Who will be a part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class?
We are a little over six months out from Wrestlemania 36. The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is a beloved part of Wrestlemania weekend. WWE and fans come together to celebrate legends of the wrestling world. The WWE Hall of Fame is dictated by WWE themselves, which has led to some deserving wrestlers missing out on the ballot. Some of those wrestlers won’t be on this list; names like Owen Hart, Demolition, or Miss Elizabeth are unlikely to be included due to history and politics with WWE.
With that, here is a potential 2020 Hall of Fame class, including six different inductees: Four male singles competitors, one female competitor, and one tag team.
Batista
Notable Accomplishments: 4-time World Heavyweight Champion, 3-time World Tag Team Champion, 2-time WWE Champion, 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 2-time Royal Rumble Winner
“The Animal” Batista would make a great headliner for a Hall of Fame class. Batista has retired from wrestling officially after his match with Triple H at Wrestlemania 35. As a multiple-time World Champion and main event star, he is a lock for induction. His mainstream popularity also lends himself to a prominent position in the Hall of Fame class. Have him be inducted by any of his three Evolution stablemates and take his rightful place in the Hall of Fame.
Jushin “Thunder” Liger
Notable Accomplishments: 11-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, 6-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, 1-time WCW Light Heavyweight Champion
Liger is in the midst of his retirement tour from professional wrestling. He only has one appearance in a WWE ring in 2015. Liger faced Breeze at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in a stellar match. While that is his only WWE appearance, Liger is a legend of Japanese wrestling. WWE has done a better job in recent years of including international stars in their Hall of Fame. Stars like Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami have been inducted recently, so WWE should look to add Liger to that list. As one of the greatest junior heavyweights of all time, Liger is a no-brainer for the Hall of Fame.
Victoria
Notable Accomplishments: 2-time WWE Women’s Champion, 5-time TNA Knockouts Champion, 1-time TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion
WWE tries to have at least one female inductee each year, and Victoria would be a perfect candidate. Victoria was a part of the WWE women’s division for almost a decade, and was one of wrestling’s most convincing heels. Her feuds with Trish Stratus and Molly Holly were some of the best of the early 2000s. Victoria was also extremely successful in her stint with TNA Wrestling, something that should not be overlooked.
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William Regal
Notable Accomplishments: 2-time Intercontinental Champion, 4-time WCW Television Champion, 4-time World Tag Team Champion, 4-time European Champion, 5-time Hardcore Champion, 2008 King of the Ring Winner
William Regal is one of the most beloved people in the eyes of the internet wrestling community. He was a talented midcard worker during his time in WWF/E and WCW. Regal could be a convincing tough guy or a comedy heel, a solo act or part of an odd-ball team. Now in his retirement as a competitor, Regal has been an integral part of NXT. As the brand’s on-screen General Manager and the Director of Talent Development, Regal has been a big part in the development of the next generation of stars. For his work as a wrestler and as a builder of new stars, Regal should be in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Rick & Scott Steiner
Notable Accomplishments: 2-time WWF Tag Team Champions, 7-time NWA/WCW Tag Team Champions, 2-time IWGP Tag Team Champions
Originally, the tag team slot in this prediction was going to be for Edge & Christian. I still believe WWE will induct Christian as a solo act before both of them as a team. Instead, the Steiner Brothers get the nod. Many only know Scott Steiner for his “Big Poppa Pump” antics and Steiner Math. However, he and brother Rick were one of the most accomplished tag teams of the ‘80s and ‘90s. The two were the template for hyper-athletic, technical teams like Haas & Benjamin or American Alpha. With multiple tag title runs and a big influence on today’s teams, the Steiner Brothers would be a deserving duo to add to the Hall of Fame.
Rick “The Model” Martel
Notable Accomplishments: 3-time WWF Tag Team Champion, 1-time WCW Television Champion, 1-time AWA World Champion
One-half of two very successful WWF tag teams and also a memorable singles gimmick, Martel was someone who could do both. He was a three-time Tag Team Champion, winning twice with Tony Garea and once with Tito Santana. Once Strike Force split, Martel would get his famous “model” gimmick that made him a mainstay of early-90’s WWF. He had memorable feuds with Santana, Jake Roberts and Tatanka. Though no singles gold found him in WWF, his narcissistic gimmick was an influence on many who came after him. For his tremendous singles and tag runs, Martel should find a spot in the Hall.
That’s my prediction for the 2020 Hall of Fame class. While there may be more deserving candidates, the politics of the WWE Hall of Fame may continue to keep them on the outside looking in. Who do you think deserves enshrinement this year? What stars are missing from the Hall? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @FPC_Wrestling.
