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Lightning Round - Hall Of Fame non wrestlers

Scott, considering how often the WWE HOF gets discussed on here I thought it only fitting to end the old year/start the new year (delete as appropriate) With a quick lightning round on whether you think the following people who were best known in a non wrestler capacity should/will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame?

"Delete as appropriate"?!  Do I look like an editor?  You guys are lucky I bold and italicize this shit as it is...

(Just kidding.)  

Ted Turner

Sure, and he lead the wrestling union while we're in this beautiful dream.  Next.  

Eric Bischoff

Yeah, and they can cut his induction speech out of that same clip they've been using for 12 years now.  Bisch is done with them.    

Jim Cornette

See those bridges on fire down by Kentucky?  They say no.  

Jim Johnston

Unlikely.  No one knows him.  

Jack Funny

You mean Tunney?  Again, bridges burned to the ground.  They didn't even attend his FUNERAL.  

Todd Pettingill

Only if Stephanie Wiand goes in with him.  

Paul Heyman

Should have happened already.  

Comments

  1. What happened with Tunney?

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  2. Call me crazy, but I miss ole Pedophile. He had a terrible personality but he HAD A PERSONALITY. I'll take him over the generic stuffed suits they run now.

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  3. I'd love to see Corny in the HoF. Doubt it happens while Kevin Dunn is still employed by WWE.

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  4. He's too busy ranting about Benghazi.

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  5. I'd like to know why they keep screwing with Michael Hayes by not inducting the Fabulous Freebirds. There is no logical reason for keeping them out this long.

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  6. Even though he was a wrestler in his early days, Lord Alfred Hayes was primarily known a commentator and he'd get my vote

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  7. I think I read somewhere he was using company money to pay off gambling debts, which is why he was canned in 95.

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  8. How about a list of famous wrestling personalities who will NEVER be in the WWE HoF:


    - Jim Cornette, Bischoff, Jack Tunny, Johnston, Ted Turner (as mentioned)
    - Chyna (Aside from the burned bridges, there's her porn career, drug addiction, and mental health)
    - Jeff Jarrett (No Mercy '99 incident)
    - CM Punk (Colt Cabana interview, merch settlement)
    - Chris Benoit (If you have to ask why, congrats for time traveling here from before 2007)

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  9. It appears he had the booking rights to the Maple Leafs Garden so when he got forced out, WWF couldn't run shoes there? Just a guess.

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  10. I'm thinking the next Mania in Dallas is the time.

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  11. Lance Russell! I know he's too regional, but it would be cool to see him.

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  12. The whole Benghazi thing is pretty much a Tea Party thing at this point, where even regular Republicans are like "Seriously? Stop wasting money on this shit before Democrats smarten up and use it against us!"

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  13. How did Jack Tunney end up having his bridges burnt with WWE?

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  14. How about Scott Keith?

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  15. Jarrett revealed in a recent interview that he and Vince are on decent terms these days since his wifes funeral. So the main thing stopping him from being in the HOF is that he's not good or important enough.

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  16. Couldn't they just run sandals instead?

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  17. Off-topic, watching War Games 92. Dangerous Alliance was a fucking stacked stable talent wise. And the little touches like Paul E giving them directions before the match like a Coach... THAT'S what wrestling needs nowadays. That and how each DA member has a fully informed character WITHOUT twenty minute promos each week. Man, WCW was sporadically the best wrestling promotion ever...

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  18. It's way too early to tell with Punk. Punk coming back for a Hall of Fame payday 5-10 years from now is not much different from Sammartino and Warrior coming back. They've said far worse about WWE.

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  19. Bischoff and Johnston have a slight chance. Cornette/Tunney burned their bridge. WWE barely even mentions Tunney in history/DVDs etc. I bet WWE has reached out to Ted Turner, but Ted is DONE with wrestling and theres really no point for him.


    Maybe Chyna will go in a member of DX?


    Jeff Jarrett chances are better now than few years ago, because no TNA connection and Jim Ross/Austin are not there. No Mercy 99 really aint the case because WWE knew when is deal was up and therefore its WWE's fault for not renewing it (same case for Luger)


    CM Punk AFTER his UFC career and him and Triple H kiss and make up.


    Who's Chris Benoit?????

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  20. And Steamboat doing Hurricaranas in 1992. The guy would've gotten over even in the Attitude era through sheer talent.

