If only they did this when he was alive.

The WWE has announced that Vader will enter the WWE Hall of Fame as the second name inducted this year.  The Undertaker was announced last week.

Vader debuted in 1987 and with his size and agility, the former football player was a natural for the ring.  Signing with New Japan in 1989, Vader (then known as Big Van Vader), destroyed Antonio Inoki in his debut, causing the Sumo Hall fans to riot.  He would win their version of the World Heavyweight Title multiple times, and he would sign with WCW in the early 90s, becoming their top heel.

Vader would main event multiple pay per views, including classic bouts with Sting.  With WCW, he won the World Heavyweight Title three times, and could have potentially won more had he not been fired in 1995 following an altercation with wrestler/agent, Paul Orndorff.

Vader signed with the WWE in 1996, and debuted at the Royal Rumble with Jim Cornette as his manager.  His high-water mark was a WWE World Heavyweight title shot against Shawn Michaels at Summer Slam 1996, but he was politically handcuffed and he would slide down the card, leaving the company three years later.

He passed away in 2018 and the age of 62 following a battle with cancer.

Vader is currently ranked on our WWE Hall of Fame list, and will be removed following an overhaul after Wrestlemania weekend.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the fans and family of the late Leon White.

Last night, at UFC 272, the UFC announced that Khabib Nurmagomedov will be inducted this July into their Hall of Fame.

From Dagestan, Russia, Nurmagomedov made his Mixed Martial Arts debut in 2008, and retired last year, having never lost in 29 contests.  Considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters ever, Nurmagomedov made his first appearance in 2012, finally winning the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 223 by defeating Al Iaquinta for the vacant title.

Nurmagomedov then defended his title against Conor McGregor, in one of the most anticipated fights of all-time.  The champion defended his tile with a fourth round submission, with the pay-per-view drawing a record 2.4 million buys.  

Following his win over McGregor, Nurmagomedov successfully defended the title against interim champion, Dustin Poirier at UFC 242.  His last match was another title defense beating Justin Gaethje.

We here at Notinhallofffame.com would like to congratulate Khabib Nurmagomedov for his impending induction

Wrestlemania season also means it is WWE Hall of Fame season.

Last week, the Undertaker was announced as the headliner for the 2022 Class.  Yesterday, on Pat McAfee’s podcast, Vince McMahon announced that he would be the Undertaker’s inductor.

It is not often that McMahons, the owner of the WWE since 1982, to makes an on-camera appearance during the ceremony, so this adds to the honor of the induction.  The last time McMahon inducted a performer was in 2009 when he presented “Stone Cold” Steve Austin with his induction.

We are looking forward to see who else joins the Undertaker into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame Class.

The ICC Hall of Fame has welcomed in three new members in their most recent ceremony, with Sri Lankan batting great Mahela Jayawardena and South African pace bowler Shaun Pollock joining England women’s cricket star Janette Brittin’s posthumous inclusion into the select group.

There have now been 106 players inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 2009, and this trio of talents amassed an astounding 284 test matches between them, as well as 814 ODIs, and one imagines the talent on show would have made them the envy of those considering their IPL bet tips, with Jayawardena having been particularly effective in the short-form of the game.

The three players were inducted by Sir Clive Lloyd, a fellow Hall of Famer, prior to the T20 World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia, and it was an emotional ceremony for many.

Pollock, who was the first player to achieve the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in both the Test and ODI arenas, becomes the sixth South African to make the grade and was pleased to be in such vaunted company, commenting;

“I would like to thank the ICC for this recognition of my career. It’s an amazing honor to be included in the Hall of Fame alongside the very illustrious company that has already been inducted. It’s a real cherry on the top or maybe even a bookend of what has been a thoroughly enjoyable cricketing experience, and I’d like to thank my teammates who played such a massive part along the journey.”

Jayawardena, whose tally of 11,824 test runs puts him in the ninth spot in the all-time highest scorers, was glad to become the third Sri Lankan to be inducted and the 2014 T20 World Cup winner stated of his inclusion;

“I am thrilled to have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. It’s a very special honor to follow in the footsteps of legends Sanga and Murali from Sri Lanka and so many other great cricketers of the past.”

“I am very grateful for the recognition and would like to enjoy and share the moment with all those that have helped me on my journey, including my family, friends, coaches, team-mates and, most importantly, Sri Lanka cricket fans who passionately supported and inspired me during my career.”

It was the inclusion of Janette Brittin that was the most poignant of the induction event, coming four and a half years after her passing in 2017. The England all-rounder is the tenth woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, and her inclusion is down to her outstanding efforts in the game.

Brittin’s test career spanned 19 years, and she was seen as a leading light in the women’s game, averaging 49.61 in test cricket with the bat, making her the most successful England batters, a feat she also holds in the one day game.