Let's Dance (vol. 6- The Undertaker)

In honor of the "Road To WrestleMania," I would like to dedicate this "Let's Dance" segment to a man that has become a WrestleMania Dynasty. He took WrestleMania and turned it into a Mansion. This man is none other than the Deadman himself, The Undertaker.

The better your Dance Partners are, the better you look as a performer. It takes two to tango and Taker has danced with partners of different styles. Many of them have faced him at WM while some did not. As I have said before, the better your dance partners are, the better you look yourself. It also helps to have a lot of high-quality partners to dance with as it creates the best chemistry. Just like Batman, Undertaker has an excellent Rogues Gallery of Rivals. Time to examine who are the best:

Shawn Michaels:

Match Quality: 5/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 9.5/10

Featured Matches:
In Your House: Ground Zero
Hell In A Cell (Bad Blood 1997)
Casket Match for WWF Title (Royal Rumble 1998)
2007 Royal Rumble
WrestleMania XXV
WrestleMania XXVI (Streak vs. Career)

The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels have been the pillars of WWE from the New Generation Era into the Ruthless Aggression/Early PG Era. They pretty much came up together in the ranks of wrestling from the territories going into the WWE. Both legends had been at the top of the WWE Card since the mid-1990's. HBK and UT did not finally have a program together until 1997 when Shawn cost Taker the WWF/E Title against Bret Hart at Summerslam 1997. Shawn revealed that he cheated Taker on purpose as this led to the epic first ever HIAC Match at Bad Blood 1997. The match was a masterpiece and in my estimation one of the top two matches of the entire year next to Bret vs. Austin at WM 13. This would lead to the introduction of Kane, who helped Shawn win. Taker had two problems on his hands (HBK & Kane). UT would fight Shawn in a Casket Match for the Title at Royal Rumble only for Kane to interfere again. Michaels would prematurely retire for the first time with a 4-year absence. When Shawn returned in 2002, he and Undertaker kept their distance until Royal Rumble 2007 where their rivalry was rekindled. UT & HBK were the last two men standing to go to war for at least 8-10 minutes before The Phenom won the Rumble. Next year, they would be the first two in the Rumble. Finally, their feud would reach its climax going into two epic WrestleMania Matches. The story was centered around who was truly the Greatest WrestleMania performer as they stole the show in each match. Their finale took place at WM XXVI with Shawn's career coming to an end. Both of them were WrestleMania Masters.

Kane:

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 10/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

The Classic Brother vs. Brother. Arguably the Greatest Storyline ever told. Fire and Brimstone. The Brothers of Destruction have forever been connected from the moment that Kane made his earth-shattering debut at Bad Blood 1997 when he ripped the cell door open during Undertaker's match with Shawn Michaels. Who could ever forget Vince McMahon screaming "That's got to be Kane"? Taker looked in disbelief that his brother was still alive. Kane proceeded to drill his older brother with a Tombstone Piledriver as a bloody HBK picked up the victory. Taker refused to fight his brother at first. Of course, that was until Kane interfered once again in a match involving Undertaker and HBK. At Royal Rumble '98, Undertaker wrestled Shawn Michaels for the WWF Title in a Casket Match. It looked as if the Phenom would seal the win for the Title, but Kane attacked him and locked him in the Casket. After the match was over, Kane burned the Casket with Undertaker trapped inside. When everyone though Undertaker was dead, he made his re-emergence on Monday Night Raw challenging Kane to a match at WrestleMania. This match told a brilliant story and could possibly be the best match of the night. Undertaker and Kane went the distance in their best battle ever. The Deadman defeated The Big Red Machine with 3 Tombstones. Taker would win the rematch at Unforgiven in their Inferno Match. The Brothers of Destruction would wrestle to a no contest at Judgment Day over the WWF Championship. Undertaker would also defeat Kane at Survivor Series in the Quarter Final. As the Biker (ABA) Undertaker would defeat Kane at Summerslam 2000. They would also team up during the Invasion storyline to win the WCW Tag Titles. Their feud would rekindle when Kane helped Vince McMahon defeat Taker in the Buried Alive Match at Survivor Series. Undertaker would return as the Deadman to defeat him at WrestleMania XX. This would be their last encounter for quite some time. This was their next best match to their WM XIV encounter. Later on, Kane would gain the upper hand by defeating his brother at Night Of Champions to retain the WHC as well as HIAC. The feud would come to an end at Bragging Rights with Kane winning in the Buried Alive Match. Even when some of the matches started to fall off, the storyline is what made this dance a dance worth watching.

