2014 WON Hall of Fame ballot

[Warner2BruceTD]

Email came today. Here it is:



It's time for the 2014 Hall of Fame elections.

This ballot is being sent out to major wrestling stars, past and present, major management figures in the industry, writers and historians.

If you are getting this, you are being asked your opinion on who should be inducted into this year's Hall of Fame class. The criteria for the Hall of Fame is a combination of drawing power, being a great in-ring performer or excelling in ones field in pro wrestling, as well as having historical significance in a positive manner. A candidate should either have something to offer in all three categories, or be someone so outstanding in one or two of those categories that they deserve inclusion.

The names listed below are those under consideration for this year. To be eligible, a performer must have reached their 35th birthday and completed ten years since their debut as a full-time performer, or be someone who has been a full-time pro wrestler for at least 15 years.

Longevity should be a prime consideration rather than a hot two or three year run, unless someone is so significant as a trend-setter or a historical figure in the business, or valuable to the industry, that they need to be included. However, just longevity without being either a long-term main eventer, a top draw and/or a top caliber in-ring performer should be seen as relatively meaningless.

The election is broken down into a number of categories. You should check each category for wrestlers that you feel you are familiar enough with based on geography that you've either traveled or are familiar with, and based on the time you have followed pro wrestling. You do not have to vote for a wrestler in every category you've checked.

The ballot is also broken down to wrestlers and those who are not pro wrestlers but have been valuable parts of the industry.

The maximum number of wrestlers that you can vote for all the categories is ten. You can pick as few as zero if you don't believe anyone on this list deserves inclusion.

For wrestling executives, managers, announcers and other outside the ring performers, you can vote for them and they are not counted against the ten. You can vote for as many as five of them.

All responses are confidential. There is nothing to worry about politically about any involvement in this process. Your selections will not be revealed unless you choose to do so yourself.

Anyone who receives mention on 60% of the ballots from the geographical region and time frame (broken down as Continental United States & Canada; Mexico; Japan; Europe; and Hawaii/Australia/New Zealand) will be added to the Hall of Fame in the class of 2014.

If you are unfamiliar with any of the candidates due to geography of having never seen them, that is fine. Ballots are sent to many people from all over the world and from different wrestling cultures so that everyone has as fair a shot at possible.

The breakdown for modern and historical performers is 30 years ago, or 1984. So if the last year the person was a headliner, or was a key figure in the industry, was prior to 1984, they would be in the historical class.

All performers who receive mention on 10% to 59.9% of the ballots from their geographical region or era will remain on the ballot for consideration next year. All those who receive less than 10% of the vote will be dropped from next year's ballot. They can return in two years based on if there is significant feedback from voters who say they will vote for them. This is mostly for wrestlers who are still active who may improve their career legacy, but can be for retired wrestlers if voters believe they should be put on or returned to the ballot.

In addition, in following the lead of the baseball Hall of Fame, which is the model here, starting this year we have a 15-year-rule. The following candidates have been on the ballot since 2000. In baseball, this would be their last year of eligibility. Here, if they don't get at least 50% of the votes in this year's election they will be removed from the ballot. If they are modern candidates, they can be brought back in the historical performers era in two years if it is more than 30 years since their career as a Hall Fame level performer is up:

The following candidates will be dropped from next year's ballot unless they are elected in or garner 50% of the vote:

Gene & Ole Anderson
Cien Caras
Carlos Colon
Gran Hamada
Volk Han
Owen Hart
Gorilla Monsoon
Fabulous Moolah
Pedro Morales
Dick Murdoch
Rock & Roll Express
Seiji Sakaguchi
Jimmy Snuka
Wilbur Snyder
Jesse Ventura

Please return this ballot by October 5th. You can e-mail the ballot back to EDIT or fax it to EDIT or mail (please do so by September 28th) to EDIT.

