WWE Set To Name Mark Henry As Final Hall Of Fame Inductee
Henry's inclusion leaked in WrestleMania magazine.
They say the print media simply can't keep up with the internet these days, but apparently not, as a new WWE WrestleMania magazine designed to promote the New Orleans show has unveiled Mark Henry as the likely final Hall of Fame 2018 inductee ahead of schedule.
The mag, spotted by Wrestling Inc., contained a feature length interview with The World's Strongest Man titled "From the Hall of Pain to the Hall of Fame", which is pretty unambiguous in its suggestion.
Speaking with the publication, Henry revealed, "it was a feeling like, 'Are you kidding me?'" when he was told he was scheduled for a ring fitting.
Champion weightlifter Henry signed with WWE in 1996, shortly after a back injury scuppered his chances of Olympic gold in Atlanta. Though he had become a huge household star in advance of the games, Vince McMahon's decision to offer the strongman an unprecedented decade-long contract raised more than a few eyebrows - and questions. An initial feud with Jerry Lawler was engineered to hide Henry's inexperience, but it couldn't be disguised forever, and injuries soon started to rack up.
WWE seemed to quickly lose interest in the ten-year project, and come the 'Attitude' era, they were determined to humiliate Henry in as many ways as possible - presumably as a way to force him to walk. After a stint in Farooq's Nation of Dominaiton stable, Big Mark was memorably stuck with the 'Sexual Chocolate' gimmick, the archetypal lumbering Lothario schtick reserved for all monsters past their peak effectiveness (ie, the first five months). Naturally, this storyline culminated in the septuagenarian Mae Young giving birth to a hand.
But Henry, quite aside from leaving with his overactive tail between his legs, seemed to relish the opportunities, marking himself out as a true professional. When his epic contract did eventually roll down, it was actually renewed. For his commitment and dedication, company man Henry was later rewarded with a match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania, and a stint with the World Heavyweight Championship.
One of the most notable moments of Henry's wrestling career was his 'fake retirement' in 2013, after which he was hugely lauded for his realistic performance. The WSM quietly retired for real after last year's WrestleMania, and has been working as a WWE producer since.
Mark Henry was not amongst the list of names slated for Hall of Fame induction come April, with it being widely reported that Bam Bam Bigelow would fill the final slot. Aside from a possible slew of Legacy inductees, it is unlikely WWE will stretch beyond the standard eight, and it seems we've got our lot. Guess the Beast from the East is paying the price for all the havoc he's caused in the UK this last month.