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania XIV
Unforgiven 1998 (Inferno Match)
Judgment Day 1998
Survivor Series 1998
Summerslam 2000
WrestleMania XX
Night Of Champions
Summerslam 2010


Mankind

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

When Mankind made his arrival to the World Wrestling Federation in 1996, he made his biggest statement by attacking The Undertaker. Never before had The Phenom faced an opponent that could shake him psychologically as he is the Master of Mind Games. The night after WrestleMania XII, Taker was attacked by Mankind in a great angle. The biggest plot twist came when Paul Bearer turned betrayed Taker after being The Deadman's confidant for many years. For the first time ever, The Undertaker submitted to Mankind's Mandible Claw. It was a very noteworthy way to put Mankind on the map in the WWF/E. Their feud would include matches that revolutionized wrestling. Mankind gained the upper hand with wins over Taker at KOTR '96 and the Boiler Room Brawl Match at Summerslam that year. Taker would finally turn things around by winning the Buried Alive match at IYH, along with his victory at Survivor Series 1996. UT would successfully defend his WWF Title at the IYH named in his honor "Revenge of the Taker". Their feud would conclude at KOTR 1996 inside of HIAC. This was the Match of the Year and the high point of the feud and it ended on a very high note. This rivalry made one career and revived another. For more than 2 years, Undertaker was forced to dance with useless or washed up big men that could not keep up with him. From Giant Gonzalez (awful), King Kong Bundy (past his prime), Yokozuna (decent), Fake Undertaker, Kama (Taker had to look out for his BSK buddy) and Mabel (injured Taker so bad that he had to wear the Phantom of the Opera Mask). Undertaker finally gets relief in 1996 when WWF/E signs veteran Cactus Jack who becomes Mankind. Taker FINALLY had someone who could bring the best out of him while he made someone else a star.

Featured Matches:
King of the Ring 1996
Summerslam 1996 (Boiler Room Brawl Match)
In Your House: Buried Alive
Survivor Series 1996
In Your House: Revenge of the Taker (WWF Championship)
KOTR 1998 (Hell In A Cell)



Edge:

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

Featured Matches:
Armageddon 2007 (Triple Threat vs. Batista for World Heavyweight Championship)
WrestleMania XXIV (World Heavyweight Championship)
Backlash 2008 (WHC)
Judgment Day 2008 (WHC)
One Night Stand 2008 (TLC Match for WHC)
Summerslam 2008 (HIAC)

This is a feud that will go down as an all-time great for both Undertaker and Edge. It all started in 2007 when Edge cashed in the MITB Briefcase on an injured Undertaker after his battle with Batista. Following the match, Mark Henry attacked the bloodied Taker before Edge cashed in and picked the bones of the Deadman with a Spear to capture the World Heavyweight Title. Like with John Cena, Edge cashed in on a bloodied Champion. Both cash-ins were highly significant and further elevated Edge's status as a conniving heel that would seek any opportunity to win. Edge and Taker would both get hit by the injury bug in between. At Survivor Series, Edge cost Taker the World Title against Batista. Their paths would cross along with Batista's at Armageddon where Edge defeated Taker and The Animal to win back the Title. After three months of ducking Taker, Edge had no choice but to finally face him at WrestleMania XXIV. It was an excellent choice for the Main Event, as Undertaker defeated Edge to not only maintain The Streak but to also recapture the WHC. The Deadman would defeat the Rated R Superstar in the following rematches from Backlash to Judgment Day. Vickie Guerrero would strip Taker of the Title for his use of "Hell's Gate". Edge would finally gain the upper hand in his specialty of TLC as he regained the World Heavyweight Title at One Night Stand. Two months later, Undertaker returns to defeat Edge at Summerslam in the first HIAC match of the PG Era. This was the final chapter in their rivalry. Edge found ways to bring the best out of himself and Taker when they danced together and vice versa. Clearly one of the best feuds towards the end of the Ruthless Aggression Era going into the PG Era.

