Rick Martel has revealed that WWE previously approached him about a Hall of Fame induction, but he decided the time was not right.
Speaking with Sean Mooney on the Prime Time with Sean Mooney podcast, the former AWA World Heavyweight Champion confirmed that he had already received a call from WWE regarding a potential Hall of Fame spot.
“I did a while back, you know. I got a call, but I wasn’t ready,” Rick Martel said. “I’m not sure if I would go, or right now I’m enjoying myself. I’m enjoying with all of this, and we’ll see.”
Martel remains one of the most accomplished stars of his era, enjoying championship success in both the AWA and WWF before becoming one of WWE’s most memorable villains as “The Model” during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Reflecting on that period, Martel described it as the peak of the wrestling business.
“It was unreal, unbelievable,” he said while discussing WrestleMania III. “We were like rock stars. It was fantastic.”
Martel also spoke candidly about the physical toll wrestling took on performers during that era, noting that many wrestlers worked through injuries without the benefits available to today’s talent.
“Your knees, your back, and you were hurt all over, and we didn’t have insurance,” he said. “We paid dearly physically, but we did what we had to do.”
Rick Martel Recalled His Iconic WWE “Model” Persona
The WWE veteran also revisited the creation of his iconic “Model” character, revealing that he initially had to fight for the opportunity to make the heel turn that ultimately revitalised his career. The change came at WrestleMania V when he abandoned Strike Force partner Tito Santana, leading to one of the most memorable runs of his career.
Rick Martel praised several former rivals during the interview, including Jake Roberts, whom he called a great opponent and creative mind. The pair famously feuded over Martel’s “Arrogance” cologne, culminating in a blindfold match at WrestleMania VII.
Away from wrestling, Martel explained that he intentionally planned for life after the ring by investing in real estate. That strategy allowed him to retire on his own terms rather than continue wrestling out of financial necessity.
While Martel has recently returned to the public eye through convention appearances, he made it clear that a full-time return to wrestling is not on the cards. After undergoing hip surgery and a knee replacement, the 70-year-old said the demands of the business are simply too great.
