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March 27th
This week in wrestling in ....
1944 - Gray Mask defeats Gorilla Ramos to win the World Light Heavyweight
Title in Hollywood, California, ending Ramos' second reign and beginning Gray
Mask's second reign.
1953 - Ed Francis defeats Lou Klein in Columbus, Ohio for the Midwest Wrestling
Association World Junior Heavyweight Title, ending and beginning each man's
second reign.
1959 - Mighty Ursus and Shag Thomas defeat Maurice and Paul Vachon for the
Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, ending the Vachons'
second reign.
1961 - Guy and Joe Brunetti defeat Mitsu Arakawa and Mr. Moto to win the
Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia,
beginning their second reign.
1967 - Fritz Von Erich wins his third NWA American Heavyweight Title in Fort
Worth, Texas, by defeating Brute Bernard. As a result, his NWA Texas Heavyweight
Title was vacated, ending that third reign.
1970 - Bill Ross defeats Jim Breaks for the European Lightweight Title in
Stirling, England, ending Breaks' second reign.
1970 - Frankie Laine and Moondog Mayne defeats Karl and Kurt Von Steiger to win
the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, ending the Von Steigers' fifth reign.
1971 - Stan Stasiak wins his fifth NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title from
Dutch Savage.
1971 - The Avengers (Jimmy Golden and Dennis Hall) defeat Bobby Hart and Lorenzo
Parente for the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
This began the Avengers' second reign and ended Hart and Parente's third reign.
1971 - Billy Joyce wins the British Light Heavyweight Title in Blackburn,
England, defeating Tony Charles. The title had been vacated in December 1969
when champion Ernie Riley retired. Joyce held the title until his own 1976
retirement.
1973 - The Mongol and The Rugged Russian (Pedro Godoy) defeat Bob Kelly and Ken
Lucas to win the Gulf Coast NWA United States Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama.
1982 - Invader I wins the WWC North American Heavyweight Title for the third
time in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, defeating Bobby Jaggers.
1983 - Roddy Piper defeats Dick Slater in Asheville, North Carolina to win the
NWA Television Title, beginning his second reign.
1983 - Private Nelson defeats Terry Kay for the NWA Canadian Television Title in
Toronto, Ontario, beginning his second reign.
1988 - The WWF held WrestleMania IV at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic
City, New Jersey, with 18,165 fans attending. The event featured, among other
things, a 14-man tournament for the WWF World Title which was vacated after a
controversial match between Hulk Hogan and André the Giant on February 5. On
pay-per-view, WrestleMania IV got a 6.5 buyrate. The results were:
- Bad News Brown won a 20-man battle royal, last eliminating Bret Hart. Brown
and Hart cooperated to eliminate The Junkyard Dog. Brown then eliminated Hart to
win after hitting him from behind with a Ghetto Blaster. Bret attacked Bad News
after the match and destroyed the winner's trophy. The other participants in the
match were: Ron Bass, B. Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Danny Davis, Sam Houston,
Hillbilly Jim, The Junkyard Dog, Jim Neidhart, Ken Patera, Jim Powers, Harley
Race, Paul Roma, Jacques Rougeau, Raymond Rougeau, Sika, George Steele, Nikolai
Volkoff and Boris Zhukov.
- Ted DiBiase (with Virgil and André the Giant) pinned Jim Duggan in a WWF
Title tournament first round match, after André tripped Duggan and hit him, and
DiBiase hit Duggan with a fist drop.
- Don Muraco (with Superstar Billy Graham) defeated Dino Bravo (with Frenchy
Martin) by disqualification in a WWF Title tournament first round match, after
Bravo attempted to shield himself with the referee from a Muraco forearm.
- Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) pinned Butch Reed (with Slick) in a WWF
Title tournament first round match, after a flying elbow drop.
- Greg Valentine pinned Ricky Steamboat in a WWF Title tournament first round
match, by rolling through a flying crossbody.
- The One Man Gang (with Slick) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow (with Oliver Humperdink)
by countout in a WWF Title tournament first round match, after Slick pulled the
top rope down when Bigelow hit the ropes.
- Rick Rude (with Bobby Heenan) and Jake Roberts fought to a 15-minute
time-limit draw in a WWF Title tournament first round match. Both were
eliminated as a result of the draw.
