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Here is Every Inductee of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
These men and women will join the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 40 weekend!
Besides the larger-than-life main event of Cody Rhodes challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – and countless other must-see matches – the WWE Universe is looking forward to one of our favorite events of WrestleMania weekend: the annual WWE Hall of Fame ceremony!
Taking place on Friday, April 5, 2024, the Hall of Fame ceremony is the perfect amuse-bouche for what will be the biggest WrestleMania in history. With news trickling out about who will be inducted into the Class of 2024, we here at USA Insider think it's the perfect time to give the WWE Universe the lowdown on who will receive the most prestigious honors of their careers!
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(As WrestleMania 40 weekend draws near, this running list will be continuously updated, so check back often.)
What Does a WWE Hall of Fame Induction Mean?
Receiving an induction means WWE – and its fans – recognizes you for your overall contributions to the world of professional wrestling. Like the NBA's, NFL's, and Major League Baseball's Hall of Fames, the WWE Hall of Fame is a collection of larger-than-life men and women who transcend pro wrestling – the Superstars whose lasting accomplishments will stand the test of time. Like other professional sports Hall of Fames, only the best of the best are inducted – and the WWE Hall of Fame boasts timeless Superstars who will live on forever.
The Class of 2023 – headlined by Rey Mysterio and boasting talents like Stacy Keibler and The Great Muta – was one of the most top-heavy Hall of Fame classes in recent memory, leading to an unforgettable evening of iconic and heartfelt induction speeches. Mysterio's speech, in particular, was incredibly emotional:
Simply put, being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame means the recognition of excellence in every way.
Paul Heyman Joins the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame?
After years of speculation, the WWE Universe is finally getting their wish. The Wiseman himself, Paul Heyman, is officially the first inductee into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame, headlining what we're sure will be an all-star lineup of inductees this year!
While younger members of the WWE Universe may only know him as the current outspoken spokesperson for The Bloodline, Paul Heyman's magnificent wrestling career has seen him tackle countless roles en route to making an immeasurable impact on the industry in general. He's a living legend and one of the most deserving Hall of Fame inductees, well, ever.
Something tells us that we've only seen the tip of the iceberg from Mr. Heyman. Speaking to the New York Post after news of his Hall of Fame induction broke, Paul Heyman revealed that at age 58, he believes he still has plenty more left to give to the WWE Universe.
"It's taken me all these decades to figure this business out and the art of presentation to an audience, so while I hate to use the old cliche of, 'You ain't seen nothing yet, and I'm just getting started', but you ain't seen nothing yet, and I'm just getting started," he explained.
A consummate performer who is one of the few people to find success in almost every major professional wrestling organization in existence (as an on-air talent and behind-the-scenes mastermind, Paul Heyman is widely regarded as having one of the most brilliant minds for the business that anyone's ever encountered. Of course, like many of the best WWE Superstars of all time, he commanded a mastery on the microphone:
(It's safe to say that Paul Heyman's speech during the ceremony will be one for the ages.)
Heyman has had a hand in many of the most significant roles in wrestling history, from the formation of Extreme Championship Wrestling in the early 90s to his current relationship with Roman Reigns, The Rock, and the rest of The Bloodline, who are currently embroiled in a feud with both Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes ahead of WrestleMania 40.
Bull Nakano Joins the Class of 2024 WWE Hall of Fame
One of the best female wrestlers of all time is getting a well-deserved Hall of Fame nod: the legendary Bull Nakano will join the Class of 2024!
Her classic matches – viewed by many as ahead of their time in terms of physicality and technical prowess – with WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze put her on the radar of millions of American fans, but it was her work outside of WWE that garnered her the most notoriety – and respect. Before retiring in 1997, Bull Nakano was one of the biggest international female stars in wrestling, frequently competing in Japan, Mexico, and countless other promotions, collecting championships every step of the way. In a recent statement to ESPN, she expressed her gratitude over being inducted into the Hall of Fame during the upcoming WrestleMania weekend."During my active years, I was able to get championship belts in Japan, America, and Mexico," Nakano explained. "But just one thing was missing – I didn't get inducted into the Hall of Fame. I wanted this. Finally, in 2024 in WrestleMania week, I am able to get this."It's a well-deserved honor for one of the best to ever do it.