Please check by every category you are familiar with

I FOLLOWED THE HISTORICAL PERFORMERS ERA CANDIDATES
Gene & Ole Anderson
The Assassins (Joe Hamilton & Tom Renesto)
Red Bastien
June Byers
Pepper Gomez
Dick Hutton
Pedro Morales
Ciclon Negro
Kinji Shibuya
Wilbur Snyder
John Tolos
Enrique Torres
Von Brauners & Saul Weingeroff
Tim "Mr. Wrestling" Woods
Johnny "Mr. Wrestling II" Walker

I FOLLOWED THE MODERN PERFORMERS IN U.S/CANADA CANDIDATES
Junkyard Dog
Edge
Owen Hart
Curt Hennig
Ivan Koloff
Brock Lesnar
Fabulous Moolah
Dick Murdoch
Ken Patera
C.M. Punk
Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Sgt. Slaughter
Jimmy Snuka
Sting
Ultimate Warrior

I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN JAPAN CANDIDATES
Jun Akiyama
George Gordienko
Gran Hamada
Volk Han
Masahiko Kimura
Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Yuji Nagata
Seiji Sakaguchi
Mike & Ben Sharpe
Minoru Suzuki
Kiyoshi Tamura
Akira Taue

I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN MEXICO CANDIDATES
Brazo de Oro & Brazo de Plata & El Brazo
Cien Caras
Hector Garza
Ultimo Guerrero
Karloff Lagarde
Blue Panther
L.A. Park
Huracan Ramirez
El Signo & El Texano & Negro Navarro
Vampiro
Villano III
Dr. Wagner Jr.

I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN EUROPE CANDIDATES
Jim Breaks
Big Daddy
Giant Haystacks
Horst Hoffman
Billy Joyce
Kendo Nagasaki
Jackie Pallo
Rollerball Mark Rocco
Johnny Saint
Otto Wanz

I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN AUSTRALIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS/CARIBBEAN/AFRICA CANDIDATES
Spyros Arion
Johnny Barend
Brute Bernard & Skull Murphy
Carlos Colon
King Kong Czaja
John DaSilva
Domenic DeNucci
Killer Karl Kox
Mark Lewin
Mario Milano
Jan Wilkens

NON-WRESTLERS
Bill Apter
Dave Brown
Jim Crockett Jr.
Jim Crockett Sr.
Gary Hart
Jimmy Hart
Howard Finkel
Jerry Jarrett
Larry Matysik
Gorilla Monsoon
Gene Okerluind
Don Owen
George Scott
Jesse Ventura
Stanley Weston

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The big news is the added wrinkle of eliminating candidates who have been on the ballot for 15 years and who do not receive 50% of the vote. Every single person on that list is in danger of being tossed off the ballot. Some, like Murdoch, Ventura, & Rock 'n Roll Express, could either be voted in, or get tossed. Lots of talk among voters of voting for people on that list to "save" them for another year. I won't do that. I'm voting for who I feel deserves it, and then i'm letting the chips fall where they may.

Meltzer added lucha trios this year. Junkyard Dog is back, as is Ultimate Warrior.

CM Punk, Jun Akiyama, Minoru Suzuki are new to the ballot.

"TenKoji" has been added to the Japan category as a team (I believe both have fallen off the ballot as singles), I guess based on the last few years of adding to the resume by getting back together and winning a bunch of IWGP & NWA tag titles.

George Scott is an interesting addition. He was the booker of the early Hulkamania era before he butted heads with Hogan and was let go. Vince & Patterson took over from there. Scott also booked in other places like the Carolinas for Corckett, etc.

I think i'm directly responsible for King Kong Czaja being added. I suggested him last year on the Observer board. Drew a bunch of largely undocumented monster gates (100,000+) in India vs Dara Singh (a first ballot HOF'er), and Japan in the early days vs Rikidozan and others in the 40's, 50's, and 60's.

Jan Wilkens is the first African candidate, from South Africa. Ryan Clingman (who is a South African), who publishes Cubed Circle Newsletter, got him on the ballot. I know nothing about him.

Von Brauners & Saul Weingeroff were added as an American based trio. Brute Bernard (the basis for the Giant Bernard gimmick Lord Tensai portrayed in Japan, because he looked like him) & Skull Murphy were added as an Australian tag team.

Mexico is loaded and the Mexican voters are annoyed because most feel they can fill their entire 10-person ballot from Mexico alone. This is why it's probably a good idea to drop guys after 15 years. The ballot is just too cluttered.

 

[MrBill]

Well done on getting a vote to help decide this years HOF inductees :golfclap:

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

My ballot last year. I vote US & Japan only, plus non-wrestlers.

