WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a group of noteworthy former professional wrestlers and other performers and employees of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) during its existence. WWE management selected individuals to receive this honor annually from 1993-1996, and revived the practice in 2004 in honor of the company's 20th WrestleMania event. It was created in 1993 originally to honor André the Giant, who had died earlier that year. Since (living) recipients appear at a Hall of Fame acceptance event, receiving the award depends on the candidate being on good terms with WWE. Because of this, several notable absences exist, including Bruno Sammartino, the longest reigning WWE Champion, who, as recently as 2005, refuses to be inducted, Bret Hart, who has historically refused (though over time it seems he may reconsider), and The Ultimate Warrior, who has flatly refused claiming it would sully his reputation to accept. Although the Hall in theory includes those with the most important WWE careers, the inductees also include some who made their biggest mark outside of WWE, such as Harley Race. As of 2005, Harley Race and Big John Studd are the only two wrestlers to be inducted into both the WCW Hall of Fame and the WWE Hall of Fame.
1993
1994
- "Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland
- Bobo Brazil (Houston Harris)
- "The Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (Herman Rohde)
- Chief Jay Strongbow (Joe Scarpa)
- "Classy" Freddie Blassie (Frederick Blassman)
- Gorilla Monsoon (Robert Marella)
- James Dudley
1995
- Antonino Rocca
- "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd
- George "the Animal" Steele (James Meyers)
- Ivan Putski
- The Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison)
- The Grand Wizard (Ernie Roth)
1996
- Baron Mikel Scicluna
- Captain Lou Albano
- "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka (James Reiher)
- "Handsome" Jimmy Valiant (James Valen)
- "Luscious" Johnny Valiant (John L. Sullivan)
- "Unpredictable" Johnny Rodz (John Rodriguez)
- Killer Kowalski (Wladek Kowalski)
- Pat Patterson (Pierre Clemont)
- Vince McMahon, Sr.
2004
- Big John Studd (John Minton)
- Bobby "the Brain" Heenan (Raymond Heenan)
- "Magnificent" Don Muraco
- Greg "the Hammer" Valentine (John Wisniski, Jr.)
- Harley Race
- Jesse "the Body" Ventura (James Janos)
- Junkyard Dog (Sylvester Ritter)
- Sgt. Slaughter (Robert Remus)
- "Superstar" Billy Graham (Wayne Coleman)
- Tito Santana (Merced Solis)
- Pete Rose (celebrity inductee)
2005
- "Cowboy" Bob Orton
- Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea)
- "Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart
- "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
- Nikolai Volkoff (Josip Peruzovic)
- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs)
- The Iron Sheik (Khosrow Vaziri)