WWE has revealed a full list of recipients for the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Award. The four names rumored earlier have been confirmed.
- Wahoo McDaniel is a former many-time NWA champion who toured promotions around the country in the ’70s and ’80s. A legitimate football star, his athleticism and antics outside the ring made him an easy face to cheer for wherever he went.
- Jim Barnett is a promoter who owned Georgia Championship Wrestling and promotions in Australia. Involved in the business since the 1950s, he eventually worked behind the scenes at the WWF and WCW.
- “Playboy” Buddy Rose wrestled for AWA and WWF in the early to mid-’80s. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper credited early matches with him as the push he needed to achieve mainstream success.
- A staple of women’s wrestling in the 90s, few can forget Luna Vachon after watching her perform. Known for her wild hairstyle and ruthless style in the ring, Luna appeared in WWF, ECW, and WCW during the 90s boom. Most famously, she managed Bam Bam Bigelow and Goldust during his “Artist Formerly Known as Goldust” phase.
In addition, the following five legends will join them in the Hall of Fame
- Bruiser Brody is one of the most famous big men in professional wrestling history. He was one of the original innovators of brawling in the ring, and he’d often come down the aisle swinging a chain that scared everyone in attendance. Unfortunately, his death under mysterious circumstances in Puerto Rico is just as famous as his career.
- SD Jones, or Special Delivery Jones, is a legendary WWF talent who wrestled throughout the 1970s and 1980s. At the very first WrestleMania, he gained the dubious honor of being the man to lose in the quickest time, being pinned by King Kong Bundy in just nine seconds.
- Professor Toru Tanaka is a Japanese wrestling legend who had a long successful run in the WWF in the 1960s. He also teamed with Mr. Fuji, winning three WWWF World Tag Team Championships under the management of Freddie Blassie.
- Primo Carnera, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, was a boxer and wrestler of Italian origin. His wrestling career began in 1946, becoming one of the top draws of the decade. He wrestled a 120 match undefeated streak before Yvon Robert bested him in Montreal. Carnera also held a rare pinfall victory against former world champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis.
- Before there was Jack Tunney, there was Hisashi Shinma. Serving as the on-screen president of the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1978 to 1984, Shinma oversaw incidents like Bob Backlund losing the WWF title to Antonio Inoki in Japan. Said reign remains unrecognized by WWE to this day.
- Joseph Cohen enters the Celebrity Wing of the Hall of Fame. He’s a business magnate who created the Madison Square Garden Network. This move helped broadcast the WWE product from their spiritual home base for man years.
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