The show started off with photos of the inductees for the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame, before noting that it began with one man, Andre The Giant in 1993 and two decades later, it has grown to include the greatest names in wrestling, names that are icons, legends and larger than life personalities who defined WWE. The voiceover announced that tonight, we celebrate the class of 2015 including Kevin Nash, Randy Savage, Tatsumi Fujinami, Alundra Blayze, The Bushwhackers, Larry Zbyszko, Rikishi, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Connor “The Crusher” Michalek.

Jerry Lawler came out to host the show and welcomed everyone, stating that it is his favorite night of the year and this year has a big group of inductees, from an A-list terminator, to one of the sexiest women in the business. Jerry Lawler asked fans to please welcome a man who left his mark, or his stink on the business.

RIKISHI
Jimmy & Jey Uso are introduced on-stage to induct their father Rikishi. Jimmy said that The Uso’s and all of their family are from the Bay Area and tonight, they are honored and proud to induct a hometown boy, they are honored to induct a former WWE Intercontinental Champion, a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, their father Rikishi. Jey said that they are asked how did it feel to grow up as Rikishi’s sons and said that it was normal, because they saw their dad on television all the time and during his career, he got to see him evolve through different characters, all kinds of characters, but there was one character that stuck and he found it, it fit, it felt good. Jimmy corrected his brother and told him that it also looked good. Jey said that the first time they saw him on television, Rikishi didn’t have blonde hair and wasn’t the 400lbs man in the ring and the first thin they remembered when they saw Rikishi on television was his rear end. Jimmy said that he was 13 and he wondered at the time if his father was wearing a thong. Jimmy said that his father’s rear end put them through college, bought them Christmas presents, Thanksgiving dinners and more and said that they are glad they never got the Stinkface. Jimmy said that is not the only reason they are here tonight. Jey said that it is because of their father’s hard work, his dedication and his sacrifices, as well as his passion for the WWE, that same passion that took him from a poor kid outside the Cow Palace break dancing for change to a WWE Hall of Famer.

Rikishi came out and said that they are going to have a talk after this is done. Rikishi said that tonight is a special night and said that he was in the back with Vince McMahon and Triple H and told the cameraman to zoom in so that they could see his Hall of Fame ring. Rikishi said that every professional wrestler dreams of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and now for him, that dream is reality. Rikishi said that he comes from a direct extension of the most prolific, hard-working and humble wrestling families in the WWE and in WWE history, the Anoa’i family, known as the Samoan Dynasty. Rikishi said that for over 5 decades, numerous members from one family have been on the WWE roster including Peter Maivia, The Wild Samoans, Samu Anoa’i, The Rock, Yokozuna, The Tonga Kid, Umaga, Manu, The Uso’s and Roman Reigns. Rikishi said that they all hail from one family that he has been proud to be a part of and said that his uncles Afa and Sika provided the wrestling roadmap for him and he is forever thankful to them and said that he wants to honor his father and asks him to stand up. Rikishi thanked his parents for always supporting him, but wishes that his mother was still with us to witness this event and knows that she is looking down on him smiling and said that he loves her. Rikishi thanked his brothers and sisters and said that he loves them too and thanked all of his children for loving him, stating that he loves them too and said that the backbone of his family, his wife, his superwomen Karina, he loves her also. Rikishi said that he would not be standing here tonight without the amazing support and love from the best fans in the entire world and thanked everyone, saying that he feels like his life has come full-circle and he is still enjoying his love for professional wrestling. As a trainer with his brother and Gangrel, they are excited for the next crop of innovative new talent they are training to step into the squared circle and put over Rusev who he trained, wishing him luck at WrestleMania tomorrow night. Rikishi said that it is important to do what you love and said that he has loved what he does for 31 years in this business and he truly stands on the shoulders of giants with huge hearts and has been afforded the opportunity to live his dream and his passion for the business is evident, it is in his DNA, his entire being and he remembers the brutal training in his pursuit, the travel, the hotels, motels, the late nights, the injuries, the missed birthdays and family events, walking through the curtain, every dance move and every stinkface. Rikishi said that he remembers every fans face wherever he performed worldwide and what he will remember the most of all is this moment, this moment right now and right here with the fans and he is honored and humbled to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame where he was born and where he was raised. Rikishi spoke a bit of Samoan and said that he can’t leave his fans like this and says that he was stretching in the back, so let’s do this for the people. The place popped as Rikishi assumed the pose, threw on the sunglasses and danced with Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso.

