group. Gunns would actually stay heel and remain with Team Canada and would team with Storm to feud with the Cat (Ernest Miller) and his valet Miss Jones. She was released by WCW in 2001 and moved to Xtreme Pro Wrestling in California where she managed the Sandman and feuded heavily with Lizzy Borden. She has also competed under the name Brandi Wylde. Since December 2005, Tylene has become an adult film star.

[JaseSF]

Queen Sharmell joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Sharmell Sullivan got her start in wrestling as a member of the WCW Nitro Girls dance troupe named Storm. She had previously won the 1991 Miss Black America pageant and went on to become a professional dancer before landing the Nitro Girls gig. She would eventually become more involved in WCW becoming the manager of The Artist (formerly Prince Iaukea) and changing her name to Paisley. After the Artist was released from WCW, she became the manager of Kwee Wee (AKA: Bruce). She'd come to team up with Tygress and the pair would feud with Major Gunns of the Misfits in Action. Sharmell signed with the WWF in 2001 and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling for further development becoming the valet of the Suicide Blondes under the name Sister Sharmell (wearing a blonde wig) but this was cut short due to injury forcing her to retire from in-ring work. She'd return in 2005 as the face manager for then new husband Booker T. during a weird feud with Kurt Angle who seemed to have become obsessed with her. Eventually she'd turn heel and underhandedly helped Booker defeat Chris Benoit for the WWF United States Championship and the pair became heels. Later they'd reinvent themselves as the arrogant quasi-British King Booker and Queen Sharmell following Booker winning the 2006 King of the Ring tournament.  Sharmell was actually quite talented in WWE at getting Booker heat as an heel and I'm not sure the heel turn have ever worked without her. Eventually conflicts over storyline direction led to Booker & Sharmell asking for their WWE release in late 2007. The two would turn up in TNA not long afterwards again initially as faces first opposite Kurt & Karen Angle and later against Robert Roode & Ms. Brooks. When Booker later turned heel and joined the Main Event Mafia, Sharmell followed suit. Sharmell and the Beautiful People would go on to team and lose to ODB, Taylor Wilde and Roxxi. Eventually Sharmell would clash with fellow Main Event Mafia valet Jenna Morasca and led to the two facing off at Victory Road 2009 but lost following interference from Awesome Kong. She'd later team with Ms. Brooks in the TNA Kockouts Tag Team tournament but would lose in the first round to Kong and Raisha Saed. Booker and Sharmell made their final TNA appearance at Bound For Glory 2009. Booker has since returned to WWE as an announcer but so far Sharmell has not.

[JaseSF]

The Enforcers tag team of Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Actually the Enforcers were a very capable tag team and held the WCW World Tag Team Championship in 1991. However they were a rather short-lived team competing together only in 1991-1992. Arn Anderson, who'd previously had lots of tag and singles success, & Larry Zbyszko, who had previously been an AWA World Heavyweight Champion, decided to team up in mid-1991 in pursuit of the WCW World Tag titles which became vacant following Scott Steiner suffering an injury forcing the Steiners to relinquish the belts. Anderson & Zbyszko would team as The Enforcers and win the WCW World Tag Team Title tournament defeating Rick Steiner and new partner Bill Kazmaier in the finals on September 5, 1991. The Enforcers used underhanded means to win the titles having previously attacked and injured Kazmaier earlier that same night with one of his own weights during a power lifting demonstration. The Enforcers would next tangle with Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes leading to the Enforcers breaking Windham's hand in an out of the ring attack by slamming his hand in a car door. Dustin Rhodes however would acquire a surprise replacement partner for his and Windham's scheduled bout at Clash of Champions XVII. The surprise partner turned out to be Ricky Steamboat and he and Rhodes defeated the Enforcers for the titles on November 19, 1991 ending their one and only tag title run. The Dangerous Alliance would be formed shortly thereafter with both Enforcers as members but manager Paul E. Dangerously would decide to pair Anderson up with "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton instead effectively ending the Enforcers tag team. They would be voted 1991 PWI Tag Team of the Year.