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  21. I think it's understandable why Heyman isn't in: he still plays too active of an onscreen role. I know the commentators have been inducted while still working on-air full-time, but that's a little different. He certainly has a good enough relationship with WWE that when he's not playing an active on-screen role anymore, I'm sure he'll be in.

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  22. Hey, they put in Bullet Bob, and he was definitely regional.

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  23. Vince would definitely induct him and sees the money in it.

    Stephanie? That's another story.

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  24. I agree that Bischoff has a strong chance.

    Johnston only gets in once WWE takes Warrior's advice and starts acknowledging more behind-the-scenes people.

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  25. Not mine. Dude was the worst ever.

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  26. Well, there is the fact that he's a douche.


    But yeah, they should be in. I can only imagine how long and self-indulgent the acceptance speech will be, though.

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  27. Abusing WWE expenses... example : Going out and buying an $100 steak dinner and $100 wine on a corp. credit card. Sean Waltman told me this when he used to eat @ a restaurant I used to work in Tampa.

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  28. Between Steph and Hunter and their petty, bullshit grudges, there may be quite a few people who ought to go in, but either never do, or at least don't go in while they're alive.

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  29. I think we probably make more of these grudges than they do.

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  30. Also as part of his agreement with Vince him and his brother Frank got a cut of all gates in Canada (or maybe just Toronto) and by 1995 when the company was doing TV in places ECW could sell out they cut him loose and he was bitter about it.

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  31. And Vince didn't cancel the friggin' card after the first charges were made? I mean, I know VKM was on a lot of blow and such back then, but damn. That seems to rest more on his shoulders than Tunney's.

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  32. I liked him more as an interviewer than as a commentator, TBH.

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  33. A racist douche. I'm thinking this new "corporate image" self-fellating company the WWE has become is much more conscious of that sort of thing than they were five years ago.

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  34. WWE would LOVE to have Turner inducted, but Turner is far too busy succeeding in all the the the things Vince has dreamed of doing but failing miserably at. I'm surprised that Lord Alfred Hayes isn't in already. Is Jerry Jarret in? The Freebirds should definitely already be in. Probably a rib on Hayes at this point. I'm not even joking about that. It's important to realize the WWE HOF is far from a legit HOF, even with in the realm of pro wrestling.

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  35. I work in accounting now and its not that simple. A company can't just cancel a card. They have to do an audit on expenses. And if audit sees something weird, they may take action to fire the person. Because the credit card is in the person's name and it has info like SS#, a company can't call like AMEX and say cancel the card unless they fire him and therefore the card is no longer valid.

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  36. Too bad the TeaBigots are in control of the party, at this point. Until the old fuckers ranting and raving about Dixie rising again, and backing literal IDIOTS as candidates based on their "conservative values" die, they will REMAIN in control of the Republican Party. So yay for the Repubs: more years of Boehner, Bachmann, Palin, Cruz, and Paul "I masturbate to Atlas Shrugged" Ryan running the show.

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  37. Jack Funny FTW.

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  38. But has that always been the case? If the card was issued to Titan Inc., then couldn't Titan cancel said card?

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  39. I would have agreed with you, once upon a time. But HHH has proven NOTHING if not how incredibly thin his skin is. It's why the guy really, really should not be in a corporate position.

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  40. Earl Hebner one day? Heh. He's got as much of a shot as most of the other people on this list.

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  41. The card would be issued to the single person as an Corp Credit Card because atleast the company I work for now (a major insurance company) they fill out an application and the card is under the persons name.

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  42. Michael Cole should get in for being the biggest team player for McMahon

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  43. For years I heard Jarrett held the WWF up for a bunch of EXTRA money to work that show. But in Bob Holly's book he says Jarrett only held Vince up for IMMEDIATE payment of money already owed (ppvs, merchandise, etc.). Honestly given the animosity between WCW and WWF at that point and JJ leaving, I don't blame him one bit.

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  44. Promotional consideration paid for by the following...

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  45. Theberzerker! HUSS!January 2, 2015 at 1:04 PM

    To be fair, Scott Steiner was bustin them shits out in 1989.

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  46. Except the part where Russo renames him Dick Blood.

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  47. Yeah, he just wanted his money up front, and you can't blame him for that.

    Jarrett has said he and Vince made peace. Vince called him to offer condolences after his wife died. That doesn't necessarily mean that they'll ever work together again, but Jarrett isn't on the FUCK YOU list

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  48. He also runs and promotes a competing company.

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  49. I don't know if I'd say that's been "proven." There's a lot of rumors and conjecture, and those mostly turn out to be bullshit. Especially in wrestling.

