That N Word
Actively evolving
The Uso's just confirmed Rikishi will dance his fat ass (pun intended lol) in to the WWE Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania on twitter.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWEST INDUCTEE INTO THE WWE HALL OF FAME!!!! .....
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Greek_God666
Dark Match Jobber
I really like this choice. He's had a long WWE career, and is a 3 time tag team champion, as well a former intercontinental champion. Made his debut in 1992 as Fatu of the Headshrinkers, from there went as a more modern Fatu until about 1996, where he was repackaged as the Sultan. Then around 1999 comes back as Rikishi Phatu, and the rest is history. I think it's a great choice for the WWE Hall of Fame
Radical Canadian Goose
Getting Noticed By Management
I do like the choice of Rikishi going into the HOF. I kind of wish that they just go all out and put in Too Cool with him.
Johnny Scumm
InZayn In The Membrane
He's going in for The Rock.
Honestly, I like it. I liek Rikishi & I've never had any problems with the guy on TV. It's a cool addition to the HoF & him going solo rather than Too Cool going in is probably for the better...Too Cool wouldn't necessarily be a HoF worthy stable.
Honestly, I like it. I liek Rikishi & I've never had any problems with the guy on TV. It's a cool addition to the HoF & him going solo rather than Too Cool going in is probably for the better...Too Cool wouldn't necessarily be a HoF worthy stable.
JoeFromTomsRiver
Championship Contender
Rikishi is not a hall of famer, I'm sorry. He was a productive and entertaining performer for a long time but he wasn't that important.
His inclusion in a main event storyline didn't propel him to the level they were hoping for. His main contribution was as a mid-card comedy act.
Just because Koko B. Ware is in, doesn't mean that everyone "better" than Koko B. Ware should get put in.
We're slowly getting to the point where they are running out of people to induct and are starting to reach for guys. It's going to be more pronounced as the years go by. If they plan on inducting the same general number of people every year, they have no choice but to make questionable choices like Rikishi, and induct old-timers who 95% of the audience has never heard of (Ray Stevens).
His inclusion in a main event storyline didn't propel him to the level they were hoping for. His main contribution was as a mid-card comedy act.
Just because Koko B. Ware is in, doesn't mean that everyone "better" than Koko B. Ware should get put in.
We're slowly getting to the point where they are running out of people to induct and are starting to reach for guys. It's going to be more pronounced as the years go by. If they plan on inducting the same general number of people every year, they have no choice but to make questionable choices like Rikishi, and induct old-timers who 95% of the audience has never heard of (Ray Stevens).
CrucifiedRaven
The Evenflow Effect
Nothing really against Rikishi, congrats to him. But if he's "Hall of Fame" worthy can we stop debating whether guys like Owen Hart, Rick Rude and Davey Boy Smith are?
whoopin' ass
Championship Contender
Long career but that doesn't mean hall of fame worthy. If they were inducting the family then I could see it but by himself, he hasn't done anything that worth while. There are a ton of guys who had long careers.
They need people to pad the numbers and I guess as a choice it's not a bad one. I have no idea how many people they induct each year, what is it 5-6, but maybe they should just start cutting back on the numbers.
I don't think it's necessarily they're running out of people, it's that they're running out of HOF worthy people. If they cut it back to 2-3 people a year, then instead of doing a completely separate show the night before, they could do it before Mania starts and do it in front of the Mania crowd.
I don't think it's necessarily they're running out of people, it's that they're running out of HOF worthy people. If they cut it back to 2-3 people a year, then instead of doing a completely separate show the night before, they could do it before Mania starts and do it in front of the Mania crowd.
StingerSplash22
Dark Match Winner
This comedy act is not a hall of famer. That is the equivalent of electing a pinch hitter to the MLB hall of famer or a nickle defensive back to the NFL hall of fame. Then again, this is all a matter of Vince's choices. I guess Mark Henry is now guaranteed a Hall of Fame birth as well. Yet Lex Luger, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson (outside of the horseman, he should be in individually), Paul Heyman,Miss Elizabeth and several others get in. Honestly, this type of selection is the reason I give little credibility to the WWE HOF. Hell, Savage was never gonna get in while he was alive. The same will ultimately be true of Luger and my suspicion is that Elizabeth will not get in until after he dies either.
