Hall of Fame Hopefuls – Part Two: The Celebrity Wing

Hall of Fame Hopefuls
Part Two: The Celebrity Wing
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Welcome to the second installment of my Wrestlemania season mini-series, dedicated to showcasing deserving individuals who've yet to enter the WWE Hall of Fame. The first name added to the celebrity wing was Pete Rose in 2004. Since then, six additional personalities have been honored including William "the Refrigerator" Perry, Bob Uecker, Drew Carey, Mike Tyson, Donald Trump, and Mr. T. This year's spectacle in Santa Clara will feature Arnold Schwarzenegger as he assumes his place in history. With the exception of Drew Carey, I think the WWE has done a fine job of using discretion when inducting celebrities. Who can we expect to see enter the Hall in 2016—or even several years down the road at Wrestlemania 40 ? My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this is "Hall of Fame Hopefuls Part Two: The Celebrity Wing."

Bob Barker – Inducted by Drew Carey
Several years ago, the WWE entered into an unenlightened period where every episode of Monday Night Raw had a different celebrity host. We saw everyone from Hugh Jackman to Seth Green to Shaquille O'Neill—and those were some of the more entertaining acts. But how about Pee-Wee Herman or Al Sharpton? Unfortunately outside-involvement has always had a polarizing effect on wrestling audiences. But that's not to say fans won't buy what a celebrity is selling, as long as the Price is Right ! Bob Barker may have only appeared on WWE television once, but has since become an honorary member of the WWE Universe. In 2009, Bob hosted "The Price is Raw," a mock-version of his daytime hit, where he engaged several Superstars including Santino Marella, Mike Rotunda, and Jillian Hall. His gameshow repartee with Chris Jericho will always be a highlight of those dark days of weekly hosts, and even at 91-years-old, Barker still possesses a tenacious "WWE Attitude." Should Bob Barker one day be asked to join the other members of the celebrity wing, he will be in exceptionally rare company, joining the current host of the "Price is Right," Drew Carey.

Aretha Franklin – Inducted by Vince McMahon
One of the most iconic images in WWE history, is that of Vince McMahon welcoming 93,173 screaming fans to Wrestlemania III at the Pontiac Silverdome. "And welcome to Wrestlemania three!" With that, the mastermind behind �Mania introduced a world-wide audience to the Grammy-award winning "Queen of Soul—Miss Aretha Franklin!" Aretha's rendition of "America the Beautiful" has withstood the test of time and inspired dozens upon dozens of artists to follow in her footsteps. Twenty years later when the WWE returned to Michigan, it seemed only fitting that the Detroit-native would be a part of the show. Once again, Aretha Franklin moved nearly 100,000 men and women from around the world with her singing that was both soulful and sultry. At just 72 years of age, it's entirely possible we could see Miss Aretha Franklin perform once again at Wrestlemania 33 in 2017. That seems like a perfectly fitting time to induct her into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Morton Downey Jr. – Posthumously Inducted by Roddy Piper
I was only 3 years old in 1989, but even well-into my teens I had trouble figuring out who Morton Downey Jr. was, and why was he at Wrestlemania V? I mean—is he related to ROBERT Downey Jr.? The answer is no, and to a generation a bit older than me, that probably sounds like a really stupid question. Morton Downey Jr. brought America to the brink of shock television before the phrase was ever coined. Years before Jerry Springer or Howard Stern, Morton Downey Jr. hosted an anything-goes talk show featuring vulgarity, sexism, racism, xenophobia, and plenty of cigarette smoke. Although the WWF hadn't established its "Attitude" just yet, Downey was just the sort of Superstar worthy of rubbing elbows with WWF's elite. In 1989, Wrestlemania returned to the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, where Morton met his match on the mic in both Brother Love and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Love was quickly evacuated from the equation, leaving Morton Downey Jr. alone in "Piper's Pit." After blowing his cigarette smoke in Hot Rod's face one-too-many times, Piper decided to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher. Downey developed lung cancer in 1996 which cause him to shift his opinion on tobacco completely. He remained a staunch anti-smoking activist for the following five years until his untimely death in 2001.

Leslie Nielsen – Posthumously Inducted by The Undertaker
His work as a WWF detective was so iconic, that I almost forgot Leslie Nielsen was accompanied by Oscar-winning actor and longtime screen companion George Kennedy! It was in 1994 that the Undertaker disappeared following an unsuccessful championship casket match against Yokozuna at the Royal Rumble. For several months, �Taker was inexplicably absent from television until reports arose regarding potential "Undertaker Sightings." The WWF quickly enlisted the services of one of the most prolific gumshoes in all of comedy, and soon Leslie Nielsen began appearing on Monday Night Raw and Superstars. Things took an unexpected turn however, when the "Million Dollar Man" appeared on TV with his own version of the "Phenom." When Summerslam rolled into the United Center in Chicago, both Undertakers were set to square off, but the mystery had yet to be solved. George Kennedy was also in Chicago, and ready to team with his "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" costar once again, so that together they might uncover the truth revolving around the mysterious "Dead Man." Leslie Nielson passed away in 2010 following a career that introduced the world to over 220 different characters, one of whom cracked the case and brought the Undertaker back to the WWF.

Dennis Rodman – Inducted by Hulk Hogan
He certainly never had a defined skillset, but what he lacked in the ring, "The Worm" Dennis Rodman made up for in unequivocal charisma. By the time he joined WCW, Dennis was already a world-renowned basketball icon, despite several outlandish publicity stunts in his public life. When Hulk Hogan turned on his Hulkamaniacs and joined forces with the Outsiders, the man who use to pal around with Shaq was gone, leaving an opening for a far more controversial character. Rodman worked a number of WCW events including episodes of Nitro, Uncensored '97, Road Wild '97, as well as Bash at the Beach '97 and '98. He was so popular in fact, that WCW released a Dennis Rodman action figure, packaged with his NWO stablemate Hulk Hogan. Rodman has appeared alongside several WWE Hall of Famers such as Donald Trump for his "Celebrity Apprentice," as well as on "Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling." Dennis Rodman is a legitimate 2-sport athlete who has committed to professional wrestling unlike anyone before or since. In my estimation, he most certainly belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame—but might have to wait until Wrestlemania goes to North Korea.