[HappyGilmore]

I liked the Enforcers but not as much as the other teams they were up against in the game.

[JaseSF]

Public Enemy of Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge join the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. After long feuding with one another under previous names/identities The Cheetah Kid & Johnny Rotten, the two former enemies decided to team together in the early 1990s forming Public Enemy, taking their name from the famous rap group, and going on to become hardcore tag team kings in ECW where they debuted in September 1993. The duo took on the image of white boys who loved hip hop and soon became surprisingly popular favourites in ECW where fans appreciated their wild brawling styles, use of many different weapons and foreign objects and especially their use of tables. It wasn't long before they won their first of four ECW World Tag Team Championships. This would lead to a long and bloody feud with the Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa Saed) in a war of gritty West Coast gangstas against their feel good East Coast counterparts.

Many ECW fans will no doubt remember Public Enemy from their time there and the many memorable moments they help caused including the ring being filled with chairs thrown on Public Enemy at the request of Cactus Jack & Terry Funk, them dancing with fans and the ring collapsing and their wars with the Gangstas, The Tazmaniac, Sabu, Kevin Sullivan, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Raven and Stevie Richards.  Their vast popularity would get the attention of WCW who would sign Public Enemy in early 1996.

WCW however had little idea how to use TPE and toned them and their hardcore style/roots down considerably turning them into pandering fan favourites who played to the crowd to rap and dance with them although they still brought their trademark tables out to the ring with them. Not surprisingly they floundered there winning just one short WCW World Tag Team title reign with an upset win over Harlem Heat in a title reign that lasted only 8 days. Public Enemy signed with the WWF and moved there in 1999 but there was a lot of backstage animosity towards them having signed with WCW during the Monday Night Wars which led to as rumors have it the APA (Bradshaw & Farooq) working them shoot style and essentially driving them out of the WWF. TPE briefly returned to WCW and competed in forgettable fashion in their hardcore division before making one final ECW appearance against the Dudleys in ECW where they declared their loyalty to ECW. Following ECW folding, they went on to compete in 3PW (Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling) as well as in several NWA territories and appeared in unaired taped for X Wrestling Federation under the name South Philly Posse managed by Jasmine St. Claire. In the early 2000s, they would also compete in i-Generation Superstars of Wrestling and other independents racking up several tag team titles including the i-Generation tag team titles twice, MECW tag team titles, TCW tag team titles, the NWA World and United States tag team titles.

When Rocco Rock, age 49, died in 2002 following an heart attack, Johnny Grunge formed a new Public Enemy tag team with brother Joey Grunge. Johnny would die in 2006 at age 39 following complications with sleep apnea. Grunge's widow has since become an advocate against drug abuse in pro wrestling.

[JaseSF]

Larry Matysik joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. Matysik acted as host and play by play man for the St. Louis Wrestling based Wrestling at the Chase shows during the 1970s and early 1980s. Matysik added a great level of excitement and interest in events and matches unfolding on these shows and helped make stars of many in the area with his commentary including the Von Erichs, Bruiser Brody, Ted DiBiase and many other stars who appeared in the territory over the 70s-80s decade.

Wrestling at the Chase was consistently one of the highest rated television shows in St. Louis. Among St. Louis-based shows, it was third behind the local news and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. The show often had over 100,000 viewers per episode. It is considered one of the pro wrestling industry's most historic programs.

- Wikipedia

Matysik went on to write a couple of books about wrestling released by ECW Press including Wrestling at the Chase: The Inside Story of Sam Muchnick and the Legends of Professional Wrestling and Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel. Matysik is in the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame for promoting, booking, announcing, commentating and working behind the scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5xKqLfXl7Q

Check out Race vs. David Von Erich too.

Randy Savage joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. Savage briefly became a color commentator after losing a retirement match to the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII in 1991. Unfortunately Savage's "Macho Man" persona didn't translate well to a full length show in terms of color commentary. It was fine for short interviews, even at times exciting and entertaining as something different but it really wore on audiences throughout an entire show. Also Savage still played up his "Macho Man" in-ring persona and with reason since he would eventually return to the ring to feud with Jake "The Snake" Roberts in 1992. Savage would return to color commentary while still a part-time competitor in 1993-1994 in the WWF but the wrestling bug would get Savage again and he'd leave WWF behind to compete full-time again in WCW.

