7 Bold Predictions For The WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2023
Is there really "No Chance In Hell" for Vince McMahon? It might still be up to him...
Who's left?
That's a pressing question because, in parallel with the Hall of Fame evolving into an actual event taken very seriously by the WWE base, WWE failed, and dismally, to create a new generation of stars.
And, since the Hall did become a highly anticipated fixture on the calendar, WWE could hardly not do it. Is this why the Hall of Fame - ostensibly an institution that rewards nothing less than generational brilliance - is littered with acts like Hillbilly Jim, Queen Sharmell, and Brutus Beefcake?
Or was Vince McMahon just a weird idiot?
The Rock, Batista and John Cena. That's it. There are countless lesser names "worthy" of what isn't a real Hall of Fame, but none that can sell tickets to the most important thing: the lucrative broadcast event.
That's what the Hall is. It's a work. It is a work conceived to make money. If that's too harsh, and it possibly is, it's more of a nice night for legends and journeymen than something of any real prestige.
There is one massive name missing from that aforementioned trio. This man is the most important figure in professional wrestling history and, in his prime, one of the best performers in the history of TV wrestling.
He also resigned in disgrace amid reporting, from the Wall Street Journal, of hush money paid to cover up historical sex offences.
Will WWE actually do the unthinkable...?
7. The Great Muta
For the love of Christ, don't let the man cut an induction speech.
As long as he isn't in a position to offend an entire community of people, it should be fine. He should be told that his bullsh*t can not fly under any circumstances - even if it might draw a pop from a certain performer who has won multiple titles during his WWE tenure.
The Great Muta disgraced himself on January 1, and indeed has held onto relevance much too long. A lot of puro fans are ecstatic to see the back of him and his near-total refusal to do business on his way out.
He is on the way out, but then again probably not. He's a wrestler. WWE know better, and aren't going to induct him because they believe it, but the timing is sentimental enough for it all to make sense.
Keiji Muto nonetheless belongs in an actual Hall of Fame. He blew mist and minds as the Great Muta, an athletic phenom who may well possess the best moonsault ever, with apologies to Christopher Daniels, and remains cherished by those old NWA fans who were wowed by him in 1989.
He evolved into an exceptionally well-rounded big match worker as a vital cog in the faltering puro machine of the 2000s. So good psychologically, and equipped with such a strong aura, until he broke down entirely he was almost better when he was thrashed.
And, unlike Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa, WWE has access to a lot of his footage - so even if he wasn't quite on their level, WWE can actually sell Muto's accomplishments.