- The Ultimate Warrior pinned Hercules (with Bobby Heenan), when Warrior raised
his shoulder out of a half nelson suplex.
- In the first match of the quarterfinals of the WWF Title tournament, Hulk
Hogan and André the Giant (with Ted DiBiase and Virgil), who had received first
round byes, were both disqualified for using chairs. Both men were eliminated
from the tournament.
- Ted DiBiase pinned Don Muraco (with Superstar Billy Graham) after a hot shot.
- The One Man Gang received a bye to the semifinals as a results of the
Roberts-Rude draw.
- Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) pinned Greg Valentine in a WWF Title
tournament quarterfinal match, with a roll-up after Savage countered Valentine's
Figure Four leglock.
- Brutus Beefcake defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man
(with Jimmy Hart) by disqualification after Hart hit the referee with his
megaphone. Honky Tonk Man retained the title.
- Bobby Heenan and The Islanders (Haku and Tama) defeated Koko B. Ware and The
British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid), when Heenan pinned Ware
after The Islanders dropped Heenan onto him.
- Ted DiBiase received a bye to the championship match due to the André-Hogan
double-disqualification.
- Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) defeated One Man Gang (with Slick) by
disqualification in a WWF Title tournament semifinal match, after the Gang tried
to hit Savage with Slick's cane.
- Demolition (Ax and Smash (with Mr. Fuji)) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions
Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana), when Ax pinned Martel after hitting
him with Mr. Fuji's cane, to win the title.
- In the tournament final match, Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth and Hulk
Hogan) pinned Ted DiBiase (with André the Giant) to win the vacant WWF World
Title after a flying elbow drop, after Hogan hit DiBiase in the back with a
chair. During the match, Savage had Elizabeth go to the locker room to bring
Hogan to the ring after André had been interfering.
1988 - Up against the WWF's WrestleMania IV pay-per-view, TBS aired the very
first NWA Clash of the Champions. The show got a 5.8 rating live from the
Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The results were:
- NWA World Television Champion Mike Rotunda (with Kevin Sullivan) pinned Jimmy
Garvin (with Precious) at 1:10 in the second round of an "College
Rules" match with a cradle.
- NWA United States Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and
Stan Lane) defeated The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) by reverse
decision to retain the title. Fulton had originally pinned Eaton, but the
decision was reversed because Fulton had thrown the referee over the top rope
before the pin.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk (with Paul Ellering)) and Dusty Rhodes
defeated Ivan Koloff and The Powers of Pain (The Barbarian and The Warlord)
(with Paul Jones in a Barbed Wire match, when The Warlord was pinned after The
Barbarian accidentally headbutted him.
- Lex Luger and Barry Windham defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson
and Tully Blanchard (with J.J. Dillon), when Luger pinned Anderson after
throwing him into Dillon, who was on the apron.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair fought Sting to a 45-minute
time-limit draw. Ringside judges for the match were Gary Juster, Sandy Scott and
January 1988 Penthouse Pet of the month Patty Mullen. The judges couldn't come
to a decision on who won, and Flair retained the title.
1988 - All Japan Pro Wrestling also held an event at the Nippon Budokan in
Tokyo, Japan. The results were:
- Mitsuo Momota pinned Tsuyoshi Kikuchi.
- Akira Taue and Isamu Teranishi defeated Haruka Eigen and Mighty Inoue, when
Taue pinned Eigan.
- Masa Fuchi pinned George Skaaland.
- Samson Fuyuki, Ashura Hara and Toshiaki Kawada defeated Takashi Ishikawa,
Shinichi Nakano and Motoshi Okuma, when Hara pinned Okuma.
- Tom McGee defeated Isao Takagi by submission.
- The Great Kabuki and Tiger Mask (Mistuharu Misawa) defeated Austin Idol and
Tommy Rich.
- Big Bubba Rogers pinned Shunji Takano.
- Giant Baba and Hiroshi Wajima defeated Rusher Kimura and Goro Tsurumi, when
Tsurumi was pinned.
- Abdullah the Butcher and Tiger Jeet Singh defeated John Tenta and Yoshiaki
Yatsu, when Abdullah pinned Tenta.
- NWA United National and PWF World Heavyweight Champion Genichiro Tenryu
defeated Stan Hansen by disqualification to retain the titles.
- Bruiser Brody pinned NWA International Heavyweight Champion Jumbo Tsuruta to
win the title, ending Tsuruta's second reign and beginning Brody's third. It
would be the final major title Brody would hold before his death four months
later.