[JaseSF]

Al Snow joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Fame. After a lenghty and somewhat successful career in the ring as a competitor under names such Avatar, Leif Cassidy, Shinobi, Steve Moore and the Snowman but most significantly as Al Snow, Snow settled into the role of a Tough Enough trainer and shortly thereafter became a color commentator on WWE Sunday Night Heat alongside Jonathan Coachman. He and Coachman were all about having fun but Snow did know his wrestling holds, history and somehow the two together were much more tolerable, even at times legitimately funny, than Coach ever was alone. While on Heat, Coach & Snow would turn heel siding with Eric Bischoff leading to a short feud with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler that briefly saw Snow & Coach replace Ross & Lawler at Unforgiven 2003. Snow would turn face again and leave Heat behind for Tough Enough IV and later the WWE ECW where he'd be jobbed out and released.

[JaseSF]

T & A, Test & Albert join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. This young tag team was managed by a beautiful young lady newcomer named Trish Stratus. The name was a play on both the names of Test and Albert and the T & A their manager also arguably brought into the equation. While Test & Albert were two powerful young men, both would struggle to get ahead both in this tag team and in singles competition in the WWF. Initially it appeared Stratus picked two young stars on Sunday Night Heat and paired them together. But as a team, T & A just plain lost more than they won including losses to Al Snow & Steve Blackman and Road Dogg & X-Pac. They also battled with The Godfather and D-Lo Brown before moving into a feud with the Dudley Boyz who put Trish through a table although T & A actually won their match at Backlash 2000. They continued to feud with the Hardy Boyz and Dudleys but would be the first team eliminated in a Four Way Elimination match for the tag team titles at King of the Ring 2000. Soon the Hardys & Lita were feuding with T & A and Trish with the Hardys & Lita defeating Trish and her pair at Fully Loaded 2000. They went on to have a brief forgettable feud with the APA before moving into a feud with the Holly Cousins which ultimately saw Steve Blackman (replacing Hardcore) team up with Crash and Molly Holly to beat Trish & T & A at Survivor Series 2000. In December, Albert turned on Test attacking him and storyline injuring him. Trish would briefly manage Albert before moving into angle with Vince McMahon and moving on to be a very successful singles grappler. Albert would eventually join X-Factor with X-Pac and Justin Credible while Test would go on to feud with Eddie Guerrero over the WWF European title before joining the ECW/WCW Alliance. Test would arguably have his greatest success with this group while Albert continued to struggle although he would eventually capture an Intercontinental title. Albert would find his greatest success arguably in Japan as Giant Bernard.

Miss Jackie (Gayda) joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Shame. Gayda initially entered the WWF via Tough Enough II where she was a co-winner with Linda Miles. Shortly after debuting, Gayda turned heel and joined forces with Ivory to feud with Miles and Trish Stratus. In one of her earliest TV matches in which she teamed with Christopher Nowinksi against Trish & Bradshaw, she notoriously botched several key moves which lead to her being sent down to Ohio Valley Wrestling for further training. While there, she joined the Revolution stable and managed the Basham Brothers and Chris Kanyon. In June 2003, she'd return to the WWE managing Rico. In early 2004, she'd team with Stacy Keibler declaring themselves the WWE's Hottest Divas and feuding with then Playboy co-cover girls Torrie Wilson and Sable who defeated them at Wrestlemania XX in a Playboy Evening Gown match. In the 2004 draft, Gayda and Rico went to WWE Smackdown where they formed a team with Charlie Haas and they would capture the WWE Tag Team titles. Eventually Haas and Jackie got engaged for real which led to a storyline in which Dawn Marie claimed to have an affair with Haas leading to a feud between Dawn and Miss Jackie. At No Mercy 2004, Gayda, Haas & Rico defeated Dawn and the Dudley Boyz. She continued her heated feud with Dawn which also saw Gayda attacked by Billy Kidman, Dawn enlisting Heidenreich to battle Haas, matches between the two in Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas costumes until finally a match with Haas as Special Guest Referee was held to end the feud with Dawn winning, Haas revealing he had an affair but saying he no longer wanted either woman. (In reality Haas and Jackie were married). Gayda briefly became a singles wrestler before being released along with Haas in 2005. Gayda went on to compete on the independent circuit and defeated the likes of Traci Brooks, Nattie Neidhart, Jamie D and April Hunter. In late 2005, she appeared in TNA and threatened to reveal some secret about Jeff Jarrett leading to a feud with Gail Kim, Jarrett's then valet. Eventually Jarrett would use video footage taken by Alex Shelley to blackmail Gayda and force her to join his Planet Jarrett stable. Soon enough, she was back to feuding with Kim who eventually fired her for being (kayfabe) pregnant. Gayda had by this point agreed to part ways with TNA. Gayda has been semi-retired since then making a special appearance at the Wrestlemania XXV Divas Battle Royal and making some appearances in Mexico on the same card with her husband Charlie Haas. There she teamed with Celestial to defeat Jennifer Blake and Mini Chessman in a tag match. She later in February 2010 teamed with NY Knockout Nikki to take on Blake and Christina Von Eerie.

