Bob Eucker in the WWE HOF??

[Heeko]

Maybe someone can enlighten me here..

There are actual wrestlers who have given their blood, sweat and tears for the business and the WWE instead chooses to elect Bob Eucker into the HOF? I would have elected "Mr. T" before Eucker. Heck, at least Mr T did actually wrestle a match at Wrestlemania.

Eucker is funny and entertaining, I will give him that. But imo he does not deserve to be in the WWE HOF. There are more choices that actually wrestled that deserve it first.

So was putting Eucker in the HOF just a bit outside??

 

[Tickle Fiend]

Putting anyone who isn't a wrestler, manager or promoter into the HOF is a bad idea. It cheapens the entire idea of a WWE HOF.

 

[AmishTickler]

I had the same reaction when I heard this. I was like WTF? I love Eucker, but come on. HOF? Seriously? That's like letting ABBA into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Errrr, ok, never mind. Don't get me started.

 

[SlaverTickler]

Putting anyone who isn't a wrestler, manager or promoter into the HOF is a bad idea. It cheapens the entire idea of a WWE HOF.

Well the WWE has a "Celebrity Wing" and that is why Pete Rose is in it. Bob Eucker was at two WrestleMania's and was actually pretty entertaining. Unlike Mr. T who stunk at WrestleMania, and was carried by Piper in the boxing match the following year. Incidentally Roddy Piper actually does hate Mr. T and refused to be pinned by him at Mania #1. I would guess he wasn't the only one considering Paul Orndorff was pinned by Hulk Hogan.

Considering the fact that none of us are children, and we are all aware that Pro Wrestling is more about Entertainment then actual athletic ability (now more then ever) what difference does it make what part anybody played in the industry. So long as it's clear that they are part of the Celebrity Wing of the Hall Of Fame, and the person being inducted contributed to the show then I see nothing wrong with it. As so many people are fond of telling me "It's Vince's company, he can do what he wants.".

 

[Heeko]

Well the WWE has a "Celebrity Wing" and that is why Pete Rose is in it. Bob Eucker was at two WrestleMania's and was actually pretty entertaining. Unlike Mr. T who stunk at WrestleMania, and was carried by Piper in the boxing match the following year. Incidentally Roddy Piper actually does hate Mr. T and refused to be pinned by him at Mania #1. I would guess he wasn't the only one considering Paul Orndorff was pinned by Hulk Hogan.

Considering the fact that none of us are children, and we are all aware that Pro Wrestling is more about Entertainment then actual athletic ability (now more then ever) what difference does it make what part anybody played in the industry. So long as it's clear that they are part of the Celebrity Wing of the Hall Of Fame, and the person being inducted contributed to the show then I see nothing wrong with it. As so many people are fond of telling me "It's Vince's company, he can do what he wants.".

Pay attention Slaver. First off, I said I would elect Mr T. "before Eucker". I never said T had wrestling ability (that was my point in case you missed it - which you did). I was saying "before Eucker" as far as contributing to the industry. They are both celebrities but one of them actually got in the ring and risked injury. Seeing as you constantly rant about the WWE being "unsafe" and Vince not giving a crap about safety or WWE employees, I would say that was a pretty big risk. I really couldn't care less who never liked each other. If Piper hated T so much, why bother agreeing to work with him again after WM? That said, I can more than see Piper's pov as far as not being pinned by T (if that is actually fact). Mr T is a "celebrity". He's not a wrestler. He's not an athlete. It's called acting. Would it make sense to see a celeb pin a main event wrestler at the biggest event in the industry? Umm, no. Did anyone really expect to see anyone other than Hogan get the pin at WM? Umm, no.

And I totally agree. Vince can do what he wants. If he wants to add a comedian, movie personality or celebrity that never stepped in the ring and competed to his imaginary hall of fame, well, that's his deal. He's the boss. Maybe he will add Pamela Anderson next year.

 

[Snail Shell]

Putting anyone who isn't a wrestler, manager or promoter into the HOF is a bad idea. It cheapens the entire idea of a WWE HOF.

That list doesn't include announcers, which means Gene Okerlund and Jim Ross would not be allowed in. While Eucker wasn't my first choice, I have no issue with him being in the HOF.

Snail Shell

 

[Tickle Fiend]

That list doesn't include announcers, which means Gene Okerlund and Jim Ross would not be allowed in. While Eucker wasn't my first choice, I have no issue with him being in the HOF.