Brock Lesnar:

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

Featured Matches:
Unforgiven 2002 (WWE Championship)
No Mercy 2002 (HIAC for WWE Championship)
No Mercy 2003 (Biker Chain Match for WWE Title)
WrestleMania XXX
Summerslam 2015
HIAC 2015

The feud started in 2002 when Brock was a rookie on an amazing rise to the Top of the WWE. Lesnar defeated The Rock for the WWE Title at Summerslam while demolishing other veterans in his path of destruction. His first challenger is none other than WWE Legend The Undertaker. This took place during Taker's Biker Era as he was the ultimate test for Brock to prove himself as Champion. They could have left Taker's family out of the storyline, but their first match did have a great buildup leading to their battle at Unforgiven. This match is criticized for ending in a no-contest, but it made sense a month later. Brock broke Taker's hand. Smackdown GM Stephanie McMahon declared The Undertaker as the number one contender for Brock's WWE Title at No Mercy. This led to their classic HIAC Match, which will forever go down as one of the best ever. The brutality was the story of the match as it was tailor made for Ruthless Aggression. It was the most gruesome Cell Match I have ever seen because I never saw Undertaker bleed like that before in his career. The story was about Brock being out of his element but digging deep down inside to overcome a Phenom like Taker in a match that UT himself made famous. Lesnar emerged victorious when he reversed Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver into an F-5. This match brought a new meaning to "Crimson Mask". They would have a rematch at No Mercy 2003 in a Biker Chain Match, but it was not on the level of their No Mercy Match from the year prior. Brock would take a long absence from the WWE to make a name for himself in the UFC. Two years after Lesnar's return, their feud would reignite leading up to WrestleMania 30. On the 30th Anniversary of WrestleMania, the world witnessed the BIGGEST Surprise in all of the Wrestling world. Brock Lesnar BROKE THE STREAK. It became not only one of Undertaker's signature moments but a turning point for Brock's WWE Career since his return. This would seem like the final chapter in their saga. However, their feud would resurface again thanks to declining ratings. Undertaker cost Brock the WWE Title match at BattleGround. The next night on RAW, Brock and Taker would have a brawl at the start of the show as it would lead to their next match at Summerslam. The match told a great story but ended with Undertaker winning in controversial fashion. The score would be settled once and for all at HIAC. Brock would defeat Taker after a powerhouse battle inside of the Cell. I believe this is their very final encounter. Brock was a dance partner that humanized Undertaker. Brock and Taker dance do a different beat. This was far from Taker's battles with Shawn Michaels. These dances were filled with blood and war. Brock was never phased by Taker's aura and mind games. This was nothing but Old School brawling and warfare. Two beasts fighting to tear each other apart.

Triple H:

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8/10

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania X-7
WrestleMania XXVII
WrestleMania XXVIII