Hollywood Naitch
The current reigning and defending
While Rikishi has certainly had a successful career, I do think it's slightly pushing it to include him as a candidate for the hall of fame. He was an upper mid-carder, nothing more and only really found success towards the end of his career, after several failed gimmicks before repackaging himself as Rikishi.
I do think WWE are inducting too many people each year now, they need to reduce the numbers going in to 2 or 3 people, which will spread out the worthy inductees rather than cramming so many into 1 class. Look at 2014- Warrior, Razor, Jake, Lita, Bearer and Carlos Colon all went in at the same time. That is SIX HOF worthy inductees being inducted at one time. They could have easily been spread out over 2 years.
I do think WWE are inducting too many people each year now, they need to reduce the numbers going in to 2 or 3 people, which will spread out the worthy inductees rather than cramming so many into 1 class. Look at 2014- Warrior, Razor, Jake, Lita, Bearer and Carlos Colon all went in at the same time. That is SIX HOF worthy inductees being inducted at one time. They could have easily been spread out over 2 years.
No issue with Rikishi going into the HOF. There is a lot of ignorrance from some of the kids on here about Rikishi. They probably forget or don't know he was known as Fatu well before his dancing gimmick and was a part of The Headshrinkers ihn the 1990s. He had a 12 year term in WWE which is a hell of a long time to be employed by WWE. He held a few mid card titles, comes from a very successful wrestling family and was involved in some BIG storylines in 1999 and 2000.
Good choice - hopefully they make the HOF as strong as last year and get some big names in there to support Randy Savage. Demolition, Rick Martel, Honky Tonk Man and Randy Savage's sidekick 'Miss Elizabeth' would complete the set.
Good choice - hopefully they make the HOF as strong as last year and get some big names in there to support Randy Savage. Demolition, Rick Martel, Honky Tonk Man and Randy Savage's sidekick 'Miss Elizabeth' would complete the set.
Randy Savage was apparently approached about the Hall of Fame on more than one occasion but wanted his brother and father inducted with him. Vince refused. That's why people in the know have said for years. It's only with his family's blessing that he is going in this year. Miss Elizabeth should go in this year, but she has a history with drugs and that might be a stumbling block, although there is much worse in there already.
Hollywood Naitch
The current reigning and defending
His one run with the Intercontinental Title in 2000 was his only mid-card title, he did hold tag-team gold on 3 occasions though (although I don't class Rikishi/Scotty 2 Hotty or Rikishi/Rico as memorable tag-teams or having memorable runs with the belts).
Yes, he was the guy who "ran down Austin" which I believe was a mistake as it failed to make him a main-eventer, and the match with Stone Cold after his return was awful. He also flopped in his run as The Sultan in the mid 90s.
I did enjoy him as Rikishi, and his alliance with Too Cool was alot of fun. He was extremely athletic for a man his size- the dive from the top of the cage (against Val Venis?) was incredible, but I still don't really see him as a HOF level worthy star. Being with the WWE for a long time doesn't mean someone should just go into the HOF- otherwise Hardcore Holly and Viscera would be in there. And I think if his son's weren't with the company now to induct him, he wouldn't be getting inducted, at least not yet.
Wrestlingaholic
Championship Contender
A lot of people have jumped on the fact that bigger names and better wrestlers are yet to be inducted. Don't forget that the WWE approaches people about induction, they won't induct without express permission of the wrestler or estate of the wrestler. As Navi mentioned, that's why Savage is only entering this year.
As for Rikishi, in an era of rapid changes in personnel, anyway with the longevity in one company would surely earn 'hall of game' status for that company - if you or I were in a company for a decade plus, we would likely get some kind of reward, and this is Rikishi's award. I don't particularly rate Billy Gunn as a wrestler, though I enjoyed his NAO run, but for him to be on tv regularly between 1993 and 2004, he in my eyes is a WWE HOFer, as an example. (I'd mention JBL but he's a former WWE Champion and I've said on several HOF threads that I believe EVERY WWE Champion should be inducted).
On a side note, I'm currently watching through the episodes of Raw from the beginning on the network. The last episode, from just before WMIX, featured a WWE title match between Bret Hart and Fatu. It was a very decent match, easily one of the best in the first 10 episodes. Throughout his career (and he was briefly in WCW beforehand too, including in the iron team tournament as Starrcade '90, an event I very much enjoyed) he proved he could go.