1992 - Eddie Gilbert defeats The Dark Patriot (Doug Gilbert) for the Global
Wrestling Federation North American Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas.
1994 - All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling held its second-annual Wrestling Queendom
event at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The results:
- AJW Junior Champion Candy Okutsu pinned Rie Tamada to retain the title.
- Little Great Muta defeated Little Abdullah the Butcher.
- AJW Tag Team Champions Miki Handa and Yasha Kurenai defeated Kaoru Ito and
Tomoko Watanabe, when Kurenai pinned Watanabe, to retain the title.
- Hikari Fukuoka pinned Chaparita Asari.
- Megumi Kido and Nurse Nakamura defeated Suzuka Minami and Chikako Shiratori,
when Kido made Shiratori submit.
- IWA World Women's Champion Manami Toyota pinned Plum Mariko to retain the
title.
- Reggie Bennett and Eagle Sawai defeated Takako Inoue and UWA World Women's Tag
Team Champion Yumiko Hotta, when Bennett made Inoue submit.
- Etsuko Mita and AJW Singles Champion Mima Shimoda defeated JWP Tag Team
Champions Mayumi Ozaki and Cutie Suzuki, when Mita pinned Suzuki. This ended
Ozaki and Suzuki's second reign.
- Dynamite Kansai pinned Sakie Hasegawa.
- UWA World Women's Tag Team Champion Kyoko Inoue defeated All Pacific Champion
Toshiyo Yamada by submission to win the title, beginning her second.
- Akira Hokuto and Shinobu Kandori defeated WWWA World Singles Champion Aja Kong
and Bull Nakano, when Hokuto pinned Kong.
1995 - Miss Texas (Jacqueline Moore) wins her 10th of 14 USWA Women's Titles in
Memphis, Tennessee, ending Sweet Georgia Brown's third reign.
1997 - Danny Dee defeats Tarek the Great to win the IWA Mid-South Lightweight
Title in Louisville, Kentucky. The title had been stripped that same day from
The American Kickboxer.
1998 - Doug Gilbert wins the NWA National Heavyweight Title in Mount Holly, New
Jersey, by winning a three-way match against Rocco Rock and Barry Windham.
Salvatore Sincere had vacated the title on October 11.
2000 - Juggernaut and Dr. Luther win the NWA/ECCW Pacific Northwest Tag Team
Title from the Glamour Order of Discipline (Johnny Canuck and Michelle Starr) in
New Westminster, British Columbia, ending their fourth reign. The Glamour Order
of Discipline won the title back the same day, beginning their fifth reign.
2001 - Chotaro Kamoi defeats Shark Tsuchiya for the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight
Title, beginning his eighth reign.
2002 - Red defeats Qenaan Creed to win the Maryland Championship Wrestling
Cruiserweight Title in Glen Burnie, Maryland, ending Creed's second reign.
2004 - After losing the title the previous day, Takeshi Morishima begins his
second World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title reign, by defeating Rick Steiner
in Bolivar, Missouri.
2004 - American Steel Ninja and Brass Munkey win the Carolina Wrestling
Federation Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title from Brad Attitude and Brad Rainz in
Ramseur, North Carolina, ending their second reign.
2004 - El Rockero wins the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title for the seventh
time, ending Pablo Marquez's third reign in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
2004 - Sammy Ray defeats Ross Jordan in London, England to win the British
Welterweight Title.
2004 - Shane Somers defeats Ricky Murdoch for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
in Plato, Missouri, beginning his third reign.
2004 - Mad Mike defeats Nikita Allanov to win the NWA East Heavyweight Title in
McKeesport, Pennsylvania, ending Allanov's second reign.
2005 - Ricky Banderas wins his second IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title in
Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, defeating Kasey James.
2005 - Kenshin defeats Riki Senshu to win the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Title
in Tokyo, Japan.
2005 - Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX held the fifth event of its Strong Wind and
Thunder tour at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results:
- Hachimaki No Tetsu defeated Rikiya Fudo after a Twisting Mark.
- Ryouji Sai and Masato Tanaka defeated Tomoaki Honma and Osamu Namiguchi, when
Sai pinned Namiguchi after a low kick.
- Sonjay Dutt pinned Tatsuhito Takaiwa after a Phoenix Splash in an AWA World
Junior Heavyweight Title tournament qualifying match.
