10 Early Wrestling Predictions For 2019

Ironically, given that it is a celebration of the timelessness of sports entertainment, time is running out on the WWE Hall Of Fame.

Heading into 2019, there is a distinct and damning lack of suitable headliners. While the criteria is nebulous, and exists only in the erratic mind of Vince McMahon, the "valedictorian" invariably means something to the modern audience. Kurt Angle, Sting and Randy Savage headlined the last three classes, all of whom met that criteria. There is a reason the likes of Rikidōzan and Lou Thesz, without whom wrestling would be unrecognisable, were shunted to the 'Legacy' wing in 2017 and 2016. Horrific as this will read to the historians out there, they mean nothing to the average WWE fan.

Using the process of elimination, we can only realistically arrive at JBL as this year's headliner, baggage and all, unless WWE takes the unusual step of inducting those likely to wrestle in the near future, like Triple H or the Undertaker - or, and this is meant in the most respectful manner imaginable, elevating an act like Christian to a level slightly beyond his accomplishments.

This is one such change WWE may have brought upon themselves as a result of its staunch refusal to book anybody beyond John Cena or Roman Reigns as true top-tier talents, post-Attitude Era. Those in the A- tier, who haven't been inducted (Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan) are still wrestling, or have expressed a desire to do so (Batista).

Elsewhere, the speeches run far too long. Several talents spanning several generations have blasted the occasion as tedious. The event is more synonymous with nonentity grandstanding than it is a reminder of excellence, and since the celebration is veering ever closer to embarrassment, it is unsustainable in its current incarnation. Whatever form the next incarnation will take will happen next year.

What can JBL get away with saying in his hour-long speech?!