LOOKING AT POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE TEXAS WING OF THE WWE HALL OF FAME
By Doug Brown on 1/14/2009 6:19 PM
Texas is a state that is rich in professional wrestling history. This year WWE brings Wrestlemania 25 to Reliant Stadium in Houston. In this week's column, I wanted to focus on the night before Wrestlemania, which will feature the Hall of Fame inductions. We have already found out that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Cowboy Bill Watts are going to join the 68 men and women that have already been inducted since the honor was started back in 1993. I know I criticize WWE quite a bit here on the Pro Wrestling Insider website, but I also believe in giving credit where it is due. The Hall of Fame is something that I look forward to every year, because it honors the sport's very best. Over the last few years, they have gone with more of a theme to the inductions, with Florida, Chicago, and Detroit. I thought it would be fun to take a look at some potential Texas inductees.
Paul Boesch - You cannot think of Houston Wrestling without thinking of Paul Boesch. He made his mark over six decades in the industry first as a wrestler and an announcer, but then his biggest success came as a promoter. Boesch regularly came up with innovative concepts for matches, and brought in the biggest stars to compete at the old Sam Houston Coliseum. In the territory days, many promoters were known for trying to regularly cheat the talent on their payoffs. Boesch, however, was known and respected for being both fair and generous with the wrestlers.
The Undertaker - The inductions are in his hometown of Houston. I know they are protective of his gimmick, but for one night couldn't they make an exception? The Undertaker has a lot of friends and family still living in the area, and it would be great for him to receive his induction in front of them. The Undertaker is a multi-time WWE/World Heavyweight Champion, Tag Team Champion, and even held the Hardcore Title. He's been with WWE for over 18 years, and is the most respected big man since Andre the Giant.
Shawn Michaels - Given the current storyline, this induction is probably less likely. Still, I can hold out hope. Despite his antics earlier in his career, no one can question his in-ring accomplishments. Michaels has held both the WWE and World Heavyweight Titles, the WWE, World, and AWA Tag Team Titles, the Intercontinental Title, and was the first European Champion. His classic matches at the "Showcase of the Immortals" has earned him the nickname, "Mr. Wrestlemania." San Antonio is not that far from Houston, and like the Undertaker and Austin, it would be nice for Michaels and his family to share in this moment in their home state.
Tully Blanchard - He was one of the founding members of the Four Horsemen. Blanchard was an amazing competitor as both the NWA World TV Champion, and the NWA United States Champion. He would later join forces with Anderson to win both the NWA and WWF Tag Team Titles. Blanchard's feuds with guys like Dusty Rhodes and Magnum T.A., are the stuff legends are made of. His "I Quit" Match with Magnum T.A., was one of the greatest battles in terms of sheer brutality that I've ever seen.
Barry Windham - This second generation star was one of the few guys to hold every major title in the NWA/WCW organization. Many (including myself) regard Windham's time with Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, and Arn Anderson as the best group of Four Horsemen ever assembled. During the early-90's, Windham was regarded as one of the best workers in the company, and also during that stretch achieved a lifelong dream by defeating the Great Muta for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. In addition to that, Windham was also a member of the U.S. Express with future brother-in-law Mike Rotunda, and as a duo they held the WWF Tag Team Championships on two occasions.
Fritz, David, Kerry, and Kevin Von Erich - Regardless of what you might think of them personally, the Von Erichs were a Texas wrestling institution. They dominated the Dallas (later World Class) area for many years. Fritz was an accomplished wrestler, and later a visionary promoter. The World Class documentary (not the WWE produced one) talks about changes he made to TV production, and also how he believed in promoting younger, more athletic wrestlers as opposed to the old guard. The Von Erich brothers were the big draw for the World Class promotion, selling out the Sportatorium, and regularly drawing 30,000-40,000 people for their shows at Texas Stadium. In the ring, they will probably be best remembered for their legendary feud with the Fabulous Freebirds. Unfortunately, outside the ring, they are right up with there with Owen Hart and Chris Benoit as wrestling's greatest tragedies.
