There can be no doubt that Steve Austin was the major star of wrestling in the late 90’s and the single biggest draw in that period.  In fact, with all due respect to icons like Hulk Hogan and the Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin could be the biggest star ever.  This was an induction that had to happen.

We are trying to think of a time when Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat had a bad match with anybody.  We couldn’t.  When you combine that fact with a near twenty year body of work, you know you are talking about someone special.  He never won the world title for the WWE, but he did capture the NWA version which is thankful as nobody as talented as Ricky Steamboat should go throughout his career without a World Heavyweight Championship.

Many (including us) were surprised by this induction.  “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware did have a long tenure in Stamford, but it was mainly as a “jobber to the stars” and though he was a good hand, he did not have a career that seemed to scream Hall of Fame.  With all due respect to the Birdman, we wonder if this is just a case where Vince was looking to be nice.

The first official employee of the World Wrestling Federation and the main Ring Announcer for decades, Howard Finkel’s signature voice bellowed countless match results and title changes.  Many times we wish he was still the main ring announcer, though we never wish for a resumption of the feud with Harvey Whippleman.