WWE’s glittering Hall of Fame welcomed its latest inductees this year, marked by an evening filled with passion, emotion, and a generous dollop of nostalgia. The 2024 celebration, kicking off the WrestleMania weekend, has been nothing short of remarkable as Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, Thunderbolt Patterson, The U.S. Express, Lia Maivia, and Muhammad Ali took their rightful spots among wrestling greats.
Paul Heyman, a driving force behind the success of many WWE stars, expressed his emotions at the event. He thanked the crowd amidst roars of “you deserve it”, reveling in the celebration of his years-long career with one of the most unforgettable expletive punches of WWE history.
Heyman also shared a heartfelt moment with the current feud Cody Rhodes saying, “I so wish your father was here tonight,” moving both to tears. He finished his segment by donning his old-time ECW attire, offering a throwback to his time running the promotion.
Bull Nakano, the Japanese wrestling star, arrived in her signature blue face paint, acknowledging the moment she had long dreamt of. “I have waited a long time,” she shared, adding another emotional layer to the event.
Muhammad Ali, the boxing legend, was immortalized into WWE lore as he was inducted by none other than The Undertaker. While Ali’s wife Lonnie was present to accept the award, she also gifted The Rock with a championship belt, commemorating the “The People’s Champ” nickname Ali gave The Rock.
In a moving tribute, the Rotunda family honored their late brother Bray Wyatt. The WWE Universe responded with the stadium lighting up with “fireflies”, symbolic of Wyatt’s character.
Lia Maivia, grandmother of The Rock, was posthumously honored into the Hall of Fame, prompting The Rock to end his speech with, “I love you grandma, thank you so much.”
This gala event has engraved these legends permanently into WWE’s history, offering an ideal start to the exhilarating WrestleMania weekend.
Vocabulary List:
- glittering (adjective): Shining brightly with flashing points of light.
- inductees (noun): People who are formally accepted as members or entrants.
- nostalgia (noun): A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.
- immortalized (verb): To make someone or something famous forever.
- posthumously (adverb): Occurringawardedor appearing after the death of the originator.
- exhilarating (adjective): Making someone feel very happyanimatedor elated.
