Stan "The Lariat" Hansen: Worthy or not?

[It's...Baylariat!]

I'll play off of the Vader thread that was created and make one about one of my all time favorite wrestlers. His name is Stan "The Lariat" Hansen. The Bad Man from Borger, Texas was a complete menace to wrestling society. He left many tough guys laying on the ground, wondering where the hell they were at. He was devastating and as stiff as all hell. He was mean, tough, and was a man who had little remorse for his opponents.

Not to mention he was very decorated as far as accomplishments are concerned.

* All Japan Pro Wrestling
o AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (4 times)[6]
o AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (8 times) – with Terry Gordy (2), Genichiro Tenryu (3), Dan Spivey (1), Ted DiBiase (1), and Gary Albright (1)[7]
o NWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[8]
o NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ron Bass[9]
o NWA United National Championship (1 time)[10]
o PWF World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)[11]
o PWF World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Bruiser Brody (1), Ted DiBiase (2), and Austin Idol (1)[12]
o Champion's Carnival (1992, 1993)
o World's Strongest Tag Team League (1983) – with Bruiser Brody
o World's Strongest Tag Team League (1985) – with Ted DiBiase
o World's Strongest Tag Team League (1988) – with Terry Gordy
o World's Strongest Tag Team League (1989) – with Genichiro Tenryu

* American Wrestling Association
o AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[13]

* Cauliflower Alley Club
o Other honoree (1996)

* Continental Wrestling Association
o CWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[14]

* Georgia Championship Wrestling
o NWA Columbus Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[15]
o NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[16]
o NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Tommy Rich (2), and Ole Anderson (1)[17]

* Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / World Championship Wrestling
o NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)1[18]
o NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time) – with Ole Anderson[19]

* NWA Big Time Wrestling
o NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Killer Tim Brooks[20]

* NWA Tri-State
o NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time)[21]
o NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time) – with Frank Goodish[22]

* National Wrestling Federation
o NWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[23]

* Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
o Class of 2010

* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
o PWI Match of the Year (1976) vs. Bruno Sammartino on April 26
o PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1976)
o PWI ranked him #7 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Bruiser Brody in 2003

* Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
o 5 Star Match (1984) with Bruiser Brody vs. Dory and Terry Funk on December 8
o 5 Star Match (1993) vs. Kenta Kobashi on July 29
o Tag Team of the Year (1982) with Ole Anderson
o Best Brawler (1985, 1990)
o Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

He did a lot in his career. And in many different eras. He wrestled for nearly 25 years. He was most famous in Japan, which says something. No non-Japanese wrestler's gotten the accolades that Hansen has in the Land of the Rising Sun. His success stateside was limited due to him not being in America all that much. He had runs with the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and the NWA United States Heavyweight Title. And the people he's wrestled and beaten are a who's who of Hall of Famers. We're talking Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Tully Blanchard, Vader, Lex Luger, and many others.

So... based on all of this, does Stan Hansen seem worthy of the Hall of Fame?

 

[Checkmate]

I really can't say that he is NOT worthy. Anyone that has so many international accomplishments definitely deserves to at least be considered. I'm also assuming we're referring to the WWE Hall of Fame, and my post will be reflective as such.

However, the specifics of how each guy gets in seems to vary on a case by case basis. Some get in once they die. Some get in on accomplishments. Some get in just because of good standing with the company. On the flip side, others are left out due to similar cases. I can't speak on Lariat's standing with the company, but I'd assume it to be at least "on-speaking terms" since he may be inducting someone this year.

Basically, there are a bunch of guys NOT in the hall yet have far greater accomplishments. There are also a bunch of questionable guys in there already. Stan Hansen wouldn't be at the top of my list of guys that need to get in, but I definitely wouldn't label him as unworthy. If a year or two from now I looked at a list of guys in the Hall of Fame and came across his name, I wouldn't find it odd.

To simply answer yes or no, yes he is worthy of the Hall of Fame.

 

[classicviolence]

No doubt about it. Stan is worthy of the WWE Hall of Fame.

I mean if Koko B. Ware can make it without winning a major title, then Hansen sure can.
Hansen also played a big part in WWWF history by breaking Bruno Sammartino's neck. Hansen also held the WCW U.S. title and AWA title, so that should mean a guaranteed spot.

WESTERN LARIATO!!!!!!!!!