Snail Shell

Announcers, too. Anyone who had any relevance and made a significant contribution to professional wrestling. People who made one apperance or a handful of time don't belong.

I don't take a wrestling HOF that excludes Randy Savage legit anyway.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

I hear Torrie Wilson's dad, Al will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next year.



Drew

 

[Soda Bobinski]

I don't take a wrestling HOF that excludes Randy Savage legit anyway.

A wrestling HOF w/the letters 'WWE' tacked on it doesn't really have much legitimacy in the first place. 😀

 

[primetime]

The world is coming to an end. I....actually agree.....with Slavertickler. I will probably pass out soon....

Seriously, like he said, the WWE made a "Celebrity Wing" of the HOF, which means celebrities would be inducted into that spot, rather than the "General" HOF. Think of it more like an Honorable Mention. Imagine the WWE actually constructing an actual building for their HOF (they should really...), Pete Rose and Bob Eucker would be in a side hall, while everyone else is in the main hall.

Plus, Bob Eucker was very entertaining in his stints with Wrestlemania. Who can forget when he interviewed Andre the Giant, and the Giant tried to choke him. Hilarious!!! What I don't get is why people are upset over Bob Eucker getting in the HOF? He is going into the "Celebrity section", and he deserves to be in the HOF more than Koko B. Ware did....

 

[SlaverTickler]

Plus, Bob Eucker was very entertaining in his stints with Wrestlemania. Who can forget when he interviewed Andre the Giant, and the Giant tried to choke him. Hilarious!!! What I don't get is why people are upset over Bob Eucker getting in the HOF? He is going into the "Celebrity section", and he deserves to be in the HOF more than Koko B. Ware did....

I don't know if picking on Koko is cool. He was a member of a classic tag team (The PYT Express) and who could forget that classic 6 man tag with the Killer Bee's (Sorry Koko but even in a mask you can switch with Jumping Jim or Brian Blair). Then there was his contributions to both Wrestling Albums. Even if Koko never won a match (witch he did) his jobbing helped build up other stars, like the Big Boss Man. Personally I would have liked it if he and Owen had held the Tag Team titles together a high Energy. It isn't his fault McMahon was "Anti Smaller Wrestler" or he could have been a decent IC champ for a few months. If you base putting people in the company on main eventing or holding titles then allot of guys don't belong in the WWE hall of fame, including Ric Flair, Bob Orton, Jake Roberts and Jimmy Snuka, most of whom never held a title in the WWF/E or had a virtually non existent runs as a champion. Besides if they only put "Mega Stars" in the Hall of Fame" they would have run out of people by now.

I want to see Barry Horowitz in the hall of fame next year. If there was ever a jobber who deserved HOF admission it was him.

 

[SlaverTickler]

Pay attention Slaver. First off, I said I would elect Mr T. "before Eucker". I never said T had wrestling ability (that was my point in case you missed it - which you did). I was saying "before Eucker" as far as contributing to the industry. They are both celebrities but one of them actually got in the ring and risked injury. Seeing as you constantly rant about the WWE being "unsafe" and Vince not giving a crap about safety or WWE employees, I would say that was a pretty big risk. I really couldn't care less who never liked each other. If Piper hated T so much, why bother agreeing to work with him again after WM? That said, I can more than see Piper's pov as far as not being pinned by T (if that is actually fact). Mr T is a "celebrity". He's not a wrestler. He's not an athlete. It's called acting. Would it make sense to see a celeb pin a main event wrestler at the biggest event in the industry? Umm, no. Did anyone really expect to see anyone other than Hogan get the pin at WM? Umm, no.

Yes I noticed, I also noticed that you forgot that wrestling is about entertaining people in and out of the ring. I would put an great in ring performer ahead of Bob Euker any given day of the week. However he was very good at Mania 3 and 4, and I have no issue with him being inducted to the Hall of Fame's celebrity wing. I could very well see T getting the pin at Mania because Vince has a history of selling out his performers for the sake of drama. Piper getting pinned by Mr. T at Mania would have been a big deal, but fortunately he had the balls to stand up to McMahon and tell him no. Imagine how much bigger the Boxing Match at WrestleMania 2 would have been if Piper had been pinned by Mr. T. He wouldn't let Hogan pin him during there feud either for that matter. In fact I have only seen two guys pin Piper, Snuka (in a Samoan strap match) and Bret Hart at WrestleMania 8. For why Piper working with Mr. T even though he didn't like him? Why did the cast of Star Trek work on 6 movies with William Shatner when most of them claim they didn't like him? Why do you go in to work when there are people there you don't like. It's called a pay cheque. He knew Roddy Piper vs Mr. T was a big money match, so he worked with him. Doesn't mean they had to like each other.