LARRY ZBYSZKO
Jerry Lawler came out on stage and introduced the man who was a mentor, teacher and adversary of the inductee, the WWF Champion for more than 4,000 days, Bruno Sammartino. Bruno came out and said that he wonders how he could induct that guy into the Hall of Fame after the video that aired on him and congratulated all of the inductees, before saying that he is thrilled to see his good friend Arnold Schwarzenegger tonight. Bruno said that he first met Larry when he was 15 or 16 and Larry found out where he lived. Bruno said that Larry told him that he was a big fan and wanted to become a professional wrestler and that Larry was asked if he was in school and he noted to Bruno that he was on the wrestling team and Bruno told him to do well in school. Bruno said that the next time he saw Larry, he asked Bruno to train him and he finally got to see him wrestle and he was on one of the best high-school wrestling teams, he was a terrific talent and he thought that Larry could succeed and told Larry about weight training and when the time came, Bruno told him to go to college so that he could have something to fall back on if it didn’t work out, but noted that Larry was reluctant to go to college, but done so and got his degree. Bruno said that Larry called him after he graduated and told him that he better keep his word and that Larry maintained his speed while he got bigger and started to work on some Pittsburgh shows and showed that he was a natural. Bruno said that he told him to get some training on the territories and that Larry went to Vancouver for a few months and that Bruno was so impressed that he called Vince McMahon Sr. and told him that Larry was ready. Bruno said that Larry was very ambitious and wanted to be one of the top guys and that Larry said that he wanted to wrestle Bruno just so he could show everyone what he could do, but that Bruno wondered if it was a good idea, however Vince McMahon Sr. said it was. Bruno said that Larry got frustrated because he should have looked better and that is when he double-crossed him and the fans turned on Larry and it was incredible. Bruno said that he was told that Larry deserved a shot on top after the reaction they got and that Larry headlined the Capital Centre and the Baltimore Arena and sold out the shows and that the same happened in Pittsburgh, Providence and Boston and that he sold out Madison Square Garden and the Felt Forum, drew 40,000 at Shea Stadium and this was done without national television. Bruno said that Larry was in demand everywhere and was a success all over the world. Bruno said that Larry then continued as a broadcaster and made his mark in professional wrestling and is being honored for his contributions, before introducing the man to the stage.

Larry came out and said that standing here in the WWE Hall of Fame is truly a dream that came true and that Bruno said it in a nice way how he drove the man crazy and he couldn’t help it. Larry said that there was a guy named Sigmund Freud who came up with the idea that dreams become the reality of your wishes, but to put that a little different, it is the power of your imagination that gives you the wish that becomes your life’s dream and that his dream, from the time he was 16, was to become a professional wrestler, while his wish was to be like his hero Bruno Sammartino, the World Champion. Larry said that when he was 16, he was already one of the biggest wrestling fans alive and drove his parents nuts. Larry said that he made his father take him to the Civic Arena and that his father hated it, but that he would like to thank his father for not disowning him as that was his dream. Larry said that he got his driver’s license and a $300 Ford Falcon, as well as a mother who knew what her baby’s dream was going to be and that she gave him a list from the school that Bruno’s kids went to and it has his address and that he would drive by the house, but noted that there was a row of hedges in Bruno’s backyard. Larry said that he drove by and one day, he drove by the side street and saw Bruno through the hedges standing by the pool in his trunks getting a sun tan and said that he stopped the car, got out and it felt like the hand of destiny pushing him in the back as he crawled through a row of hedges and said that he got through the hedges and Bruno looked at him and wonders how Bruno managed to keep a straight face. Larry said that he introduced himself to Bruno and told him that he was his hero and that his dream was to be a professional wrestler, but said that he doesn’t need to over that again. Larry said that Bruno started him out on a career that was indescribable at a time when it was unbelievable and that he would go down the road with people like Andre The Giant, Captain Lou Albano, The Valiants and many more and wonders why would Bruno have taken him under his wing, instead of escorting him out of his backyard. Larry said that after all these years of having a reputation for having a big mouth, it is hard to explain what happens to a man’s dream when it got frustrating some times and for Bruno to get in the ring with him when it was difficult for him, when Bruno didn’t throw him out of his backyard, it was meant to be. Larry said that after spending the afternoon with Bruno, he knew that his dream was going to happen come hell or high water and it came true, it was great travelling on the road and selling out arenas, but then came the hell in the high water, destiny took a hold of him and it threw him around like a leaf in the wind and he drove everyone around him crazy when he was ready to explode and be a professional, Bruno broke his neck and it shocked the wrestling world and he hung up the boots and started with color commentary. Larry said that old school wasn’t ready to go out yet and with everything he was taught, something wasn’t complete, the old school era wasn’t ready to end, so off they went. Larry then said that coming up with a speech ain’t working, so he’s going to say it like it is. Larry said that even though he has matured with age, those who learn the hard way become the wisest, they become overflowing cauldrons of wisdom and even with wisdom and a big mouth, he can’t put the words together to thank Bruno for what he did to him, for a man of such honor and humility, he probably doesn’t want to hear it, but wants to thank him for making a young boy’s dream come true when he didn’t have to do it. Larry said that there was another man back then that he drove crazy and that he wants to send an e-mail to the big office in the sky to Vince McMahon Sr. and even though he drove the man nuts, he believed in the dream and he rented Shea Stadium andyway and the Old School era rocked the world and it led to a new world of National Television and pay-per-view. Larry said that 47 years ago, he found himself a rabbit hole in the middle of a giant row of hedges and he jumped right in and Bruno was standing there, opening the door to a wrestling wonderland and a few minutes ago, he walked out the other end of that rabbit hole and Bruno was standing there to finally let him out, but now he is standing here, wearing the same ring as his hero and this is a perfect ending to an outrageous dream that he had and now that this dream is over, he gets to go home and become what he was once again, he gets to become of the biggest wrestling fans alive. Larry said that he is hooked and he is going to come home after a hard day of golf in his massaging recliner, going to cheer on a new generation that is clinging on for dear life to a colossal new global era that is exploding before his eyes and he is proud to be part of this history, but now he gets to go home and become a wrestling fan again. Larry said that before he closes out, there is something that he has been wanting to say about wrestling fans for a long time and that without each other to share the power of our imaginations, there would be no dreams at all and he wants this logged forever in cyberspace and archived by every government agency and that he has felt the love of standing in the ring with millions of people chanting his name, Mean Gene Okerlund introducing him as Wrestling’s Living Legend, he got to be like his hero. Larry said that he has felt the wrath of fighting out of riots night after night, bottles crashing around him and he got to his car to avoid fires, had a cab turned over in Boston, was shot in New York and was stabbed in the a** by the greatest fans of them all. Larry said that the WWE Universe is what’s awesome and said that he hopes all of your dreams come true too.