[HappyGilmore]

I liked T&A.  Thought both were relatively underrated for being bigger guys.  Test showed a lot of promise early on, but the roster in the WWF at that time was so loaded with people (from Stone Cold and The Rock, to guys like Guerrero, Benoit, Malenko, to The Hollys and Al Snow) that people were bound to get lost in the shuffle.

[JaseSF]

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan joins the Singles Hall of Shame. Duggan is best remembered as a likable big burly brawler fan favorite who fought for the honor of his country yelling "USA!" during his matches when he wasn't shouting "Hoooooo!" to his many fans. He frequently brought his own back-up to the ring with him in the form of his trusty 2X4 and seemed to like facing foreign heels who badmouthed the USA be it the Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, Yokozuna, Dino Bravo, the Rougeaus,or Andre the Giant. Duggan never held many titles, although he was WCW United States and Television Champion and he did hold a number of titles early in his career in Mid-South Wrestling, but Duggan did have considerable success becoming a WWF King at one point and also winning the very first Royal Rumble. Duggan while he started as an heel in Mid-South would only briefly return once to his heelish routes shockingly turning on the USA to join Lance Storm's Team Canada at one point but that would prove short-lived. Duggan will be remembered for being a patriotic fellow who liked to stand up for his country and he was entertaining although he was largely a mid-card grappler for most of his career and a bit of a sideshow attraction one could argue. He has been announced as an entrant for the 2011 WWE Hall of Fame.

The Rock & Sock Connection of The Rock & Mick Foley joins the Tag Teams Hall of Fame. Following a lengthy 1998-early 1999 between the Rock and Mankind Mick Foley, the Rock found himself suddenly the target of WWF World Tag Team Champions The Undertaker and the Big Show and Foley would surprisingly volunteer to be his partner on August 30, 1999. They'd face Undertaker & Big Show later that night and would capture thier first of three WWE World Tag Team Championships. They'd drop the belts back to Taker & Show at the September 7th Buried Alive show following interference from Triple H. On September 20, 1999 Rock & Foley would again capture the World Tag belts this time in a Dark Side Rules Match against Big Show, Viscera and Mideon (who took Undertaker's place in the bout). Just 3 days later, Rock & Foley would drop the titles to the New Age Outlaws. Over the next few weeks, Foley and the Rock would be involed in some of Raw's highest rated segments in the history of the show particularly during a "This is Your Life Rock" segment. Despite Rock saying he was tired of the team, he would once more team up with Foley to defeat the Outlaws for their third World Tag Title reign on October 14, 1999. Just 4 days later, the Rock & Foley lost the belts to Hardcore & Crash Holly after Mankind found the book he gave Rock "Have a Nice Day!" in the thrash and abandoned the Rock during the bout. In reality, it was Al Snow who had thrown the book in the thrash as it was filled with jokes at his expense. They'd eventually reunite to do battle with the McMahon-Helmsley faction until Foley retired in 2000 and the Rock left for movie stardom. They would reunite at Wrestlemania XX in 2004 in a losing effort in an handicap match against Evolution members Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair. They were without a doubt one of wrestling's most beloved tag team tandems.