Part of The Undertaker's legend centers around his longevity, rivalries and consistency as an upper card performer for well over 20 years. When it comes to the "End of An Era" it comes as a form of irony. Taker and Triple H were certainly pillars of the Attitude Era, but UT was already an established star before the Era started along with his previous WM opponent Shawn Michaels. This was not much of a feud in the beginning because when they had their first encounter, Undertaker was much higher in the pecking order as Trips was still Hunter Hearst Helmsley. When Undertaker feuded with Shawn Michaels, Triple H was merely a decoy that was not a real threat. Finally, Hunter would come into his own as the Leader of DX during the Attitude Era. After becoming a multi-time Champion, Triple H becomes a serious challenge for Taker going into WM X-7, in the Deadman's backyard of Houston. UT won in a great match that told it's story with the brawling. Taker goes 9-0 in the Biker Era. The Brothers of Destruction were supposed to have a feud with the Two Man Power Trip, but that was cut short thanks to The Game's injury. In the years to come, Taker and Trips would be the pillars for the Smackdown & RAW brands during the brand split Era. Taker was the anchor for Smackdown while Triple H was the anchor for RAW. Their paths would finally meet again after the retirement of Shawn Michaels following WrestleMania 26. Triple H would emerge as Undertaker's next challenge to Break The Streak. This time, they would be in the roles of part-time legends that would attract a crowd just in time for Mania. Shawn Michaels would also give his view on how he felt about Triple H challenging the Streak. At WrestleMania 27, Taker and Triple H would have the best match of the night, but that is not saying much considering how subpar that show was in WM History. Undertaker emerged victoriously, but had nothing to show for it as he was carried out on a stretcher after the match was over. Taker himself even admitted that his previous matches with Shawn Michaels took a lot out of him. With the way that it ended, it was underwhelming for Taker's standards. As a result, the stakes were raised even higher for their rematch at WrestleMania 28 by calling it the "End of an Era". This time, their match would be inside Hell In A Cell. As another bonus, Hunter's longtime friend Shawn Michaels was the Special Referee. The storytelling and quality were clearly better than their match at WM 27. Undertaker wins as the match has a much better conclusion. It wasn't really the "End of An Era" for their careers, but the last time they would feud together. When you compare these matches to Undertaker's masterpieces with Shawn Michaels, they fall relatively flat but still unique in their own way. The Game is clearly one of the best partners The Deadman has danced with on the Big Stage.

Randy Orton:

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8/10

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania 21
Summerslam 2005
No Mercy 2005
Armageddon 2005

When Randy Orton was "The Legend Killer" he defeated and attacked a number of legendary stars in wrestling. Orton defeated the likes of Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Sgt. Slaughter and RVD. He also spits in the faces of NWA legend Harley Race and the aforementioned Foley. He even gave Fabulous Moolah the RKO. He also gave Jake Roberts the RKO. If those feats don't qualify you as a Legend Killer, what else will? Finally, Randall received the spark that he needed after losing the WHC to Triple H. "Superstar" Billy Graham told Orton that he needed to find a way to make a bigger name for himself. After the conversation with Graham was over, Orton held a magazine with The Undertaker on the front cover. That was the sign that Randy found the next Legend to target. In 2005, Randy would face the biggest Legend of his career The Undertaker himself. Heading into WM 21, Orton tried to pretend that he was not phased by Taker's mind games. However, The Deadman always found a way to throw him off of his game. The young Orton boldly challenged The Phenom to a match at WrestleMania 21. This was the first time where The Streak was faced with a real threat. Randy was in prime position to break the Streak nearly 10 years earlier. However out of respect, Randy declined. The match itself was easily one of the best on the card and was part of Taker turning the corner with his matches at Mania. When Orton did Taker's throat slash, he signaled the end. When RKO tried the Tombstone, Taker reversed it into his own Tombstone Piledriver for the win. UT & RKO would feud for the rest of the year, including a match at Summerslam where Randy's father helped him win. The feud would conclude at Armageddon when Taker vanquished Orton inside HIAC. This was the perfect example of a younger star going over even in a losing effort. Sometimes it is hard for younger talent to dance with more experienced talent, but Orton proved that he had what it took to dance with The Phenom.

Conclusion:

Shawn Michaels:

If Undertaker is Batman, you can make a strong case and say that Shawn Michaels is The Joker. On the other hand, you can say that HBK is the Luke Skywalker to Taker's Darth Vader. I was close to choosing Kane or Mankind as Undertaker's greatest dance partner. This was a very tough call. However, I believe that Undertaker danced better with Shawn because of how fluid he himself is at 6'10" 300 lbs. Their chemistry together in the ring is incredible when you match a Giant like UT with a smaller more versatile opponent like HBK. They made history with the first ever HIAC Match at Badd Blood. If not for Austin vs. Bret, this match would have been "Match of the Year" for 1997. Then, you factor in the fact that going into their first match at WM, Taker had never defeated Shawn which was another great twist to add with the Streak on the line. Then, you factor in the "Light vs. Darkness, Heaven vs. Hell" theme surrounding the feud and it made this even more of an epic battle. When it comes to WrestleMania, they were Jedi Masters of the Highest Order. Here is the best way to describe their battles. The Badd Blood Match was Episode 4 (A New Hope- Great introduction). WrestleMania XXV was Episode 5 (Empire Strikes Back- The Best of the Series) while WrestleMania 26 was Episode 6 (Return of the Jedi- The Conclusion). WrestleMania was clearly the best way to close the chapter on their feud. Shawn Michaels was Hard Rock, Undertaker was Heavy Metal. Taker and HBK danced to different genres of music, but they created classic hits when they danced together in the squared circle. Their clashes will forever be the stuff of legend. 

