If you SMEEEELLLLLLLLL what the Rock is cooking?

Easy choice really. The reason why I started watching wrestling and by far the most entertaining wrestling in a long time.

HUGE fan of Randy Savage, but I've got to go with Lou Thesz (r.i.p.).

Last year I read Thesz' book "HOOKER" ...somewhat unfortunate title, hard to find, expensive, spiral-bound, but MORE than worth every penny. Highly recommended for those who, like me, had not been familiar with this super-legend. Incredible documentation of the territory days and the business side of wrestling... especially the dirty dealings! Changed my attitude towards pro wrestling. Thesz had some unkind words for NYC's darling Sammartino, too.

I voted for Randy Savage. He was in the spotlight during the mid-1980's boon.

I also went for Savage. Backlund and Bruno aren't in because they don't want to be in, and The Rock will eventually be in. I don't really know enough about Thesz to vote him in, whereas Savage would be a lock if he wasn't seemingly locked out of the Hall for some reason.

Great poll but incredibly tough to pick. The Rock needs more time as I believe he will come back in a few years.
Thesz is deserving, but he wasn't a WWWF guy.
Sammartino, Backlund, & Savage should all be in.
My guess will be Backlund gets in before Bruno and Savage because he can bury the hatchet with Vince.

Wasn't Sammartino champion for like 8 consecutive years? He's easily the most worthy

I voted Sammartino, but the correct answer here is Rick Rude. Time to get the Ravishing One into the Hall of Fame.

Macho Man. No explanation needed. Nuff said.

I voted for Thesz as well. The Rock will get in, Sammartino doesn't want to be in, Savage and esp. Backlund are deserving, but when you read oldtimers' recollections, Thesz stands head and shoulders above pretty much everybody.

Lou Thesz traveled the world, Bruno went from NYC to Boston, Philly and Baltimore. A great technical wrestler, Thesz is the easy choice.

I have to vote for Bruno Sammartino. I mean, come on. The man held what is now the WWE title for close to eight years. Nobody has, or ever will, come close to that mark. He was the main attraction of the '60's and '70's, and was still an important figure in the '80's.

And I'm not some old geezer who somehow found his way onto a computer. I'm a kid on the cusp of college, yet I recognize the legacy of those who came long before the WWE became mainstream.

Sammartino is an obvious choice, I'm surprised he's not in yet. The Rock is next on the list but since he might actually still come back they will probably hold his induction.

Wow, Thesz isn't in? Is there a story behind that?

Other people worth of the WWE Hall of Fame:

Gorilla Monsoon
Killer Kowalski
George 'The Animal' Steele

RESPONSE FROM KE: They're all in.

If you are talking about contributions to the WWWF/WWF, I don't think any of them compare to Sammartino, who spent 12 plus years as WWWF champ.

Sammartino is probably best known to many modern wrestling fans as a sour guy who became estranged from the WWF after his color commentating days ended. And as a color commentator he wasn't great.

However, he was the main guy in the ring, at the top of the card, for the WWF for over 15 years, and a real workhorse.

Thesz is also very deserving as he wrestled at a high level for about four decades and was the Gordie Howe of wrestling.

However, in terms of a body of work for the WWF/WWE, I think Sammartino is the guy.

Are you kidding right now? The rock changed sports entertainment, he could have 50,000 people chanting his name. Don't get me wrong for a second, those other guys are great and are deserving hall of famers. BUT, if there was one spot left it is The Rock!

Hey Kevin, which of these would you choose ?

RESPONSE FROM KE: I'll weigh in after the voting closes.

They're all worthy, although The Rock would be lowest priority as he still has time to come back.

I've been wondering for a while now when Vince is going to induct himself....his character is arrogant enough to do it as a part of a storyline which would sell well on Raw and he's probably had more influence on the industry than anyone else in history so there's no question that he deserves it.

Any thoughts from anyone else?

I know Bruno wants to be left out of it, but really he needs to be honored. Lou Thesz would be my next choice after.....

It too soon for The Rock, I have the feeling Randy will be in next year (I really thought it would be this one actually) and I think Backland will be in soon also.

