Fans of Mid-South wrestling legend “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert have started a petition to try and get Gilbert inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. While the campaign started some six months ago the drive has picked up since the New Year with a majority of the 425 signatures coming in the last few days as more people are made aware.
Gilbert, long a mainstay in the Memphis area is considered one of the best bookers in the business and some have called his ability to read fans and give them angles and feuds they want a gift. Eddie is the son of wrestling icon Tommy Gilbert (Eddie actually started his career as Tommy Gilbert Jr.) and brother of Doug Gilbert, who still wrestles across the south.
While Memphis was always home to Gilbert he worked in the WWE at the beginning of his career and worked for WCW, ECW, GWF and was often in Puerto Rico where his booking was renowned. One of the most infamous angles involving Gilbert saw he and Doug get fired from the USWA and the pair then hit Jerry “The King” Lawler with their car. Fans who were watching at home actually called 911 to report the “hit and run” that they had just seen.
Though Gilbert was never “larger than life” in stature he was still very accomplished in the ring and considered a good worker. In his day there were none better behind the scenes detailing programs and matches and laying out angles that kept the fans clamoring for more. Gilbert was instrumental in the success of the USWA, GWA, GWF and ECW during his time there, especially when he had the book.
Gilbert died in Puerto Rico in 1995 at the age of 34 from a heart attack which was thought to have been brought on by a combination of injury to his heart after an accident and excessive use of prescription drugs. “Hot Stuff” would turn out to be an appropriate nickname for the wrestling star, he was married to Missy Hyatt and Madusa Miceli.
Fans are being asked to go to Change.org and sign a petition to induct Gilbert into the WWE Hall of Fame and once 2,077 signatures have been collected it will be presented to WWE CEO Vince McMahon and WWE COO Triple H. A copy of the petition is below…
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To:
Vincent K. McMahon, WWE
Paul Levesques, WWE
I just signed the following petition addressed to: WWE.
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Induct EDDIE GILBERT into the WWE Hall Of Fame
"It's not often that a man can be credited with legitimately changing pro wrestling, especially when he was never the World Heavyweight champion or the top draw for one of the major promotions around the world. However, by virtue of his innovative, trend-setting booking ideas, "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert (who was, by wrestling standards, considerably smaller than his contemporaries) did just that.
Even though he was probably unaware of the impact he would eventually have, one cannot dispute the fact that Gilbert (who was also a very competent, exciting worker in the ring) was able to help reshape the "sport," and mold the business even after he was no longer a part of it."
-Steve Slagle
Eddie worked with and mentored many of our generation's most influential wrestlers, bookers, promoters, etc., including Paul Heyman, Rick Steiner, Sting, Mick Foley, Shane Douglas, Tod Gordon, just to name a few.
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Sincerely,
