This Day in Wrestling History

Frank Gotch wrestles his last match in Chicago, defeating Leo Pardello in a one fall match. A crowd of 10,000 was on hand.
May 1, 1917

After retiring to work his farm, a drop in grain prices forces Joe Stecher to return to wrestling.
May 1, 1929

Happy Birthday to Booker T
May 1, 1965

The formation of the Four Horseman. The group consists of Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson with manager J.J. Dillon.
May 1986

Miss Elizabeth (Elizabeth Heulette) passed away of a drug overdose at 42
May 1, 2003

Ric Flair Confirmed for 2012 WWE Hall of Fame

WWE.com issued the following statement:

WWE.com has just gotten word that Ric Flair will be in attendance at the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Miami's American Airlines Arena on Saturday, March 31.

On that night, The Nature Boy will gain a record second entry into the hallowed Hall. Only this time, Flair will be entering alongside his legendary Four Horsemen allies: Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and JJ Dillon.

First inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008 on the night before he faced Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV, The Nature Boy became the first active Superstar to ever receive the honor. The Dirtiest Player in the Game retired from the ring after losing to HBK on The Grandest Stage of Them All, but his legacy as one of the most respected and influential performers in sports-entertainment endures.

The induction ceremony, which will be held on the eve of WrestleMania XXVIII, will air on USA on Monday, April 2 at 8 p.m.

Wrestling Legend Arn Anderson and The Four Horsemen Get Their Due Honors

It happens to Arn Anderson all the time. He isn’t “The Enforcer” any more, and he’s only known as “Double A” to his pals in the wrestling business. But it still happens. He is still greeted wherever he goes with that familiar sign — four fingers, right in your face. It’s the sign of The Four Horsemen, the wrestling stable of all wrestling stables that paved the way for all the rest. That group — originally including Anderson, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard and Ole Anderson — was a revolution in the wrestling business...More?

source: trentonian.com

Full List of Inductors for 2012 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Though WWE has yet to announce who will be inducting the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame inductees, a strong source within the organization says the following plans are in place.

* Edge will be inducted by Christian

* Four Horsemen (Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, JJ Dillon, Ric Flair and Tully Blanchard) will be inducted by Dusty Rhodes

* Mike Tyson will be inducted by Shawn Michaels and Triple H

* Mil Mascaras will be inducted by Alberto Del Rio

* Ron Simmons will be inducted by John “Bradshaw” Layfield

* Yokozuna will be inducted by Jey & Jimmy Uso

Jerry “The King” Lawler will host the event.

source: wwe.com

Lex Luger Says He Would Be Honored To Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame

During a recent public appearance, Lex Luger was asked what being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame would mean to him.

“It would just be a tremendous honor if someday I was inducted in the Hall of Fame, but really, we’re here to get down to glory to God now with our lives and serve others and use open vessels for him to bring people to Christ,” says Luger, who in 2006 declared himself a born again Christian.

Lex continues, “But, would that be an honor? It’s something that would also help to use as a platform to continue ministry as well. It would be wonderful, definitely.”

Wrestlezone.com reported last week that Luger not being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year as part of the Horsemen clan stems from the events surrounding Miss Elizabeth’s death, which occurred on May 1, 2003 in the home they shared. Her cause of death, according to the coroner’s report, was “acute toxicity” brought on by a buffet of prescription painkillers and vodka. Many people in WWE blame Luger for her tragic death as he’s seen as her enabler. Luger himself has admitted to being a negative influence on her life.

“I take a lot of responsibility for that—my influence in her life,” he told ESPN.com in 2007 regarding his heavy drug abuse, which rubbed off on her during their relationship. “Her little heart and body couldn’t take what I was doing.”

Tully Blanchard Addresses Horsemen Line-up for WWE HOF; Comments on Conversation with Triple H

Four Horsemen member Tully Blanchard commented this week on whether the line-up of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, and himself is the correct group be inducted into WWE's Hall of Fame this year. "The most dynamic group that we had was with Barry. You had more guys that could perform with more opponents. Big, small, all sizes and that was the most powerful group we had," Blancard said on the Busted Open satellite radio show.

Blanchard also commented on the possibility of Triple H inducting the group: "He just shared with me in brief that he watched and appreciated everything we did, not just we, but he was talking about me, specifically...If that is what he watched and that is what he molded himself after, then he would have a great amount of input on how the images of the Four Horsemen blended together and affected him."

source: pwtorch.com

2012 WWE Hall of Fame Update

Pwinsider.com is reporting that the WWE announced Edge and The Four Horseman last week to push Hall of Fame ticket sales. They intend to take their time with the other names. Mil Mascaras is in and Yokozuna is expected to be inducted as well.