 

[JBSMan]

Absolutely. Even without the titles he's won, he's clearly influenced a lot of guys, and there are many gimmicks that employ shades of Stan Hansen. (with the most obvious being JBL I suppose)

Today, only a small percentage of the E's target audience know who Stan Hansen is, but I can't imagine that would affect whether or not he'd make it in, considering some of the more obscure people they have inducted.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

When you look at some of the past inductees of the WWE Hall of Fame, you'll sometimes see wrestlers that are highly decorated, some that were great brawlers, great technicians, larger than life characters, and there are even a few in there that just seem like they don't belong.

Stan Hansen is worthy of being in the WWE Hall of Fame for a number of reasons. Hansen was a great brawler and was a bit of a great character as well but what ultimately sets him apart for me is the level of success that he found in Japan. You'd be hard pressed to find another non-Japanese wrestler that's enjoyed more success wrestling in Japan than Stan Hansen. Hell, there aren't many Japanese wrestlers in Japan that've achieved as much or more success than Stan Hansen. Stan Hansen is a wrestling god in Japan and considering that he's a white man born and bred in Texas, that's saying something in and of itself.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him be inducted sometime in the next few years, maybe even this year for all we know. At any rate, it'll be good to see him this year when he inducts Antonio Inoki into the HOF.

 

[Rizza]

More then worthy, infact, its a down right travesty if he doesn't make it in sometime. WWE's HOF is about the wrestling world in whole I believe, and if a legend with the credentials of Stan Hansen doesn't make it in, when other territory legends have made it in (Bill Watts for example) and other wrestlers that were far less entertaining, and far less important figures in wrestling history(Koko B Ware for another example) it just goes to show what people have been saying for years about the WWE HOF that it is just favoritism towards the loyalist that have shown their McMahon colors over the years. Though there are examples and wrestlers that probably ward off that theory is a whole, I think there still is alot of truth in it. Like many have said he is a god in Japan, but this alone won't get him in, if that was the case Jumbo, Inoki, Baba, Misawa, Kobashi, Fujinami and Tenryu, should all be inducted ASAP, but whats different with Hansen is he also held major titles in USA too he was a sensation on two different continents. Now I know he wasn't a god here like he was in Japan, but I feel it was the audience he appealed to. Seeing a big mean Texan throwing and brawling his opponent all over the arena in USA wasn't a new thing, but over there it was like letting a savage into the building to fight some of the best warriors that they had, and Hansen beat all of them at some time or another, I mean the guy has pinned Inoki and Baba for titles, and might be the only man to do so(correct me if I am wrong) IMO thats enough to get him into any hall of fame in Pro Wrestling period. Bottom line for me, He really should get in, but I doubt it happening any time soon.

 

[LSN80]

but im not sure he ever will. His accomplishments speak for themselves, and ive seen clips of him, and he was worthy of the 5 star matches he was given. Hell, Taker and HBK didnt get that this past year! But WWE sometimes has a problem inducting guys who do more outside the us then in it, and thats hansens problem. He deserves it, he DID, leave on good terms, but im gonna say not this year or next at least. I hope im wrong. The fact that the Observer labeled him for the hall over a decade ago, and Vince is supposedly a big reader of that rag, and he still hasnt gotten in, is a telling sign. A sad one. Great great wrestler. The only thing i didnt like about the guy was he was too stiff. He ended careers and although revered in Japan, he hurt alot of people and didnt give a damn if he did so. These days, he wouldnt last due to that, just because of how careful wrestlers are to be. But its a different era, and guys were more stiff and physical back then. Him just more then most. That being said, i thought the guy was awesome. His tag match w the funks was amazing.

 

[Tastycles]

A tough one this. On the one hand, you have the list of accomplishments and the quality of his work. On the other, you have the fact that, in my opinion at least, being a good professional wrestler includes getting through the match without hurting your opponent, something that Hansen couldn't. I'm aware that this was because of his eye condition, but still, it is important in my eyes.

I don't really think he would get into a wrestling Hall of Fame that only inducts workers for North American work, but I didn't think that Koko B. Ware would either. However, on an international level, you arguably have the only American that cracked Japan in such a level that he was bigger there than at home, except for maybe Vader. I think I'd say he is worthy of recognition of his acheivements, but I don't think I'd employ him if I was a promoter.