Congratulations Rikishi
As for Rikishi, in an era of rapid changes in personnel, anyway with the longevity in one company would surely earn 'hall of game' status for that company - if you or I were in a company for a decade plus, we would likely get some kind of reward, and this is Rikishi's award. I don't particularly rate Billy Gunn as a wrestler, though I enjoyed his NAO run, but for him to be on tv regularly between 1993 and 2004, he in my eyes is a WWE HOFer, as an example. (I'd mention JBL but he's a former WWE Champion and I've said on several HOF threads that I believe EVERY WWE Champion should be inducted).
On a side note, I'm currently watching through the episodes of Raw from the beginning on the network. The last episode, from just before WMIX, featured a WWE title match between Bret Hart and Fatu. It was a very decent match, easily one of the best in the first 10 episodes. Throughout his career (and he was briefly in WCW beforehand too, including in the iron team tournament as Starrcade '90, an event I very much enjoyed) he proved he could go.
Congratulations Rikishi
Dmbfantomas
Bald Billy was Better
I'm going to try to cover a few things with this post.
1. Mark Henry is 100 times the hall of famer that Rikishi is.
2. Rikishi is now officially the worst member of the Hall of Fame. Koko B. Ware is a better choice. Koko. B. Ware.
3. Luger will get in eventually (doing the Monday Night Wars stuff will help him out), I'm sure Elizabeth will get in this year (if the family wants her to get in), Heyman is still active so they'll wait until he wants to go in, Arn is a little ridiculous I guess, but I can see why they rolled him in as a package deal. Savage never wanted to go in, even when he was alive. There is like, no excuse for Rick Rude though unless they just plan to lump him in for the DX induction. He gets brought up a lot on those Countdown things though, so I can see there being enough renewed fan interest in getting him in sooner rather than later.
Here are the career highlights of Rikishi...
1. Dancing like a fat person with Jerry Lawler's son and a guy who did The Worm poorly.
2. Rubbing his butt in people's faces.
3. Running Stone Cold over for The Rock (but really HHH, I'm almost positive that's how that really went down? I can't remember. Because it's not that memorable. Because it sucked.)
4. Getting thrown off of a Hell in a Cell onto a truck bed of soft wood chips because of course there was a bed of soft wood chips there.
5. Nothing, because Rikishi sucked SO HARD.
Rey Mysterio's Capt. America Mask is a more worthy entrant into the HOF than Rikishi. Blech.
Dmbfantomas
Bald Billy was Better
The New Age Outlaws should totally get in though. Not because they were there forever, but because they're one of the most successful tag teams of all time.
Brooklyn Brawler is like, the second longest tenured employee of WWE (maybe first now if Fink doesn't work for them at all anymore), should he get in?
Putting in people who just existed for a long time in a company shouldn't get them in.
JTG worked there for like, 7 or 8 years. If he gets another stint with the company in which he magically doesn't get fired, should he get in? Would that do a service to the WWE Hall of Fame?
I'll ask a real question on this one. Should Santino get in?
Rikishi is worthy. It's easy to forget how big he was for a time. Personally I'd put him in alongside Too Cool. An underrated team who likely won't get inducted because they've largely been forgotten. They were a big part of getting Rikishi over. It's not like anybody cared about him before that transformation.
FightOwensFight
Formerly Global Conquest
Gotta say this seems like a bit of a reach. Not that I disliked Rikishi, but when I think HOF, his certainly isn't a name that jumps out. Obviously, there are tiers in any HOF (Craig Biggio, while worthy, is no Ted Williams), and I guess he would belong on that lowest tier with the likes of Koko B. Ware, but that is about it. Sure, he had a couple runs with the tag belts and held the IC belt, and while belts aren't the be-all-end-all, they are a good indicator of who was trusted/counted on in their respective eras.
As others have said, WWE will continue to have these issues if they insist on bringing in 5 or 6 people each year. Make it something actually worth-while. Only induct one guy if there is nobody else that jumps out.
As others have said, WWE will continue to have these issues if they insist on bringing in 5 or 6 people each year. Make it something actually worth-while. Only induct one guy if there is nobody else that jumps out.
Mustang Sally
Sells seashells by the seashore
Makes me wonder if WWE would be bothering with Rikishi at all if his sons weren't prominent figures on the current roster. His "thing in the ring" never had much to do with winning titles or casting a giant shadow on the goings-on in the company (pun not intended).
Still, the guy had been around WWE since 1992 with the Headshrinkers who, for a time, were an important tag team. The longevity in itself might be as good a reason to induct him as his "Back that ass up!" proclivities near the end of his career.
