Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame still has glaring omission
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is perhaps the most-respected of pro wrestling’s various halls of fame, but even it has one inexplicable omission.
This year’s Observer Hall of Fame issue came out this week, and the late Capt. Lou Albano once again came up short in the voting. On the bright side, the legendary former WWWF/WWF manager is getting closer to taking his rightful place among the industry’s all-time greats.
Albano received 95 votes (52 percent), 14 votes shy of getting the 60 percent required for induction. That’s way up from the 19 percent that he got last year.
As often seems to be the case with recently deceased candidates for the Observer Hall of Fame, Albano – who died last October at 76 – somehow became more deserving in the minds of the voters (active and former wrestlers, reporters and historians) now that he is no longer with us.
Getting into the Observer Hall of Fame primarily for managing isn’t easy – only Bobby Heenan and Jim Cornette have done so. Those two certainly belong, but I think Albano’s induction is every bit as much of a no-brainer, if not more so.
During the territory days of the WWWF/WWF in the ’70s and early ’80s, the charismatic Albano consistently was the top heel in the area, and he transferred his heat to the men in his stable as well as any pro wrestling manager ever has. When one of Albano’s men was wrestling a top babyface such as Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales, Bob Backlund or Chief Jay Strongbow, fans bought tickets in droves primarily because they hated Albano and wanted to see his wrestler get his comeuppance.
In the mid-80s, Albano – through his association with pop star Cyndi Lauper – was instrumental in the WWF becoming a pop culture phenomenon. The Rock and Wrestling Connection story line with Albano, Lauper, Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper laid the ground work for the first WrestleMania.
Observer editor Dave Meltzer wrote in this week’s issue that he also believes Albano should be in the Hall of Fame.
“It was researching his career and life after his death that hit home to me that he belongs in, as opposed to just being one of a lot of guys on the ballot,” Meltzer wrote.
Anyone who ever saw Albano in his prime has to know that he truly was one of a kind. Or, to use Albano’s words, he was “often imitated, never duplicated.” Hopefully, the Hall of Fame voters will do right by The Captain next year.
Note: The 2010 Observer Hall of Fame class consists of Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio and historical figure Wladek Zbyszko.
Comments
Cyndi Lauper should also be inducted in to the hall of fame as well as Wendi Richter.
Posted by: Alex | September 30, 2010 11:31 PM
This is Professional Wrestling for cryin' out loud! All of the sudden we're gonna be a stickler for the rules? The friggin' rules? C'mon, all rules are subject to....hell, there are no rules - Albano should be in, no questions asked.
Posted by: Randy | October 1, 2010 12:53 AM
Chris Jericho is in the hall of fame. AWESOME!!!
I hope Capt. Lou Albano gets inducted next year.
Since Jericho is being inducted,so I am going to party real hard. Jerichoholic for life.
Posted by: Kunal | October 1, 2010 1:48 AM
Captain Lou was one of a kind. I remember watching him on late night WWWF telecast booing him and laughing at his "strut" or whatever you want to call it. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame even before Cornette. What most fans don't remember is that he was great wrestler before he managed. He was one of the top three managers I've seen ...Heenan, Gary Hart and Capt Lou ...head of the class
Posted by: wallygator | October 1, 2010 4:08 AM
I always felt Albano was greatly OVER-RATED in his role w/the WWF. Everyone always points to the Lauper video as being a big-deal.....truth be told, the WWF was in such a big upturn in business, gate and pop culture during this period....most anyone could have been in that video and the results would have been the same....the same idea as a system QB.....the system here, being Vince Mc, the WWF, NBC and WM being a relative new & novel idea-most any manager would have worked.
I sense the author of this blog will 'kill' me for this entry.....that is cool, just my opinion on the matter, which usually agrees with yours Kev-simply sounds like Capt. Lou was a favorite of yours and personally, I never cared for his wrestling personna....even after reading so much about him after he passed. I wish that Vince would now educate his ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS on how valuable managers are and can be great mouth pieces for wrestlers who have no mic skills.....
-Peace out,
-Wagdaddy
RESPONSE FROM KE: There would have been no WWE personality in the Lauper video without Albano because it was his personal relationship with Lauper that brought her and WWE together.
Posted by: wagdaddy | October 1, 2010 8:55 AM
I'm curious how his vote totals will look next year. I pay closer attention to the Baseball HoF than the Observer one, but in baseball guys who come close and fall short almost always make it the next year. So if it were baseball, I'd feel optimistic about Capt. Lou (as I am for Bert Blyleven). That said, maybe he just got a bump from his passing. Here's hoping otherwise.
Posted by: Terry M. | October 1, 2010 9:37 AM
Hey Kev, do you know if Chris Benoit is still in the Observer Hall of Fame or was he revoked?
RESPONSE FROM KE: I believe he is still in.
Posted by: Jason | October 1, 2010 9:45 AM
Gee, you'd think that "researching his career and life" would be a prerequisite for casting a Hall of Fame ballot, rather than something you do while writing an obit.
Actually, you'd think that someone in Meltzer's position wouldn't have to do research -- shouldn't he already know all about Albano's career and impact on wrestling?
Posted by: jvwalt | October 1, 2010 11:18 AM
I'm actually surprised he's not there already. Here in Australia pro wrestling had almost zero mainstream impact until about 1984-85 and it was entirely due to rock'n'roll wrestling which Capt Lou was a big part of, those Lauper music videos he did are iconic.
Posted by: P.rat | October 1, 2010 2:01 PM
Kev, you are 110% correct in giving Lou Albano his dues.....he was one of the ultimate heal managers....I do not remember him as a wrestler, but I sure do remember him as the Manager of a number of heal wrestlers....he was fantastic.......back in the days when wrestling was more worth watching
Posted by: Bill K | October 1, 2010 2:08 PM
The Captain had no equal; anyone disagreeing with that has no brains-period!
Posted by: The Spectre | October 1, 2010 2:49 PM
what nobody seems to remember is that he managed 15...let me repeat that 15 teams to the WWWF/WWE tag team championship. and he also managed Ivan Koloff to a win over the great Bruno Summartino! Can ANY manager past or present match those results??? and don't forget he kept his wrestlers in championship matches for years! The Cyndi Lauper / Wendi Richter era was a postscript to this man's career!
Posted by: wallygator | October 2, 2010 1:03 AM