Five Wrestlers That Deserve to Make the WWE Hall of Fame
With the shocking announcement of Triple H entering the WWE Hall of Fame, it has opened up the conversation for other wrestlers who deserve to be inducted as well. There are multiple retired wrestlers, backstage workers, and wrestlers who are currently in other companies who have done more than enough to be honored by the WWE. It’s obvious that the likes of Batista, The Rock, and Chris Jericho will soon find themselves with that honor, but many wrestlers do not have that certainty. Who are some wrestlers that are not in the WWE Hall of Fame but should be inducted?
Shane/Stephanie McMahon
Both Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon rightfully deserve Hall of Fame inductions, though it likely won’t happen by choice. This is because their father, Vince McMahon, never put himself in the Hall of Fame due to his status in the company. The pair of siblings will likely follow Vince’s decision and not call for their own inductions either, keeping every McMahon besides Vince Sr. out of the WWE Hall of Fame. The idea of the two going into the Hall of Fame has somewhat opened up, considering that Triple H is receiving the honor this year, though those chances are still slim.
Matt Hardy
The Hardys are sure to enter the WWE Hall of Fame as a tag team, and it’s likely that Jeff Hardy will have a singles induction. However, the same cannot be said for Matt Hardy, who has had an extremely successful pro wrestling career, but isn’t nearly as big of an icon as his younger brother. Hardy is a former ECW, United States, European, Hardcore, and Cruiserweight Champion, as well as a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion. The older Hardy is certainly a Hall of Famer in the tag team wing, but deserves a singles induction as well.
Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin is currently one-half of the AEW Tag Team Champions, which is why he will not become a WWE Hall of Famer. There is some doubt about him becoming a Hall of Famer at all, though, as wrestlers who were never truly main eventers are often neglected when it comes to the honor. However, Benjamin’s three Intercontinental titles, one U.S. title, and three WWE Tag Team titles should be enough to warrant him a spot in the Hall of Fame. Benjamin comes up in conversations when talking about the most underrated wrestlers of all time, as the former NCAA All-American is one of the most athletic superstars in wrestling history.
Sean Waltman
This entrant may be somewhat confusing, as Sean Waltman is already a two-time WWE Hall of Famer. Both of those inductees, though, were as a member of a faction: X-Pac in D-Generation X, and Syxx in the NWO. Waltman held six midcard titles and five tag teams during his time in WWE and WCW, which should be enough to earn him an individual spot in the Hall of Fame. The former TNA X-Division Champion was a pivotal part in the two greatest factions in wrestling history, and deserves to be the first three-time Hall of Famer.
A.J. Lee
A.J. Lee is a pioneer of women’s wrestling, being an anti-Diva when it was much-needed in the early 2010s. Unlike many WWE Divas during that time, Lee did not come from a modeling agency, and instead grew up as a wrestling fan who spent years developing in FCW. The three-time Divas Champion likely had little to no intention of entering the Hall of Fame due to her marriage with CM Punk, though that is no longer an issue now that Punk has returned to the WWE. Lee has stated on numerous occasions that wrestling is behind her, though a Hall of Fame honor is one that she very well deserves.