Internally, Alberto Del Rio is expected to induct his uncle, Mil Mascaras. There was talk at Raw this week that Shawn Michaels and HHH, together, would induct the Four Horsemen. HHH pushed personally for the Horsemen induction. Edge has spoken publicly of wanting Christian to induct him. The Rock may induct Yokozuna.

JJ Dillon Comments on WWE HOF Induction, Ole Anderson, and More

"It's an incredible honor. I'm humbled beyond belief. My career was a dream come true. It spanned 45 years and it was an incredible story." said Dillon who would further explain his relationship with Vince McMahon.

"What some people might not know is that I worked for the WWF in a management position for about 7 years. Unfortunately, things didn't end so well. I left the WWF, and I didn't speak to Vince for 10 years or so. Then I was surprised when they called me and asked me to be a part of Flair's farewell a few years ago. So, we're standing in the hallway and as Tully and I were about to go out there, Vince came up to us, shook our hands and thanked us for coming. That was the first time I spoke to him and it opened the doors for this tremendous opportunity to be inducted into the HOF."...More?

source: examiner.com

Ole Anderson has Harsh Words for Vince McMahon

Original Four Horsemen member Ole Anderson strongly criticized WWE CEO Vince McMahon in an interview with Mike Mooneyham of the Post & Courier newspaper. Anderson was asked about his exclusion from the Horsemen line-up in WWE's Hall of Fame announcement this week. "Vince McMahon hates my guts, and I don’t like him. So that’s all there is to it,” Anderson said, while also noting he couldn't make the ceremony because of his poor health. “Vince McMahon is never going to call me." Anderson also said he feels WWE's Hall of Fame is a joke and he repeated a "conversation" he had with McMahon the last time he saw him at a previous ceremony. "I told Vince McMahon to go (expletive deleted), and I wouldn’t change my mind now," he said.

source: pwtorch.com

Ric Flair Confirms HOF Appearance, Discusses Watching the Announcement at the Impact Taping

Ric Flair says he will only be allowed to talk for seven minutes at WWE's Hall of Fame ceremony honoring the Four Horsemen. Flair confirmed his in-person appearance at the ceremony in an interview with Mike Mooneyham of the Post & Courier newspaper. He added that he watched the announcement backstage at TNA's Impact TV taping Monday night. “It’s amazing. It’s very cool. The whole TNA crew was watching the vignette. I started crying when they aired it,” Flair said.

source: pwtorch.com

Rumor Mill - TNA Not Given Advance Notice of Ric Flair's Re-Induction in the Hall of Fame

- TNA had no advance warning that Ric Flair was being advertised for WWE's 2012 Hall of Fame. The promotion found out the same time as everyone else when it aired on Raw, though Flair himself knew earlier on Monday when Triple H called him to tell him. Flair was at the Impact tapings at the time.

TNA Management didn't discusss the issue with Flair at the Impact tapings on Tuesday and at this point there is no plan for any kind of official deal between WWE and TNA regarding Flair's involvement at the show.

source: wrestling observer

Lex Luger Addresses Exclusion from Horsemen in WWE HOF

Former WWE/WCW star Lex Luger says he does not feel "snubbed" by WWE for including Barry Windham in the Four Horsemen group announced for the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame. Luger said on the Busted Open satellite radio show this week he would have picked Windham or Ole Anderson for the fourth spot along with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard. "I think it would be a great time in Barry's life right now from what I hear (battling health issues), for him to receive that," Luger said before noting he plans to attend the ceremony. "I'm going to be down in South Beach for WrestleMania. I wouldn't miss it. I will be in the audience cheering on the guys who gets selected as the Four Horsemen."

source: pwtorch.com

Another Inductee Announced for 2012 WWE Hall Of Fame

The Four Horsemen - Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and JJ Dillon.

This Day in Wrestling History

Frank Gotch wrestles his last match in Chicago, defeating Leo Pardello in a one fall match. A crowd of 10,000 was on hand.
May 1, 1917

After retiring to work his farm, a drop in grain prices forces Joe Stecher to return to wrestling.
May 1, 1929

Happy Birthday to Booker T
May 1, 1965

The formation of the Four Horseman. The group consists of Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson with manager J.J. Dillon.
May 1986

Miss Elizabeth (Elizabeth Heulette) passed away of a drug overdose at 42
May 1, 2003

This Day in Wrestling History

Happy Birthday to Booker T
May 1, 1965

The formation of the Four Horseman. The group consists of Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson with manager J.J. Dillon.
May 1986

Miss Elizabeth (Elizabeth Heulette) passed away of a drug overdose at 42
May 1, 2003

WWE: Top 25 Entourages of All TIme

#1 Hart Foundation
#2 NWO
#3 Four Horseman
#4 D-Generation X
#5 Heenan Family

Evolution was #10. Click here for the rest of the list.