A major star in the Mid-West, “Cowboy” Bill Watts was a tough no nonsense wrestler in the ring.  It should there be no real surprise that Watts took the same attitude behind the scenes where he was a very successful promoter for the Mid South Promotion and later a successful executive for both the WCW and WWE.  This induction is more likely due to his post in ring career than inside of it.

A very fundamentally sound tag team, Jack Brisco and Gerry Brisco have proven that it is not just worth the drive to the Brisco Brothers Body Shop, but it was also worth the drive to see them compete.  Jack himself was a former two time former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and one of the top wrestlers of all time.  Gerry was no slouch himself, but the highlight of his career was teaming with his brother though most remember Gerry as an on screen “Stooge” to Vince McMahon in the attitude era.  Jack may have been the star of the team, but they both have earned a slot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

The father of the “Most Electrifying Man on Sports Entertainment” was quite charismatic himself.  With his quick jabs and Ali shuffle, Rocky Johnson captured many regional championships (mostly in tag teams) and would capture Tag Team gold in the WWF along with Tony Atlas.  Johnson was an excellent mid card talent who had a very good career and deserves to be known for his own merits as opposed to just being the Rock’s dad.

What more can be said about Ric Flair?  He is considered by many to be the greatest wrestler of all time, and even those who would not anoint him that title would at least put him in their top five.  When Flair was inducted, they gave him the honor of being the first “active” wrestler to be enshrined.  Flair would retire the day after, and though that retirement did not stick, it is difficult to argue that his retirement ceremony was not the most heartfelt in American Sports Entertainment.