HOF is History

This years HOF is now in the books, and I do have to say it was very touching. I am always a sucker for these types of things, it always tickles me to death when very deserving people get their due, but this years HOF was special for me because of the induction of Eddie Guerrero. Those of you who have read this blog from the beginning know that Eddie Guerrero is the reason for this blog and my wrestling training. But I will get to him in a minute.

I probably should go the gamut and tell you about Tony Atlas, Sensational Sherry, The Fridge, Verne Gagne, The Blackjacks and Mean Gene Okerlund, but I think that will make the post way to long to read. So I will limit myself to Bret Hart and Eddie Guerrero. Bret went on last, and I was very glad to see him back on WWE programming. He made a reference or two to the infamous Montreal screw job incident at the 1997 Survivor Series, but he went on to thank Vince McMahon for "giving me the canvas for which ply my trade". He looked pretty good, but if you watched closely you could definitely see the signs of the stroke he suffered a couple of years ago. He told a hilarious story about his brother Owen, how he would always play pranks like the time he called Bret in his hotel room, pretending to be a local pizza parlor and that someone was sending him a free pizza. So Bret was telling him what he wanted on the pizza, and Owen was adding toppings, much to Brets schegrin. Then he said Owen told him he was going to charge him for the extra toppings, it was too funny. One of the last things Bret did was say that back in 1997, when the WWE screwed him over, he made himself a promise that if he was ever to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame, that he would be there. I definitely got the impression that the sad chapter between WWE and Bret was finally closed. Bret was due to fly out of Chicago right after the HOF ceremony, and as far as I know he got on the plane to go home to Italy where he lives with his wife, putting to rest the hope of the fans who wanted to see him appear at Wrestlemania. Bret said he would accept the induction to the HOF, but under no circumstances would he allow himself to be involved with WWE in any creative capacity, and Bret is a very honorable person who I don't see going back on his word. As much as I would love to see him be involved. So, if he is to be involved, it is a very well kept secret, and we will just have to wait to see.

Eddie Guerrero. Eddies family was there, his mother, brothers Mando, Hector and Chavo Classic, and Eddies wife and two of his daughters Shaul and Sherylin accepted on Eddies behalf. All three wrestlers who inducted him, Chavo, Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio, kept their comments short, but they were touching nonetheless. Chavo opened it up by stating that Eddie taught him most about the wrestling business, and he shared a story about being backstage at a wrestling show bothered about something or other, and ashamed that he was crying. He said that Eddie came to him, asked what was wrong, and not only said it would be ok, but that it was alright for a man to cry. He also shared that at last years HOF he was there in the audience with Eddie, and that Eddie was laughing and smiling and that he got so much joy out of just being around Eddies infectious smile and laughter. He said that if anyone told him that one short year later he would be up on that stage posthumously inducting him, that he would never have believed him, and that goes without saying. Chavo kept it together pretty well, but almost lost it when he closed with the above mentioned story about Eddie letting him know it was ok to cry. He also made the very true statement that Eddie will forever live here on earth in the hearts of all those who loved him. Chris Benoit was up next, and in lieu of being teary eyed, he put forth a a series of anecdotes about Eddie in a tough demeanor that was easily seen through as someone just about to lose it. He told a story about how him, Eddie and Dean Melenko were traveling buddies on the road, and they referred to themselves as each others wives because they "traveled together, tried to make sure each one was comfortable, bitched to each other and spent each others money." He wrapped up his statement by saying that every time Eddie stepped through the ropes that he was the general, the motor, the machine and the man, and that every time he personally wrestled Eddie, that Eddie proved it to him each and every time. Rey wrapped it up before introducing Eddies wife and daughters, but he said that Eddie was a great mentor to him, and that he taught him so much. Vickie was short in her acceptance speech, and I sense she wanted to say more but was having a hard time keeping it together. She started out by thanking Jesus Christ, and then she thanked the fans and said that no matter where Eddie was, back stage, in front of a crowd or out in public away from wrestling he wanted to always say thank you to his fans, because they meant so much to him. She thanked the fans from the bottom of her heart for being so supportive of her during her most tragic of times. And she said this through a cracking voice and eyesful of tears. I was touched!

VIVA LA RAZA! Eddie, you are where you belong, both in the HOF, and up in the greatest wrestling promotion of them all in the sky.