Immortalized in plastic by both the WWE and GI Joe, Sgt. Slaughter cornered the market on the military gimmick in wrestling.  He had major runs in multiple promotions and was successful regardless of whether he was pandering to fans to antagonizing them.  Slaughter’s lone WWF World Title was as an Iraqi sympathizer and it is a testament to his overall character that he was able to get the fans on his side again.

Why is he here?  Honestly, major props to Pete Rose for taking bumps from Kane in consecutive Wrestlemanias but is this the guy who should be the inaugural celebrity inductee?  We would rather discuss Pete Rose on our Baseball section than here.

Considering the acrimonious post WWE dealings he had with Vince McMahon it was a little surprising that this induction occurred.  Jesse Ventura was easily the best heel commentator in wrestling history and was the reason that many fans were entertained.  He very well may have defined the term “cool heel”.  Jesse Ventura is also a great role model for other grapplers for what he accomplished post wrestling and proof that wrestlers could be multi dimensional individuals.

Forget about his run in the WWF as “The King”.  As a former multi time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Harley Race was considered by some to best wrestler to ever hold that belt.  Those who may not consider Race to be the best champion would certainly label him as the toughest.  A locker room legend who boasted in many interviews that he was the “best wrestler on God’s Green Earth” very well might have been just that.