- C.W. Anderson defeated Kohei Sato to win the vacant NWA United National
Heavyweight Title. The title had been stripped from Takao Ōmori on February
28 due to a lack of title defenses.
- Minoru Fujita and Ikuto Hidaka defeated Alex Shelley and Spanky (Brian
Kendrick), when Hidaka pinned Spanky after a tornado DDT, to win the vacant NWA
International Lightweight Tag Team Title. The title had been stripped from Kaz
Hayashi and Spanky on February 28 due to a lack of title defenses.
- AWA World Heavyweight Champion Takao Ōmori defeated Steve Corino and
Shinjiro Otani in a three-way elimination match to retain the title. Otani made
Corino submit with the King Cobra Clutch, and Omori pinned Ōmori after the
Axe Bomber.
2010 - WWE held their 2010 Hall Of Fame ceremony, headlined by the induction of Ted DiBiase. Here is our original live report on the event, filed by Mike Johnson.
We are live at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremonies. WWE had signs posted warning fans not to catcall and also announcing video streaming was prohibited. Todd Grisham welcomed everyone to the event, at which point the WWE talents began to take their seats.
Among those here are Gene Okerlund, Blackjack Lanza, Dusty Rhodes, Tony Garea, Nick Bockwinkel, Steve Keirn and Billy Kidman.
As Batista entered he passed, and then stared down, John Cena.
Gorgeous George, Ted DIBiase and Bob Uecker will be inducted on the USA
Network special.
Jerry Lawler was introduced as the host. He said it is his favorite night
of the year and he's honored to be hosting. He introduced the "future
Hall of Famers", the current WWE Superstars.
The first inductee is Mad Dog Vachon.
WWE is giving the inductees a five minute time limit for their speeches.
They aired a video feature on Mad Dog Vachon.
Lawler said that Vachon even struck fear into the hearts of his tag team
partners and introduced the only man who has "jokes older than his",
Pat Patterson.
Patterson said he was happy to be here but it was strange because tonight he's
inducting a "mad dog" and two years ago he inducted an "old
bag", Mae Young.
Patterson said when he broke into the business in Montreal, he was scared to
death of Vachon. Years later, he was making no money in Boston and got a
letter from Vachon booking him in Portland and that's what set his career off.
He said Vachon always tried to help the careers of French Canadians.
Patterson made some jokes because he forgot what he was going to say. He
said he's excited for tomorrow and is pulling for Shawn Michaels, who in his
book is the best he's ever seen. He then said he was looking forward to
seeing Vince McMahon get his ass kicked because "Bret got screwed."
Patterson said when he had his first Portland payday, he received $300 and
thought it was too much. Vachon told him that was his pay and the promoter
probably screwed him anyway.
He told stories of Vachon coming to his house when Vachon got into domestic
troubles and Patterson told Vachon he was going to "ruin my
reputation" (by staying in his house). Everyone laughed.
He said he was proud to induct Vachon and introduced him.
Mad Dog Vachon came out in his wheelchair. He started doing one of his old
promos and finished with "I'm Mad Dog Vachon and I approve of this
message."
Vachon said he believes he had 13,000 matches and became a wrestler because of
his name. He said growing up his nickname was 'Vachon the Pig.' He
said when he got into fights as a child, his dad told him it was okay, as long
as he won.
Vachon told the story of getting the Mad Dog name, and he told the story of
working for Don Owen in Portland Wrestling. He was told to be wild because
he would be feuding with Curtis Iaukea. He said he attacked his first
opponent, then attacked his referee. A policeman tried to hit him with a
stick and he threw him into the third row. When he returned, Owen told him
he 'looked like a Mad Dog' and it fit him perfect.
Patterson asked him to tell the story of the night he opened a plane in mid-air.
He had too many drinks while flying back to Minnesota and opened the door.
He could be feel himself being pulled out and said "Its a good night to
die." He was charged $500 for opening the door, so he never did it again.
Vachon told some stories of starring in commercials in Montreal. WWE cut
his speech as he was going long and rambling a bit.
Jerry Lawler said that if had a dollar for every time he was asked where Jim
Ross was, he's be a Million Dollar Man. He then introduced Ross, who got a
huge reaction.
The second inductee is Wendi Richter.
They showed a video feature on Wendi Richter.