1. Rock & Roll Express - Fell a few votes short. I will vote for them again, and lobby hard for others to do so. Criminal that they aren't in yet, and disturbing that they may fall of the ballot entirely.

2. Hiroshi Tanahashi - He got in.

3. Kensuke Sasaki - He got in.

4. Pedro Morales - Has been moved to the Historical category, which I do not vote for. So I won't be voting for him this year. He's not getting 50%, so adios Pedro.

5. Brock Lesnar - I regret voting for Brock. I have changed my stance and no longer consider drawing in UFC to be meaningful in a pro wrestling HOF, even if he drew in UFC due to being a pro wrestler. I won't be voting for him unless Network subscription numbers come in from SummerSlam and there is a very significant jump. Otherwise, his resume is far too thin as a draw and as a worker.


1. Jimmy Hart - Will be voting for him again, and every year, until he gets in. Should be in on Memphis work alone.

2. Jerry Jarrett - See above.

3. Takashi Matsunaga - He got in.

4. Don Owen - He's never getting in, but I will keep plugging away. Anybody who lasted as long as he did, kept his nose clean, and doesn't have a single person who ever worked for him dislike him has my support.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

For this year, i'm off the fence when it comes to Gene Okerlund. I'm voting for Mean Gene for sure. The best hype man ever. Realistically he probably drew more money than a lot of these people on the ballot with the WCW 900 Hotline alone, which was the end of his career and well after his best work (which was AWA & early WWF) was long in the rear view.

Will consider Gary Hart, George Scott, & Jesse Ventura for the 5th non-wrestler spot. Maybe Monsoon too, if I see good research of him as a promoter in P.R. & WWWF.

Considering CM Punk, Jun Akiyama, Akira Taue (who is back on the ballot), Junkyard Dog (researching his Mid South drawing record), Mike & Ben Sharpe, and maybe Slaughter & Gran Hamada.

Because I got Czaja on the ballot, I may vote for him just to give me an excuse to vote in the Australia/PR/Africa category, which will allow me to vote for Carlos Colon, who missed by ONE VOTE last year, and who I had typed into my Lesnar slot before changing my mind literally at 11:59 at the deadline when I felt guilty about voting for a region I wasn't very knowledgeable in. If Colon was in the US/Canada region where he belongs, i'd 100% vote for him.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

There is nothing to worry about politically about any involvement in this process

Is that really a concern for this? I would think not, but you never know.

I also expect Mean Gene to get in based off all the exposure from the WCW PPVs on the Network relating to the 1-800 number. Just something about nostalgia being brought back.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Is that really a concern for this? I would think not, but you never know.

Well, not so much for a guy like me who votes as a reporter, but you have wrestlers voting for their bosses and vice versa in some cases, not to mention other wrestlers that they share locker rooms with. You are talking about a business where people get buried for forgetting to shake somebodies hand or thanking their opponent for a match.

Just voting at all would probably be frowned upon in WWE if outed, even though plenty of those guys do.

Wrestlers are super petty. Colt Cabana said publicly that he won't vote for Rock n Roll Express because he lost respect for Ricky Morton because Morton didn't know the proper name for an O'Conner Roll at a seminar they were conducting. I mean, think about that and let it sink in. COLT CABANA, who hasn't drawn 1% of the money Ricky Morton has drawn, or ever worked in front of a crowd a third of the size of what Morton probably drew on an average night vs the Midnights in the 80's unless it was as a prelim guy in Japan or something.

 

[EmpireWF]

1. Gene Okerlund - a no brainer
2. George Scott - booker during Mid-Atlantic's big period and during the initial WWF expansion
3. Gary Hart - how is he not in? Booked WCCW's white hot Freebirds/Von Erichs feud & was one of the classic managers of all time
4. Jim Crockett Jr. - Promoted MACW and while the promotion crashed and burned, when it was hot there were few like it. The Greensboro Coliseum is still considered one of the historic mecas of pro wrestling because of what they did.
5. Howard Finkel - There are others who meant more to drawing money, but there's no doubt that Fink added a lot to the WWF production as a ring announcer. They've never had anyone like him before or after, much like Okerlund and elite talent should be included.

