The voice of Memphis wrestling for decades, Lance Russell was known for his smooth and business like delivery.  Russell was respected for how he treated the business and mostly how he never made himself a central figure, unlike other announcers who did that.  Arguably, Lance Russell is the best non-WWE announcer that hasn’t got inducted, but there is little reason to think that they ever will.

Not that anyone really came close to giving Vince a run in the 80’s, but if anyone had to be picked it would have been Jim Crockett Jr. who made an attempt to expand his territory and made a dent into pay per view.  Although he was eventually unsuccessful, the matches and programs in his territory were among the most memorable of wrestling history.

Jim Barnett was not a successful wrestler, but as a promoter he had few equals. Barnett first struck gold promoting in Australia and would return to the United States as a very successful promoter of Georgia Championship Wrestling. He does have a tie with the WWE as he used to be an adviser for the WWF, and at one time WCW.