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WRESTLING COLUMNS

The Hall of Fame
March 24, 2006 by Mike K.


Hey everyone, I hope that you all enjoy the new entry to the Hall of Fame such as Bret Hart. I think it's well deserved and long overdue.

Speaking of long overdue, this brings me to the reason I'm writing this article - Curt Henning, better known as Mr. Perfect. I grew up with this guy on T.V. long before I turned into an Undertaker fan and Bret Hart fan and why I have not heard anything about Curt being put into the hall of fame bothers me.

Now, I my self am looking forward to training to wrestle locally. My reasons being I'm trying to open my own business and something like this would let me pay my loan off but keep regular income for a regular job for house needs. (My girlfriend lives with me so she was having a cow about me dumping regular job earnings into the business and not having anything for home). Anyway, this isn't so much babble here as I have a point to all of this. Going into training, I have the attitude: it's a show. I'm not going out there to kick someone's ass, be an Ultimate Warrior, and make a show look like trash. I believe in taking care of my co-worker, and that's what the guy in the ring with you is. Curt Henning was probably one of the safest guys I had ever watched in the wrestling ring, and at the same time he made who was wrestling him look good. The guy was stunning! It's as if he didn't even have to try to put on a good show. All these years have gone by from when I was a kid watching him, and I sill remember him perfect plexing the other wrestler and have this expression that screamed out: "What now punk""

Curt Henning also seemed to be one of the greats that got pushed around and jobbed by the WWE. I don't remember him having a title run, does anyone" It's been a long time but I don't recall that every happening.

This guy made people go nuts. Even if the crowd didn't like him, they loved to show their hate. It was great. This guy knew how to work people, both in the ring and outside of it. I was a little shocked to learn that he passed away due to being on drugs or at least trying them.

Dying in a hotel room. Eddie Guerrero had that same fatal mistake. Yes, Eddie deserves to be in that Hall of Fame, and I'm sure with a lot of other guys who I might not even know about who didn't make the best choices but would have been amazing superstars. The WWE also doesn't make the best choices, and if anyone should be pushed to be placed in that hall of fame, we should all push for Curt Henning. In a way this article will possibly only appeal to people who watched him, but if you watched him, I don't think there's any trouble in establishing the fact that he was one of the best. In the ring, on the job, I could tell he loved it and he really was perfect.

by Mike K...


Andrew wrote:
Yes infact Curt Henning won championships in wCw and in the WWF he won the intercontinental championship.
Andy P. wrote:
I agree Curt Henning was a fantastic wrestler and definitely deserves to be in the hall of fame. He did have an IC title run but lost it to Bret Hart at Summerslam 91 in a great match.
Andy Harris wrote:
i agree that curt should be in the hall..... but you coudnt remember title reigns . he was an intercontinental champ, us champ(wcw) ,an AWA tag team champ ,and i believe an awa world champ.now i know that the other federation titile dont mean anything , but they let vern gagne in the hall and he was all AWA , then you should reconize curts other titles
Vallery Ward wrote:
you are absolutely right friend. mr. hennig should DEFINITELY be in the hall of fame. he had quite possibly the most tremendous athletic ability of any wrestler ever. the man could do it all. he could wrestle, he could fight, and he could talk. i completely agree with you. having mr. perfect in the hall of fame is a MUST.

p.s.- he held the intercontinental title in the wwf and the united states title in wcw.
Jeff Long wrote:
I agree that "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig should be in the Hall of Fame. I don't want to take anything with this years class or with any of the past recipiants. They all deserve it. That's why I am writing this. I believe that the WWE should catch up and make mends with some Superstars that deserve in there also.

#1. Bruno Sammartino- The guy held the title for over seven years. Do the right thing Vince.
#2. Bob Backlund- Well deserved,
#3. Randy "Macho Man" Savage- I'm not just pushing him cause I'm a Savage fan, but he deserves it just as much as anyone else. (Side note- How does the Ultimate Warrior rank in getting a action figure when he is always bad mouthing the WWE") Where is the Macho Man's"
#4. Owen Hart- Gave it all..