ALUNDRA BLAYZE
Jerry Lawler came out on stage and introduced Natalya who said that some girls want to be a princess, some want to be the next President and some want to kick a**, but Alundra Blayze was a woman who was ahead of her time, she was dominant and beautiful and women didn’t have to compete in their underwear, but she looked good in a bikini. Natalya said that when Alundra came through the curtain, she came to fight, she was a revolutionary, but one iconic act of defiance would change the world of sports entertainment forever when she took her WWE Women’s Championship and threw it in the trash on WCW television and this moment was etched in time as part of the start of the Monday Night War and said that the gloves came off and gauntlet was thrown, noting that it was one courageous act from this one woman that started a revolution. Natalya said that when she first found out she was inducting Alundra, she had to tell someone and she told Arn Anderson. Natalya said that Alundra was working on a promo backstage and she was a perfectionist, while Arn Anderson was waiting to cut his promo and was going to work out, but Arn ended up running for his life with a scared look on his face while Alundra chased after him with her heels in her hand and that it is moments like that which make her happy to induct Alundra. Natalya said that the brick walls are there for a reason, they are not there to keep us out, they are there to show us how badly we want something, they are there to stop other people, but she wants to introduce a woman who never let a brick wall stand in her way, someone who changed sports entertainment forever and the only woman Arn Anderson is afraid of, Alundra Blayze.

Alundra came out and stage and said that she bet that no one ever saw this coming and neither did she. Alundra thanked Natalya and said that The Hart Foundation is steeped in history and she is proud that Natalya is maintaining the tradition. Alundra said that she is honored and humbled to stand with the Class of 2015. Alundra said that a Hollywood stunt coordinator told her in the 1980’s that she could be good in the business and she thought it was a stuntwoman, but he actually meant being a professional wrestler. Alundra said that he dreams were crushed, but she met Ed Sharkey and he was her promoter for the next few years, noting that she did those shows for no money while living in her car as it was being repossessed and she was told that you lose everything to get everything in the business. Alundra said that eventually, she got a call from Wahoo McDaniel and he wanted her to work with Sherri Martel, noting that she learned to much from Sherri and she worked her a** off and perfected her trade and that her time in AWA got her into All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling, WCW and then to WWE thanks to Greg Valentine and Pat Patterson. Alundra said that she wants to talk about someone who made this possible for so many and that she got to introduce The Fabulous Moolah when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame and wants to thank Verne Gagne and the AWA, Curt Hennig and Diamond Dallas Page. Alundra said that she would be remised if she didn’t mention her Japanese wrestling family and that the three years in Japan forged her style, her aggression and flying style would not have been possible without the likes of Aja Kong, Bull Nakano and more. Alundra said that she wants to thank her mother and father and that her father would have been so proud, she wants to thank her extended family watching her on the WWE Network for just $9.99, she wants to thank her Monster Jam family who are in Las Vegas right now, her Madusa fans and her Motorsport Divas. Alundra said that people talk about doing the job and she wants to thank the people who, whether they won or lost, were special to her, Evan Karagias, the only man who had the balls to be pinned for the Cruiserweight Championship, people like Leilani Kai, Luna Vachon and Wendi Richter for making her a success. Alundra said that she wants to thank Paul Heyman and that Paul was the only man who could rock a mullet and carry a foot-long phone, while having a mouth a mother could love, but pointed out that she was the first Paul Heyman girl. Alundra then talked about the Dangerous Alliance and how she had a crush on Stone Cold Steve Austin. Alundra then talked about Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton and congratulated Larry Zbyszko on his induction. Alundra then talked about Rick Rude, a man whose matches mesmerized her and said that she is humbled to be in the same class as Randy Savage and that he was an amazing man who she misses. Alundra then put over Molly Holly and Gorgeous George and thanked the WWE for mending fences that you did not think could be mended, her husband who has served in the Army for almost 30 years and said that he has been deployed for more than a year and the Army arranged for him to come back for the ceremony. Alundra said that she wants all of the veterans and first responders to be recognized and thanked everyone who has fought for our freedom so that we can all sleep peacefully under the American flag, but said that now that is done, it is time to get to some fun s***. Alundra said that it is time to talk about what everyone wants her to talk about, the title. Alundra said that it was 1995 and she was sitting on the toilet when she recieved a call from Eric Bischoff offering her a contract with WCW, which would lead to a sequence of events that would lead to a war and on December 18th, 1995, she fired the first shot in the Monday Night War, she threw the WWE Women’s Championship in the trash and questioned who does that and what was she thinking. Alundra said that when Eric told her to dump the title in the trash, her first thought was hell no, but she did it and the reason she did it was for job security and that she did what any wrestler would have done at that time and that was used to get the WWE’s attention and the mission was accomplished. Alundra said that she is asked about that every day and it is the defining moment of her career and she will always be known as the b**** who threw the title in the trash. Alundra said that she owns what she did that night with the title, she has lived with it every day of her life for the last 20 years ans that she is at peace with it now and so should the fans. Natalya came back on stage and handed a trash can to Alundra who reached in and pulled out a bra and panties and said that she hated the idea of wrestling in that. She then pulled out BBQ sauce and said that she hated that night, but that Jim Ross made some damn good barbecue sauce. Alundra then pulled out Eric Bischoff’s book and said that they are still friends to this day. Alundra reached in again and took out the Women’s Championship and said that it was a damn good looking belt and that the title is finally home where it belongs and said that she loves her career in wrestling and this event caps her career as to be considered for any Hall of Fame is an honor, but to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame is the highest achievement for any sports entertainer and said that there are many who are also qualified to be standing here tonight and she shares this honor with all of them. Alundra told everyone not to give up on their dreams, because you don’t know what can happen and said that for whoever doesn’t know her, she is the reigning Women’s Champion and she also drives a Monster Truck and is a two-time World Champion, the only woman to be the World Champion in two male-dominated sports. Alundra said that you can call her Alundra Blayze or Madusa, but she will never be subdued.

