Wow ... this a really cool piece of news. Make sure to set your DVRs for this one. Any takers on who does the "inducting"? ... I've gotta with Vince.
THE 2005 WWE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION SPECTACULAR
Premieres Saturday, April 2 (11:00 PM - Midnight, ET/PT); encores Sunday, April 3 (5:00 - 6:00 PM, ET/PT).
Spike TV, in association with World Wrestling Entertainment, presents the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Hulk Hogan. This Hall of Fame party will feature WWE superstars such as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Triple H and Vince McMahon. Joining Hogan as inductees in this year's Hall of Fame class are: Cowboy Bob Orton, Nikolai Volkoff, Paul Orndorff, Jimmy Hart, the Iron Sheik and the Hot Rod, Rowdy Roddy Piper.
Almost makes you think they are going to build an angle for Hogan leading to a match at Mania off of this ceremony, as why give it away for (relatively) free when they could get people to buy the DVD for 20 bucks to view Hogan's induction?
I was just thinking about whom might induct whom at the HOF this year. Here are my guesses, anyways:
Hulk Hogan -- With Vince McMahon in a wheelchair, he probably won't make himself available for TV. I'd say Jimmy Hart next, but he's also been inducted. If those two aren't likely, then perhaps the one guy who's been with Hogan for his AWA, WWF and WCW runs: Mean Gene Okerlund.
Rowdy Roddy Piper -- The only guy I can think of who's been on good terms with Hot Rod throughout his career would be Ric Flair.
Paul Orndorff -- This one's a toughie for me to guess, but if they could bring back his longtime manager Bobby Heenan (and let him steal the show again this year), I don't think too many people would be upset.
Cowboy Bob Orton -- well, duh... and who's better on the subject of duh... than Randy Orton?
Jimmy Hart -- If they want to be loyal to Jimmy's entire career, Jerry Lawler probably spent more time with or against The Mouth Of The South than anyone else in wrestling, Hogan included.
Iron Shiek -- Perhaps sworn enemy Sgt. Slaughter?
Nikolai Volkoff -- See above for the only legit suggestion I can think of. Hmmm, who else? Well, Ted DiBiase IS on the payroll now... though it was kind of a low-point for Nikolai's career being part of The Million Dollar Corporation.
Originally posted by BulldogHulk Hogan -- With Vince McMahon in a wheelchair, he probably won't make himself available for TV. I'd say Jimmy Hart next, but he's also been inducted. If those two aren't likely, then perhaps the one guy who's been with Hogan for his AWA, WWF and WCW runs: Mean Gene Okerlund.
I wouldn't be surprised if HHH did this one. Not because of politics, but because HHH has established himself as the main champion of today, and I would think of it as a from-one-champ-to-another thing, like how he inducted Superstar Billy Graham last year.
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGHulk Hogan -- With Vince McMahon in a wheelchair, he probably won't make himself available for TV. I'd say Jimmy Hart next, but he's also been inducted. If those two aren't likely, then perhaps the one guy who's been with Hogan for his AWA, WWF and WCW runs: Mean Gene Okerlund.
I somehow think that they're building to Hassan coming out during WrestleMania and bitching about not being put on the show and laying out an open challenge. Hogan comes down and squashes him and Daivari.
"When did they pass a law that says the people who make my sandwich have to be wearing gloves? I'm not comfortable with this. I don't want glove residue all over my food; it's not sanitary. Who knows where these gloves have been?" - George Carlin
Originally posted by fuelinjectedI somehow think that they're building to Hassan coming out during WrestleMania and bitching about not being put on the show and laying out an open challenge. Hogan comes down and squashes him and Daivari.
I figured (and read on the Torch, I think) that Hassan would probably come out during Piper's Pit and get the Stunner from Austin....someone has to get stunnered, right?
(edited by geemoney on 10.3.05 1710) College, Sports and More!: Experience It
Hogan needs to be inducted by Vince, plain and simple. But since he's injured that probably won't happen. So I'm guessing Mean Gene or Rick Derringer. Iron Shiek will probably be inducted by Hassan. I kinda see Jericho inducting Piper. Just seems logical to me. Ordorff can only be inducted by one man-the man who knew this would happen one day, GARY SPIVEY. Orton is obvious. Jimmy Hart I think is a no brainer. Kauffman is finally going to come out of hiding and do this one. Either him or Lawler. Nikolai is going to be done by...uh...Fifi? Oh and Blanket Jackson, Trips didn't want to induct Superstar. He wanted to induct Race, but that was the only thing in the past 4 yrs Flair has put his foot down about so he got to do it.
(edited by mercer on 10.3.05 1449) One half of the SGWA Tag Team Champions and #1 Contender to the KCW US Heavyweight Title. God bless Marvelous Matt Mercer www.MattMercer.tk
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGHulk Hogan -- With Vince McMahon in a wheelchair, he probably won't make himself available for TV. I'd say Jimmy Hart next, but he's also been inducted. If those two aren't likely, then perhaps the one guy who's been with Hogan for his AWA, WWF and WCW runs: Mean Gene Okerlund.
I don't know what the odds are of it happening, but I'd get a kick out of Jesse Ventura doing this one. Heenan as well.
Originally posted by Freeway420Are they adding more inductees, or is this it? Last year they inducted a few more than they've announced this year.
I didn't go to last years induction (ticket not included with my WM package deal) but I gathered from Foley at next morning's breakfast that it ran long, very long.. So the dvd version is probably somehow clipped?
I guess this is the reason they have less guys inducted this year. Also, you KNOW there will be a 20 minute ovation for Hogan. (And YES! This year my package did include the HoF ceremony! w00t!)
Mean Gene was hosting the 1cent PPV they had on Direct TV a couple of weeks ago. I think that's the first thing he's done since Confidential was canceled. I heard somewhere that he's mostly working on 24/7 shows
Originally posted by Kane Is UglyAccording to an ESPN Page 3 article, The Hulkster was actually fired from the WWF by Vince McMahon Sr. for tackling the role in 'Rocky III'.
Is this true and is there more to the story?
From the Hulk Still Rules DVD, Hogan said that the commitment to Stallone to film the movie (7-10 days) was in direct conflict with dates that VJM booked for Hogan in the Carolinas, and it came down to VJM saying cancel the film commitment and go to the Carolinas or he would no longer have a job in the WWF. Hogan kept the movie commitment and was fired.
EDIT FOR JJD's BELOW POST: If you're asking me what I think, I'd say at the very least, the timeframe fits Hogan's version of events, in that Rocky III was filmed somewhere in late 1981/early 1982 (and released in mid/late 1982 IIRC) and his main-event AWA run wasn't until after that.
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 11.3.05 1443) "It's floating wicker propelled by fire!"
Originally posted by Blanket JacksonFrom the Hulk Still Rules DVD, Hogan said that the commitment to Stallone to film the movie (7-10 days) was in direct conflict with dates that VJM booked for Hogan in the Carolinas, and it came down to VJM saying cancel the film commitment and go to the Carolinas or he would no longer have a job in the WWF. Hogan kept the movie commitment and was fired.
Is that revisionist history? I thought Hogan was in the AWA at the time, constantly losing title matches to Bockwinkel (from my recollection of the Apter mags), then after he blew up in Rocky III, all of the sudden he was winning the title at MSG.
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Even with the need to pimp the ppv, the WWF has two titles tailor-made for Raw and Smackdown (translated: relatively minor, but still salvagable) title defenses. The IC and European title.