Midnite Express 2009
Getting Noticed By Management
I know there's been hundreds of posts on here about the WWE Hall of Fame, who should & should not be inducted, why some people are left off while others get the nod and a whole host of other thought worthy topics concerning the Hall. But I was watching the DVD, The Rise and Fall of WCW and I started thinking about a few things when it comes down to the Hall of Fame and it got me to thinking, why aren't there any referees in the HOF and more announcers?
As far as I know, the only two pure announcers in the Hall of Fame are Gordon Solie & Jim Ross. Bobby Heenan is in the Hall of course, but he was also a manager, so I look at his induction as being apart of the manager's side. Gorilla Monson is also apart of it, but of course, Gorilla was a wrestler before being an announcer, as is Jerry Lawler. I don't consider Michael Cole going in any time soon so there's no need of including him. That leaves a tremendous amount of announcers from all over the old territories that have either never been thought of or overlooked when it comes down to induction into the Hall of Fame.
On the same hand, referees have not been added, not to my knowledge. I'm sure most people can't name five referees, but still, without the ref, the match can't begin. The ref is as major a portion of the match as the wrestlers themselves and I have to wonder why not a single referee has ever been inducted as of yet.
I say WWE should strongly consider placing more announcers and a few referees into their Hall of Fame. Men like Lance Russel from Memphis & Bob Caudlie from Mid-Atlantic & later the closing days of the NWA alongside Jim Ross are men who come to mind who were both as exciting & entertaining as any of these guys today. Even Bill Mercer of the World Class Promotion was better than what is being offered today, IMO.
As far as referees, one name comes to mind instantly, and that's Tommy Young. If you're too young to remember Tommy, he was THE MAN when it came down to referees. Hands down, he was the best ref in the business during not only the NWA's heyday but Ric Flair's as well, refereeing in almost every major bout and especially the NWA's PPV main events. The way he would get so involved with the matches, either by his trademark flinches whenever Ric Flair would chop somebody, or the way he would make his counts, running around & sliding out of the ring like a baseball player if the wrestler was too out of the way to make the count, was simply amazing. I can watch a match which includes Tommy Young & find myself watching more of Tommy than the match sometimes. Also, Earl Hebner is someone who comes to mind as well. He was the WWF's Tommy Young, but just on a less exciting way. Even Nick Patrick deserves consideration from his WCW days, and before WCW he was a referee in the NWA.
So what do you think? Since these persons are apart of the business as well, either by calling the action or making the three count, they were all important branches and I believe the Hall of Fame should heavily consider inducting more announcers and some referees. If you agree, who comes to mind first? If you disagree, please let me know why. Thanks.
As far as I know, the only two pure announcers in the Hall of Fame are Gordon Solie & Jim Ross. Bobby Heenan is in the Hall of course, but he was also a manager, so I look at his induction as being apart of the manager's side. Gorilla Monson is also apart of it, but of course, Gorilla was a wrestler before being an announcer, as is Jerry Lawler. I don't consider Michael Cole going in any time soon so there's no need of including him. That leaves a tremendous amount of announcers from all over the old territories that have either never been thought of or overlooked when it comes down to induction into the Hall of Fame.
On the same hand, referees have not been added, not to my knowledge. I'm sure most people can't name five referees, but still, without the ref, the match can't begin. The ref is as major a portion of the match as the wrestlers themselves and I have to wonder why not a single referee has ever been inducted as of yet.
I say WWE should strongly consider placing more announcers and a few referees into their Hall of Fame. Men like Lance Russel from Memphis & Bob Caudlie from Mid-Atlantic & later the closing days of the NWA alongside Jim Ross are men who come to mind who were both as exciting & entertaining as any of these guys today. Even Bill Mercer of the World Class Promotion was better than what is being offered today, IMO.
As far as referees, one name comes to mind instantly, and that's Tommy Young. If you're too young to remember Tommy, he was THE MAN when it came down to referees. Hands down, he was the best ref in the business during not only the NWA's heyday but Ric Flair's as well, refereeing in almost every major bout and especially the NWA's PPV main events. The way he would get so involved with the matches, either by his trademark flinches whenever Ric Flair would chop somebody, or the way he would make his counts, running around & sliding out of the ring like a baseball player if the wrestler was too out of the way to make the count, was simply amazing. I can watch a match which includes Tommy Young & find myself watching more of Tommy than the match sometimes. Also, Earl Hebner is someone who comes to mind as well. He was the WWF's Tommy Young, but just on a less exciting way. Even Nick Patrick deserves consideration from his WCW days, and before WCW he was a referee in the NWA.
So what do you think? Since these persons are apart of the business as well, either by calling the action or making the three count, they were all important branches and I believe the Hall of Fame should heavily consider inducting more announcers and some referees. If you agree, who comes to mind first? If you disagree, please let me know why. Thanks.