Jerry Lawler noted that the Rock and Wrestling Connection began on a segment of
Piper's Pit and introduced Roddy Piper.
Piper asked if anyone can believe tomorrow is Wrestlemania and quipped he was
there when it 'didn't have a number.'
Piper said he lived with Mad Dog Vachon for two years. "There's a
reason I act like this."
Piper said the early 80s was a time of feminism, which he didn't appreciate
until he had his daughters. He said you had to do tough things back then,
'like date Moolah and live.'
Piper said it was an exciting time and he got to knock out Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.
He then saw something come under the ropes and he kicked it. He said he
ended up "kicking a girl who only wanted to have fun."
He told lots of 80s stories about celebrities being involved in the Rock and
Wrestling era. He said Wendi Richter came along and he always had a crush
on her. He said Wendi had a way to bring class to the NWA, where he first
met her, and the WWF.
Piper mentioned he hated the Rock and Wrestling cartoon and said they once had a
cartoon where Wendi Richter beat him in a knighting contest. He said she
was a fierce competitor who gave everything for the fans and was a classy lady
outside of it.
Piper called Richter 'the Sandra Bullock of wrestling' and introduced her.
Wendi immediately joked that Piper had to repeat his introduction after the show
and said he was 'the best mouth in the business.'
Richter said this was her dream and she was humbled to be here, but it "Was
about damn time!"
She told the story of seeing wrestling for the first time live because her
friend wanted to see it. It was in Shreveport, Louisiana and the night was
destiny as she saw The Fabulous Moolah and was mesmerized. She told her
friend 'I think I can do that' and beat Moolah and four years later, which she
did in New York City.
Richter said she approached Sputnik Monroe about getting into wrestling and
he tried to discourage her but she had to follow her dreams. She talked
about her best opponents, naming Velvet McIntyre, Joyce Grable, Leilani Kai,
Princess Victoria and Judy Martin. She said they were wonderful people and
great wrestlers.
Wendi told a story of touring Japan and using what she learned there in the
United States to become what was then described as a 'rough babyface.'
Richter thanked her fans for standing behind her for 25 years and thanked Cyndi
Lauper for skyrocketing her career overnight.
Richter said that all she ever wanted was respect and feels that she has that
tonight. She said a female wrestler has to work 'twice as hard for half the pay'
and is honored to have paved the way for the stars of today.
Richter said 'there's a place where you can touch a woman and drive her crazy...
her heart'... and everyone did tonight. She finished off saying 'Girls
Just Want to Have Fun.'
The third inductee is Stu Hart.
They aired an awesome video on Hart's career. They showed Natalya on
the screens crying after the video. Lawler introduced Bret Hart.
Hart came out, followed by all of Stu's children. Bret said he didn't know where
to start, and didn't have enough time, but his father was a great wrestling
promoter and was almost loved as much by the wrestlers as his own children.
He said Stu worked on a 'handshake deal' and that was rare.
Hart said the man he longs to be is the man he felt his father was. He
said there were wrestlers in his life from the day he was born and the family
loved and misses that time. He said there were so many things they loved
about the wrestling business.
Hart said when he was a child, on a school night, he remembers one of the
Cadillacs his dad used to transport wrestlers was stuck at the front gate of the
property. Bret said he saw it was stuck, then dozed back off to sleep.
His father went down to see who it was that was stuck. It turned out it
was a kid who tried to steal one of the cars because the keys were in it.
His father dragged the guy back up to the house. Bret thought it was his
brother Smith. Stu began stretching the guy in the kitchen and suddenly
the brothers realized they were all accounted for upstairs.
Stu stretched the guy for three or four hours, then instead of calling the
police, he called the kid's parents to get him... and gave the kid a job as an
usher. Bret said for years he would see that kid and think it was amazing
how quick things change.
Bret said its like that for a lot of wrestlers who got their starts in Calgary.
He said it was a great accomplishment to start there.
Hart said that Stu had a great sense of humor similar to Owen Hart. There
was a big "Owen" chant. Hart said in the 70's Hart was famous
for 'Mable Parties.' He told a story of The Great Antonio being ribbed
about a girl named Mable who liked him, and Antonio believing it was real.
When they went to see Mable while her husband was away, one of the wrestler's
brothers would play her husband, show up with a gun and shoot blanks at them.
