A topic among pro wrestling fans that seems to come up often is the WWE Hall of Fame. This conversation has brought many arguments about the individuals who should be in the Hall of Fame, who should not be in, and those who have been left out over the years.
I’m going to write about five wrestlers that should be in the WWE Hall of Fame but surprisingly, they aren’t. Why these five wrestlers aren’t is anybody’s guess but every year fans create online petitions, and videos to make an argument for their favorite wrestler to be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame.
While it’s common knowledge among wrestling fans that the WWE Hall of Fame does not have a grand location. To a lot of wrestlers to be a member of the WWE Hall of Fame is the highest honor they can achieve. It is the reward of a life’s work traveling around the world to compete and entertain the fans. I think the following five wrestlers should be in the WWE Hall of Fame but aren’t.
Ken Patera
A member of the United States weightlifting team in the 1972 Summer Olympics, Patera took to wrestling rather quickly and became one of the best heels in the late 1970s and the early 1980s. As the second-ever WWE Intercontinental Champion, Patera was one of the most hated wrestlers in the world for his bragado-shish attitude and being able to back up his words in the ring.
Patera during his time as a wrestler, was one of the strongest men in the world. Competing in the World’s Strongest Man competition, Patera finished in third place in 1977, ahead of television star Lou Ferrigno. Patera was everywhere and everybody knew his name.
Love him or hate him, Ken Patera was a very memorable wrestler whose feats of strength were impressive and his character in the ring was larger than life. An argument can be made that Patera belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame and someday his time will come. At eighty-two years old, time will tell if Patera lives to see the day his name gets called into the WWE Hall of Fame into that elite group.
King Kong Bundy
Because of his enormous size, Gorilla Monsoon often referred to King Kong Bundy as a “walking condominium”. Bundy was a star in the 1980s and his style of wrestling was brutal. With his signature move, the Avalanche Splash, Bundy was able to beat every single opponent he faced, wanting not just a three count but a five count.
In an era where big men were everywhere, Bundy stood out from the crowd. With no hair on his head and barely a neck, Bundy was a unique-looking wrestler. He had some of the biggest matches at the time with wrestlers such as Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, and members of the Von Erich family. Anytime you saw Bundy on television or in the arena, a big match was about to happen.
While there aren’t as many big men in the WWE Hall of Fame as you would think, Bundy is a legendary character whose presence not only in wrestling but in entertainment is still remembered to this day. King Kong Bundy was a wrestler who was feared and could beat anybody.
Bam Bam Bigelow
Unlike Bundy, Bam Bam Bigelow was very athletic for his large size. Weighing in at just under four hundred pounds, Bigelow was one of the first agile big men in pro wrestling who could move around the ring like a smaller wrestler. He was the perfect definition of looks can be deceiving.
Bigelow came to the ring with his head covered in tattoos. He was a man who marched to the beat of his own drum. One of the biggest moments that Bigelow is remembered for is his participation in the main event of Wrestlemania XI against football legend Lawrence Taylor. While the show is not very well-liked, the match was one of the better matches on the show and a large part of it is because of Bigelow’s wrestling ability.
Bam Bam Bigelow might be one of the most underrated big men in the history of pro wrestling. One of the few wrestlers to have competed in WWE, ECW, and WCW, Bigelow has quite a fan base. When Bigelow finally is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, the ceremony will be red hot just like the tattoos that adorned his body.
Rick Martel
I’m sure a lot of fans are surprised to see this name on the list thinking that he is already in the Hall of Fame. Well, Martel is shockingly not, and it is a crime that he hasn’t received this honor. He is remembered in many ways.
Some fans remember him as a tag team specialist, being the partner of wrestlers such as Tony Garea, Tom Zenk, and Tito Santana among others. Some fans remember him as the former AWA World Heavyweight Champion, being champion for over a year while Hulk Hogan was just starting to take over the wrestling world. But one thing that fans remember Rick Martel for is being “The Model”.
Martel was one of the most iconic characters of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Martel had the look of a model and was one of the most hated wrestlers of his time. Martel was a true professional inside and out of the ring and is fondly remembered to this day. When he is inducted, hopefully, he will bring along his bottle of Arrogance one last time and spray it around the ring as he takes his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Brian Pillman
When talking about wrestlers who influenced and changed pro wrestling, Brian Pillman’s name doesn’t get brought up a lot. Weighing under two hundred twenty pounds, Pillman was an innovator in the United States for his high-flying wrestling style. He was a predecessor of the Cruiserweight division in wrestling seen today.
The former football player had been fighting since his birth because of childhood medical issues. Pillman was a fan favorite and won over both male and female fans. His matches with wrestlers such as Lex Luger, Ric Flair, and Barry Windham, among others, are must-see television. He was a part of one of the most influential tag teams in history with “Stunning” Steve Austin known as the Hollywood Blondes. A team that is still talked about today for their matches and style that is often imitated but never duplicated.
Had Pillman not passed away at age 35 because of a heart attack, who knows how many wrestlers he would have helped with his knowledge of wrestling. Brian Pillman in his time was one of the best highflyers in wrestling and fans today should watch his matches and see how he was years ahead of his time. One day Pillman will take one last flight, hopefully to the WWE Hall of Fame.
Those are my choices for wrestlers that should be in the WWE Hall of Fame that aren’t. While we can’t induct every wrestler into the Hall of Fame, perhaps I helped make an argument for one of your favorite wrestlers who should’ve been in by now or I persuaded you into considering these wrestlers for the Hall of Fame. But no matter what happens, hopefully one day these wrestlers will have their day and become a member of the elite WWE Hall of Fame.