WWE Hall of Fame 2010 Rumors

WrestlingObserver.com has the names being bandied about for the 2010 Hall of Fame:

Ted Dibiase, Honky Tonk Man, The Road Warriors, Demolition, Ron Simmons, Slick, the Ultimate Warrior, Lex Luger.

So far the frontrunners, according to the Observer, are Ted Dibiase and The Road Warriors. Demolition would be likely, but as they are embroiled in a court case with the WWE, probably won’t be inducted yet. Warrior, Lex and Honky Tonk Man are not likely because none are close with Vince. Randy Savage is, once more, not even an option. Let’s take a look at each candidate.

1. Ted Dibiase – The King of the territory that most compellingly combined commercial and artistic success, Watts Mid-South, he went to the WWE where he was given Vince’s personal gimmick, spent two years in the World Title picture, then rounded out his time as he feuded with the top hires from the territories like Kerry Von Erich, Jake the Snake, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, and the Legion of Doom. That’s a Top 10 since 1980 resume, if you’re scoring at home.
2. The Road Warriors – These guys, along with Andre the Giant and Bruiser Brody, were the guys to bring in to pop a territory. Then they owned the NWA and WWF, spawning a legion of imitators from Sting and Warrior to Demolition and the Powers of Pain.
3. Demolition – When the Road Warriors meet Kiss should not have been so good. These two dominated while still having pretty good matches in one of the best tag divisions ever. Both workers belong in the Hall, as does the gimmick.
4. Honky Tonk Man – So, Vince, a heel champion who cheats to win every week might draw? That’s your big idea? Really, Honky was an undercard, cheaper version of the later NWA champions- a one note trick that might belong in the Hall of Fame, but certainly doesn’t need to be.
5. Slick – At best, the third or fourth best manager in the WWE after Heenan and Hart certainly, but probably after Fuji too. No way no how a Hall of Fame guy.
6. Ron Simmons – He’s certainly had a weird career, from breaking out nationally with the forever underrated Doom (talking of guys who belong in the Hall, where’s Butch Reed!) to becoming the first black national heavyweight champion in WCW. That alone means he should probably be in, but when you add in the importance of Farooq in getting the Rock over, the importance of the APA in making the ministry seem menacing, and his importance in getting JBL to his main event spot, Simmons is a shoo in.
7. Lex Luger – Lex was always over-pushed. He tried in the 80s, especially in the NWA, but after that, he was never much good, never as over as his pushes would suggest, and consistently cost the guys pushing him money. He’s just not worth the trouble.
8. Warrior – He was Lex, but he drew. An undeniable maniac who shouldn’t have gotten that push, people loved him and ate his act up. For all the terrible matches, as well, Warrior stepped up in a big way in big matches, with his two Rude matches, the Hogan match, the Savage retirement and the Slaughter title loss all being far better than they should be and the least of them being legitimately very good. A top 10 face in WWE history, he probably belongs in.
9. Randy Savage – Vince actually congratulated Savage and wished him luck on air after he signed with WCW. Whether the much rumored sleeping with Stephanie McMahon is true or not, something big went wrong with their relationship as Vince has forgiven pretty much every other enemy from his past.