The 'shot' wrestler would tell Antonio to run. Antonio found the police
and, of course, when the cops arrived all they found were all the wrestlers
laughing about the rib... and Antonio had to sit in the back of the police car
worrying while the police enjoyed a few drinks with the wrestlers.
Bret said that Stu had a tough reputation but he was a funny and loving man.
He said they all missed Stu and life has never been the same without him.
He said that Calgary wrestling was something you had to see to believe and they
gave everyone a truly special wrestling product.
He said that his father will live on forever now that he's in the WWE Hall of
Fame and thanked everyone for that.
The next inductee was Antonio Inoki.
They played a video on Inoki's career.
Jerry Lawler introduced Stan Hansen. Hansen said he 'spent the last few
decades in Japan and never did one interview', so please bear with him if he
stumbles a little.
He said he wrestled all the top competitors in Japan and they were hard ranks to
climb. He said Inoki stands alone in many respects. "Inoki was
a household name with everyone in Japan - that's how over he was."
Hansen said that Rikidozan learned of a pure Japanese athlete living in Brazil
and brought him back as a young star to train under him. He said the rest
of the story is that Inoki became an icon in Japan. Inoki was excited
about promoting pro wrestling - Hansen emphasized PRO WRESTLING - and said he
was lucky enough to be a part of that.
He talked of Inoki putting together a Boxer vs. Wrestler match and that launched
MMA. He said Inoki did it as a wrestler. He said Inoki used pro
wrestling to promote peace and Inoki used his power to go to North Korea and
Iraq. He said Inoki pushed the envelope and went to India and Pakistan
before anyone else to try and broaden pro wrestling.
Hansen said that after the Shea Stadium show (where Hansen faced Bruno
Sammartino), Vince McMahon Sr. got him booked for Inoki in Japan. At the
time, Hansen didn't know much about how over Inoki was.
One time, Hansen's back was bad. He and Dynamite Kid got on an eight hour
train that stopped every twenty minutes. He said they went to the southern
part of Japan and were sent to chiropractors. They used flame and a cup to
kill the pain in a vacuum. The doctor told Hansen he could 'adjust him' to
where he would be impotent, to which Hansen said "Whoa!"
He told a story about Inoki wrestling Jack Brisco in Japan. Hansen, Chavo
Guerrero and Steve Keirn are watching in the back. Inoki goes over and
starts tossing his winnings out of the ring to the fans. Hansen said that
it showed how much the promotion gave to the fans.
Hansen told a story of wrestling Inoki in Sapporo and having Inoki choked
outside against a railing. Hansen said he doesn't see very well without
his glasses. He sees someone winding up to hit him then the person tossed
an egg on him. Hansen said he hopped the rail and followed the fan around.
He said he knew the fan would trip over someone, and he did. He 'taught
the fan a lesson' and the next day, there's big trouble and he needed to go to a
police station. He spent the entire day being questioned. He leaves
to go to the show and there's the fan, all bandaged up, bowing and apologizing.
Inoki had told the fan about the trouble and the fan went on to become a great
sponsor for Hansen.
Hansen said it was his honor to tell some stories and induct Inoki into the Hall
of Fame.
Inoki said his English is bad, and that he started in Japan. He thanked
everyone for attending the ceremony. He said it was an honor for him to
receive such a prestigious honor and the timing was perfect, as his first match
was 50 years ago this year. Inoki said he was proud to develop professional
wrestling and martial arts.
Inoki then spoke in Japanese with a translator. He said he wanted to thank
his fans in Japan and those who came here for the ceremony. He said this
year is his 50th anniversary and he appreciates the fans and everyone who worked
on inducting him.
He said he's been watching many of his matches recently and the most famous was
the fight against Muhammad Ali. He said after the match he was able to
build a nice friendship with Ali, and via that friendship, he was able to attend
an event in North Korea that drew 190,000 people twice.
He said with the skills he developed as a wrestler, he was able to promote a
'Sports for Peace' event in Iraq.
He thanked all his fans. He said he's been working on unique events and
would like to promote a card in Antarctica with WWE to promote Global Warming
awareness.
Inoki did his traditional Japanese cheer after explaining it to the crowd and
asking them to do it with them. They all did. A really nice speech.
Jerry Lawler talked about celebrities in wrestling and said the next man is
just as important as any of them. He brought out Dick Ebersol.