Plus, it's always fun to see the fat man dance....and Rikishi probably added a couple more years to his career by adding comedy to his routine. Whether that qualifies him to be in the HOF is another argument.
But consider: last year's inductees were people like Lita, Jake Roberts and the Ultimate Warrior.....and now we're sending in........Rikishi?
Maybe they truly are running out of people. Might have to go to inducting only one a year before they get down to enshrining guys like Trent Baretta and Curt Hawkins.
Still, the guy had been around WWE since 1992 with the Headshrinkers who, for a time, were an important tag team. The longevity in itself might be as good a reason to induct him as his "Back that ass up!" proclivities near the end of his career.
Plus, it's always fun to see the fat man dance....and Rikishi probably added a couple more years to his career by adding comedy to his routine. Whether that qualifies him to be in the HOF is another argument.
But consider: last year's inductees were people like Lita, Jake Roberts and the Ultimate Warrior.....and now we're sending in........Rikishi?
Maybe they truly are running out of people. Might have to go to inducting only one a year before they get down to enshrining guys like Trent Baretta and Curt Hawkins.
Maybe if they would've included in the video package when he was The Sultan and the few other characters he played I guess you could make an argument. As Rikishi alone, no not even close. Mid carder at best. It blew my mind when I saw it actually. Like if he deserves to be in then you may as well put Val Venis, Hardcore Holly, and Savio Vega in there. Why? Well why not now? I'm probably wrong but I don't remember any title reigns he had. I know there was a few but off the top of my head all I remember him for was the stink face, Too Cool, the sultan, and I DID IT FOR DA ROCK
Dmbfantomas
Bald Billy was Better
Val Venis is a more worthy Hall of Famer, and he should get in on the 9th of Never. That's how unworthy of a pick Rikishi is, he's less of a Hall of Famer than Val. Freaking. Venis. A guy who was a fake porn actor is more worthy than the guy who danced all fat like. He was more important to the product. This is just insane. No Vader, but totes Rikishi.
I just one to say that some people takes the wwe hall of fame way to seriously. Who cares who gets in and who doesn't, what really matter is that wwe recognize the wrestlers that made them money over the year and rikishi is one of them. If wwe hall of fame was really an important hall of fame, guys like Lou thesz and billy Robinson would be in the hall of fame in front of koko b. Ware and rikishi plus you wouldn't sell tickets for fans to attends this it would be only for peoples in the industry. So I'm happy that rikishi is getting one last paycheck and is getting inducted in the hall of fame.
THTRobtaylor
Once & Future Wrestlezone Columnist
There is no question those guys are, it's never been up for debate...same for Pillman, Bossman, Bam Bam or the like... The only thing stopping them going in is the inconvenient truth...they died... and they can't have too many dead guys going in at one time...so they have to wait. Jericho made a lot of talk recently about Savage being the final guy who "legitimised" the HOF but it's not strictly true... Davey Boy is arguably the last one, who made the impact over the longest time and internationally... For me it's not a legit HOF until he is in there, be it the Bulldogs or his singles career. Then it's a legit HOF...
Remember the HOF covers not just a career but the legacy of someone on the business. Rikishi is a member of the "samoan family" in more than the loose blood connection to Roman Reigns... his two sons, who will induct him (and are already well on the way to their OWN induction in 10 years or so) are the current top tag team in the WWE by some margin... Whatever you think of his career, that he has 2 sons in that position would qualifying, just as being The Rock's dad qualified Rocky Johnson.
Career-wise I can see why people are not enthused over others yet to go in. They deserve it more in the ring perhaps but remember Fatu the debuting Headshrinker to Rikishi's final run was well over 10 years non stop of being on the road and popular with the fans. His later dancing gimmick made him a staple of the late Attitude era as one of the few things on the show truly "kid-friendly" and he made a major moment when he took that bump off the cell at Armageddon. That on top of 2 sons at the top of their game qualifies him... IRS will go in for the same reason, if not this year next. These are guys alive, who can show up, and have a connection to current fans.. so it's natural they'll induct them ahead of guys who are no longer with us...as annoying as it is for us who want to see THEM go in.
But to me Rikishi is a guy who was a staple, he worked hard no matter what crap he was given, made it better than it deserved to be, even the Sultan and "Phatu" were never horrible, just used horribly. He's a former tag champ and IC champ. That's more than some HOF'ers accomplished...
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