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  50. The Freebirds not being in is DEFINITELY a rib on Hayes, but if Mania 32 is in Dallas I am sure it will happen.

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  51. More easily, Vince could just have Tunney hand back the physical card while he went through the hoops.

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  52. What sort of relationship does he have with Steph/Hunter though?

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  53. I still think it's shady. He was aware his contract was expiring and he didn't mention it either so him sneaking off to WCW was obviously his plan. And had Vince ever not paid someone their royalties after they left? Why hold Vince up for it?

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  54. Gotta be in a city where the Stars n Bars is over huge....otherwise....yeah, probably not the best idea.

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  55. "Do I look like an editor?"



    From the way you spell "led", I'd say no. :)

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  56. Frankensteiner used to blow my mind, as a kid.

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  57. sneaking? Interesting how wrestlers are always expected to show loyalty to their bosses or promotion but the reverse is never expected. Jarrett made a business decision. The same kind of decisions that Vince made that are defended by you and some others.
    As for not paying someone, hard to say. He certainly has a reputation for being arbitary in his payments and Jarrett may have been afraid that suddenly his importance on a card would have been downgraded. If Vince can be afraid Bret will show up with the belt even though he gave his word, then Jarrett is certainly reasonable to be afraid Vince won't be on the up and up in paying him his earned money.

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  58. don't know now but Jarrett always got along with the kliq and even hung out with them when they were doing split crews.

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  59. Uh... it's never up to the employee to tell the company their contract is coming to an end. Any business worth a damn is going to be on that shit months before it's due to expire.

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  60. A really good one with Stephanie, she personally called him to offer condolences and both have been on friendly terms. Jarrett is no longer blacklisted.

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  61. I don't blame him if he wanted to go to WCW for whatever reason, but he didn't give any notice or bring it to anyone's attention his contract was expiring until it did.

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  62. It's a shame that Cornette wouldn't go in because his speech would be an all-time classic. If I were TNA, I would just have a minute of Cornette ranting every show.

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  63. he obviously followed the rules of his contract and what was required to leave the company for WCW. Anything more than that is not his obligation. He could have just breached his contract like Vince liked to do with talent.

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  64. Maybe he'll get into the TNA Hall of Fame and give his induction speech at Denny's or wherever it's at next year.

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  65. Are there any refs in the HoF? Tommy Young definitely needs to go in.

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  66. Did the deal ever go through for Lawler to purchase part of the Memphis library to sell to WWE? Russel might go in when they have actual footage they can show of him.
    Solie needs to be in there too.

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  67. That's not Jarrett's job

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  68. There's just no reason for him to not tell anyone he was leaving unless he wanted the perks of being booked to drop a title without a contract. And Vince and Bret mutually agreed to end the contract - at Vince's request but it was mutual.

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  69. Because Vince flat out said he was going to breach his contract and told Bret to leave.

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  70. If you worked for someone and realized your contract was up wouldn't you mention that if you'd like to continue being employed?

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  71. Dairy Queen.

    What, what the fuck do you mean you didn't believe our reservation of the Dairy Queen was real? Why the fuck would I reserve a fucking Dairy Queen for a Hall of Fame ceremony as a rib? Who's the fucking asshole in charge around here?

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  72. I miss the Cornette weekly rant (forgot what it was actually called) on Raws back in either 96 or 97.

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  73. Yeah, in Titan Sinking, Jarrett was mentioned as one of the guys who didn't really see the big deal about the Kliq and thought guys were unfairly blaming them for their own shortcomings.

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  74. He didn't want to continue being employed

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  75. He said he was going to breach it by not paying him his full amount, which he did end up paying him. It was just a way to bring up the possibility of letting Bret go. If Bret didn't agree to terminate the deal he could have fought it.

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  76. Except in TNA.

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  77. So why not tell the company that?

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  78. Yea and that would've been a whole big legal battle for Bret.

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  79. It's the company's job. Jarrett just asked for the money owed to him

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  80. Fuck, what do you mean I'm upsetting some kid's birthday party? I fucking reserved this Dairy Queen three weeks ago and sent you motherfuckers a check for $50 to hold it. You fuckers cashed the check. I told you I wanted some drapes up so this place doesn't look like shit. Mother fuck.



    Ok, fuck it, Santino, come over and introduce me.

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  81. Probably but he still agreed to terminate the contract. Vince wanted out, Bret agreed.