Ebersol said 25 years ago tonight he was producing one of his last Saturday
Night Live episodes and had Hulk Hogan and Mr. T doing a sketch on the show.
He said Hogan got so carried away, he laughed and couldn't read his cue cards.
That was the night before Wrestlemania 1 and it led to the launch of Saturday
Night's Main Event. He said that he's never had more fun than he did when
working to produce WWE programming for NBC.
Ebersol said that Bob Uecker has had the most extraordinary career of any sports
personality. He said Bob had a ten year career, only batted .200 and yet
is still in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame.
Ebersol introduced a video on Uecker.
Ebersol told the story that brought Bob Uecker to Wrestlemania 3. They
had gone to Detroit six weeks before the PPV to survey the site and figure out
how to get everyone into the building.
He said Vince McMahon was trying to get Uecker, who didn't "get it" to
appear. Ebersol said they would go visit Uecker to convince him.
Ebersol sent for Jesse Ventura to come help.
They arrived and called Uecker and told him they were at his hotel. They
needed two hours and a "lot of beer" to get Uecker to agree. He
said Uecker had the time of his life but didn't know it was coming when Andre
the Giant put his arms around him and he was scared to death.
He introduced Bob Uecker.
Bob Uecker said he had a lot to say but "Inoki stole his speech."
Uecker said he wasn't always a great player and his father didn't know a lot
about sports but wanted him to do everything the other kids did. His dad
got him a football and they didn't know how to throw it, so they kicked it
around until a nice neighbor filled it with air for him and "What a
difference that made!"
Uecker said that he was interested in wrestling when he was 75 or 80 pounds.
He told a story about being so poor his mother made him an athletic supporter
from a flour sack "and the flour would fall out."
He told some funny baseball stories and showed off his Hall of Fame ring.
He joked that "everyone else got a diamond," but he got a zircum.
He talked about dreaming of a world championship ring... and his was tossed into
the field and he had to find it during the fifth inning.
Uecker said that he met Dick Ebersol years ago and mentioned some of the shows
he was involved in. When he was called to do Wrestlemania, he said he
initially said no because it was during Spring Training but it turned out to be
one of the best things he ever did in his life.
He told a story of Jake Roberts asking him to take a picture with Damian.
He asked who Damian was and Jake said, "He's in the bag." Uecker
said, "So am I. Pass me another beer."
When they got to Detroit, he got to meet everyone and was having the time of his
life. He said he had spent time with Andre the Giant but had no idea it
was coming. Uecker said if the camera had stayed on them we'd have seen
him on top of Andre with Vince yelling for him to let Andre go because he had a
match.
Uecker said when he was a kid, his grandma did wrestler's laundry and told a
story of putting on Dick the Bruiser's tights. He talked about watching
Milwaukee wrestling in the Rendezvous Ballroom.
Uecker continued his self deprecating lines and joked a lot. It was
hilarious.
Uecker said that all of the things he's had the chance to do in his life, some
of the best times he's had were with WWE. He said he was amazed by how jam
packed the place is tonight and is amazed by the body punishment the wrestlers
put themselves through.
He thanked everyone for their time and laughter.
Jerry Lawler introduced a video of Gorgeous George.
Lawler then introduced 'the only man here who can say he wrestled George three
times' - The Destroyer Dick Beyer - who came out wearing his mask.
Destroyer said he is extremely excited and pleased to honor Gorgeous George with
the WWE Hall of Fame. He said in college he watched George when George was
big, made money and brought entertainment to pro wrestling.
Destroyer talked about George's Bobby Pins and wishes he had 2,000 to sell on
Ebay. He told the story of wrestling George for the first time and learned
that George could indeed wrestle.
Going forward, a Los Angeles promoter wanted to put a mask on Destroyer and
he thought he was crazy. 16 months later the promoter wanted to take it
off and Destroyer said 'not tonight'. This led to Destroyer's next story.
George owned a bar in the area and invited Destroyer to visit. The bar
would have been the equivalent of the best sports bar today and had tons of
photos of celebrities, but the bar was empty. George said he needed a
payday and pitched Destroyer's mask against George's hair. Destroyer
didn't want to lose his mask. George said not to worry and wanted to do
all the pomp and circumstance. The promoter, Jules Strongow, agreed to do
it and George submitted to a figure four. As they cut George's hair,
Destroyer felt bad that he helped ruin the first image that brought
entertainment to pro wrestling.
