WWE Hall of Fame

Guide Note

The WWE Hall of Fame is an annual ceremony held by the WWE the night before WrestleMania.

Fast Facts

1. Started in 1993
2. No official criteria for being inducted
3. Ceremony is usually held the night before WrestleMania
4. First inductee: Andre the Giant
5. 2008 Inductees: Ric Flair, Rocky Johnson, Peter Maivia, Mae Young, Jack and Gerald Brisco, Eddie Graham, Gordon Solie
6. Ric Flair is the only active wrestler to be inducted

Started in 1993 with the induction of the late Andre the Giant, the Hall honors retired WWE and non-WWE personalities who have made significant contributions to professional wrestling.

From 1997 to 2003, there were no Hall of Fame inductees, but the ceremony was revived in 2004 for the 20th anniversary of WrestleMania. The Hall of Fame ceremony has since been held every year before the pay-per-view event.

Some have criticized the legitimacy of the WWE Hall of Fame because WWE owner Vince McMahon has the final say over who gets inducted and who doesn't.

Although wrestlers like Randy Savage or Ultimate Warrior were popular 1980s stars and possibly deserve induction, their personal problems with McMahon would make such a consideration impossible for the time being.