CONNOR MICHALEK
Jerry Lawler came out and introduced Dana Warrior who came out with the Warrior Award. Dana said that it is an honor to stand before you tonight, a terrifying honor, but an honor nonetheless and that one year ago, she sat in the crowd and saw her husband deliver and epic speech and said that she may have cried the entire way through it, but that was what it evoked from her, she believed in all her husband stood for, she believed in the character he played and the depth of his personal character, she was honored to be his partner, his biggest cheerleader and a place for him to fall and she was proud to be called his wife, but losing his was an unspeakable blow, it felt like someone physically removed part of her body and said that you don’t hear about the physical pain when you lose someone and that it was like losing the air in her lungs and the beat of her heart and that sadness could swallow someone whole, if you didn’t spend 20 years with a man who embodied the spirit of the Warrior and he gave some of that for her. Dana said that she has wanted him back, but she knew that she had something to do, she had to embody the way of a Warrior woman and that is what she did and said that a wallflower can’t be married to warrior and that even though she is a quieter warrior, she is a warrior nonetheless and was aided by many people and you have her heartfelt gratitude. Dana thanked her daughters and said hat they have been her reason to get up every day and fight like mad to make them proud and that she has never known a more fierce love than the love they share and asks for their apology for any mistakes she made along thw ay and said that the most awesome thing she will ever do is be their mother. Dana thanked the people in Santa Fe and thanked the people who were there for her after her husband’s death, the legion of Warriors who held them up and carried them forward and the WWE Universe for standing by them, the WWE Divas, Superstars, Corporate Office and Production staff and said that they made her girls smile when she didn’t think they could and thanked everyone for supporting them. Dana thanked WWE for easing the burden, Stephanie and Paul, who she said might be bad guys on television, but really great friends behind it all. Dana thnaked Auntie Deb for calling her every day and Uncle Bob for getting organized, as well as Steve Wilton for being there as her husband’s best friend and trusted ally. Dana said that it is impossible to move on, but we can move forward and has told the girls that you get up, show up and act like Warriors and that this is a step forward and this award is a quantum leap. Dana said that she looks at photos of Connor and she is awash with love and awe and his vibrancy and the way he tackled life is a testament of the Warrior spirit as it is not the size of the body or the length you live, but it is the way you live and the legacy you leave behind and even though they have taken their final breaths and moved on, their legacies live on. Dana said that Connor was a little Warrior whose heart left this world a better place and what if his quest was to cure cancer, what if we took bold steps to make this happen. Dana then challenged everyone to make a donation to Connor’s Cure in the memory of The Ultimate Warrior and said that what greater gift can we give than to eradicate something so horrible that took Connor too soon and if you do this for Connor and raise $1 million in a month, then she will run the ring, shake the ropes and even body slam a person and she has an opponent in mind brother. Dana said that she is joking and has nothing but love for Hulk Hogan and said that she would now like to introduce Daniel Bryan.