(Portrait Courtesy of Rob Schamberger. Follow on Twitter: @RobSchamberger, Instagram: @RobSchamberger)

Undertaker's Top 10 Matches:

1. Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXV)

2. Vs. Shawn Michaels (Badd Blood 1997- HIAC)

3. Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXVI- Career vs. Streak)

4. Vs. Mankind (KOTR 1998)

5. Vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XXVIII- End of an Era Match)

6. Vs. Edge (Summerslam 2008)

7. Vs. Mankind (In Your House: Buried Alive)

8. Vs. Brock Lesnar (No Mercy 2002)

9. Vs. Edge (WrestleMania XXIV)

10. Vs. Kane (WrestleMania XIV)

The Legacy of Peyton Manning

Recently, Future HOF QB Peyton Manning announced his official retirement. Just like former Broncos QB legend and current VP John Elway, Manning left on top after winning the Super Bowl in his last NFL Game. Peyton and John have certain similarities in their careers. Both were drafted first overall by the Colts (Elway- 1983, Manning- 1998). However, John's draft rights were traded to the Broncos were he created his legacy, while Peyton made most of his legacy in Indianapolis. Both ended their careers in Denver as Super Bowl Champs.

Overall, Peyton has left an indelible mark on the NFL. Manning may not have had the same arm strength like a Brett Favre or the aforementioned Elway or the rocket release like Dan Marino. However, Peyton's greatest strength was his mind. He was a very cerebral Quarterback that knew how to read a defense better than perhaps any other QB in NFL History. Peyton's timing and football IQ have been second to none as he has found ways to decimate defenses. Manning's throws had incredible precision to them.

It is funny these days to think that there was an argument between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf over the 1st Overall Draft Choice. When Peyton was drafted by the Colts, he was chosen to take the Colts back to prominence for the first time since the Johnny Unitas Era. Manning became the heir apparent to Unitas. After having a rough start as a rookie (326-575, 3,739 yards, 26 TD's, 28 INT's 3-13), Peyton and the Colts turned things around and became for the most part. In 1999, Peyton started his streak of 6 straight seasons with 4,000+ passing yards.

That season, Indy went 13-3. In 2000, Peyton led the league in Pass Completions (357) and Passing Yards (4,413) and TD's (33) with a QB Rating of 94.7. After a disappointing 2001 Season, the Colts hired Tony Dungy as the new Head Coach to turn things around. The Colts bounced back in 2002 at 10-6. Peyton completed at that time a career high 392 completions for 591 attempts, 4,200 yards and 27 TD's. Over time, Manning would also minimize the number of Interceptions that he threw. In 2003, Peyton won his first of a record five NFL MVP Awards. Manning led the league in Completions (379-566), Completion % (67.0%), and Passing Yards (4,267) to lead Indy to a 12-4 record. Peyton would repeat his MVP Success by leading the NFL in Touchdowns (49) which was at that time a new record. During the Manning-Dungy Era, the Colts were a perennial 12+ win team. He also recorded a QB Rating of 121.1. This would be the first of three straight seasons where Peyton had a QB Rating of 100 or higher. He also topped his previous career-high for passing yards by throwing for 4,557. However, those numbers were not enough in the Postseason as the Colts fell short to Tom Brady's New England Patriots twice.

