The International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, without a firm home as of this date, announced its first induction class on December 12. Naturally, as a first class, it is tough to argue with any of the honorees.
Voters were asked to vote in a number of categories, with the top four voter getters in each category being inducted.
Living – European, Asian, African, Australian, Central/South American, New Zealand
Tatsumi Fujinami
Antonio Inoki
Mil Mascaras
Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama)
Living – North American
Ric Flair
Terry Funk
Danny Hodge
Hulk Hogan
Posthumous Post-1925 – European, Asian, African, Australian, Central/South American, New Zealand
Shohei “Giant” Baba
Rikidozan
Andre the Giant
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Posthumous Post-1925 – North American
Ed “Strangler” Lewis
“Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers
Bruno Sammartino
Lou Thesz
Posthumous – Pre-1925 -European, Asian, African, Australian, Central/South American, New Zealand
Great Gama
George Hackenschmidt
Paul Pons
Terrible Turk (Yusif Ismail)
Posthumous – Pre-1925 – North American
Martin “Famer” Burns
Evan “Strangler” Lewis
Frank Gotch
William Muldoon
There were also categories for Lady Wrestling, Tag Team, and Ancillary (managers, referees, promoters), but no one met the induction standard for votes.
The announcement was made via video, with the committee’s chair, Dr. Bob Bryla, listing the inductees.
The IPWHF will be located in the eastern end of New York State, and announced its first induction ceremony as well, set for August 28, 2021 in Albany, New York at the The Desmond hotel.
It is not to be confused with the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, which is located in Wichita Falls, Texas. Many of the people who were involved with the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame when it was located in New York State (Schenectady, and then Amsterdam) are behind the IPWHF. The creation of the IPWHF was announced in December 2019.
A previous fundraising dinner was cancelled due to the pandemic.
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