Daniel Bryan came out and said that he is trying to control himself crying right now and he sincerely and truly appreciates the people chanting for him, but everything he does is fiction, it is not real and if he has inspired you, that is great, but when you talk about inspiration, you are talking about something very real and someone who inspired him was Connor. Bryan said that when he first saw Connor, it was on a YouTube video he made requesting to meet him and that that video went viral and everyone knew about it and that even he know about it and he is not on social media and said that the arrangement was made to meet him and the moment he met Connor, he stole his heart and said that it is not because he was cute or charismatic, there was more there and that he has struggled to come up with what it was, because everyone knew about his kindness and compassion, he was so quick witted and what spoke to him from the start was his strength and whn you got to meet and know Connor, he was truly amazing, he was diagnosed at 3 with brain cancer, spent most of his life in and out of hospitals getting chemotherapy and said that despite that terrible process, you would see the scar, but Connor was full of life and confidence when you met him. Bryan said that he was at the point where was doing the “NO” chant and Connor said that he doesn’t like it when people say “YES”, to which Bryan asked him why and Connor responded by saying that it was because he didn’t want people to say it. Bryan asked him if he could put him in the “No Lock” and Connor said that he would put everyone in it. Bryan said that when Hunter had him hit him, Connor said that he couldn’t do it, but not because he was 8, but because Connor said that he would hurt Hunter and said that if you asked Hunter, he would say that 8 year old really packed a punch. Bryan said that Connor was known as “Connor The Crusher” and that he wishes he could see Connor through his eyes at the end of WrestleMania and said that he was in front of 70,000 people with confetti pouring down and there was Connor sitting through that show and no matter how tired he was, he was throwing his arms up while in his father’s arms. Bryan said that when he saw that, he had a sense of what was truly important, it was not what he was doing, it was the love between a father and a son and that you could see the life in Connor’s eyes, you could see the life in his father’s eyes so appreciative to hold his son and that Connor is so appropriate for this award. Bryan put over Connors Cure and the money that it has raised to try to make sure that future children don’t go through what Connor had to go through and then introduced Connor’s father, Steve Michalek.

Steve thanked Connor, because without him here in spirit, he would not be able to talk to all of the fans. He then thanked Dana Warrior and said that her bravery to raise her daughters after their loss is an inspiration and he learned that other children are important and your grief is second and unless you have been put in that position, you may not know the pain. Steve thanked Daniel for the kind words about a boy who saw Daniel as his hero and that Connor’s love and passion for the WWE began with Bryan and said that Connor would love the fact that it was you who inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame. Steve said that the Ultimate Warrior was his favorite when he was Connor’s age as he owned the crowd and even though they are physically different, Daniel and Warrior shared the same passion and it is fitting that Daniel is giving the Warrior Award to a Warrior like Connor. Steve thanked Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, because of their love for Connor and all children, they started Connor’s Cure and he is proud that the foundation is already so successful and is producing results so fast. Steve thanked the WWE Universe for their support and said that it will ensure that Connor’s Cure will make a difference in dealing with Pediatric Brain Cancer and the people who are dealing with this disease are also grateful and even though he knows Connor is here with them in spirit, he should be earning this award and he would own the room and was always ready to put on a show and it was natural to him and said that no moment was too big and Connor was never starstruck and it takes someone to be so brutally honest and endearing at the same time. Steve said that we have all seen the videos, whether it was the first time he met Daniel Bryan and he had Daniel tapping out to his own move and that he told Daniel and Kane that him and his brother were the real Tag Team Champions and when he was in the ring, surrounded by all of the Superstars and Divas, he even remembered to hook the leg when pinning Triple H. Steve said that Connor got to have his WrestleMania moment by sharing a hug with Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 30 last year while confetti fell all around them and though Connor may not be physically here with us due to cancer, he never let it beat him and at times, it might have given him an F5 or an RKO, but it was people like Daniel Bryan or Justin Roberts who helped him up. Steve said that the doctors told them that Connor would never make it to WrestleMania, but it never stopped him from making it and he earned his spot as part of WrestleMania history and that Connor will always be his best friend and hero and he hopes that by living life on his own terms and having his heart and soul so filled with hope that Connor will be an inspiration for people fighting the disease. Steve said that he is honored and proud that Connor has made an impact on so many lives and it seemed like everywhere they went, people knew him and he told Connor that he is turning into a huge celebrity and that Connor looked at him and responded that he would be famous one day and thanks to the Warrior Award, the Hall of Fame and his crusade, he has become famous and thanks to all of the fans, his legacy will live forever. Steve then introduced Connor’s younger brother Jackson who got on the mic and said that he loves Connor.

THE BUSHWHACKERS
Jerry Lawler came out on stage and introduced John “Johnny Ace” Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis said that tonight is not about people power, but it is about The Bushwhackers and that the New Zealand flag is a symbol of where he started, the beginning shapes who we have become and this flag gave him the opportunity to find two unforgettable men who shaped his career. Johnny said that after he got done with his first training camp, Dusty Rhodes told him he is going to send him to Florida to meet the Sheepherders and that he held the flag for them and Luke & Butch never told him his hairstyle wasn’t as cool as he though, they didn’t just tell him what to do, he told them when and why. Johnny said that they started together in 1968 in New Zealand and turned into the Kiwis and Sheepherders, before becoming the Bushwhackers and they were roommates for a year and he has some stories that might not be appropriate and being on the road for 45-50 days with Luke and Butch could be a problem. Johnny said that they ended up in the WWE as two entertaining individuals who had a march like no other and they had their hats on sideways and they licked him and they licked him too and it wasn’t as much fun, but they shaped his career and the industry, they were his friends, his family, his mates and his beginning.