In 2005, the Colts went 14-2 with Manning leading the NFL in QB Rating again with 104.1. He also received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The Colts lost to the Wildcard Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round. In 2006, Peyton Manning finally got the monkey off of his back as he led the Colts to a Super Bowl Season. Manning went 362-557 for 4,397 yards with a league leading 31 Touchdowns and a QB Rating of 101.0. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI with Peyton winning Super Bowl MVP Honors. Manning would win back to back MVP Honors in 2008 and 2009. During the 2009 Season, the Colts would return to the Super Bowl only to lose to the New Orleans Saints. 2010 would be Peyton's last active season with the Colts as he led the NFL in Completions/Attempts (450-679) for 4,700 yards and 33 Touchdowns. The last QB to complete that many passes before Manning was Drew Bledsoe in 1994. Since then, Drew Brees has broken that record (468, 2011). Peyton Manning would have to sit out for the entire 2011 Season due to his neck injury and surgery that would be required. When Peyton was injured, his team suffered severely. It was clear that this illustrious chapter in Peyton's Career was over with the Colts.

However, a new chapter would start for Manning when he signed with the Denver Broncos. In 2012, Peyton did not miss a single beat. That season, he was named NFL "Comeback Player of the Year". That season, Manning went 400-583 for 4,659 yards and 37 Touchdowns. He also led the NFL in Completion % with 68.6. His QB Rating was also at 105.8. The Broncos received a resurgence with Manning's presence. Denver would fall to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs. The Broncos would reach the next level as Peyton Manning had an incredible record-breaking and record-setting NFL Season. Manning went 450-469 for an NFL-Record 5,477 Passing Yards and another NFL-Record 55 Touchdowns along with a QB Rating of 115.1. This season was phenomenal and transcendent, especially for a player that was on the very tail end of his career. Peyton was awarded his fifth and final NFL MVP Award. The Broncos would go 13-3 once again. Unfortunately, the Broncos were slaughtered by the Seattle Seahawks 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII thanks to their Legion of Boom Defense. Following the loss, the Broncos would boost their Defense and add more pieces to their team such as Future HOF'er Demarcus Ware. In 2004, Manning would cement himself as the NFL's All-Time Leader in Touchdowns surpassing Brett Favre. In Peyton's final season, the Broncos would return to the Super Bowl. This time, their Defense carried the load instead of Peyton. This past season, Manning became the NFL's All-Time Leader in Passing Yards. In Super Bowl 50, the Broncos Orange Crush Defense crushed Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers 24-10. Manning left on a very high note with his second Super Bowl victory.

Peyton leaves behind an outstanding legacy that stands the tests of time. He has rewritten the NFL record books like few other QB's before him. Manning has the most MVP's in Pro Football and ranks among the leaders in most MVP's in any sport. Peyton has more than Wilt Chamberlain (4). He is tied with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell who also have 5. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Gordie Howe (6), Barry Bonds (7), and Wayne Gretzky (9) have more MVP honors than Manning. Peyton sits atop the QB Mountain for Regular Season statistics. He ranks second in Completions (6,125 and Attempts (9,380), first in Passing Yards (71,940) and Touchdowns (539) with a QB Rating of 96.5 (5th). Manning has revolutionized the game by how Quarterbacks study their opponents and read Defensive Schemes. Their was a Science to the way that Peyton played the game. When all is said and done, their is no question that Peyton is among the Top 3-5 Quarterbacks in NFL History. His Resume says it all. Manning has carved a very special place for himself in NFL History. Mr. Peyton Manning is a True Legend and Future First-Ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Greatest Hall of Fame Classes

With the WWE Hall of Fame approaching, we would like to celebrate the best Hall of Fame Classes of all-time:

2005

Class: H. Hogan, Piper, Iron Sheik, Jimmy Hart, Bob Orton, Jr., Paul Orndorff, Nikolai Volkoff
This Class was Special because these were the stars of the first WrestleMania. I always call it the "WrestleMania I Crew". The Class was headlined by none other than H. Hogan himself, the focal point of the "Rock & Wrestling" Golden Era from the 80's. Along with him would be his friend Jimmy Hart, rivals Roddy Piper, Iron Sheik, Paul Orndorff, Nikolai Volkoff, and "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Jr. The induction took place the night before WM 21 in Los Angeles, CA.

