WWE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY 2013 REPORT: 4/6/13

     In my mind the WWE Hall Of Fame was finally legitimized this year. No disrespect to all of the other members, but to me not having Bruno Sammartino or Bob Backlund in the HOF severely hurt it's credibility. Having both of these legends inducted in the same night, and in Madison Sguare Garden, was awesome.

     MSG was sold out and rocking for the event. There was a huge crowd outside the arena to catch glimpses of the wrestlers entering the building.  Some of the non-WWE stars I noticed were Mil Mascaras, X-Pac [showing no signs of his recent injury], Maryse, Lita, Haku, Sika, and Ray Gonzalez.

     First up was Terry Funk to induct Mick Foley. Funk was good and talked about thinking Foley was dead during the Hell in a Cell Match and one of their Japan matches.

     Mick Foley was interesting and funny as always. At one point he acknowledged Dominic Denuucci who was in attendance. He talked about never having beaten Chris Jericho. Jericho came on the stage and took an elbow from Foley as C.M. Punk counted the pin and gave the "X" sign. Mick's segment ende with Mr and Mrs Santa Claus joining him on stage.

     Next was Stephanie McMahon up to induct Trish Stratus. Steph talked about the time Trish was making out with Vince while Linda McMahon was in a comatose. I had forgotten Linda was in a coma years back, she's recovered really well!

     Trish Stratus was also very funny and interesting. She rolled out a huge list of names she wanted to thank. She thanked Fit Finlay for her training. She introduced her mother and said that one of the reasons she had retired was that her mother was battling cancer, but is cancer free now. She introduced her husband Ron to a large chorus of good natured boos and announced that she is pregnant and due in September.

    Next was Stevie Ray to induct Booker T. I've always felt the Stevie did not receive enough credit for the success Booker has had in his career and life. Stevie taleked about how tough their life was growing up, how he met Ivan Putski at a gym and Putski invited him to his wrestling school and how Eddie Gilbert put Stevie and Booker together as a team for the first time.

     Booker T talked about his career and thanked Sheri Martel for giving Harlem Heat credibility and introduced thanked Sharmell who was in attendance. Stevie made him do the Spin A Roni before leaving the stage.

    Up next was Maria Menounos to induct Bob Backlund. I thought she was a very good speaker and came across as a genuine wrestling fan, but I guess she went too long for the MSG crowd who turned on her.

     Bob Backlund was Bob Backlund! Totally out of his head but the crowd was really into him! At one point he told Sgt Slaughter that his wife was really mad at Sarge for leaving scars all over Bob's back. Vince finally came out and cut Backlund off. Bob then challenged Triple H to come on stage for some kind of excersise but the Game politely declined.

     Vince McMahon was up next to induct Donald Trump. Jerry Lawler [the night's host] said he did not know how Mr. McMahon could follow Backlund! McMahon showed clips his head getting shaved at Wrestlemania and said he was one ugly bald man.

     Donald Trump came out and was pretty much booed out of the building. I think the WWE might want to reconsider the whole Celebrity Wing thing.

     Arnold Schwarzenegar was up next to induct Bruno Sammartino. Arnold was good, talking about how he met Bruno for the first time at a Mr Olympia Contest when Bruno was a judge and how he thought it was funny that in America the judges were bigger than the contestants!

     Bruno Sammartino got a HUGE response from the crowd as you would expect. He talked about his life, which should make a great movie some day, and how his family had to hide in the mountains from the Nazis. He did not mentioned anything about all the years of apparent disillusionment with the business and WWE which I thought was very classy.

    The night ended with all of the Inductors and Inductees on stage. Bruno and Vince embraced, which was cool. Backlund tried to put McMahon in the Crippler Crossfafe and ran off the stage into the crowd. A perfect way to end the night!

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See ya after WRESTLEMANIA 29!