WWE Hall of Fame TV Report
April 2, 2012
Taped 3/31 in Miami, Fla.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

-- The one-hour special before Raw began with a video package focusing on legendary wrestlers through WWE history, starting with Andre the Giant as the initial Hall of Fame inductee. WWE focused on all the big names and included their trademark sayings, catchphrases, and soundbytes. Tonight, WWE celebrates the Class of 2012, focusing on Edge, the Four Horsemen, and Mike Tyson.

-- Inside the AAA from Saturday night, the camera focused on top WWE stars Randy Orton and John Cena and the McMahon family on the front row. Jerry Lawler came out to introduce the show and dropped "wrestler" on the broadcast. Lawler then fed to a video package on the Four Horsemen.

Four Horsemen Induction

The video package included current stars, 1990s big stars, and past WWE Legends talking about each of the Horsemen inducted - Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and J.J. Dillon - as classic Horsemen moments played. Some love for Front Row Section D followed by Flair calling the group the greatest faction ever, which concluded the video. Excellent, excellent video.

Lawler then introduced Dusty Rhodes to induct the Horsemen. Dusty did his slow, preacher-style introduction, sounding like Billy Graham. They cut to Cody Rhodes, then Goldust watching their dad. Dusty said all kinds of groups have come and gone, but only one has stood the test of time. Out came the Horsemen together on-stage. Up Next: they talk.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the special, they showed Mike Tyson dancing down the hallway. Then, back to the arena for the Horsemen. J.J. Dillon spoke first. He said there was a day about 25 years ago when four exceptional athletes held all of the major titles in pro wrestling. Dillon said he thinks the universe was in perfect alignment the day they all shared an interview at the same time to form the Horsemen.

DIllon fed to Ric Flair, who took a deep breath on-stage as the crowd Whooed. Flair said he gets emotional during these things and he's re-married since he was last inducted in 2008. Flair shared a story about sharing a few drinks with John Cena before his then-wife asked if he's ever going to grow up. Flair said he ended up leaving the bar at 3:00 a.m. "because I'm a Horsemen." Flair then got serious about having the best time of his life running with the Horsemen. Flair got choked up talking about being the best at what they did in the ring every night.

Barry Windham, looking healthy after his recent health scare, spoke next, saying this is where it first started for him in Miami. Windham said his dad is a Hall of Famer and he thinks he is the first son of a HOF'er to be in the Hall of Fame.

Tully Blanchard said he wakes up every day with pain in his back and neck because of his wrestling style, and he doesn't want anything in return for it, but that's how much he thought about the fans. Blanchard said the WWE wrestling fans worldwide deserve every ounce of their energy and effort in the ring. "Thank you and God bless you," Tully concluded.

Up last was Double A, who shook his head to shake off the moment before the talent and Legends stood up to applaud him. Anderson said they are all one big family and are all intertwined. Anderson said if only the fans know the power they possess to push the talent forward to come through the curtain to entertain. Anderson said he would like to be remembered that this business chose him after he chose this business. The Horsemen shared a group hug to conclude the segment.

Up Next: Mike Tyson. Still to come: Edge.

[Commercial Break]

Mike Tyson Induction

Back on the show, Jerry Lawler introduced a video package on Mike Tyson. The video focused on Tyson's boxing career and being instrumental in the start of WWE's Monday Night Wars rise, helping introduce the Austin Era. The video included the classic Steve Austin-Tyson brawl on Raw leading up to WrestleMania 14 with Jim Ross's "Tyson and Austin! Tyson and Austin!" soundbyte.

Back in the arena, Lawler introduced DX members Shawn Michaels and Triple H to announce Tyson. Michaels and Hunter went back and forth talking about Tyson, noting Tyson helped turn the tide for WWE against WCW in the Monday Night Wars. Hunter then did a long build-up for Tyson KO Punching Michaels at the end of WM14. Michaels tried to sell anger, but had to walk away from the podium to stop laughing. "We talked about this in the back," Michaels whispered to Hunter. HBK reminded Hunter what they were supposed to do - make fun of Tyson. Hunter did the WM14 bit again before Michaels tried to get serious and say they should just introduce Tyson. Hunter told Michaels to go ahead and do it since he's better than him anyways. Michaels and the WWE stars laughed before the crowd chanted, "Shawn is better." Michaels told Hunter it's definitely bothering him. Michaels then introduced "the baddest Hall of Famer on the planet," Mike Tyson.

Out came Tyson and they cut to break. (Michaels tweeted during the show: "I wish you all could have seen the uncut version of our speech at the #WWEHOF . Very tough to keep a straight face."

[Commercial Break]

Tyson opened his speech talking about watching wrestling as a boy, specifically Bruno Sammartino's big title defenses. Tyson noted he wanted to be a wrestler, but then he got arrested. "I'm still here, though!" Tyson said. Tyson said he's trying to convey that he really appreciates WWE's family and that his children are here. He said his kids didn't want to go to the Boxing Hall of Fame induction, but they're here for this one. Tyson then noted if he didn't do WrestleMania 14, he would have lost his house and everything. They jump-cut through Tyson's speech and simply ended with him running off the stage and talent laughing. WWE made him look like a madman.

Up next: Edge.

[Commercial Break]

-- Back on the show, WWE ran a video package on the other inductions. They showed Rikishi inducting Yokozuna, Mil Mascaras's speech, and Ron Simmons saying he can't figure out how to sum up this whole night. Oh wait. "Damn!"

Edge Induction

In the arena, Lawler introduced a video package on Edge. Cena talked first about Edge's passion for WWE. C.M. Punk said Edge growing up a fan was his recipe for success. They showed Edge spotshadowed in the crowd at WrestleMania 6 for Hogan vs. Warrior. Bret Hart talked up Edge, followed by more current WWE talent, including Randy Orton saying Edge raised the bar for everyone in the locker room. The video then transitioned to highlights from Edge's career, with a few more soundbytes mixed in.

Up Next: Edge's induction speech.

[Commercial Break]

For the final segment of the show, Christian was shown on-stage introducing Edge's background in Toronto. He got serious, then introduced a humorous clip of Edge in a hidden camera shot pretending to run the ropes in a hallway. Christian quipped it was actually a text message Edge sent him a month ago. Christian then got serious and fought back tears sharing a story about Edge getting into the wrestling business to make sure his mom could have a home and never have to worry about money again.

Out came Edge, who hugged Christian before running from side to side of the stage, doing his standard ring entrance. Edge paused for a "Thank you, Edge" chant before noting people are probably wondering where Edge is (referencing his short haircut). They showed Zack Ryder smiling in the crowd for this. Edge said he's been best friends with Christian for 25 years, then fought back tears. Edge said he thinks the thing that impresses him the most is Christian is the best husband he's ever met. He then shouted out to Beth for tip-toeing in his life. He then thanked his mom for being the best tag partner he could ask for. They showed Rhino sitting in the crowd with Edge's mom. Edge got emotional talking about being able to buy his mom a home. Edge said he wasn't sure he would make it through that.

Edge then thanked the fans. Loud "Thank you, Edge" chant. Edge said he decided to go for the brass ring a long time ago and now he's a Hall of Famer. Edge then rolled footage of Edge and Christian dressed as Elvis back in the Attitude Era for a "Thank you, thank you very much" soundbyte to close his speech. Edge saluted the crowd, but cut off the music. "Hold on!" He said he's sick of that music. "Five second pose!" chant from the crowd. Edge said he's heard that music for so long sitting in the crowd, so he asked for some Foo Fighters music before showing off his socks a la Robert Griffin III. And, that's a wrap.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax