Who Will Join the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024?
Just a few months from now, we'll know which of our favorite wrestlers from the past, or even present day will have been announced to be inducted into the illustrious WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Every year, there are a variety of former wrestlers with a loaded resume, waiting for their names to be called. This class has the chance to be very special for several reasons, but nonetheless, it’s always exciting to see these wrestlers achieve greatness. Here are my five picks of who could possibly join the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame Class.
5. Lex Luger
During the early 90s, Lex Luger was one of the most popular wrestlers out there. Although he never won a championship inside the WWF, he challenged for every belt at the time. He challenged the great Yokozuna for the belt twice, at SummerSlam 1993 and WrestleMania X. One of his biggest moments in the WWF was being the co-winner alongside Bret Hart at the 1994 Royal Rumble. Luger became a two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, one-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion, and also was a five-time NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, which he holds the record for the total days as champion. In 2011, Luger started working with the WWE on their wellness policy. This is what Luger had to say about the job, “I actually work behind the scenes with them now again and with their wellness club. I counsel a lot of their athletes on nutrition, wellness, exercise, and taking care of their bodies. That's another thing that WWE is being very proactive now with the Wellness Department and really train these guys with health and nutrition and drug prevention. We're trying to prevent the young guys, this young generation of guys from going down the same path as we did back in the '80s and '90s.” If you remember him as ‘The Narcissist' Lex Luger or ‘The All-American’ Lex Luger, you’ll see how much this man took care of his body back in the day. Lex certainly deserves the shine in 2024 after a marvelous wrestling career.
4. Demolition
In the late 80s and early 90s, there’s no doubt the biggest tag-team duo at the time had to be Ax and Smash of Demolition. They were three-time WWF Tag-Team Champions, and they hold the record for the most combined days as reigning champions with that belt. Their first reign which lasted 409 days as WWF Tag-Team Champions was the longest reign with any tag-team championship in WWE history until The New Day broke the record in 2016. They most noticeably defeated Strike Force, The Brain Busters, and The Colossal Connection respectively to win the tag-team titles. One of my personally favorite moments of this beloved group is when Ax and Smash had to square off as the number one and two contestants in the 1989 Royal Rumble. The two men started trying to tear each other apart, until Andre the Giant, who was the third contestant, stepped into the ring. That’s when Demolition joined forces once again to try and eliminate the big man. It may be unlikely Demolition gets their names called for the Hall of Fame. In 2016 both Ax and Smash were part of a class action lawsuit filed against the WWE in which these wrestlers suffered serious brain injuries during their time with the company, and the WWE tried to conceal the risks of injuries. The WWE always loves a reunion, but I’m not sure how much time will pass until we see Demolition and the WWE reunite again. Regardless, their time spent as champions is deserving enough to be elected into the 2024 Class.
3. Ken Shamrock
Shamrock is an icon and a pioneer of the UFC. He was a part of their inaugural induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. He’s been the headliner to over 15 events across the sport. When he joined the wrestling industry, especially the WWF in 1997 he gained considerable success. He won the Intercontinental Championship and the Tag-Team Champion once. Ken Shamrock won the 1998 King of the Ring pay-per-view event where he defeated The Rock in the finals. Shamrock went on to feud with other legends of the industry such as Bret Hart, Vader, The British Bulldog, Mark Henry, and The Undertaker. Even with all of his UFC accolades, Ken Shamrock deserves his spot in the 2024 Class. After leaving the WWF in late 1999, he became involved in other wrestling promotions such as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and Impact Wrestling. Shamrock, a pioneer of the fighting sport world has earned his opportunity to be noticed in the WWE Hall of Fame.
2. Bautista
What more can you say about Dave Bautista? Over the last 15 years, he’s graced Hollywood with his acting abilities, most noticeably playing Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Bautista is a six-time world champion, winning the World Heavyweight Championship four times, and the WWE Championship twice. His first reign as the World Heavyweight Champion is the longest reign with that title with 282 days. Dave is also a three-time World Tag Team Champion, winning with Ric Flair twice, and John Cena one time, in addition to being a former WWE Tag Team Champion with Rey Mysterio. Bautista is a two-time Royal Rumble winner, achieving victory in 2005 and 2014. Altogether, Dave Bautista has won eleven championships throughout his wrestling career. He retired from wrestling in 2019, and with millions of people who adore Dave, this could be the moment to induct Bautista into the Hall of Fame. Fans who may have not watched over the recent years could come back with much excitement to see their former favorite wrestler at the podium. With the amount of success Dave Bautista has earned over the past decade from acting, and even two decades from wrestling, he will make his mark in the WWE Hall of Fame whether he’s in the 2024 Class or not.
1. Bray Wyatt
It’s unfortunate, because Bray Wyatt had a lot of years of wrestling in him, and he was only just reaching his peak of stardom. On August 24th, Wyatt passed away at the young age of 36. Throughout his time in the WWE, he became a three-time champion, holding the WWE Championship once, and the WWE Universal Championship twice. He’s held the SmackDown Tag Team Championship with Luke Harper, and Randy Orton under the Freebird Rule, and won the Raw Tag Team Championship with Matt Hardy. Bray had so much going for him, as he could have been an instrumental force within the WWE. The multiple personas of his character will never be forgotten, as fans will remember this icon for a long time. While it may be too soon, Wyatt deserves to be named like his father the famous Mike Rotunda in the WWE Hall of Fame.
