Top 100 Negotiations!

I think this list should be a combination of those who deserve induction with those who are likely to be inducted given WWE's train of thought. In this thread I'll propose someone be added while in payment propose someone be dropped from the top 100. If anyone else wants to make an add/drop proposal, this is the current place to debate it.



ADD

Mr McMahon - Chairman, I realize you have reservations about adding promoters to the list, but Vince is not only a promoter but a long time commentator and on screen villain within WWE. Besides, there are so many other promoters on the list already including Heyman, Bischoff, Baba, Dick the Bruiser and so on. Technically Vince is a former WWE and ECW champion. He won the Royal Rumble! The man may not let himself be inducted until he's dead but he's also been known to change his mind on a dime. Given all that he has done for the company and his advanced age, I propose that he is the true number 1 person not in the WWE Hall of Fame.

P.S. His inclusion on the list wouldn't mean you'd have to change your banner or anything. hehe



SUBTRACT

Ole Anderson - The man is known to be a complete asshole. He never worked for WWE. He has sworn he will never accept a paycheck from them. He also missed his boat when the Four Horsemen were inducted and thus it is highly unlikely WWE would induct him as a singles competitor. Before 2012 his spot in the top 100 would be okay, but it's obsolete now. I propose he be bumped back out of the top 100.

Hmm. 1B? I guess that's a compromise. I am guessing that entry would appear just behind Savage as an acknowledgement?

As for Ole, I'm not asking he be removed from the list entirely. I just strongly believe given that he never worked for WWE, is an asshole that few people like, and missed his boat with the Horsemen that he should be bumped to the 101 to 200 range. Having never worked for WWE isn't an automatic dq, but Ole isn't even someone I'd put in my top 100 wrestlers of all time. Guys like Thesz, Gagne, Bockwinkel, and O'Connoor sure. Before the Horsemen went in, his spot made some sense. But now I just can't justify Ole being that far ahead of so many more likely and deserving future WWE Hall of Fame inductees. How about spot 101?





ADD (to the top 100)

Lita - She's somewhere around 125 at the moment and that's just far too low for her. She's one of the most popular women champions of all time and has got to be a heavy favorite for induction in the next few years now that Trish Stratus has gone in.




SUBTRACT (from the top 100)

Mr Wrestling Tim Woods - Nothing against him, but he's already at 97 and the top 100 already has Mr Wrestling II who actually worked for WWE, is more popular, is alive, and had a big showing in the territory that Mania will be in next year. I don't see the harm in bumping Woods back into the 101 to 200 range.

Tommy Dreamer is probably someone who could be ranked in the 101 to 200 range. He never had the biggest impact on WWE or the business but is obviously thought of well enough backstage to be considered one day. However he likely won't be thought about anywhere other than the New York area.

Oh and as for Rene Goulet, I agree he's not top 100 material. But he did spend 2 decades with the company and certainly deserves his top 101 to 200 spot. Even if he'll never get in.






ADD (to the top 100)

Danny Hodge - He's the kind of guy who makes those top 100 or top 50 pro-wrestlers of all time lists. He's still alive (in his 80s) and attends RAW when they're in Oklahoma. Last year he was there for JR appreciation night. WrestleMania 30 is taking place in a territory in which Hodge had a strong presence in during the days of Leroy McGuirk. He might even be top 50. He should be right up there with O'Connor, Kiniski, and so on.



SUBTRACT (from the top 100)

Jody Hamilton - Five or so years ago I might have agreed to his placing, but ever since he sued WWE for pulling out of Deep South, I think his relationship with them has soured. He's not exactly that high up in the top 100 anyways, so pushing him back wouldn't be a big deal to allow someone as big as Danny Hodge onto the list.

Jesse Ventura is also Jesse Ventura and not Jody Hamilton. One had a significant role in WWE's expansion and the other didn't. One became a national celebrity and the other didn't. Plus Vince knew he was screwing Jesse out of home video earnings. Not saying Hamilton doesn't deserve a mention, but he can probably fit comfortably in the 101 to 150 range to let a legend like Hodge inside the top 100. Maybe if WrestleMania returns to Georgia, this can be revisited. This is really just clearing room for more tempting inductions in WWE's eyes.

As for the Mid-South representative for 2014...

Michael Hayes has a lot of heat on him and the theme song Badstreet USA is in a lawsuit over writing credits, but there's bound to be an appetite for finally inducting the Freebirds. If they don't go with the Freebirds then they might opt for the Rock N Roll Express or the Midnight Express. With the Midnight Express, I can see them lumping James E. Cornette with them like they did Ellering and the Road Warriors.

Muhammad Ali would be the perfect celebrity choice given that he worked for both WWE and Mid-South.

Jake the Snake Roberts is in the best shape he has been in for a decade or more thanks to DDP. If ever there was a time to induct him...

Magnum T.A., while never having worked for WWE was also incredibly popular and is the Godfather of Cody Rhodes. Dusty will likely push for his induction.

Like I said, Hodge is a legend from the days of Sammartino and Thesz and is still alive.

Dr Death might be a favorite as he's well respected. His main problem is that he's dead and if WWE decides on Bearer or the Freebirds or Savage, there won't be any room for another dead guy.

Mr Wrestling II could be considered. Though I do think the old timer edge goes to Hodge or Koloff.

The One Man Gang - They need to induct another super heavyweight and Gang is alive and actually lives just north of New Orleans.

Hacksaw Butch Reed - There are others ahead of him, but he's at least on the table.





ADD (to the top 100)

Edouard Carpentier - You have everyone else from his era like Kiniski, O'Connor, Gotch, and so on. He's missing though. He was a top attraction in the northeast and certainly a part of the WWE in the 60s.. and even 90s as a french broadcaster.



SUBTRACT (from the top 100)

Shane Douglas - The man got ejected from the arena when he attended RAW. He wasn't invited backstage. WWE has little interest in working with him again. He's one of those guys who isn't necessary for the WWE Hall of Fame to be complete. Thus little effort will ever be made to repair their relationship. I believe he can be on the outside of the top 100 looking in.

I agree that the minority issue would help Butch Reed. Though I do think they'll try for Ali. Also, the ailing Kamala lives just next door in Mississippi. If ever there was a time to induct him so that he wouldn't have to travel very far, next year would be the time. But if they don't go with him as a super heavyweight, I think Gang, Vader, or Bundy will be on the table. Though I do wonder if the super heavyweights keep cancelling each other out on whatever voting occurs. There's a real buildup of big guys that haven't gone in yet. Calhoun, Bigelow, Earthquake, Baba, Boss Man, and not to mention Henry and Big Show soon enough.





ADD (to the top 100)

Tiger Mask I - Former WWE Light heavyweight champion and a bit of a character. He'd be awfully tempting for an international candidate as he's marketable. Plus he's still alive.



SUBTRACT (from the top 100)

Dino Bravo - He was gunned down by the mafia. Plus if WWE wants to induct a dead guy who was big in Montreal, it's gonna be Edouard Carpentier if Bret Hart or Pat Patterson have anything to say about it. He can be pushed back to the 101 to 150 range.