1. Rock & Roll Express - heavily influenced workers who came after and drew well enough to where that shouldn't be a reason they're not in
2. El Signo & El Texano & Negro Navarro (Los Misioneros de la Muerte) - one of or THE best drawing trios ever & popularized trios matches
3. Edge - was a perennial upper card WWE guy for years, very good worker, very good promos
4. Ivan Koloff - How is he not in? A top worker in the 70s, drew well and had one of the most historic matches ever in beating Bruno at MSG
5. Villano III - Great worker, top star in the 80s, his mask vs. mask match with Atlantis (inducted last year) is legendary
6. CM Punk - Great worker (on indies & on big WWE stage), headlined in WWE, great promos
7. Dick Murdoch - Feel he should make it…he's also at a big risk of being taken off future ballots


Future first time candidates:

2015 - Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura (no & yes)
2016 - Daniel Bryan & KENTA (yes & I lean yes, was KENTA much of a draw for NOAH? Because my memories always had him underneath Marufuji/Morishima/Misawa until NOAH was hanging on by a thread.)
2017 - Mistico/original Sin Cara (yes)

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I don't vote lucha, but if I did I would probably vote for about seven of the candidates. Mexico is loaded.

I'm cold on Edge.

I'm still researching Crockett Jr & Sr, trying to figure out which is responsible for what. Jr lost the war, that's a big knock, but at least he tried when everybody else folded the tent.

Glad you brought up the next three years.

2015 - Orton is a no, FedEx research piece showing him as an absolute non draw is the hammer I will drop on people who are leaning yes. Unless you absolutely love his work like Meltzer does, I just can't see it. Pushed as a bigger star than he ever really was.

I would love to say yes to Nak, but I think he needs to beef up the resume a bit more. He obviously has time (as does Orton, to be fair). A long, successful IWGP Title run might cement him. His previous runs were not box office successes, but he hasn't had one with the revamped gimmick. He's underrated as a draw during this hot period. This year alone he headlined Dome, headlined a sold out New Beginning. Granted, both vs Tanahashi but Nak is hardly "just a guy" and had something to do with it, and if you think otherwise, explain drawing vs Bad Luck Fale! Tanahashi & Okada get all of the credit, but Nak is right there with them in terms of being responsible for modern post 2011 New Japan success.

2016 - Daniel Bryan is a stone cold mortal lock. I would have voted for him based on workrate before he ever stepped in a WWE ring. Everything since, including headlining Mania, is just gravy.

KENTA, and it pains me to say this because he's my favorite wrestler ever, is probably a no. Wasn't on top until NOAH was essentially dying, which isn't his fault, but it is what it is. Work is not an issue. The other problem, is unless he main events in WWE, people will use that against him. I want to say yes. Give me a reason. A hot WWE run (and it looks like they will give him every chance) will get him in.

2017 - Mistico was the biggest star in the world for two years, and should get in. But the WWE run is going to KILL him, and he isnt close to the same level of star in AAA as he was in CMLL before he went to WWE. If he gets back close to his previous level, he's a lock. As it stands, failing in WWE is a killer, whether fair or not.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Well, not so much for a guy like me who votes as a reporter, but you have wrestlers voting for their bosses and vice versa in some cases, not to mention other wrestlers that they share locker rooms with. You are talking about a business where people get buried for forgetting to shake somebodies hand or thanking their opponent for a match.

Just voting at all would probably be frowned upon in WWE if outed, even though plenty of those guys do.

Wrestlers are super petty. Colt Cabana said publicly that he won't vote for Rock n Roll Express because he lost respect for Ricky Morton because Morton didn't know the proper name for an O'Conner Roll at a seminar they were conducting. I mean, think about that and let it sink in. COLT CABANA, who hasn't drawn 1% of the money Ricky Morton has drawn, or ever worked in front of a crowd a third of the size of what Morton probably drew on an average night vs the Midnights in the 80's unless it was as a prelim guy in Japan or something.

Understood. I didnt even know they let current wrestlers vote, anonymously or not. Is there a ballpark number on invites sent out per year?

 

[EmpireWF]

Is there a ballpark number on invites sent out per year?

Last year, the leading U.S. vote getter were the Rock & Roll Express with 194 votes (only 55%), so assuming the U.S. represents the place where the most ballots are sent.....500-700, including all the foreigners, may be too high but in that range.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Understood. I didnt even know they let current wrestlers vote, anonymously or not. Is there a ballpark number on invites sent out per year?

