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Former ECW World Champion Taz will be inducted into the 2300 Arena's Hardcore Hall of Fame this Saturday at AEW's Collision taping.
The induction announcement was a surprise AEW officials arranged, PWInsider.com is told. Taz was not aware it was coming.
After Dynamite went off the air, the majority of the AEW roster came out wearing the old Team Taz Dojo shirts as Kiss' War Machine played. Taz's wife and Hook then came out. The crowd, not knowing what was coming, chanted "Thank you Taz."
AEW President Tony Khan said he couldn't think of a better way to end their first night than to pay homage to the "greatest legend in the history of this building" Khan said the last time he was here, he was 13 and wearing a Taz shirt. He said Taz was a hero to him and millions around the world.
Taz said it was nice of his wife and son to kayfabe him and he got worked, then joked it wasn't the first time he was worked in this building. He thanked AEW and the fans. He said AEW has an extreme type of fighting spirit like they did in the 1990s except there's a bigger roster with a lot more money. Taz said he talks for a living but he's speechless. He didn't expect this and told the fans that he loves them. He was blessed to have some great memories in this building and to have the family he has. He said the roster busts their ass "every f***ing time." He said the company was going to kick ass every time they are here in the next few weeks.
Khan then announced they would pay tribute to Taz Saturday when his banner is raised at the Collision taping.
Some of Taz's greatest career moments took place in the venue during his ECW run when it was known as the ECW Arena, including bouts against Sabu, The Public Enemy, Shane Douglas, Chris Candido, Dean Malenko, Bam Bam Bigelow and many others.
"The Human Suplex Machine" captured both the ECW World Television Title and the ECW World Tag Team Championship in the Arena. During his time in ECW, he also held the ECW World Championship twice and was FTW Champion.
Taz debuted for ECW in the venue in October 1993 against Sabu, a rivalry that would lead ECW into their very first pay-per-view, Barely Legal, in April 1997.
Tonight's AEW taping was the first time Taz had returned to the venue since April 2000, when he wrestled his final ECW match at Cyberslam back in April 2000, losing the ECW World Championship to Tommy Dreamer. In the years after his ECW tenure, Taz had a long run in WWE as a wrestler and then announcer, announced for TNA, hosted several live radios shows for CBS Radio before joining AEW as an announcer.
Taz will become the 26th inductee into the Arena's Hardcore Hall of Fame with this weekend's ceremony.
ECW alumni who are also in the Hall include Terry Funk, Sabu, The Public Enemy, Tod Gordon, The Sandman, Shane Douglas, The Pitbulls, Chris Candido, Eddie Gilbert, Tommy Dreamer, The Blue Meanie, Jerry Lynn, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, 2 Cold Scorpio, Rob Van Dam, The Dudley Boyz, Road Warrior Hawk, ECW Arena fans and long-time ECW Producer Charlie Bruzesse.
Taz had been among the most important names who worked for ECW who had not yet been inducted into the Hall.
The legendary building rotates the Hall of Fame banners that are hung at every pro wrestling event in the venue.
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