The U.S. Express Joins the Class of 2024 WWE Hall of Fame
Hot on the heels of the first two induction announcements comes the news that the U.S. Express will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a tag team!
Capturing the WWE Tag Team titles on two occasions, Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham debuted at the first-ever WrestleMania in 1985 – and never looked back. The two men competed against many of the top tag teams of the mid-80s and eventually went their separate ways to enjoy extended success as singles competitors.
The U.S. Express joins a handful of prestigious tag teams honorably inducted into the Hall of Fame, including The Bushwhackers, the Hart Foundation, the Dudley Boyz, and the Brisco Brothers. It’s exceedingly rare for two legendary Superstars to enter the Hall of Fame as a tag team – but Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham will nevertheless join the exclusive club on April 5!
If Rotunda’s name is ringing bells, you’re not alone – he is the father of the late, great Bray Wyatt, who tragically died in August of 2023.
Muhammad Ali Joins the Class of 2024 WWE Hall of Fame
It's about time! The man many people believe is the greatest professional boxer of all time will finally be granted a posthumous induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. At first glance, though, this may seem puzzling to younger members of the WWE Universe – but trust us, Muhammad Ali has extensive experience appearing in WWE! Just take a look at this clip from 1976, when he got into the ring with Gorilla Monsoon, and, well, see for yourself:
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Of course, most fans remember Ali for his unforgettable appearance at the first-ever WrestleMania, when he took on the role of special guest referee during the night's main event, a classic tag match that saw Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeat Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. The bout was predictably chaotic, with Ali himself getting physical on more than one occasion.
Muhammad Ali is one of the best heavyweight champions ever, so it's only suitable that WWE honors him for his contributions to sports entertainment. Without the credible "rub" of Ali associating with wrestling in the '70s and '80s, who knows if WWE would have still ascended to the top of the industry today?
Thunderbolt Patterson Joins the Class of 2024 WWE Hall of Fame
This year's Hall of Fame class recognizes some of the most influential people in professional wrestling history, and we're proud to report that one of the most underappreciated names in sports entertainment will be rightfully acknowledged as a WWE Hall of Famer in 2024! Thunderbolt Patterson collected countless titles throughout his career in the 1960s and 1970s and ultimately paved the way for many African-American Superstars to follow in his footsteps. Perhaps most notable is Patterson's contributions behind the scenes – he frequently fought for equal pay among all Superstars and more rights for every man and woman in the locker room.
The New Day's Xavier Woods took to social media to commemorate the news of Thunderbolt Patterson's upcoming induction:
The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is impressive, but there is arguably no man more deserving of an induction than Thunderbolt Patterson.
Lia Maivia Joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Not everyone in the WWE Hall of Fame receives the honor due to their in-ring career. Some are simply heralded for the impact they had on the wrestling business as a whole. Such is the case for Lia Maivia.
The news was announced by her grandson, and current antagonist in the world of WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson” days before the ceremony with a heartfelt video in which both he and the actress who portrayed her on the NBC series Young Rock, Ana Tuisila, gave a succinct and memorable recap of her life and impact on WWE.
“She was a trailblazer. She was a protector of our family. She was the real Final Boss,” Johnson wrote.
A matriarch of the legendary Anoa'i family, Maivia was one of the first women to become a powerful sports entertainment promoter. While her husband and son-in-law were major players in the ring, it could be said that the current makeup of professional wrestling would not look like what it is today without her tireless work behind the scenes.
After The High Chief’s passing in 1982, Maivia took over control of the National Wrestling Alliance territory in Hawaii known as Polynesian Pro Wrestling. In 1985, her promotion held and event called A Hot Summer Night, which featured a packed match card filled with hugely popular Superstars like Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, Rocky Johnson (Maivia’s son-in-law), Dusty Rhodes, Antonio Inoki and many more. The event was a huge success and helped lay the groundwork for massive, tentpole wrestling events that fans know and love today.
Maivia died in 2008 at the age of 77 but will join her husband, The High Chief, as an inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame.
You can tune in to Peacock to watch WrestleMania on April 6 and 7. In the meantime, catch up on all things WWE Universe on Peacock.
Originally published Mar 14, 2024.