Active wrestlers, retired wrestlers, promoters/owners/bookers, writers, historians.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Meltzer on RnRE:

Strengths: Top babyface tag team during the high point of both Bill Watts’ and Jim Crockett’s promotion. Although the Fabulous Ones were really the ones that sparked the genre in Memphis, it was the success of the Rock & Roll Express in 1984 in Mid South that caused numerous territories to come up with copies. While the gimmick made them stars, Morton is lauded as one of the great workers of his era, who turned the babyface in peril role into an art form. Not the top, but one of the stronger drawing tag teams in history and in their heyday had consistently good matches with anyone, and great matches when given top heel workers. For years, Rock & Roll Express vs. Midnight Express tapes were used to teach younger wrestlers how to work a tag team match.

Weaknesses: While the two started teaming in 1983, and still team on occasion on the independent scene, the reality was they were the kind of an act that would be super hot for a year or two in a territory and start to burn out, similar to a teen heartthrob. They were together a long time, but longevity at the big-time level was relatively short, one year with Watts and a couple of years with Crockett. While they carried Smoky Mountain Wrestling for two years in the 90s, that was a small promotion. Their act was better for the territorial era where they probably would have been a hot act everywhere they went for years, and then could double back later in their career. They had the working ability and the influence, were draws, but the longevity as a top act is their main stumbling block. Some argue that because they were around during JCP’s national television era, they are remembered as the best babyface team, but arguments are they were never hotter nor lasted as long on top as Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood.

----------------------------------------

Slam dunk, imo. What do they lack? The three components are workrate, drawing, influence. They tick work in a big way, influence in a HUGE way, and if the didn't draw at a HOF level, it was a slight notch below, which is enough when you have the other two components covered like a fucking blanket.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Non-Wrestlers
Don Owen - Ridiculous that he isn't in.
Jimmy Hart - He isn't in yet?
Bill Apter - You can't tell story of wrestling and its place in Americana without the Mag boom.
Jerry Jarrett - He isn't in yet?

Other Categories
CM Punk - Gets in on workrate alone. Best big match wrestler in the North America in the past 15 years. The fact that he is a mild draw only adds icing to the cake.
RocknRoll Express - No brainer.
Carlos Colon - No brainer.
Akira Taue - No brainer.
Brock Lesnar - I count his MMA career. He should qualify as a "special attraction" type. I think a Network uptick in buys only adds icing.

oh...and...

 

 

[EmpireWF]

Sting? pfft

 

[buckeye]

I'm on the fence with the rock and roll express. I liked them back in the day but you hit the nail on the head with them not being able to stay hot that long in each territory. Their gimmick got old quickly.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Myself & Rich with the first of many HOF pods we've got planned:

It’s the first of many Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame podcasts were planning on doing over the next few weeks, in this inaugural episode we’re joined by David Bixenspan of WhatCulture.com, Figure Four Weekly and Fighting Spirit Magazine to introduce the ballot, discuss changes, new candidates and much more!

http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/20...-changes-to-the-ballot-observer-hall-of-fame/

 

[Senser81]

Jumpin Jeff Farmer...write-in candidate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MISUHTo2NDs

 

[Senser81]

For this year, i'm off the fence when it comes to Gene Okerlund. I'm voting for Mean Gene for sure. The best hype man ever. Realistically he probably drew more money than a lot of these people on the ballot with the WCW 900 Hotline alone, which was the end of his career and well after his best work (which was AWA & early WWF) was long in the rear view.

Will consider Gary Hart, George Scott, & Jesse Ventura for the 5th non-wrestler spot. Maybe Monsoon too, if I see good research of him as a promoter in P.R. & WWWF.

This is like reading a Baseball Hall of Fame ballot..."I changed my mind and will vote for Hank Aaron this year. Will consider George Brett. Maybe Brooks Robinson, too, if I see good research of him as a clutch hitter."

Okerlund - In
Monsoon - In
Ventura - In deeper than an Alabama tick

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Jumpin Jeff Farmer...write-in candidate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MISUHTo2NDs

He works at the UM School of Medicine as one of the lead researchers.