10 BOLD Predictions For WWE In 2019

7. JBL Will Headline The Hall Of Fame Class Of 2019

Braun Strowman Angry
WWE.com

Post-Mauro Ranallo, this may read as very, very dumb, but then, this is a company that made the very, very dumb move of glorifying the Fabulous Moolah immediately prior to WrestleMania 34—i.e., when faced with the most intense mainstream scrutiny.

This is a company that ran a show in Saudi Arabia after their role in the killing of a journalist was made public.

This is a company that had Hulk Hogan host said Saudi Arabia show.

This is a company that responded to legion cries of “Vince McMahon is out of touch, and needs to go” by installing him on television.

This is a company that doesn’t give a f*ck.

Besides which, who else but JBL fulfils the headliner remit? That remit is thus: a living person, no longer active in the ring, who headlined several shows, who hasn’t been inducted previously, and who, and this is key, is familiar to modern WWE fans.

Per the rumour and innuendo, WWE wants to induct The Rock, and is hardly about to tell him “Sorry mate, we know your schedule is clear, but you’re in the Hall of Fame—you can’t wrestle anymore”.

But the notion of Rock actually spending a Saturday night listening to Tatanka drone on for an hour just seems far-fetched.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!