Originally published at WWE 2024 Hall of Fame Notes: Big E Appears with New Day, The Rock Taunts Cody
April 5, 2024
Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
Host: Jackie Redmond & Corey Graves
Kickoff Show Fun Note:
- Keith Lee accidentally walked into the background of a live interview with CM Punk
Keith Lee just walked into the shot at #WWEHOF. pic.twitter.com/xztH16RlQY
— FirstNameJ0hn (@FirstNameJ0hn) April 6, 2024
The Tribal Chief @WWERomanReigns has arrived to induct "The Wiseman" @HeymanHustle into the 2024 #WWEHOF! ☝️😤 pic.twitter.com/wX2iQwpArM
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
First Inductee: Paul Heyman
Inducted By: Roman Reigns
The revolutionary manager, advocate and Wiseman has been called every name in the book but will now forever be known as a WWE Hall of Famer as part of the Class of 2024.
Congratulations, @HeymanHustle! #WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/NTHGp00juP
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Roman Reigns came out and said that it’s ridiculous that he’s out there to cut a promo about the greatest to ever cut a promo, a man who’s about to come out and talk exclusively about himself for the first time ever. He said that “The Tribal Chief’ doesn’t happen without the wise man.
"The Tribal Chief doesn't happen if I'm not with The Wiseman." @WWERomanReigns gives @HeymanHustle the credit he deserves as he inducts him into the 2024 #WWEHOF. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/oK6vnWipDE
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Heyman came out to the old WWECW theme and hugged Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, and Bubba Ray Dudley on his way to the ring.
E-C-DUB! 👏 E-C-DUB! 👏 E-C-DUB! 👏 @HeymanHustle makes an emotional entrance in front of a passionate Philadelphia crowd at the 2024 #WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/6FWDHeb57V
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Heyman received a “You deserve it” chant to which he started his speech with “You’re damn f*cking right I deserve it”. Heyman said that he was the beneficiary of mass praise for doing exactly what he wanted to do with his life. He referenced loving “professional wrestling” and said that only one person could drive the car out of chaos like Paul Levesque, whom he credited with leading more wrestlers to the main event than ever before.
"FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE I WILL BE A PAUL LEVESQUE GUY."@HeymanHustle gives @TripleH a shout-out during his #WWEHOF speech. pic.twitter.com/jYPIRnMtQZ
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Heyman went on to say that he wished that his mother and father were there to see this. He then pivoted to Cody and said he wished that Dusty was there to see this as well to which Cody mouthed “Thank you, Paul”. Heyman then opened a box revealing a duster jacket, headset, old-school cell phone, and an ECW hat.
We remember this guy… 👏👏👏@HeymanHustle #WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/C2Zc9Y6tpX
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
He then went full Paul E Dangerously and talked about how the wrestling industry sucked in 1993. He went on to say “If you think the spirit of ECW died in a bankruptcy court in 2001, you can s*ck my d*ck!”. Heyman finished his speech saying “This is not a lifetime achievement award… YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET!”
"This is not a lifetime achievement award… YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!" 👏👏👏@HeymanHustle closes his #WWEHOF speech with a SPOILER: He's JUST GETTING STARTED! pic.twitter.com/D3YnENSAtW
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Second Inductee: Bull Nakano
Inducted By: Alundra Blayze
With a career that spanned decades both domestically and abroad, the incredibly influential and decorated Bull Nakano is enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2024.#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/tnXcNXW4bz
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Bull Nakano said it had been a long time but finally, she was back. She said that even though she couldn’t speak English fully, pro wrestling was a universal language and when she was in the ring she felt alive. Nakano also thanked Luna Vachon for being there for her. Nakano then got emotional thanking the WWE Universe saying we will forever be connected through wrestling.
With an unmatched flair and undeniable charisma, Muhammad Ali becomes a legend in the worlds of professional boxing and pro wrestling, and "The Greatest" is enshrined into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/XCEj3407vF
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Third Inductee: Muhammad Ali (via Lonnie Ali)
Inducted By: The Undertaker
The Undertaker came out to help induct Muhammad Ali and introduced Lonnie Ali to officially induct Muhammad into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Here to induct Muhammad Ali into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024, @undertaker 👏👏👏#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/osxbtrTGLN
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Muhammad Ali's wife, Lonnie, tells a story about @TheRock asking her husband for permission to use the monicker "The People's Champ" then awards him The People's Championship. 🙏#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/7NtQWwAayW
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Lonnie noted that Muhammad was known as the “People’s Champ” and in 1998, The Rock requested to use the monicker to which Muhammad agreed. Lonnie announced that she was pleased to announce a special title belt for The Rock called “The People’s Championship”. The Rock came out and accepted some boos but then graciously accepted.
The rockin’ two-time World Tag Team Champions Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham changed tag team wrestling forever and will now take their rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/H6pjnebe22
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Third Inductee: Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham, The U.S. Express
Inducted By: Taylor & Mika Rotunda
Before Taylor and Mika even began, they acknowledged Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt should also be standing with them tonight.
Beautiful moment as the siblings of Bray Wyatt take a moment to remember him tonight before inducting their father and uncle into the WWE Hall of Fame. 🕊️🙏#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/b3BN0HsAQE
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Mike & Barry talked about their storied history going back to WrestleMania I. At the end, Mike Rotunda, asked everyone to join him in honoring Windham aka Bray Wyatt.
"I wish that our son Windham could have been here, he would have liked to see his old man go in the Hall of Fame."
Bray Wyatt's father, Mike Rotunda, leads a touching tribute to his son with the help of Barry Windham and the WWE Universe. #WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/h2aqUwV5WN
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Fourth Inductee: Thunderbolt Patterson
Inducted By: The New Day & Scott Spears
The New Day including Big E came out to introduce Thunderbolt Patterson who was accompanied by Scott Spears. Patterson came out in a wheelchair but rose out of it to hug Gerald Briscoe and JBL.
With infectious energy and charisma, Thunderbolt Patterson strikes his way like lightning into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/EwWTnZLPne
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Spears noted that Thunderbolt hadn’t been in a wrestling ring or in front of a wrestling audience in 31 years. Thunderbolt said “It’s time to stop killing and it’s time to be treated as you want to be treated”.
One of the matriarchs of the legendary Anoa’i family and a glass ceiling-shattering promoter, Lia Maivia becomes immortalized as a WWE Hall of Famer as part of the Class of 2024.#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/HPN8vV5USQ
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Fifth Inductee: Lia Maivia
Inducted By: The Rock
Inducing his grandmother was “The Final Boss” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
THE FINAL BOSS has arrived to induct his grandmother, Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame! ⚡️#WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/WcFtIiRKz0
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
At this point, The Rock mentioned Vince McMahon by name which elicited boos. At this point, The Rock identified Dusty Rhodes as one of his heroes, Dusty Rhodes. He turned around to face Cody who also stood up to face him. Rock said it’s not business, it’s personal and he would see him tomorrow night, eliciting a “Cody” chant from the crowd.