That's all I'm gonna say on who needs to go in. I'm sure that every deceased wrestler needs put in..Owen, Pillman, Bulldog, Rude, Elizabeth, Von Erich....the list goes on. So I hope that the Class of 2007 includes the above mentioned. Complete the puzzle and put them there.
Bobby 314 wrote:
Ever since the WWE re-established the Hall of Fame at WrestleMania XX, I've read countless articles declaring it a crime that the authors favorite wrestler isn't in the Hall of Fame, and I am growing weary of it. NOT EVERY WRESTLER CAN BE INDUCTED AT ONE TIME. You have to save something for the next year(s). If you take a close look at the men that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame over the last 3 years, you will notice a trend...they are inducting men from a certain era. 2004 was a tribute to the men of the late 1970's and early '80's. Last years event celebrated the careers of the men whom made up the first WrestleMania...this year is somewhat of a hodgepodge, for two reasons. Firstly, they got Bret to agree to appear not only in a WWE DVD release, but agree to be inducted in the HoF...they certainly aren't going to ask Bret to wait till its his era's turn for selection to be inducted. Secondly, Eddie's death is the obvious inspiration for his inclusion into the shrine, but he also deserves the honor as one of the most successful Hispanic performers not only in the States, but in the world. The rest of the honorees are from a specific era. Verne Gagne, The Blackjacks, Tony Atlas, Gene Okerland, and Sherri Martel all saw their primes in the late '70's and into the '80s...do you see what I'm saying" Wait a few more years and I'm positive that Curt Henning will enter the Hall of Fame...his credentials are top notch. He held the AWA World Title for a spell, is rightly remembered as one of the greatest WWF Intercontinental Champions of all time and was considered by many at one time to be the best heel in wrestling. Being good doesn't get you into the HoF, being great doesn't get you into the HoF...Being memorable, original, revolutionary, and able to convince hard working fans to part with their money is what will get you into the Hall of Fame. Curt Henning fits most of those credentials, but there are many, many more who deserve induction before he does.
Rolf Ottens wrote:
I have to agree with you that Curt Hennig should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But I find it even more strange that another great wrestler isn't inducted. I find it very strange that seeing that Wrestlemania 22 is in the city of Chigaco that Hawk isn't inducted into the hall of fame. Okay, he might not have been a singles wrestler and yes Animal is still wrestling today. But I don't find this an excuse. I mean that can abduct L.O.D. into the hall of fame as L.O.D. when Animal also retires. But till then I think Hawk deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. And why can't a tagteam be inducted when one half is wrestling a singles carreer"
Steve H. wrote:
Yeah, Hennig was a quality wrestler - no question. However, he had a lengthy title run as IC Champion from November 1990 - August 1991. In todays age of shorter title runs for tag team and IC Champions, this was an impressive run! Along the way he defeated many stars, such as the Boss Man at Wrestlemania 7. He passed the torch in style to the Hitman at Summerslam in 1991 in a show-stealing match. He had some time away from the ring actively, but He then headlined as Randy Savage's tag team partner against his former friend Ric Flair and Razor Ramon. Not sure what you mean by saying he was never pushed or had a title run. Great talent though, surely a future hall-of-famer...
Chris Pinheiro wrote:
Actually, Mr. Perfect held the Intercontinental Title, winning a tournament after Ultimate Warrior won the WWF Title at WrestleMania VI, I believe his IC Title reign began near April 29 or so. He later lost the title to The Texas Tornado (Kerry Von Erich) and feuded with him for quite some time before turning his attention to whoever was the WWF Champion at the time.
Jesper B. wrote:
I do agree with you Mike, Hennig does reallly deserve a spot in the Hof. However he wasn't the jobber you remembered him as. Hennig was IC-champ for 9 months, and got several world title shots in 1990. Perfect was actually meant to win the Royal Rumble in 1990 and become champion but the egomaniac with no wrestling skills aka Hulk Hogan said no and took the title instead. I do believe Hennig was meant to win it later on but the cronic backinjury in 91 put his career on hold. He was also won the US-championship in 97 back in wCw.
Joshua Steen wrote:
I just wanted to agree with your article, I have seen "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig wrestle on many occasions and I only have to pin point one part of your article, Curt was a champion in the WWF and did have actually 2 title runs with the Intercontinental Title, first he beat Tito Santana in a Battle Royal for the vacant title I believe ( Not to sure what year or date that was I think sometime in 1990) and then got it again by beating Kerry Von Eric at the 1990 Summerslam, which I think he ended up loosing to Hart, I think im not to sure, but I know for sure he was champ on two different occasions. Other then that great article, I liked it very much!
Shaun B. wrote:
Great Collumn, I agree with you totally, Mr. Perfect was exactly what it says "Perfect" you could tell that this guy trained every time he had a chance, he wasn't one of these guys that performs a move and go yep thats ok, lets move on. This guy would pratice it until it was perfect. Now what I'm going to say may get some peoples backs up but, no disrespect to Eddie, great athlete and great guy out of the ring, well thats what it's portrayed and I wuld say, sounds right, but isn't it a bit quick to put Eddie in the HOF, yeah he died recently and you don't want him to be forgotten, but putting him in the HOF at this stage, I think it's just to early, there are other people who should be inducted I.E Curt and others.
Chris Maass wrote:
i agree about mr perfect he does deserve to be in there and i can think of loads more like Dusty Roads, Million Doller Man and more plus as they have a celebraty wing on the hall of fame maybe they should have a wing for animals as Frankie and Matilda stick in alot of peoples minds. Plus i dont know how Sherri has made it into the hall of fame before Wendi Richter, Mae Young and Moolah
Ussoccer wrote:
I agree, I wrote an article last year regarding the Hall of Fame that was highlighted by the fact that Curt Henning & Bret Hart should defiantly be in the Hall. However, what separates Eddie Guerrere from Curt (aside from Eddie was on the active roster at the time of his death) is that Eddie died from his past "Demons", and Curt died while still struggling with his. This fact could keep Curt out; Vince may feel that "his" Hall could be tarnished with Curt in it. I disagree, Curt Henning was my favorite 80's & 90's wrestler, even while in the WCW, and he should be in the Hall.