The Bushwhackers made their way on stage as Butch left out a scream. Luke told him that isn’t how you do it today and said it has been a long journey since coming to the United States in 1972 and today, they stand on the biggest stage in the business, the WWE Hall of Fame. Butch said that just like Johnny Ace, they have lots of mentors, one was Killer Kowalski and they were with him in Australia in the late 1960’s, while Andre The Giant was another name. Luke said that there was another person influential in their early career, Peter Maivia. Butch said that he is a god in Western Samoa and Butch was only in the business for about 6 months, was very green and never met Peter and it was the 10th anniversary of Western Samoa’s independence from New Zealand and he said that he got into that ring and was so nervous that he didn’t know what to do, he threw Peter out of the ring and then everyone in the crowd was going after him, hundreds of people wanted to string him up on a coconut tree and he was lucky to get out of there with his life and promoted said that they decided to keep him in Samoa for 2 more days for a rematch, but he is not going to do it again, yet he did and he learned to fly that night as Peter grabbed him and threw him all over the ring and he didn’t mind, as he was happy, because the more Peter beat him up, the safer he was. Luke put over Stampede Wrestling and working there in 1973 and noted that they got DQ’d and the next minute they were put in the ring with 4 young wrestlers, they left everyone laying in the ring and Stu Hart was there in the back and asked them what did they do to their kids and that they had so much heat for it airing on television after 3 days. Butch said that they were hardcore before there was hardcore, while Luke put over a call he got from Pat Paterson and said that they wanted to make them the good guys, but Butch didn’t like it. Butch said that he got on the desk and looked at them, asking how they were going to do that out of two ugly guys, but they bloody did and it was amazing, noting that they started doing vignettes for 6 weeks to get into the characters and that he suggested the marching, while Luke talked about how his arm hurt and Butch reminded them about the money, so he started marching and that he also came up with the licking and said that Americans taste great. Luke said that they were the crazy sheepherders who became the fun-loving Bushwhackers and thanked everyone and put over his Royal Rumble appearance where he was quickly eliminated and that Butch was p***** off at that happening as Luke earned the same that he did that night. Luke said that they worked all over the world, but it wasn’t until the WWE that they went from wrestlers to celebrities and that WWE made them stars around the world. Butch said that there are a lot of Hall of Famers who they have been in the ring with and gets Roddy Piper, Ted DiBiase Sr and Bret Hart to stand up, followed by Jim Duggan doing his trademark “Hooo!”. Butch thanked his wife and asked her to stand up, while Luke blessed her for living with Butch. Butch thanked his daughters watching back home in New Zealand for letting him live his dream while not being there all the time for them and that he wants to thank his cousin Luke. Luke teased licking Butch and said that he doesn’t want to get sick. Butch said that Luke was the best partner that you could have for 34 years and the only thing that p***** him off in 34 years was the Royal Rumble. Luke thanked the WWE Universe for giving them the opportunity to be on the stage tonight and be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and even though they have been marching around the world together for 34 years, they will never run out of slime. Butch then licked Luke’s head.

TATSUMI FUJINAMI
Jerry Lawler came to the stage and introduced Ric Flair. Flair came out and said that he has had a great time and it is his honor and privilege to be part of his favorite part of the WrestleMania week, the Hall of Fame and that he is honored to be here and said that he has done a lot of things and been a lot of places, but since 2008, this has been the best thing that he has done and said that he loves seeing everyone dressed up and he is proud of everyone and mentioned that since he has a daughter involved, he is more involved. Flair said that he is honored to be inducting a Japanese legend and he has been going to Japan since 1972 and has wrestled all of the best and said that he thought he trained hart with Verne Gagne, but these kids were doing conditioning at ringside for 5 hours a day and that the Japanese push the young buys to the point of making them fail and that the lifestyles in the dojos were tough and Tatsumi Fujinami became Japan’s brightest star, he invented the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex. Ric asked for Vader to stand up and said that Fujinami went back and forth with Vader over the IWGP Championship and thanked Vader for everything they did together over the years and that he met Fujinami for the first time in 1979 when he came to Charlotte to train with Jim Crockett and that Fujinami is the greatest wrestler from Japan and he is honored to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Tatsumi Fujinami came out and hugged Ric Flair. Fujinami said that he is so proud to be here and thanked everyone and said that he would like to thank the WWE for the great honor and that he has wrestled for 43 years and mentioned that he is 61 years old and still wrestling and that he fights because it is his mission, it is his mission to honor the people he faced over the years and tonight, he joins the WWE Hall of Fame, an adventure that continues. Fujinami thanked his wife and family for supporting him during his career and said that there are many more adventures to come.

