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Posts Tagged ‘WWE Hall of Fame’

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reappeared at the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony, his first appearance on a WWE broadcast in possibly a year, and if early indications are accurate, it may be his last appearance for quite some time.

The Rock, now a big-time movie star, owes his current fame and success largely to the exposure of his early WWE career. However, at the event intended to honor his father and grandfather for the time they spent in WWE, The Rock apparently presented himself, both on-stage and backstage, as above everyone else he used to work with.

His Hall of Fame induction speech ran exceptionally long, and was primarily a comedy routine making fun of and belittling current WWE stars, none of whom he warned ahead of time about the jokes he had planned. His comments on his father and grandfather were, by comparison, brief and lacking in much detail or heart.

The Rock did not attend WrestleMania, showed up just in time for his speech, and left immediately after it was over, blowing off nearly all the WWE personalities with whom he used to be close, including pal Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The Rock’s bad behavior drew much ire from the current roster of WWE personalities, and is a good indicator that the next time the WWE and The Rock cross paths, it may be a couple decades down the line, when it is The Rock himself who is being inducted. Fans offering up everything from their life’s savings to their bathroom faucets in trade for Dwayne Johnson to make a return to the WWE ring may be placing their hopes in an extreme unlikelihood.

Eddie Graham, as well as Jack and Gerald Brisco, have been added to the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony scheduled for next Saturday, prior to WrestleMania. The induction ceremony, sure to be more pleasant than going through drug rehabilitation, may be a calmer, less controversial one than in recent years.

In addition to Graham and the Briscos, this year’s class includes Ric Flair, Mae Young, and The Rock’s dad and grandfather, Rocky Johnson and High Chief Peter Maivia. While Graham ran the Florida promotion that secured the Hall of Fame status of his brother, Superstar Billy Graham, as well as spawning the career of the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes, even Graham is not expected to be as controversial a choice as some recent nominees.

In recent years, WWE has thrived on inducting deserving candidates who had reason not to like McMahon or WWE, such as AWA founder Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkle, and Bret “the Hitman” Hart. None of this year’s nominees are expected to be McMahon-haters, which should guarantee a smoother ceremony, but also guarantee a far less interesting broadcast.