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The pre-game show was worth watching. It was nice seeing the wrestlers as people instead of characters. I have no problem with kayfabe being broken during this event because it is far more than a wrestling show. It's an event, a happening. And it is about real people.
I enjoyed the pre-show. Now it's on to the Hall Of Fame. It should fun.
The opening montage was great. It painted everyone involved in a great light. ... Jerry Lawler came out and welcomed us. He then did impressions of many of the top names here tonight. Being inducted first: Rikishi.
They aired a montage of Rikishi stinkfacing people, before going into the Anoa'i family legacy. And man, they certainly are wrestling's first family where numbers are concerned. After the montage, Lawler brought out Jimmy and Jey Uso to induct their Pops. They said that they were from the Bay Area, which got a pop. They panned the crowd and showed the family. They were asked growing up what it was like being Rikishi's sons. They said it was how they saw him since he was on the road so much. They said he went through a LOT of characters before finding the right one. They talked about how it wasn't the hair or the moves that they remembered the first time they saw him. It was the thong and dad's butt (which they showed a picture of). They talked about being 13 years old and being shocked. Then they said that (and pointed to the picture)....put us through college. It bought us presents and food and roof over out heads. They are also glad that didn't have to take the Stinkface. They then mocked Booker T throwing up after taking it. But that is not why we are here. It's for his dad's sacrifices and going from being a poor kid that breakdanced outside the Cow Palace for change, to a 2015 WWE Hall Of Famer. And with that they brought out their dad. It was a great induction from two guys who obviously love their dad.
The first thing he said was telling the kids we would have a long talk after this. He looked happy. He asked how everyone was doing. He showed off his ring and told the cameraman, as Iron Sheik would say, zoom in. He then got serious and said that every wrestler's dream is to be inducted and now for him it's a reality. He said he came from a great hard working family, the Samoan Dynasty. He talked about the 50 years of Samaoans, mentioning lots of greats. When he mentioned Umaga, he gestured to heaven. He finished with Roman Reigns and some a holes in the crowd booed. A lot of them. Time and place you dopes, show some class. He went on to honor his father, and cried as he asked him to stand. He thanked his parents for supporting him and he wished his mama was still here to see this. He knows she is looking down and smiling on him. He thanked his brothers, sisters and children for loving him, and he loves them. He then called his wife his backbone and his super woman and said he loved her. He said he would not be standing here however with the support of the best fans in the world. He thanked them many times. They chanted his name. He feels like his life has come full circle as he is now training wrestlers with his brother and Gangrel. They are excited for the next crop of innovative talent to step into the squared circle, and sent a shout out to their guy Rusev. He said it's important to do what you love and he has loved what he has done for 31 years in this business. He loves this business. It is in his soul and being. He remembers everything, from the travel to missing family time to ever Stinkface and finally every fan's face worldwide wherever he performed. What he will remember most of all is this moment. He said he was honored and humbled to be inducted into the 2015 Hall Of Fame, where he was born and he was raised. He then spoke in Samoan. And then, as hoped for, he said let's do this for the people. They put the glasses on Kish and danced away. One of the twins took off his coat and did The Worm. Great way to get the show off and running.
Next up, it was time to go to Larry Land as Larry Zybyszco was next. They ran footage of him being mentored by Bruno, etc., as we saw on Raw. Jerry then brought out Bruno Sammartino to induct Larry. It should noted every time someone seems to say WWF, it gets bleeped.
Bruno came out and make a joke that can you believe he is inducting him after that footage? Then he put over the whole class of 2015 and said he was glad to see the man that inducted him, Arnold. He talked about how Larry came to his house at 16 and said he wanted to be a pro wrestler. Bruno said to stay school and do well and come back later. Larry kept coming back, so finally said let's see what you have. Larry wrestled in high school and it showed. He said Larry could make it if he worked hard. When Larry got out of high school, he said he was ready. Bruno made him get a college degree first, then he would get him in. He did it, so Bruno got him into the business. He had him work some shows around Pittsburgh and then sent him to work a territory in Vancouver. When he came back, he was impressed at how good he was so he went to Vince Sr. and got him. Bruno then went into work mode about how they did their workout, which led to the double cross. Hey, he's an old timer, that is what he does. Anyway, when the fans turned on Larry, they gave him a shot on top. And it worked, he sold out big buildings. He was hot and it led to the Shea Stadium match. He had a 20 plus year career, then did announcing. Larry made his mark and now he is being rewarded for it, and presented Larry Z.
Larry came right to the podium, no stalling! Come on Larry, I had to. He talked about how Bruno was nice about how he drove him crazy. He quoted Sigmund Freud saying that dreams become the reality of your wishes. It's the power of your wishes becomes your life's dream. And from 16 on, it was to become a pro wrestler and be like his hero, Bruno. The crowd started a Larry chant and he enjoyed it, saying tell me how you feel. He talked about driving his parents nuts with his dream. He said he got Bruno's address from his mom, who got it from volunteer work at a school where Bruno's kids went to school. He said he drove by all the time in his piece of junk Ford Falcon. One day, he saw Bruno through his hedges in his backyard by his pool. So he stopped and got out of his car and the giant hand of destiny forced him through the hedges of Bruno's yard to get to see Bruno. He told Bruno his dream, and he started him into the business. Larry talked about the crazy characters he went up and down the road with. He still wonders why Bruno took him under his wing, rather then toss him out. He took him under his wing, and he doesn't know why. He got a little choked and said this is amazing. He got his composure and then said that after all the years of having a reputation of having a big mouth.....He then talked about how Bruno, when he couldn't move that well, still took him under his wing. He said that he lost his train of thought. He thought this speech would be easy. All he can say is that after Bruno took him under his wing, he knew it would happen hell or high water. He then said destiny took hold him and it drove everyone around him. Bruno broke his neck and hung up the tights. But he knew the old school era wasn't complete. He got lost again and said so much for thinking up a speech. The fans tried to help him with a Thank You Larry chant. And he said that's what I'm talking about. He then went back to thank Bruno, saying he wouldn't want to hear this, but from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SIR for letting a young boy's dream come true, when you didn't have to do it. He said there was another guy he drove nuts and he wants to send a special email to heaven for Vince Sr. He said Vince Sr. rented Shea Stadium and old school went out right. He talked about how diving through hedges there was Bruno who let him in the rabbit hole and amazingly, here his is and Bruno is the one who just let him out. This is the perfect ending to a dream he had. Now he gets to go home and be what he was a long time ago, one of the biggest wrestling fans alive. He will be watching and cheering all of the new guys with the same dream he had. He then paid tribute to the fans. He said he wants this logged forever in cyberspace: I have felt the love of standing in the ring with millions of people chanting my name. He went on and finally put over the fans. He just won this year's Mr. T award. I was looking for Kane to come out. Seriously, he meant well and he did get legitimately choked up and lost his train of thought, so I get it.
Alundra Blayze is next.
Click to page two for more thoughts from The Hall Of Fame.
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