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  82. All he has to do is give notice instead of walking into a pay per view demanding a large sum of money up front. There's no reason to think he wouldn't have gotten what was owed to him.

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  83. That's what I'm saying! People rip the 1995 roster for being shitty and then rip the Clique for being pushed ahead of who? Henry Godwinn and Bam Bam Bigelow?

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  84. If an employer doesn't know when an independent contractors deal is expiring, it's their problem. Always take the side of labor when it's up against corporate entitlement.


    There is nothing shady about what Jarrett did. On the night of the PPV, Jeff was no longer an employee of the company and therefore had every right to negotiate a new agreement to work the show.


    The fact that Jarrett chose to work the show for free is never brought up and is simply a bonus that WWE should have been grateful for.


    It's not bad practice to ask for money you are owed. When looking at how they tried to scam CM Punk out of his until he lawyered up, Jarrett looks like the wise one here.

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  85. That's all kinds of hilarious.

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  86. Night - Honorary BSK MemberJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    For Cornette, it should be at Wendy's.

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  87. Night - Honorary BSK MemberJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    WWE did that to the Rock, too. His contract just expired and they didn't even bother to acknowledge it. Caused some animosity for a while, too.

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  88. Night - Honorary BSK MemberJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:49 PM

    Why the fuck should he tell anyone? The company should fucking KNOW when a talent who is going on PPV to compete in a marquee match is nearing the end of his deal.

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  89. Oh yeah, it's a rib the Freebirds aren't in. He was complaining about it on one of those Legends of Wrestling roundtables.

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  90. Night - Honorary BSK MemberJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    I think the Kliq guys were the right guys to be pushed in 1995...but business still sucked like never before while they were on top.

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  91. I'd put Doug Funny in the Hall of Fame over Jack Funny.

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  92. What happened with Tunny?

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  93. This is wrestling. Jarrett's the son of a promoter. I'm sure that absolutely crossed his mind

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  94. Night - Honorary BSK MemberJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:52 PM

    He probably won't get in until he's an old man and off TV for awhile. Otherwise he'll probably be booed unmercifully.

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  95. Or unless he saves Lawler during another heart attack.

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  96. Scroll down in the comments. Someone covered it.

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  97. Bam Bam's problem was you pair an athletic guy who works againster smaller guys... against Diesel?

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  98. Steamboat leaped onto Austin, spun round and hit one. Eat a dick, Steiner.

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  99. Well, Hayes' acceptance speech will be the most racist of all time.

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  100. Yes they can. Just issue the cards on a co account and entitle the employees to it. It can easily be tracked and canceled anytime

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  101. That ***** classic Hell in a Cell match he had against Roger Klotz is really what merits his induction. The image of Doug and Skeeter raising each other's hands in the ring as confetti rains down on them will live forever.

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  102. There should be a ref wing. That would at least let them pad the ceremony out a bit.

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  103. Ive been trying to get into them because they were a few years before my time. But god damn is their act dated. Teams like the Road warriors kinda stay cool even the rockers. But whenever I watch the free birds they come off corny as hell. That being said I know im wrong, and im sorry I feel that way. Guess I had to be there.

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  104. Benoit is the only one listed here with a 0% chance, although I agree that Tunney, Cornette, Turner, and Chyna are all extremely unlikely. I don't think Jarrett will get in either--not because of No Mercy 99, but because they have no reason to recognize him for his work in TNA.


    I think Bischoff will go in, as will Punk if he accepts the eventual invitation.

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  105. Maybe I missed this news story, but did Bischoff and the WWE have some sort of falling out when Bischoff left the company? I remember his run as Raw GM pretty fondly and I feel like he did everything the company asked him to do as an on-screen performer. He has a good relationship with Hogan and others who have made up with WWE, so I don't see why he wouldn't get in the HoF eventually.

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  106. It all depends on each company policy. When filling out an corp credit card application, usually it has an agreement on the application. There might be some places which they are allowed to cancel the card.


    But even then, someone within WWF at the time must had been approving Tunney's expenses. Because usually anytime a person has expenses they need an approver to sign off on it. Even today with WWE being a public company, even Vince McMahon himself can't expense anything he wants without someone approving it. Most likely someone in WWE Finance watches over him. YES someone watches over Vince and his expenses.

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  107. Yes compliance watches Vince and everyone now that they're public. Not to mentioned their bod and audit committee. I doubt they had the cancel-able card in place during the Tunney incident but the point was they can have that control in place if they wish.