RANDY SAVAGE
Jerry Lawler came out on stage and introduced Hulk Hogan who noted that he has been thinking and said that Randy was something else, he was intense and he was crazy, he was the epitome of what you need in wrestling and said that it is his honor to induct Randy Savage into the WWE Hall of Fame. Hogan said that Savage was not just a great competitor, he was intense and the people who were close to him know how intense he was and he was a great friend, but there were times when his intensity spilled over and Randy would call him at all hours of the night to talk about things and Randy was relentless. Hogan noted that Savage loved the business and had it in his blood and everyone looked up to Angelo Poffo, stating that he switched to the canary yellow trunks because of Savage’s father Angelo Poffo. Hogan said that Randy worked at his craft and wanted to be the best and when you think about WrestleMania 3 and his match with Ricky Steamboat, he proved he was the best and that was a special night in the Silverdome, that was a cray night, because Andre had some back issues and he wondered if they would get through it, would they stink up the joint or would they live up to the hype for the match and when he slammed Andre and got the win, they lived up to the hype, but Randy Savage stole the show at WrestleMania 3. Hogan then discussed the handshake and the MegaPowers and said that they were a great tag team and Randy would take things to another level. Hogan noted how they came back from commercial and Elizabeth was hurt and Randy talked about how Hogan was jealous about Elizabeth and he thought about Randy’s intensity, but then Randy shoved his finger in Hogan’s face and that got him to the same level as Hogan and he was making Hogan a better man and performer. Hogan said that when you were in there with Savage, you upped your level and he was like that 24/7 whether it was lifting weights or racing boats, Randy pushed you to a level you were not ready to go, he made you better at everything. Hogan said that he had some amazing moments in his career whether it was WrestleMania 1 or WrestleMania 3, beating up the boss or fighting with The Rock, but when you worked with Randy, it was intense, the crowd was always there and it was magic as Randy made you a better performer and every night, Randy made him step up and he did that for everyone. Hogan said that there would be HulkaMania without the Macho Madness and that they clicked and ran hard and Randy made HulkaMania what it is today and pushed him when he got lazy. Hogan said that everybody in the WWE Universe supported him, but Randy Savage was there 24/7 and thanked the WWE for putting Randy in the WWE Hall of Fame, because he deserves to be there. Hogan then introduced Savage’s brother Lanny Poffo.

Lanny said that he stands before the Hall of Fame for his brother who lived every day and that his brother made it cool to be a wrestling fan and his match with Ricky Steamboat in 1987 was on a scale of 1 to 10 much better than 11 and he snapped into a Slim Jim with his trademark voice and got a role in Spiderman. Lanny said that when the MegaPowers exploded, it was real, but it is time to heal and we celebrate the Macho Man as he is finally in the WWE Hall of Fame. Lanny said that his mother could not be here tonight and noted that she is 88 years old and knows that Randy’s wife is watching and thanked her for making Randy the happiest man in the world until the day that he died. Lanny said that last year, The Ultimate Warrior got a chance to say anything he wanted until he passed away, but Randy Savage did not get that chance and that he wants to express what was in Randy’s heart, Randy had no biological children of his own, he was always a good uncle and a good father to his wife’s children from another marriage, but it was his work with the Special Olympics that filled that void, they were all his sons and daughters and he was their father, he loved them as much as Mr. T loved his mother and then put over Randy’s favorite poem about the Special Olympics. Lanny said that he is 60 years old and he said that he would read his poem to the people at the Special Olympics and he would introduce Randy and he would be in his full regalia and when you though it couldn’t get any better, Randy would do it and noted that WWE would always send merchandise for Randy to give away and everyone got items personally autographed by the Macho Man. Lanny said that after all of these years, Mick Jagger complains that he can’t get no satisfaction and that he should have spent time with Randy, but outside the ring, he was a Champion of the underdog and that the Macho Man is everything that people who wish to wear a crown are and said that Lynn Poffo deserves to wear the crown.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Jerry Lawler came out and introduced Triple H who said that this is his favorite night of the year, this is the greatest business in the world as you cry one minute and laugh the next and you look for someone who made a lasting impact or influenced a Superstar and that Arnold embodies everything about the Celebrity Wing, whether it was with Vince McMahon or Hulk Hogan or when Arnold slapped him hard so many years ago. HHH said that Arnold was an inspiration to many superstars and a lot of the people went to the gym for the first time because or Arnold, but what if Arnold had a different hero, not a former Mr. Universe who went on to the movies, what if it was Bruno Sammartino, Arnold could have been the biggest WWE superstar in history and if that was his path, he had the physique to strike awe in people, the charisma and he is larger than life. HHH said that Arnold slaughtered millions of people in his movies and no one got hurt and that is a great worked and had catchphrases and maybe if he chose a different path, 72,000 people would be chanting for him and while Arnold could rest on his laurels, he gives back and tries to make the world a better place whether it is his fitness crusade or his environmental crusade or his after-school All Stars program so children can learn and have a productive life. HHH said that Arnold is the American Dream, he might just be the Global Dream, but he knows one thing for sure, Arnold is the greatest bodybuilder in history, the greatest box-office draw, a two-time Governor of California and now a WWE Hall of Famer.

Arnold came out and thanked everyone and said that HHH is an extraordinary man, a great athlete and wrestler who now helps to run the WWE and he loves it when people can cross-over from the field to the office and thanked the WWE for inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame. Arnold said that there are wrestlers who dream of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, but he never thought that he would be inducted and he dreamt of being the greatest bodybuilder, coming to the United States, becoming an actor and entertaining people all over the world, being a public servant and becoming the Governor of California, but never dreamt of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Arnold said that he has always loved professional wrestling and that his father would take him to events and that is when he thought about having a muscular body. Arnold said that when he moved to Munich, he managed a gym and the wrestlers trained there and had the greatest workouts and when he came to America after winning Mr. Universe, the head judge the third time he won was none other than Bruno Sammartino and Bruno told him to do some poses and that he was going to vote for Arnold. Arnold said that he formed a friendship with Bruno and that is why he inducted Bruno 2 years ago and that Bruno would invite him to the matches and he could not believe how strong Bruno was to be able to pick up a 400lb man and slam him to the ground and mentioned how different that is than doing weightlifting and that he admired the speed and power that Bruno had. Arnold said that there is a camaraderie between wrestlers and bodybuilders and that he accepts this on behalf of his fans, because without the fans, we would be nothing, we wouldn’t be the stars without the fans who created us and thanked everyone for their loyalty. Arnold said that he wants to accept this honor on behalf of America as this is the land of opportunity, justice, freedom and liberty and that he was received in America with open arms and that we need to keep the country as the number one in the world.

