The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes is a professional wrestling hall of fame that honors people who have competed or played other major roles in the NWA. Organized by wrestling promoter Greg Price,[1] the hall is separate from the NWA Hall of Fame and is not officially endorsed by the company, but the NWA has given permission for the use of its name.[2] An induction ceremony takes place at the annual NWA Legends Fanfest Weekend. In 2007, there were seven inductees in the inaugural class. Seven more honorees were added the following year, and another eight were added to the Hall of Heroes in 2009.[3] The 2009 induction ceremony took place on August 7 and was hosted by Jim Cornette.[4]
Honorees are inducted for work in any area of wrestling, including competing in the ring, managing, refereeing, promoting, and announcing. During the ceremony, personalities from the NWA deliver speeches and present the inductees with plaques.[5] These plaques have the logo of the NWA Legends Fanfest and are identical aside from the year of induction and the inductee's name.[3] Many presenters have been involved in the inductee's career; for example, Gary Hart, who managed Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson,[6] inducted both men,[3] and Buddy Roberts was inducted by Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin,[3] both of whom were fellow members of The Fabulous Freebirds.[1] Inductees and other former NWA wrestlers are seated at tables with fans to provide an intimate atmosphere. Although most people honored by the hall attend the dinner and induction ceremony, some are inducted posthumously and others are unable to attend for medical reasons.[3][7]
Although most wrestlers are inducted individually, tag teams have been inducted together. Ole and Gene Anderson were among the members of the inaugural class; they competed together for many years as storyline brothers.[8] The Fargo brothers (Don, Jackie, and Sonny), who also wrestled in tag team matches together despite not being related in real life, are scheduled to be inducted together in 2009.[9] George Scott, inducted in 2007, and his brother Sandy, inducted in 2008, are the only true relatives in the hall.[10] Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson, who competed as the original Blond Bombers, were also inducted together in 2007.[11]
Like most wrestling halls of fame, there is no physical building that houses the NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes.[12]
Inductees
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Johnson, Stephen (2008-08-11). "For fans, NWA Legends Fanfest is the main event". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "NWA Legends Fanfest Weekend". NWA Legends. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ a b c d e "NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "NWA Legends Fanfest: Hall of Heroes". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "Hall of Heroes Class of 2008". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (2008-03-18). "Manager "Playboy" Gary Hart dies at 66". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (2008-08-24). "Seemed Like Old Times". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ a b Williams, Scott E. (2007). Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-59670-225-7.
- ^ Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2009: The Fabulous Fargo Brothers". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Will, Gary. "George Scott & Sandy Scott". Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike. "Hawk and Hanson: The Blond Bombers". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Archived from the original on November 13, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "Building A Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame Is A Lot Easier Said Than Done". Deadspin. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ a b Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Georgia) Atlanta: NWA Georgia Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: NWA World Tag Team Title [Nick Gulas & Roy Welsch]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 191–193. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "Penny Banner". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Chappell, David. "The Bob Caudle Interview: Part One". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
- ^ "The late Swede Hanson—a wrestler with heart: Page 1". Wrestling Digest. Archived from the original on 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ a b c Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Carolinas) Charlotte: NWA Southern Tag Team Title [Jim Crockett]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 114. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Oliver, Greg; Steven Johnson (2007). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 302. ISBN 978-1-55022-759-8.
- ^ a b c d Bourne, Dick. "The Definitive History of the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Oliver, Greg. "George Scott: Making Mid-Atlantic sizzle". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Chappell, David. "The Jimmy Valiant Interview: Part Three". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ Will, Gary. "Ivan Koloff". Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame. Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2008: Thunderbolt Patterson". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2008: Buddy Roberts". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Texas) Dallas: World Class 6-man Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 271–272. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Chappell, David. "Sir Oliver Humperdink: Page Two". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ a b Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2008: Sandy Scott". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas & Western Missouri) West Missouri: World Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 253. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Nevada, Vance. "Jake "The Snake" Roberts". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "History of NWA Southwest / NWA Texas Titles". NWA Southwest. Archived from the original on 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Louisiana & Oklahoma) Louisiana/Oklahoma: US Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 232. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2008: Johnny Weaver". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Schramm, Chris (2008-02-15). "Johnny Weaver dead at 72". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Johnson, Steven (2008-08-23). ""Roughhouse" Fargo was a wrestling original". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 185–189. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (2008-08-24). "Seemed like old times at Fanfest". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (2008-03-17). "Manager/booker Gary Hart dies". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2009: Gary Hart". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2010-12-27. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2009: Wahoo McDaniel". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2010-05-23. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "The Blackjacks". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Oliver, Greg; Steven Johnson (2007). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-55022-759-8.
External links
edit- Hall of Heroes official website