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  108. WWE should start a corporate / private wing for long time employees like Johnston. They don't need to be part of the induction ceremony but give them a ring / plaque as a thank you for the years of service.

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  109. There was a flap a few years ago over his mentioning of still getting residuals from his WWE book. WWE then slashed the price of the book to like a buck on their site to stick it to him apparently.


    He's still contractually tied to TNA as a producer for Impact, but I wouldn't be surprised to see WWE use him someday on the network if he ever frees up. They already have a lot of interview footage of him from his GM run, but it'd be nice to get some fresh perspective on NWA / WCW issues plus mid-2000's WWE. He wouldn't be terrible to have as occasional panelist on the preview shows either.

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  110. Was that like 2005? I vaguely remember them letting his deal lapse, but I guess they knew he wouldn't exactly be running to TNA or New Japan.

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  111. "Accepting on their behalf - Rosa Mendes!" *Walks onto stage silently, grabs plaque, nods politely and leaves.*

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  112. How the fuck do you let THE ROCK'S contract expire?

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  113. Night - Honorary BSK MemberJanuary 2, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    True but I think it was during a period where they wanted Rock to show up on TV more but he was busy building his movie career. So he took it as a sign of disrespect.

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  114. Dunno if anyone ever addressed this, but what was the reason behind Vicki Guerrero's humiliation when she left the company? Was there any heat with her and management? Was it all in good fun? Or does VKM and Steph just like embarrassing their talent on the way out (see Lita)?

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  115. I think if Chyna had simply cleaned up her act (no more drugs mostly) and made amends with Steph / HHH, she'd already be in. The porn definitely killed any chance once Linda ran for Senate and the Mattel deal came into play.

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  116. It was Vikki's idea, I heard. She wanted to go out memorably, and she did get to have a final one-up on Steph doing so, iirc?

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  117. I don't know if vaporware can be considered competition.

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  118. That's why I love that John McCain is trying to clean up the mess he basically started after he introduced the world to Sarah Palin.

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  119. Todd Pettingill isn't getting in before Sean Mooney.

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  120. And I wish him the best of luck in that endeavor; however, much like Old Yeller, I think the GOP is now far, far too infected with the virus, and must be put down.

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  121. I'm a Democrat and I like McCain (voted for him as well), but Palin was a terrible choice. He should have picked a northeastern moderate like Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman to play to the middle and siphon off the undecideds instead of picking a hard right running mate since he was getting the base anyway.


    I'll give Palin credit for being an interesting choice in 2008 and she did have a certain charm that appealed to folksy voters since she did come off as slightly less of a politician than other choices, but once any credible journalist got ten minutes with her, they knew she was in no way ready to be VP. Add in the Tina Fey factor and she was toast.


    The GOP would have been better trying to keep her in her governor role for two or three terms while prepping her for the national stage so she had some more seasoning and didn't look like a buffoon.

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  122. Adam "Colorado" CurryJanuary 2, 2015 at 3:45 PM

    Didn't Heyman get fired from WCW for basically the same reason?

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  123. Adam "Colorado" CurryJanuary 2, 2015 at 3:48 PM

    I think starting TNA (and now GFW) works more against Jarrett than the No Mercy thing.

    You can probably add Owen to that list, sadly.

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  124. Adam "Colorado" CurryJanuary 2, 2015 at 3:50 PM

    Fuck Joe Leiberman.

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  125. So, my awesome girlfriend bought me the WWE Encyclopedia for Xmas. It's awesome, and if any UK readers want their own copy, apparently it's in The Works.

    Anyway! There's no Hogan or Savage on the cover. This I get.

    Why the hell is The Miz on there TWICE? He's on the front prominently AND on the back!


    It's like they were predicting the Mizdow gimmick years ahead!

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  126. Has anyone asked/ answered what the hell Jack Tunney ever did to burn his bridges?


    Does Vince hold him responsible for the low This Tuesday In Texas buyrate?

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  127. More people know who Jim Johnson is than James Dudley.

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  128. Humiliation? she went out on top being one of the few people to get one over on Steph decisively.

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  129. Are GFW competition? They don't have a roster, or any actual show, all they have is a logo and press releases.

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  130. Investigate further down thread. Answer is there. Apparently, corporate malfeasance with a Titan credit card.

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  131. I'd love to see ALL the Dudley's go in, one day. Just, induct the entire wingnut family. Heh.

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  132. Adam "Colorado" CurryJanuary 2, 2015 at 4:52 PM

    "Who the fuck is Dances with Dudley?"

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