Destroyer said George was 'the living orchid' and had a mask for George's widow
Betty. He said he was proud to have inducted George into the Hall of Fame.
Jerry Lawler introduced Betty Wagner, Gorgeous George's former wife, to
accept on his behalf.
She said George was gorgeous. Her mother told George he was gorgeous, and they
decided that was it for his name. Betty said she made all of George's
robes. She told stories of her kids running around in the wrestling robes.
Betty was asked if there was anything else she wanted to say about George and
she said she didn't want to 'tell everything' and thinks it was time she should
go.
A short but funny and sweet induction.
Jerry Lawler asked for everyone to stand and applaud all the inductees since
the crowd ignored the "Applause" signs.
Jerry Lawler said their final inductee once wrote a check so big, his bank
bounced. He sent us to a great Ted DiBiase career video.
Lawler introduced Ted and Brett DiBiase to induct their father.
Brett said his father was getting inducted and Ted was getting his first
Wrestlemania match tomorrow, so tonight he was going to talk about him. He
and Ted did a comedy bit about playing with wrestling buddies and Ted dressing
like Scary Sherri as kids.
Ted said they were honored to induct not just one of the greatest villains WWE
ever produced, but a good man. Brett told a story that his father once
told him how he only despises three things...a liar, a cheater and a thief.
His father taught them a man is only as good as his word.
Ted said that the success and talent his father had as an in-ring performer is
undeniable and the Million Dollar Man character will forever be cherished by
those who love the business.
Ted said his father has more passion than anyone he's ever known and is proud to
carry on his name in this business. He said that they are so proud of
their father and for the level of character and integrity he brings.
Jerry Lawler introduced Ted DiBiase, who came out with the Million Dollar
Belt. DiBiase said that like an American Express card, he never leaves
home without it.
He says that it is an amazing night. There are moments in life that you
can't put a price tag on and for him, tonight is that "priceless"
night. He said to be in the Hall of Fame means he's been honored by his
colleagues and he's very honored and humbled to join a very long line of legends
in the business.
DiBiase said he had some many things and stories that went through his mind.
He said there are some stories that are too good to be true. He told a
story about 1987. For the last 12 years before that he had worked hard and
wrestled in no-name towns and one day the WWE calls. The next day, he's in
first class heading to New York. A limo takes him to Stamford and he meets
with the brain trust.
They tell him they have an idea for a new character that would be 'truly evil.'
For this character he would fly the best airlines, stay at the best hotels and
have a limo take him everywhere he goes. He joked it was a hard job.
They told Ted they wanted to make him one of the best villains and he thought
the fans and the wrestlers would hate him. They handed him several
thousand dollars and sent Ted and his wife to New York City to spend it while
staying at the best hotel. He told his wife that 'their ship had come in.'
DiBiase thanked Harley Race, Terry Funk, The Briscoes, Dick Murdoch and Killer
Karl Kox. He thanked Harley for trying to save Iron Mike DiBiase's life
the night he had a heart attack in the ring. Ted said ten years later he
was in the ring against Harley in his first world title match.
DiBiase pointed out his wife Melanie and praised her for giving him a second
chance and for being his rock. DiBiase thanked God and Jesus Christ for
his mercy.
DiBiase said you can't talk about the Million Dollar Man without talking about
Virgil. He told a story about Virgil picking up their bags and then
realizing they didn't have the Million Dollar Belt. He raced back to the
Atlanta airport and there's no briefcase at the carousel. He went to the
baggage officer who had it. The baggage officer told him he had no idea
how lucky DiBiase was that they had the briefcase. DiBiase said, "No,
you don't know how lucky I am"... and opened the case to reveal the belt.
DiBiase praised Arn Anderson before addressing the younger stars. DiBiase
said his father told him not to go out for anything he isn't passionate about.
He told them to be passionate about what you do, live your life with integrity
and work hard. He said the person with the biggest heart and the person
who is the most dependable will get the job.
DiBiase said this was a moment where he wishes his father was here and believed
his dad would say "Job well done."
DiBiase thanked the fans for the night and this moment. He then said that
just in case anyone doubts that "you don't have a price and can't be
bought"...he went into a Million Dollar promo and they dropped a ton of
money down on the crowd.
They brought out all the inductees and ended the ceremony.
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