Next WWE Hall Of Fame 2024 Inductee Announced
Joining Paul Heyman in the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class is...
With Paul Heyman having been announced as the inaugural member of the WWE Hall of Fame 2024 class, the first name confirmed to join the Wise Man is Bull Nakano.
This news was initially reported by ESPN, with WWE soon following up with their own story to lavish praise on a truly revolutionary talent. Nakano's stay with WWE was only a brief one, but her wider reach and influence cannot be understated - as reflected by this Hall of Fame induction.
Having worked a couple of dates for the then-World World Federation in 1986, Bull Nakano would return to the promotion in 1994, immediately targeting WWF Women's Champion Alundra Blayze. Bull would topple Blaze for that prize at All Japan Women's Big Egg Universe show in November '94, before losing the title back to Alundra on the Raw after WrestleMania XI. That would be Nakano's final match with the company.
Away from WWE, Bull Nakano made a name for herself as a pivotal part of the legendary snug 'n' stiff All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, debuting at the age of just 15. During that time, Nakano put on some absolute wars against the likes of Aja Kong, Akira Hokuto, Shinobi Kandori, Mitsuko Nishiwaki, Devil Masami, Manami Toyota, and Kyoko Inoue. Bull would also have a stint with CMLL in Mexico before heading to Titan in '94.
Following her WWE departure, Nakano briefly returned to AJW, had a cup of coffee in WCW, then announced her retirement in early 1997 at just 29 years of age and became a professional golfer. Nakano has been occasionally involved in the wrestling world in the years since hanging up her boots, running her own Empress event in 2012, being a part of Rise Wrestling, and serving as a commissioner figure in Sukeban. She'd also come out of retirement on two occasions, as part of a gauntlet match for Kyoko Inoue's 25th Anniversary show in 2012 and later in a 30-second loss to Manami Toyota in 2017.
As well as Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano now confirmed for this year's WWE Hall of Fame, there's also speculation that Haku could be another who'll be inducted this year.