2006
Class: Bret Hart, Eddie Guerrero, The Blackjacks, Sensational Sherri, William Perry, Tony Atlas, Verne Gagne

The Headliner for this Class was "The Hitman" Bret Hart with his presenter being Stone Cold Steve Austin. Bret and Austin had their Iconic WM 13 match in Chicago, so it was fitting that Bret chose him given their history. As a long time fan of Bret, this was very special for me. I also believe that the seeds were slowly being planted for Bret to be eased back into WWE one step at a time even though he finally made his return to WWE Television four years later. Bret still had his grudge with HBK, as that explains why Shawn was not present that night. This was also done to promote Bret's DVD "Best There Is, Was and Ever Will Be." The impact of Bret's appearance in years since the "Montreal Screwjob" was enough to boost the credibility of this class. Eddie Guerrero was inducted posthumously following his death in November 2005. His induction was very emotional and pulled the heartstrings of the fans that night.

2014
Class: Ultimate Warrior, Razor Ramon, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Lita, Mr. T, Paul Bearer, Carlos Colon

This was a fantastic HOF Class for the 30th Anniversary of WrestleMania. It was significant because it presented closure as The Ultimate Warrior was the Headliner for this Class. Warrior just made amends with WWE thanks to Triple H in order to break the ice between himself and Vince McMahon. Before his death, The Ultimate Warrior signed a Legends Contract that would allow him to be an Ambassador for the WWE. This also included Warrior's commercial promoting WWE 2K14. Warrior was the marquee attraction during HOF Weekend and gave the best speech in my view. This was also a night to welcome back Jake Roberts and Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) after they were cleaned up thanks to DDP Yoga. The quote that stuck out the most in Hall's speech was "Bad Times don't last, but Bad Guys do." Lita was presented by her arch rival Trish Stratus. Mr. T had one of the best speeches of the night, as he was a huge part of the first WrestleMania. Paul Bearer was inducted by Kane and Undertaker while his sons accepted on his behalf. Carlos Colon (World Wrestling Council) was inducted by his sons.

2015

Class: "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Kevin Nash, Tatsumi Fujinami, Madusa/Alundra Blayze, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry Zbysko, The Bushwhackers, Rikishi
This Class was special because there were inductions that were LONG overdue. This was an HOF that represented closure. However, it was also bittersweet because the Headliner for this HOF Class was not alive to accept this honor. "Macho Man" Randy Savage passed away in a Car Accident four years earlier. His brother Lanny Poffo accepted on his behalf. Madusa was finally welcomed back to WWE after 20 years of bad blood for her infamous act of dropping the Women's Title in the trash can at the start of the Monday Night Wars. Natalya was her presenter. Madusa made a light-hearted joke of the situation by bringing a trash can to the stage with the Title. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Celebrity Choice with Triple H as his presenter. At WM 31, Triple H paid tribute with his Terminator Entrance. Larry Zbysko took his place in the HOF as well. Japanese legend Tatsumi Fujinami was honored. The head scratching choices for this class were The Bushwhackers and Rikishi. Fans did not understand because they were mostly comedy acts in WWE, and that is all that was shown in their video packages. Meanwhile, their body of work was stronger outside of WWE for the most part. Kevin Nash closed out the night with Shawn Michaels as his presenter. The Kliq ended things on a high note as they celebrated together.

2012
Class: Edge, Four Horsemen, Mike Tyson, Yokozuna, Ron Simmons, Mil Mascaras

This HOF Class had great quality. What helped to make it special for me was that it took place on the weekend of WM 28, one of the best of recent memory. The headliner for this class was Edge because of how his career was sadly cut short due to injury. The Four Horsemen and Mike Tyson were the next big names for induction. Yokozuna was the posthumous induction presented by Rikishi. Ron Simmons was inducted by JBL and Mil Mascaras was the International pick presented by Alberto Del Rio.

2011
Class: Shawn Michaels, LOD, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Sunny, Abdullah The Butcher, Bob Armstrong, Drew Carey

In 2011, Shawn Michaels added another moniker to his resume: "Mr. Hall Of Fame". HBK was the Marquee Headliner for the Class of 2011 and it was special for his best friend Triple H to present him into the HOF. Shawn is highly regarded as the Greatest In-Ring Performer of all-time. This came off the heels of his retirement after his finale with Undertaker at WM 26 as well as WWE naming him the Greatest of All-Time on their Top 50 "Superstars" list. HBK is one of the most decorated stars in history. Along with Shawn, The Road Warriors/LOD were inducted. According to many fans, LOD is the Greatest Tag-Team of all-time. So it was rather fitting that they were inducted with HBK. Plus, The Road Warriors enjoyed some of their best success in the NWA along with WWE and other promotions. Abdullah The Butcher and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan were also inducted along with Bob Armstrong, Sunny and the most head scratching induction, Drew Carey.



2004
Class: Harley Race, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Sgt. Slaughter, Junkyard Dog, Pete Rose, Jesse Ventura, Tito Santana, Big John Studd, Greg Valentine, Don Muraco

On the 20th Anniversary of WrestleMania, WWE brought back the Hall of Fame in a huge way. In 2004, WWE inducted their largest class in HOF History with 11 Inductees. The names included were former NWA Champion Harley Race, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Bobby Heenan, Sgt. Slaughter, JYD, Jesse Ventura, Tito Santana, Big John Studd, Greg Valentine, Don Muraco, and the first celebrity induction Pete Rose. Much of this class consists of stars that were part of the late 70's/early 80's and midcard/upper main eventers. Harley was essentially the headliner because of his body of work even though he was a huge star outside of WWE. It was similar to how Ric Flair was the headliner for 2008 although he was a major star outside of WWE as well. Superstar was a huge attraction for MSG in the late 70's as WWWF Champion. Sgt. Slaughter was also a mainstay in the Garden with his feuds with Tito Santana, Bob Backlund, etc. Muraco, Valentine and Santana were all mainstays as IC Champion during their time. JYD and Studd were both supporting cast members during the Rock & Wrestling Boom Period. Jesse and Bobby were star commentators during the 80's.

2009
Class: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, The Von Erichs, Terry and Dory Funk, Howard Finkel, Koko B. Ware, Bill Watts

During the 25th Anniversary of the Grandest Stage of them All, WrestleMania took place at the Astrodome in Houston, TX. This was certainly a Texas based HOF Class with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the Headliner with his best friend Jim Ross inducting him. Ricky Steamboat was inducted by his arch rival Ric Flair. Texas Legends and WCCW headliners The Von Erichs were inducted by Michael Hayes. Terry and Dory Funk were also inducted along with "Cowboy" Bill Watts. Legendary Ring Announcer Howard Finkel joined the HOF as well as Koko B. Ware.

2008
Class: Ric Flair, Rocky Johnson, High Chief Peter Maivia, Briscoe Brothers, Mae Young, Eddie Graham, Gordon Solie

In his farewell, Ric Flair was the Center of Attention for WrestleMania Weekend in 2008. Flair was the headliner for the class of 2008 as Triple H was his presenter. Meanwhile, The Rock inducted his father Rocky Johnson and grandfather "High Chief" Peter Maivia. The Briscoe Brothers, legendary Women's wrestler Mae Young, Florida Championship Wrestling Legend Eddie Graham and NWA Announcer Gordon Solie were also inducted.




2013
Class: Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Mick Foley, Booker T, Trish Stratus, Donald Trump

This HOF weekend took place in the New York/New Jersey area. So naturally, it would be a NY themed HOF with Bruno Sammartino as the headliner along with other NYC mainstays like Bob Backlund and Mick Foley. Sammartino and Backlund were two of the longest-reigning WWWF Champions before the explosion of business during the Golden-Era. This was also a sense of closure for Bruno and Backlund, especially in the case for Sammartino. Booker T was also inducted with his brother Stevie Ray. Booker entertained the crowd with a Spinarooni as well. During Foley's speech, he mentioned that he never defeated Chris Jericho. Y2J and CM Punk joined Mick on stage. Foley gives Jericho the elbow drop as Punk counts to 3. Trish Stratus was the staple of the Women's Division during the 2000's and it was great to witness her induction. Finally, Donald Trump was the celebrity involved considering that it was in NYC. I don't agree, but WWE loves publicity.