But Bruno has to be in...

All of them deserve to be in and should be. But Lou Thez should have been inducted after Andre The Giant. I love looking at the history of wrestling and Lou Thez was the man.
I think the question is who not affiliated with WWE should get in. I say Abdullah the Butcher and The Great Muta are two that come to mind.

All of these men should be there but only The Rock or Backlund likely will be. But why not Owen Hart, in the same year as Stu?

I voted for the Rock, simply because I believe he has the most chance of getting in.

Champ for 8 years in a row,THE ONE & ONLY LIVING LEGEND,Bruno Sammartino.Can't be a H.O.F. without Bruno. I know you agree Kevin !!

Lou Thesz. I mean the slammy award is someone doing a Thesz press. Well deserving.

Is there a list somewhere of who is in the HoF??

RESPONSE FROM KE: http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/

I wish they would just keep it the WWWF/WWF/WWE Hall of Fame. It seems to be becoming more of a wrestling hall of fame. I don't like it when there's that feeling that more need to be added all the time (just like the NFL having a set number each year). It waters the whole thing down. The Hall of Fame should be a true Hall of Fame.

Easily Bob Backlund. Every heel charectar pitted against him made the All American tag shine in Backlund. He was the wholesome hard working American vs many foreign Competitors or men who outsized him. The formula worked for many years before the Hogan era. My first live match at the Arena was Backlund vs Big John Stud. That was bigger then life to a 10 year old kid. I'll always remember that night with my Dad who left me in 2000

Hey Rob, got to agree about the Ravishing One. If all the "fat ugly" women from ringside he kissed during the eighties had gotten off their butts and voted, he would have been inducted long ago.

Come on, Koko B. Ware is in. Exactly where is the bar set?

They ALL should already be in..thought Bruno was already in.How can the two longest running champs,Bruno and Backlund,not be in?Wish WWE would just get over themselves and do the right thing.

The problem with voting for Sammartino, as many have said, is that he has cut ties with WWE and wants nothing to do with them. Vince would put him in in a New York minute if he thought Bruno would allow it.

I didn't know that Backlund would not want to be inducted. Everything I just read said he left WWE on good terms. I would vote for him, although all five wrestlers are worthy of induction.

Of course eventually all should be there but Bruno would have to be #1. He was wrestling in the 1970s. Plus you have to respect how the man has never sold out for VKM. He could have made a fortune in the late 80s and 90s off his name in WWF but would not cave in to what he hated so much about modern wrestling.

They are all eminently qualified but my vote would go to Bruno out of the group. Since it is a WWE (WW(W)F) Hall of Fame I think Bruno, Hogan and Austin would probably be the top three MVPs for that company over the years. If there had been no Bruno it is questionable if there would have been Hulkamania or Austin 3:16

I voted for Bruno Sammartino, but I don't see him going in anytime soon. The feud and bad feelings between him and WWE dictator Vince McMahon Jr have run too long and too deep for any reconciliation.

Of all of these, Bruno, but good luck with that. I think the angle Vince and Bret are doing now would be real life and over in 5 minutes if Bruno ever came back.

All of these men are no-brainers, but I cry a little each time I think about all of the years we have lost out on of watching the Macho Man perform in a WWE ring. He is one of the most underrated performers, no doubt.

I can't help but think of the Macho Man with each graduation I attend.

It must be a bunch of Hulkster Generation WWE fans voting for Savage and the Rock. BRUNOOOO ALL THE WAY .. WOOOOOO

The question was" If you had just one vote for the WWE Hall of Fame, who would you vote for?". Not who wants it or who doesn't. Not who do think will get in because they will $#@* Vince. One vote? Most deserving? Bruno. Hands down.