And I totally agree. Vince can do what he wants. If he wants to add a comedian, movie personality or celebrity that never stepped in the ring and competed to his imaginary hall of fame, well, that's his deal. He's the boss. Maybe he will add Pamela Anderson next year.

Pam Anderson added nothing to the WrestleMania she appeared at, so that was just a dumb comment. Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) on the other hand added allot of zest with her chest (and commentary) at WrestleMania 2. When she said the tie on Steamboats leg made him look like a wimp I thought it was funny. Considering the entire Mania phenomenon was built around Roddy Piper slapping Cindy Lauper would you consider her not worthy of induction into the hall of fame?

 

[Tickle Fiend]

In no other sport/art form can a person be inducted for a minor contribution. The WWE is allowing people in who made one appearance and a few-months worth at the most.

It's supposed to be about a contibution made over an extended period of time. Refrigerator Perry, or Koko B Ware for that matter, shouldn't be honored in the same way as Steve Austin.

The WWE has kidded itself into thinking it's in the business of entertainment, not wrasslin'. The so-called celebrity wing of the HOF and the guest-host concept is an attempt to distance itself from wrestling.

It's funny how a lot of wrestling fans and people within the WWE will badmouth the Rock for turning his back on the business when the WWE is the biggest sellout there is. It's pathetic.

 

[SlaverTickler]

In no other sport/art form can a person be inducted for a minor contribution. The WWE is allowing people in who made one appearance and a few-months worth at the most.

This is true. No other industry would do allot of things the WWE does. Like deny it's accountability in the Death of Owen Hart. Try to bury a performer because of questionable conduct. Mikey Vic got an award after killing dogs after all, while a brain damaged Chris Benoit killed his wife and son. Then again if they didn't try to bury Benoit's legacy they would have to acknowledge the wrestling industries part in his reasons for using growth hormone, use of pain killers, and the brain damaged he gained because nobody in the office would tell one of it's biggest stars to stop putting himself in harms way needlessly. After all the morons were still filling the arenas so who cares if a guy smashes his brain to mush. Why is Ric Flair in the WWE Hall Of Fame, his best years were in the NWA and WCW. I would say Koko contributed far more to the WWF/E then Flair did. He had a joke of a world title run and won a royal rumble. He was carried threw two feud by Savage and Piper, and then left sulking because he didn't think he could draw working with Hart (brilliant move considering WWF was selling out arena's with Bret while WCW was lucky if they could get 500 people).

It's supposed to be about a contribution made over an extended period of time. Refrigerator Perry, or Koko B Ware for that matter, shouldn't be honored in the same way as Steve Austin.

I can't dispute you on the Fridge, after all he was only in one battle royal. However Koko was a Company Man for a long loyal time. The only reason he was let go was because some corporate big-shot called him the N-Word and he kicked the shit out of him. Koko was over with the fans, even if it wasn't at Austins level. His T-Shirts and Action figures sold, and he performed well in his matches. Just because he didn't main event, or win a title doesn't mean he shouldn't be in the HOF. Jake Roberts never held a title in the WWF so does that mean he shouldn't be in the hall of fame. Even if all Koko is remembered for is jobbing, that jobbing helped build other stars, and he was popular enough that when heel would abuse him during of after a match it helped get them heat.

The WWE has kidded itself into thinking it's in the business of entertainment, not wrasslin'. The so-called celebrity wing of the HOF and the guest-host concept is an attempt to distance itself from wrestling.

Pro Wrestling hasn't had much to do with Pro Wrestling for about 10 years. However it seems to me that you can't make up your mind on wrestling being about entertainment or not. It seems you follow whatever helps your argument. I have said stonchly that what happens in the ring is what matter most to me, an I believe those people should be considered for any HOF action, but after those 10 people are inducted who do they put in next.