Floyd Mayweather – Inducted by the Big Show
Professional wrestlers and boxers have always had a special relationship, dating back to the days when promotors would showcase both sports on the same card. In fact, Vince McMahon's grandfather Jess established the Capital Wrestling Corporation with the mindset to also feature boxing. Over the years, numerous boxing legends have appeared on WWE TV—including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Joe Frasier—so it was only a matter of time before the best fighter of the modern age stepped into the squared circle. Floyd "Money" Mayweather made his debut at WWE No Way Out in 2008, where he engaged in a physical altercation with the returning Big Show. �Show allowed Mayweather to hit him directly in the face, which resulted in a legitimate broken nose for the Giant. Their rivalry would develop further over the next month leading to a dramatic conclusion at Wrestlemania 24 at the Citrus Bowl. The media going into �Mania was unlike anything the WWE had experienced for quite some time; Mayweather and Big Show were on every television show, radio broadcast, and media outlet imaginable, making it just the THIRD Wrestlemania in history to surpass one million buys.

Cyndi Lauper – Inducted by Wendy Richter
When Wendy Richter was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame, she closed her speech by quoting the �80s anthem—"Girls just wanna have fun!" As much as I appreciate Wendy for her contributions to the business, it wasn't the women's title that sold her match against Leilani Kai, but the presence of award winning recording artist Cyndi Lauper. Cyndi debuted on the musical scene that very year, walking out of the Grammy's with the award for "Best New Artist" just one month prior. It was her relationship with WWF manager Lou Albano that introduced Lauper to the exciting world of professional wrestling. Albano appeared in the video for her breakout single, playing the tyrannical patriarch unwilling to let "Girls Have Fun." The WWF began a new campaign mixing song-and-dance with Sports Entertainment—the "Rock �N' Wrestling Era" was defined by musicians such as Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne, but it was Cyndi Lauper who made it official when she was physically attacked by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. She was a pivotal component of the first Wrestlemania, and therefore belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Muhammad Ali – Inducted by Pat Patterson
Most WWE fans will remember Muhammad Ali as the guest enforcer for the main event tag match at Wrestlemania I. But believe it or not, the former-Cassius Clay's involvement in Sports Entertainment goes back far beyond refereeing. In fact, Muhammad Ali began a full-fledge wrestling regimen following his final victory over Joe Frazier in 1975. Ali competed with some of the most influential wrestlers of the day, including a highly publicized encounter with future broadcast journalist and WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon. But it was in Japan that Muhammad Ali truly made his mark on the wrestling mat, when he challenged national hero Antonio Inoki to a match that would be deemed "Boxer versus Wrestler." In 1984, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and subsequently forced to retire from any active competition. Today he lives with his wife Lonnie in Scottsdale, Arizona where he remains dedicated to Islam and the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. At 73 years old, it would seem that Muhammad Ali is the perfect candidate for the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Andy Kaufman – Posthumously Inducted by Jerry Lawler
When I was a kid there was a special broadcast on Comedy Central all about Andy Kaufman, briefly touching upon his "Inter-Gender Championship," but focusing mainly on his television credits. It was surreal to see Monday Night Raw's heel commentator play the hero against Latka from "Taxi," especially after I discovered the true extent of their feud. Andy appeared in the Memphis territory in the early �80s, performing as an outlandish caricature of himself that would only wrestle women. As the act evolved, Kaufman began insulting the local crowd on a nightly basis, even sending offensive pre-recorded comments when he was otherwise unavailable. Lawler was the self-proclaimed "King of Memphis," and took it upon himself to fight for his city. Kaufman received a piledriver from the "King" which resulted in Andy wearing a neck-brace, claiming that his neck was broken. In 1982, the pair appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman," where Kaufman proceeded to throw coffee directly in the face of Lawler. Neither Letterman nor his world-wide audience were privy to the inside joke—the heat between Kaufman and Lawler was completely fabricated, and will go down as one of the greatest "works" in professional wrestling history.

Lawrence Taylor – Inducted by Ted DiBiase
When it comes down to the most deserving celebrity not already in the WWE Hall of Fame, fans needn't look any further than former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Taylor went far and above the call of duty; when other athletes or actors entered the squared circle, it was to shill a personal project, or act as guest ring announcer. Nobody dreamed that a professional football player might headline the biggest show of the wrestling calendar; not since the inaugural Wrestlemania had Vince McMahon trusted someone other than his Superstars to carry the most important match of the night. But in 1995 the WWF reached out to one of the most visible faces in American sports and a future football Hall of Famer in his own right. The WWF championship featuring Diesel and Shawn Michaels was the match of the night, but wouldn't close the show as that honor went to L.T. and the "Beast from the East" Bam Bam Bigelow. Taylor proved that he took the sport of Sports Entertainment just as serious as any wrestler, and provided a memorable moment that will NEVER be forgotten. If the WWE decides to induct just ONE more celebrity, there's no doubt that it should be "L.T." Lawrence Taylor.

I hope you've enjoyed what is only the second installment of a five-part series. Join me next week as my "Hall of Fame Hopefuls" will include some of the most recognizable sports broadcasters to ever work in professional wrestling. Until then, this has been Mark Adam Haggerty, reminding you to check back here at Cheap-Heat and follow me on Facebook by LIKING "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."