The Fabulous Freebirds - Whether it was World Class or the Mid-South/UWF, the Fabulous Freebirds were always raising hell. During the mid-80's, they were the top heel draw in the state. Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts, and the late Terry Gordy could rile up crowds like no one else. Their feud with the Von Erichs regularly sold out the Sportatorium in Dallas, and their feuds with Steve "Dr. Death" Williams, Ted Dibiase, and Devastation Inc. regularly sold out the Sam Houston Coliseum. "Badstreet USA" still remains my all time favorite wrestling theme song.
Terry Funk - The Funker is without a doubt one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots. A former NWA and ECW World Champion, Funk has held more titles than he can probably remember. It was amazing to watch a man over the age of fifty achieve in the ring for WWE, WCW, and ECW what he did. Funk also totally revolutionized the hardcore style. He's had many great matches over the years, but the feud that every wrestling fan will think about most involves his long time friend, Mick Foley. It is a shame that Mick is in TNA, because if Funk were to go in this year, I can think of no one better to induct him.
Dory Funk Jr. - For four years, he was the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Whether in singles, or teaming with his brother Terry, Dory was always a formidable opponent. Also like Terry, Dory has an extensive title resume from all of the NWA territories that they wrestled in over the years. In addition to the U.S., he was also one of the top American wrestlers to compete in Japan. The match that I always remember was his Slamboree Legends Match with Nick Bockwinkel. I watched that match with an older couple, friends of the family who were like a third set of grandparents to me, and after it was over they both said, "Now that's wrestling the way it used to be." The match ended in a 15 minute draw, and even had a younger crowd, many of whom probably never saw these guys compete before, chanting for five more minutes.
Gory Guerrero - Along with El Santo, he was one of the founding fathers of Lucha Libre. He promoted wrestling for years in El Paso. He also had four sons and a grandson that followed him into the business. His induction may be a long shot, because he passed away before many of today's fans were even born. Still, we all remember what an emotional evening it was for the Guerrero family when Eddie was inducted. I think it would be great to give them another memorable night by inducting Gory.
Wahoo McDaniel - While he made it to the WCW Hall of Fame, McDaniel has not made it into the WWE Hall of Fame yet. "The Big Chief" was a star both in the ring and on the gridiron for many years. He was a big part of the Houston wrestling territory in the 1960's and 1970's, and is prominentaly featured in the book, "Friday Night at the Coliseum." His feud with Johnny Valentine was one of the key's to the promotion's success. McDaniel went on to be a star in the original NWA, and won the U.S. Title, as well as several regional titles in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts - Roberts was one of the biggest stars in wrestling during the 1980's. He never won any major titles, but he didn't need to. He was at one point so popular that fans started chanting "D-D-T" before his matches even started. Whether it was as a babyface or a heel, he played both roles to equal perfection. When his head was screwed on straight, no one could touch him in terms of in-ring psychology. When I first started watching wrestling, he was just ending his run in Houston, and moving on to the WWF. He had memorable feuds with the Honky Tonk Man and Rick Rude, but his most notable match will probable be the King of the Ring finals that set "Stone Cold" Steve Austin on the path to greatness.
Ted Dibiase Sr. - With Rhodes and Orton's fathers already in the Hall of Fame, it only makes sense to induct Dibiase's father. Ted Dibiase was one of the top babyfaces for Bill Watts' UWF, which ran shows every Friday night in Houston during the mid-1980's. I can remember how excited I was when he beat Terry Gordy for the UWF Title, and then how disappointed I was when on TV the next week he had to return the belt, because his name was not on the contract. (He substituted for Steve Williams that night.) Dibiase later went on to the WWF and became the Million Dollar Man. He had many classic feuds with Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and later teamed with Irwin R. Schyster to win three Tag Team Titles as Money Inc. Injuries forced him into early retirement, where he became an announcer and manager. As a manager, he introduced both Steve Austin and the Undertaker to the WWF audience.
I could go on and on with the list of names of Texas wrestlers that are Hall of Fame worthy. The Hall of Fame class has the potential to be one of WWE's best yet. I look forward to the announcement of further inductions as the weeks to Wrestlemania pass by. Now let's just hope the alcohol consumption of the fans is limited, so that there are not any further drunken idiot outbursts that have marred previous ceremonies.