Jacqueline (Moore) joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame.  Moore started her career as a successful ladies grappler named Sweet Georgia Brown competing in FMW in Japan, LPWA and Women's Pro Wrestling. She'd move to the USWA where she'd become Miss Texas and get her first taste as a manager being the valet for then heels Eric Embry and Tom Prichard during a war between Texas and Tennessee stables. She'd eventually wind up feuding with the Dirty White Girl Kim Anthony to whom she'd lose an Hair vs. Hair match. Moore would go on to become the first ever USWA Women's champion, a title she'd hold 8 times in total. She'd eventually end up feuding with the valet of Don Bass and Reggie B. Fine who used her old name - Sweet Georgia Brown. She'd go on to feud with Uptown Karen, the girlfriend of Downtown Bruno and would defeat her in an Hair vs. Hair match. She'd also win the women's title in Herb Abrams UWF. In 1997, she moved to WCW where she managed Kevin Sullivan and made quite an impact on many of his then opponents outside the ring with her own array of elbows, punches and bodyslams. After this, she'd briefly manage Harlem Heat and feud with Disco Inferno before moving to the WWF in 1998. There she'd manage and join Marc Mero during his feud with Sable. Moore & Mero would lose a Summerslam match to Edge & Sable but Moore rebounded by capturing the newly returned WWF Women's title only to lose it shortly thereafter to Sable. After splitting with Mero, Moore teamed up with Terri Runnels to from P.M.S. (Pretty Mean Sisters). The pair briefly managed D-Lo Brown & Mark Herny before shifting their focus to a wrestler they named Meat (Shawn Stasiak). Moore would soon leave the group however and would regain the Women's title defeating the former Downtown Bruno Harvey Wippleman (as Harvina). She'd eventually lose the title to Stephanie McMahon due to extensive outside interference from D-Generation X. Moore would later challenge Lita and Trish Stratus unsuccessfully for the title and would move on to become a trainer on Tough Enough. Moore would eventually become a referee before returning to the ring. While unsuccessful in matches for the Women's title, Jacqueline would win the Cruiserweight Championship from Chavo Guerrero. She'd eventually lose the title back tto Guerrero before leaving the WWE. She'd first appear in TNA in 2004 initially as a ladies singles wrestler before moving on to manage "Cowboy" James Storm and feuding with Petey Williams and his then manager Gail Kim. Moore would lose a number of tough matches to Kim including Street Fight and Steel Cage bouts. After failing to capture the TNA Knockouts Championship, she moved on to managing Beer Money Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) and successfully managed them to the TNA World Tag Team titles until Moore and TNA parted ways in July 2009.

[HappyGilmore]

Jim Duggan is vastly underrated.  He's a good worker, enjoyable. 

[JaseSF]

David McClane joins the Hosts/Announcers Hall of Shame. McClane is best known as the promoter behind several semi-successful women's wrestling based wrestling promotions including GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling), and later the more serious POWW (Powerful Women of Wrestling) and finally WOW (Women of Wrestling), the most successful of which and the one which garnered the biggest cult following was GLOW. McClane actually grew up a wrestling fan and started a Dick the Bruiser fan club in his youth. He'd eventually grow up and work for Dick's Indianaoplis- based WWA (World Wrestling Association) working as a ring announcer and later doing WWA play by play. McClane also promoted Roller Hockey and later Polo. McClane always had an high energy and enthusiam but also always seemed a little too focused on promotion, promotion, promotion and honestly was never really all that good at play by play commentary.