I was surprised this past year to see that Bret Hart buried the hatchet and went along with WWE to produce a Bret Hart DVD, guess he didn't want his legacy torn apart like the Warrior. Any ways, he is a great addition and deserves to be there as well.
Shaun B. wrote:
Great Collumn, I agree with you totally, Mr. Perfect was exactly what it says "Perfect" you could tell that this guy trained every time he had a chance, he wasn't one of these guys that performs a move and go yep thats ok, lets move on. This guy would pratice it until it was perfect. Now what I'm going to say may get some peoples backs up but, no disrespect to Eddie, great athlete and great guy out of the ring, well thats what it's portrayed and I wuld say, sounds right, but isn't it a bit quick to put Eddie in the HOF, yeah he died recently and you don't want him to be forgotten, but putting him in the HOF at this stage, I think it's just to early, there are other people who should be inducted I.E Curt and others. The memory of Curt that will always live in my head is when Bret Hart dislocated his finger, and popped it back in, the face Curt pulled.
Drew wrote:
I completely agree that Curt Henning deserves to be in the hall of fame, But take a look at the other snubs that WWE continues to dish out. For Exmaple, The Ravishing One Rick Rude. Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, Ric Flair. Although not retired can we really argue that Flair doesn't deserve to be there. Jerry Lawler and so many others. The subject of the WWE HOF is an inflamatory one simply because of the induction of Eddie this year. Now I will agree he deserves to be there but not now when so many other people are derserving the spot first. One last point I would like to make though is, Had the Montreal screwjob not happen. would Owen have been inducted after he died"
wrote:

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