It's funny how a lot of wrestling fans and people within the WWE will badmouth the Rock for turning his back on the business when the WWE is the biggest sellout there is. It's pathetic.

I think the Rock is one of the truly brilliant people in the history of Pro Wrestling. He used it to promote himself, and then when he had the chance to get out and spare his body the nightly abuse, he got the fuck out. Bret Hart once said "I don't want to go out a wrestling cliche, but it was the Rock who managed to do just that. I don't call him a sell out, I tip my hat to him.

Oh wait, I just remembered something. Koko B. Ware did main event once. He was part of the Mega-Powers team at the 2 Annual Survivor Series.

 

[Heeko]

He knew Roddy Piper vs Mr. T was a big money match, so he worked with him. Doesn't mean they had to like each other.

Let me see if I have this straight. Mr T sucked in the ring, had no wrestling ability and only played a boxer in a rocky movie. Roddy Piper allegedly disliked him, refused to get pinned by him and didn't even want to work with him, but did so for a paycheck?

So you're saying the company was so void of actual wrestling talent, with actual wrestling ability, that Piper had to go out of his way to work with someone he totally dislikes and who has absolutely no in-ring talent other than playing a boxer in a movie, just to make a decent pay? Who would pay to see that and why? Piper is going to make demands on getting pinned, but not working with actual talent for decent pay??

Pam Anderson added nothing to the WrestleMania she appeared at, so that was just a dumb comment. Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) on the other hand added allot of zest with her chest (and commentary) at WrestleMania 2. When she said the tie on Steamboats leg made him look like a wimp I thought it was funny. Considering the entire Mania phenomenon was built around Roddy Piper slapping Cindy Lauper would you consider her not worthy of induction into the hall of fame?

That's your opinion and your entitled to it. Why do you consider it a dumb comment? Vince is the boss and he can do what he wants. He can even add Tori Spelling to his imaginary HOF if he wants. Just because you don't consider Pamela Anderson "entertainment" doesn't mean the millions of viewers that made Baywatch the most watched television show in the world at the time, didn't. Eye candy sells. They call them "divas".

My guess is Cyndi Lauper probably will end up on the HOF before it's over with. Only catch is, she actually has talent and is eligible for a real Hall of Fame, instead of one that doesn't exist.

 

[DEV]

So you're saying the company was so void of actual wrestling talent, with actual wrestling ability, that Piper had to go out of his way to work with someone he totally dislikes

It wasn't about ability then, it was about exposure. Mr. T was a fairly well known celebrity due to his work on Rocky and the A-Team. As a supposedly legitimate tough guy as well, he was perfect for a wrestling event. Vince wanted the WWF in the mainstream and hooked it with his 'Rock & Roll Wrestling' that caught in the 80's. There was plenty of talent back then but they didn't have the mainstream appeal Vince wanted in order to expand.

 

[Coup de Grace]

WWE has become a farce anyway. All you have to do is have a Wrestlemania moment and you're inducted into the hall. I bet either Lawrence Taylor or Mike Tyson will be next.

 

[SlaverTickler]

It wasn't about ability then, it was about exposure. Mr. T was a fairly well known celebrity due to his work on Rocky and the A-Team. As a supposedly legitimate tough guy as well, he was perfect for a wrestling event. Vince wanted the WWF in the mainstream and hooked it with his 'Rock & Roll Wrestling' that caught in the 80's. There was plenty of talent back then but they didn't have the mainstream appeal Vince wanted in order to expand.

Exactly, and I can understand why he did it. However Mr. T came into there world and according to Piper he was walking around like it was his world. The Hot Rod had worked hard to get where he was on the card and he wasn't about to let some Hollywood poser ruin everything he'd built in his own industry.

The truth is that until Bruno Sammartino is in the WWE hall of fame it isn't half the "honour" the wrestlers try to make it out to be. Bruno was the McMahon's golden goose in the 60's, and before Hogan was probably there biggest money maker (proof in the fact that he held the title longer then anybody ever has). As is often the case with the McMahon's as soon as you stop making them money they toss you aside with little regard for what you have done for them in the past. In a business sense this may sound fine, but Vince always plays this bull shit "welcome to the family" crap when you have something he wants. Vince wants Bruno in the Hall of Fame and Bruno won't do it. I have to admit I respect the man's willingness to stick to his guns, and I have to question why others have chosen not to do the same.