[JaseSF]

Ivory joins the Managers/Valets Hall of Fame. Ivory, real name Lisa Moretti, actually started out as a lady wrestler for GLOW wrestling under the name Tina Ferrari where she won the GLOW championship and GLOW tag team championship. Later she'd wrestle as Tina Moretti and Nina in POWW and she'd win the POWW championship twice. About a decade later she'd return to the ring in the WWF debuting in 1999 as a face manager for D-Lo Brown and Mark Henry and was soon feuding with PMS (Jacqueline and Terri Runnels) along with Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart & Debra. She'd manage D-Lo Brown and Test at Wrestlemania XV in a losing effort against Hart & Jarrett thanks to interference from PMS and Debra. Ivory would go on to capture the WWF Women's title from Debra and bring it back to a level of seriousness that had gone unseen during all the bra and panties matches and evening gown matches. Eventually she'd wind up in a feud with Tori that would eventually turn Ivory heel. She'd go on to feud with Luna Vachon briefly before moving into a feud with legends The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young. She'd actually briefly drop the title to Moolah before regaining it from Moolah. WWF's more serious approach was quickly thrown out in favor of more strip show theatrics which led to Miss Kitty upsetting Ivory for the Women's title in a Four Corners Evening Gown match. In late 1999, Ivory started taking a more serious stance and started to protest all the bikini contests et al eventually leading to her joining Right To Censor which was arguably the most successful run for her as she recaptured the Women's title for the third time in a Fatal4Way match defeating Lita, Trish Stratus and Jacqueline. She also became a core manager for Right to Censor in many of their matches alonsgide leader Steven Richards when he himself was not competing. She was a very successful champion during this time retaining against the likes of Lita, Trish Status and Molly Holly though not without help from Richards and Right To Censor at times. Ivory and Right to Censor ended up feuding with Chyna after she posed for Playboy with Right To Censor seemingly injuring Chyna's neck at one point leading to Ivory retaining her title against Chyna at the 2001 Royal Rumble. She would however lose the Women's title to Chyna at Wrestlemania X-7 and Right to Censor would disband shortly thereafter. Ivory would appear sporadically before joining the WCW/ECW Alliance during the Invasion storyline with Ivory teaming with Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler before becoming the valet of Lance Storm and the Hurricane as members of the Alliance but failed to lead them to the WCW Tag Team titles they coveted. Ivory would go on to become a trainer on Tough Enough. In 2002, she'd form an alliance with Victoria and the two would feud with Trish Stratus. She'd return to Tough Enough and would eventually become an announcer on WWE Experience before her release later in 2005. She'd go on to compete on the independent circuit and she'd win the Carolina Championship Wrestling tag team title alongside Bambi over Team Blondage (Krissy Vaine & Amber O'Neal). In April 2006, she'd defeat Rebecca Knox for the Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling NWA SuperGirls Championship. She'd hold the title for five months helping build their women's division before losing the title to Nattie Neidhart. On March 5, 2011 she was inducted into the Women Superstars Uncensored Hall of Fame.

[JaseSF]

Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy join the Tag Teams Hall of Shame. Actually Bernard & Murphy were one of the first teams to look and dress alike, were very successful in their era (but were just up against very stiff competition in the game). Both were Canadians and looked very much like movie thugs or heavies which they played up becoming a top heel tag team wherever they performed. Both men were bald, actually Murphy had a skin condition the result of a childhood disease which left him unable to grow any hair on his body, and gruff, brutish looking. Having previously teamed successfully with Gypsy Joe, veteran Murphy was paired up with the less experienced but older Bernard in the 1960s and they'd form one of the most successful tandems of that era capturing the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship on May 16, 1963 which they held for six months finally dropping them to Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski. They'd also go on to win the Florida version of the NWA World Tag Team titles on two occasions trading the titles with Duke Keomurka and Hiro Matsuda. They'd also have great success competing in Australia's IWA capturing the IWA World Tag Team Championships five times. Murphy, briefly breaking away from his team with Bernard when Bernard returned to the U.S., also had great singles success there capturing the IWA World Heavyweight Championship three times while Benard later captured the NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship. Despite being heels, Bernard and Murphy frequently battled fellow heels in "Battles of the Bullies" taking on the likes of the Blond Bombers (Rip Hawk and Swede Hansen), Gene & Ole Anderson and others until Murphy apparently committed suicide (overdosed on sleeping pills) in 1970.