Quick Recap for those missed it... -Ceremony is introduced by Coach who briefly goes over the other five Hall of Famers who were already inducted before going on the air (Anybody think these guys feel left out?).
Video is shown recapping Piper's career narrated by Michael Cole. Ric Flair comes out to induct Roddy Piper. Piper then comes out to his music (Does this guy ever age?). Says he got 25 dollars (Canadian) on his first night wrestling and met great people that night. Claims everybody in the business is his family. Dropped the F-bomb (WWF). Ended by saying, "You ain't seen nothin' yet..." and said he's coming to Wrestlemania 21. Very good stuff during his speech.
Video is shown recapping Hogan's career narrated by Michael Cole. Sylvester Stallone comes out to mixed reviews from the crowd. Inducts Hogan who comes out to his nice 10-minute ovation. Big Show is shown crying. Hogan's speech was very short and sweet. He said he can't wait to watch WrestleMania 21. The crowd kept chanting, "One more match." Hogan said, "Never say never in this business." Can't help to think it was cut short to their timeslot on Spike.
I enjoyed the show. It'd be nice if, next year, they could try and work out a deal earlier to get an extended time-slot for the show, as you had to feel bad for the other 5 guys. They just seemed so slighted.
"Is HBO here tonight?" Gotta' love Roddy Piper.
There's something about Hogan that is truly unique. I can say all year how much I wish he'd just stay out of the ring forever, and I hope he just retires for good and leaves the wrestling to the younger guys. However, tonight, I got caught up in the emotion of the whole thing, and I was smiling and nodding along to the "One more match" chants.
The answer to WWE's financial problems...
Never 'Wiener of the Day', and is actually quite bitter about it.
Is anyone else sick of Hogan milking these ovations? You just start talking and the crowd will die down. He puts up the whole "I can't believe this" act and won't speak until the last mark loses his voice. Piper, Flair, The Rock or Stone Cold could all get the same thing but they realize there is a show to do but not Hogan. Egomania runnin' wild, Brotha.
"And Big Show's loss, while tragic, probably saved this company!" - John Bradshaw Layfield, wrestling and acting god.
I was at the event tonighht in LA and i gotta say, The Iron Sheik stole the show! He was up there for the longest and cut a hilarious promo on Hulk "the blonde hollywood jabroni" Hogan and Kurt Angle among others. He actually wouldn't step down from the podium, after his music played he came back up for 2 (yes 2!) curtain calls. The crowd ate it up with a full blown "shiek!" chant...
Orndorf, Jimmy Hart and Volkoff all had nice inductions, Bobby Heenan was great in his induction of Mr. #1derful.
I was one of the many chanting hogan over and over again, but yes, I agree that hogan milks it.
I didnt see Ortons induction as i arrived late, but was told it was cool.
All in all a great night, very nostalgic and i would reccomend all fans attend a HOF night if you can in the future, I would guess Savage, Steamboat and Bret will be on next years gala...
They also gave out Gold Coins and Programs for FREE to everyone who attended, which was nice.
Originally posted by Jackson Piper, Flair, The Rock or Stone Cold could all get the same thing but they realize there is a show to do but not Hogan. Egomania runnin' wild, Brotha.
Pfft. None of them could get that. They quieted down within two minutes of Flair being out there. Piper milked his too, but there was a lot less to milk. I say let them have their moment, since this is probably one of the last moments they're going to have career-wise.
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Seeing Big Show cry was the part that got me. It was one of those things that just slipped my mind, but I don't think Hogan meant any more to one person's career/life than him. If it wasn't for Stallone, I'll bet Show would've done the introduction in a heartbeat.
I've just got to say that Piper looked like a million bucks.
Originally posted by The GoonI only caught the beginning portion of the show, but Paul Orndorff had a look on his face like he'd rather be anywhere else.
I noticed that too, Goon. Especially during the Hogan stuff. Maybe it was just that he couldn't stand up or something? It just seemed odd...
Piper was remarkably coherent.
The special (well, the two that Spike showed last night) was well done. I realize they're there to honor the industry and everything, but seeing guys next to other in the audience who are rivals just seems wrong(Angle sitting to Cena; Austin chatting it up with the McMahons).
Also worth noting from the crowd: Kane looked beyond weird in dark sunglasses. Akebono just STOOD OUT from the crowd. And maybe it's just me, but did Stephanie look slightly pregnant?
That was some pretty cool stuff. If you couldm't enjoy that, well, I'm not sure what you can enjoy from the WWE.
Hogan may have "milked" the applause a little bit, but I just find it remarkable that the people would go on for ten minutes. It speaks volumes about Hogan. I just don't know if anyone else is that beloved right now. Maybe Rock and Stone Cold, but maybe not until they're Hogan's age will they get receptions like that.
I really liked the induction ceremony, which is odd considering I was never a huge fan of either of those two guys (which isn't really fair, as I've only been watching about eight years, a time when those men were far past their prime). It is just a cool event, whether or not people think the Hall itself is a farce.
DISCLAIMER: I'M POLLITICALLY INCORRECT, REPUBLICAN, CHIRSTIAN AND PROUD OF EACH. So deal with it!
The single greatest part of last night was Piper. He looked great, clean and even asked if HBO was there. But I dont think I could've laughed any harder than when he said, "I made 25 dollars...Canadian, for that match." I was crying I was laughing so hard at that. Hogan was great as well. Nobody deserves that reaction more. I'm not a Hogan fan, but noone has done what hes done for this business, sans the Rock and Austin.
And holy crap Hogan's daughter was looking good last night.
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Originally posted by Super Shane SpearSeeing Big Show cry was the part that got me. It was one of those things that just slipped my mind, but I don't think Hogan meant any more to one person's career/life than him. If it wasn't for Stallone, I'll bet Show would've done the introduction in a heartbeat.
You know, that just got me to thinking...do any guys feel slighted that they didn't get to induct Hogan? Especially someone like Show, who would've been great. It's cool they got Stallone and all, but it's not like he's been a major part of the WWE or anything. Actually, I remember reading that doing the film actually got Hogan fired from WWE by McMahon. Not to start a big debate about it or anything, and I understand the reasons why completely. Just something to think about.
Yes, Hogan milked the ovation, but considering it's a Hall of Fame ceremony I can't really fault him that much for it. Doing it in a Smackdown taping in Albany, however, and milking it until literally the LAST CLAP is a different story altogether. God, was THAT annoying.
As for Paul Orndorff - is it that he didn't want to be there, or was it his health? I seem to remember that it seems to wain from time to time. Could be that.
Sounds like the Sheik's induction was worth the price of the DVD in and of itself. I'll definitely be picking it up.
I honestly think Hogan would not have been so popular if it hadn't been for Roddy Piper. Forget all the revisionist history about Hogan's popularity, he wasn't setting the world on fire early on. Piper was the one who made WrestleMania I, IMO, and in turn, put Hogan over the top as a massive drawing card.
I don't think you could have put anyone else in the Piper slot and had WrestleMania I be such a big success and put Hogan over the top. That's not to discount Hogan's charisma but Piper often gets overlooked because of his antics.
"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
I do look forward to a future DVD of the entire ceremony. Mr.Wonderful was always my favourite in the 80s, and I'd love to see his speech. I remember everyone in my high school saying that he won that SNME cage match.
I did manage to catch the end of the show, and Orndorff does smile and chat with Hogan at a couple of points near the end, so maybe he does have a health issue which made it difficult for him to stand up.
It's an old Vince Russo trademark. You make someone a master of some match and then always have them lose said match. Is it any different that The Dudley Boyz always losing Tables matches? Or Undertaker losing Casket matches?