The casual spectator is skeptical at least. “Wrestling is fake,” that typical skeptic quotes from habit. I challenge any doubters out there to watch the WWE Hall of Fame inductions when they air Monday night before RAW on the USA Network and then tell me that what those superstars do for a living isn’t real.
Whether or not results are predetermined is not in question; nor is the notion that the superstars don’t know what’s coming next in a given match. The realness of wrestling is in what Shawn Michaels called, “A connection with the fans.” The headliner of the 2011 Hall of Fame class, Mr. WrestleMania himself, Michaels’ speech had one thing in common with every other inductee’s speech: an emotionally charged thank you to the fans. The WWE Universe, as the legion of wrestling fans have come to be known, sold out Phillips Arena in order to see their favorite superstars enshrined in WWE’s most prestigious club.
“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan got the night started off as the first inductee, and chants of “USA! USA! USA!” immediately filled the arena. “Bullet” Bob Armstrong was the next out, and his speech personified what wrestling means to those involved in the sport. Armstrong has been involved in the business for over 50 years, and three of his sons eventually became involved in the business. He also told the story of seeing his first ever match in 1945.
The next to be inducted was also the youngest person to ever be inducted. At the age of 38, Sunny, the original WWE Diva, and 1996’s most downloaded celebrity, joined the Hall of Fame. Abdullah the Butcher had the shortest acceptance speech of the night, and yet even his speech had the same focus of all the others: the fans. The night became very emotional when the greatest tag-team of all-time, The Road Warriors, were inducted. One half of The Road Warriors, Hawk, passed away in 2003. Their manager Paul Ellering was inducted too, and brought an action figure of Hawk and placed it on the podium. Hawk’s partner, Animal, was very emotional when talking about the subject of his late tag-team partner. Father of NFL linebacker James Laurenitis, Animal got back into character a few times at the podium and reminded the crowd why The Road Warriors were and are the best tag-team in the history of wrestling.
Drew Carey, the celebrity inductee, was welcomed by a chorus of boo-birds; however, the king of improve was on his toes and told those that booed, “Go ahead, boo. I’m rich and good looking… Don’t worry, maybe next year they’ll induct Larry the Cable Guy.” It wasn’t all bad for the Cleveland native, Carey got the crowd on his side when he opposed those who think wrestling isn’t real saying, “The gravity is real, and the physics are real… Those guys put their bodies on the line every night for you guys, the fans.”
The night reached its pinnacle when the Heartbreak Kid came out to an ovation so long he had to cut it short himself so he could start his speech. During Shawn Michaels’ speech it became apparent where the validity in wrestling lies. It’s the belief of the fans in the superstars. Not in the fact that the outcome is the result of true competition, but in the ability of those superstars to entertain and captivate those fans. The Hall of Fame is truly a special event. For a group of guys who at times don’t get the validation that they most certainly deserve, being inducted into the Hall of Fame and get one more chance for a sold out arena to chant your name is all the validation these athletes need.
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Soon I will be in Life’s Hall of Fame