What amazes me is that all of those guys aren't already inducted. How in the world can you already have Baron Scicluna, Peter Maivia, Mad Dog Vachon, Johnny Rodz, Ivan Putski, Koko B. Ware in the HOF ahead of Bruno Sammartino and Lou Thesz? How many of those guys held a world championship as long as Sammartino and Thesz? Half as long? A fourth as long? None, none and none.
I saw Thesz wrestle when he was long past his prime, and he could still tie guys up in knots. In a different era, he could have been a dominant MMA fighter.
There must be political reasons for Sammartino not to be in HOF, considering how long he was the WWWF darling.

OOOOHHHHHH YEEAAAHH!!!!!!!
Snap Into It!!!!!!!!

Anyone who chooses someone other than Thesz knows nothing about wrestling. He will forever be the person who every wrestler's legacy is judged against.

Randy Savage. Savage carried the WWE in the 80s and early 90s. Sure Hogan and Andre were huge forces during the 80s, but it was the Macho Man that fans came to see for his wrestling tactics, promos, manager, trademark high elbow, and overall work ethic in the ring. Savage took the WWE to a new level during 80s and early 90s.

Look Kev no question the Rock will get in, but in order of how this should happen it is a no brainer, all of these guys are in, maybe some wait longer than others due to the egomaniac VKM, but without a doubt they all easily qualify. Now if there was correctness in this some of these guys would already be in, but since we need to start from scratch now the correct order should be Bruno,Lou,Rock (like a first time ballot in baseball),Savage & Backlund. There is NO thought required to include them all(can anybody say Koko B Ware) the only hold up is that it isn't truly the WWE Hall of Fame it is the Vince McMahon (I made you and I can bury you) Hall of Fame, geez and people b---- about Pete
Rose, hell Vince doesn't care about felonies,he cares about how his oversized ego was massaged. For this list to even be put out as a question should tell any wrestling fan over 10 (mindset) or at least 30+ years of age (years alive or watching wrestling,who can read) that there is only one criteria for entering the WWE Hall of Fame ---- that you haven't p----- of VKM, or you have made up. Superstar had it right his ring means nothing to him at least until this is a true Hall of Fame and not a one vote,one man operation. And people thought the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland was a joke, VKM takes this to an entirely new height of hypocrisy and the fans should treat it as such.

Ravishing Rick Rude. But of course Vince will never do it.

I vote for Sammartino because he held the title longer than anyone, sold out the Garden, the Civic Center and all the other venues in the northeast. He carried the WWWF on his back longer and more successfully than any wrestler in his era.

Bob Backlund held the title for nearly six years until his manager, Arnold Skoaland, threw in the towel in his title bout against the Iron Sheik. A month later Hulk beats the Sheik and Hulkamania is off and running. With this turn of events, Backlund had much to do with the mainstream popularity of the WWF in the eighties. He was a great champion representative of 'old school' wrestling and should be inducted without question.

Sammartino... but all of them deserve it... I have wondered about The Fabulous Kangaroo's and along with them Don Kent.

HOW, can Bruno Sammartino NOT be a HOFer already? This guy was a great technical wrestler and was champion for like 18 years straight and wrestled with a broken neck. The WWE should be ashamed about this but Wendy Richter gets in before Bruno?

I voted for Bob Backlund. Sure Sammartino should be in there, but he doesn't want to be. Savage should be in there, but Vince will never allow it. The Rock will be in there someday for sure. I don't know much about Lou Thesz, so that leaves Backlund.

has to be bruno then battling bobby backlund,,,,,,,hands down

Kev as a longtime wrestling journalist you must have some idea on why Vince wants nothing to do with Savage. I mean the guy patched things up with Hogan after the Steroids trial which could have sent him to jail and is even doing a program with Bret the guy who knocked him out and made him a heel on his own show. So I ask why does he hate Savage so much????

RESPONSE FROM KE: I won't get into it here, but Google Randy Savage and Stephanie McMahon. Keep in mind this is a rumor that has been out there, but it has never been substantiated.

all but the one and only true champion of all time is bruno

backland,sammartino,thez and giant baba should be in next year all 4 travel all over in baba case in japan and us.and one person who need to get his dues is gory guerrero.stu hart is no doubt a legend who raised and held help trained more then others.lets not forget what guerrero did for meexican wrestlers.not just his sons.