10 Early WWE Hall Of Fame 2018 Predictions
3. Rick Martel
Rick Martel is one of the few WWF Golden Age midcard acts not included as a plaintiff in the ongoing lawsuit against WWE for their alleged concealment of the long-term neurological impacts of pro wrestling. He is free to enter the politicised Hall on that basis.
By WWE's non-metric, he's probably had a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He was a former American Wrestling Association World Champion - a recognised World crown - but his reign coincided with and essentially happened as a result of the company's wider decline in the mid 1980s. Deserved or not, Martel was a symbol of the company's fading fortunes.
He experienced much midcard success in the WWF. His heel turn on Strike Force tag team partner Tito Santana at WrestleMania V was one of the first low-key 'Mania moments - an act that was purposefully executed on the Grandest Stage for maximum emotional resonance. His subsequent run as 'The Model' is fondly remembered by fans of a certain age, his run with Jake Roberts in particular.
Martel was a perennial three star performer - but since utter duds have been inducted, a rare clean-living relic of an ugly age is surely a boon for the hugely image-conscious WWE.