KEVIN NASH
Jerry Lawler came out and introduced Shawn Michaels. Shawn thanked Lawler for going through all of his nicknames as he didn’t want the show to go too long, pulled out his speech and tore it up. HBK said that he is thrilled a lot of people have been inducted tonight, but this is a professional wrestler inducting a professional wrestler and one of them is going to be in trouble when they go to the back and he is a trained professional. HBK said that many years ago, he was sitting at home and he saw Vinnie Vegas on WCW Saturday Night and he made him chuckle and that he went to TV and talked and talked to Rick Steiner and asked him about Vinnie Vegas and whether he would be interested in coming up to be his bodyguard and that Rick went to a payphone and called Kevin to see if he would like a job. HBK said that Kevin went to Ole Anderson and told him that he was going to go back to the strip club, because it wasn’t working and that he got his notice and went to another part of the WCW office and faxed it to JJ Dillon and went to Albany, which is where they met and that he introduced himself and told Kevin that he is gong to need a bodyguard and possibly one in real life because nobody likes him and that Kevin said no problem and they have been friends since then. HBK said that they were having a lot of fun and were getting over, then they got hot and Vince McMahon came to him and told him that the big guy was getting white hot, but he tried to suggest that it was both of them and thought hat Vince was crazy as he brought Kevin p to WWE and Vince fell in love with him and that Vince told HBK that they were going to put the title on Nash, so they went to Madison and Nash won the title. HBK said that he got pulled into the shower and that when you get pulled into a shower by a big man, you get a little worried and that 3 years ago Kevin told him that he thought he would never make it, but he came to WWE, hitches his wagon to Shawn and become Champion and thanked him. HBK talked about the Kliq and how Nash, as well as Scott Hall fundamentally changed the business due to their actions during the Monday Night War. HBK said that there would be no nWo or guaranteed contracts and without the nWo, there would be no DX and without no DX, there would not be a line of merchandise checks keeping him afloat. HBK then introduced Nash.

Kevin said that he always considered Shawn to be the Michael Jordan of wrestling and without Shaw’s call to Steiner, he would probably be at a Gentleman’s Club and said that they put Kevin Nash in the Hall of Fame, but wondered at the time if it would be Kevin Nash or Diesel, because without Diesel there is no Kevin Nash, because there would have been no nWo and that he has been blessed with some of the best workers in the world to go out and perform on a nightly basis and he never said that he was the best dancer, but he knew he could follow and thanked everyone for giving him the due diligence and for kicking him in the keester when it was needed and said that some say he did it all for the money and he did and said that he has set up some food trucks around the building since this has gone a little long. Nash said that his first match was on Night of Champions and he had black hair and was given a fuschia Mohawk and was given a partner greener than him who missed a headbut from the top rope by 35 feet and they were called LOD Wannabees, but that 3 weeks later, he was told to grow his hair out and that Dusty Rhodes had the idea to do a character called Oz. Kevin discussed DDP and said that he was a little whiny and always knew he could quit, but Dallas told him he would make it. Then, Vinnie Vegas came around and it caught HBK’s eye and the first time in a WWE Arena, HBK wrestled Marty Jannetty and he was involved in one part of the match to help Shawn win the title and did more in one day than in 3 and a half years with Turner. Nash said that Diesel was a fantastic run, he was goals oriented and wanted to become the Champion and that he was with Rikishi when he was known as Fatu, they had a few drinks and one of the agents said that he had to Vince McMahon’s house when they got back from Europe and thought it was cool that he was going to be fired at Vince’s house and even fell asleep at the house. Nash said that Vince told him that he was going to be Champion and he thought Intercontinental Champion, but Vince told him World Champion and he became World Champion, but then jumped with Scott Hall to WCW. Nash said that his first contract with the WWE was a 10-date guarantee at $150 and that they were working for an opportunity, the opportunity was given and some took it and ran with it. Nash said that not enough credit goes to the people who keep the lights on, the people who will be filling the arena. Nash said that his generation did some things, but the fans took it ten fold and said that his house is 40 miles from Cape Canaveral and he can go to his deck and see anything that launches and every time he comes back to the WWE, it grows, the growth is staggering, it is staggering what the Superstars and Divas do, he is going to see a spaceship take off from Cape Canaveral and it is going to be going to the moon, because WWE decides to run WrestleMania on the Moon. Nash said that he can thank a thousand people, but will probably miss someone and thanked his wife and said that some think she is a unicorn that doesn’t exist and wants to mention Rick Rude who told him that if you want to keep your wife, then keep her away from the business and noted that they have been together for 27 years and she has endured the complaining and without her, he would implode. Nash said that he was talking to Ric Flair and they came to the conclusion that there are two things that are real, they are when you win your first World Championship and when you are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Shawn Michaels, Sean Waltman, Scott Hall and Triple h came out and celebrated with Nash as the ceremony ended.