WS Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Ceremony

[Hoss]

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Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
2026 Induction Ceremony
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Howdy y'all.

I hope we're all having a prosperous year thus far. It's that time again to induct the best of the best into our esteemed Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. The moment that no doubt everyone in the community waits for with bated breath. It's like the forum's Super Bowl, really. A lot of people have been saying so.

So with that in mind, inductions shall commence posthaste and will take place at intervals that are yet to be determined and will be based sheerly off vibes. We've got a really stacked and eclectic class to be inducted this year, so if you voted in this thing, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. You all did it again. Another illustrious class waits to be unveiled. Let's get it cracking.​

 

[Hoss]

Kicking off the 2026 edition of this Hall, we have one of the true masters of the squared circle. A star who was seemingly always in the spotlight throughout the Golden Age, New Generation and Monday Night Wars, making his gimmick proving to everyone just how damn good he was. Whether in the AWA, WWF or WCW, our next inductee was atop any list of top performers during his peak years. Known as a show-stealer and a man who lived his gimmick. An athlete that is rightly credited as being “ahead of his time”, setting standards that future generations continue to aspire to. Perfection is something that many people pursue, and most see as unattainable, but for our next Hall of Famer, perfection was just a state of being. Please welcome to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame —

“MR. PERFECT”
CURT HENNIG

A multi-time finalist in previous balloting, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig finally takes his much-deserved place in the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. Without a doubt, a man who would elevate any show he was on, whether it was with his smooth charisma or flawless work between the ropes. Hennig, proving to be the complete package, would be recognized from a young age as a future top guy in the industry. Coming from a wrestling lineage, Hennig would bring a great deal of honor to his family’s name with his exploits inside the squared circle. Hennig would put his name on the map in a substantial way in 1987, defeating Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, after which he was quickly off to the WWF, where his “Mr. Perfect” persona would become an era-defining character. Meanwhile, Hennig was putting in the work on the mic and on the mat to live up to his name. His early 90s reigns with the Intercontinental Championship cemented him as one of the most respected guys in the company, and the industry at large. The crown jewel of this run would likely be the SummerSlam 1991 match with Bret Hart, one of multiple classics that Hennig turned in during the early 90s. Unfortunately, Hennig’s run was cut short by injuries, which would keep “The Perfect One” sidelined, during which time he would take on other on-air roles. In 1997, however, he made the jump to WCW at the height of their powers, where he immediately made a huge splash, returning to action. His time in WCW was marked by runs as a member of both the Four Horsemen, as well as the New World Order… and of course the West Texas Rednecks. He continued to be a reliable performer throughout the tumultuous times of late-stage WCW, but this would be his last significant run of his career. Hennig popped up in WWE in 2002 and had a brief stint in TNA but would, tragically, pass away shortly thereafter. For a life undoubtedly cut remarkably short, Hennig was a highly decorated and celebrated pro wrestler, and one that transcends normal superstar status, reaching that hallowed “icon” status. “Mr. Perfect” is one of the most revered names in the history of pro wrestling due to Hennig’s magnetic personality, in-ring precision and unforgettable presence. Bouts with Hart, Piper, Michaels and Flair have aged like fine wine thanks to Hennig's exceptional dedication to his craft. His star quality bleeds through in each performance, and that is why he was such a dominant presence in the prime of his career, and has become such an endearing name now, decades after his last match. I am pleased to announce “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig as the first inductee into the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2026!​

 

[Chris]

That's a good start

 

[King Kong Booty]

What a great induction some might call it perfect

 

[R-Troop]

Well deserving.

 

[Jimmy King]

 

[Hoss]

Shall we go ahead and get our second honoree inducted? I say yes. Let’s turn our attention now to one of the most divisive figures in professional wrestling history, as well as one of the most accomplished, and certainly one of the most well-known and ubiquitous competitors to ever lace ‘em up. Entering the business with a burning passion for the craft, he would struggle a bit to find his footing initially, after reaching the big stage of pro wrestling. However, he would soon ascend the ranks, helping to spearhead the most iconic era in wrestling history, and would become a long-established main eventer, with a catalog of matches against guys who could fill up several Halls of Fame. With a solid decade-plus main eventing in the world’s largest wrestling promotion, this performer etched his name into wrestling history as a worker, only to then become even more impactful on the industry as a behind-the-scenes presence. Say what you will, we all have our takes and stances, but when you add up all the accolades, review the tape, and apply just basic common sense, there is one conclusion that is ineluctable… It’s all about the game, and how you play it. ARE. YOU. READY??? Please welcome to the Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame —

“THE CEREBRAL ASSASSIN”
TRIPLE H

The Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame opens its doors to Triple H at long last. An induction that has been inevitable since the day this institution was founded, despite how complex his legacy has become. One thing that’s very straightforward, however, is Triple H’s resume as a 9-time WWE Champion, 5-time World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time Royal Rumble Winner, 1-time King of the Ring and 7-time WrestleMania main eventer. Though this induction comes at a time when it feels like his reputation is the most controversial it’s ever been, the community has decided it’s time to honor “The King of Kings”, going to show just how much of an enduring mark he’s made on the industry, even as he continues to be, likely, the single-most impactful mover in the wrestling world to this very day. There’s simply no denying the career of Triple H, who began the run that would change wrestling history all the way back in 1995. Though his early days as a Connecticut Blueblood yielded some less-than-desirable results, his time toiling in the undercard would ultimately be brief. Through his relationship with the Kliq, Triple H gained traction within the company and would align with Shawn Michaels and his real-life girlfriend, Chyna, to form potentially WWE’s most iconic stable ever: D-Generation X. This group was perfect for the time and place, helping to launch the Attitude Era into the stratosphere. Once Shawn Michaels was forced to step away with injury, it was time for Triple H to really accelerate into the spotlight, hitting his stride in 2000 and 2001, years that are often cited as some of the highest peak years for any wrestler from any era. As several stars of the Attitude Era left the fold, Triple H would become one of the central focuses of the Ruthless Aggression Era, a trusted worker with established name value who could be a steadying hand as the company pivoted between eras. He would again form an era-defining in the form of Evolution, WWE's closest answer to The Four Horsemen. As Triple H evolved into a veteran, helping to establish future main eventers like John Cena, Batista, Randy Orton and Sheamus, and continued to add milestones to his rivalries with Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, his status as a legend would become undeniable, racking up titles and turning in iconic performances. Late career Triple H would be a mixed bag, as he turned his attention towards roles in the front office, working a part-time schedule but still playing a huge role in events like Daniel Bryan’s “Yes!” movement, Brock Lesnar’s WWE return and the break-up of The Shield.

Triple H would manage to transition from a historic in-ring career to a powerful corporate role as WWE’s COO and head booker of NXT quite seamlessly. His run booking NXT during its Black & Gold Era is one of the most universally acclaimed stretches of booking in American wrestling history, as he managed to elevate the development brand up to become the most respected and critically acclaimed part of the company, introducing a long list of talent including the likes of Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, Finn Balor, Adam Cole, The Four Horsewomen and many more to the mainstream audience. In the wake of WWE’s purchase by Endeavor and the fallout of the Vince McMahon abuse scandal, Triple H would take on the role of Chief Content Officer in WWE, assuming a role that many people had long envisioned him occupying one day. His immediate influence on the product was met with a lot of acclaim from the audience. Reviews since then have become more mixed, as tends to be the case. Whatever Triple H’s legacy as an executive and booker will be is yet to be determined - he likely has a lot of years in front of him leading the direction of WWE. His career as a wrestler is an impeccable one, as one of the most decorated champions of all-time, and with classics against the likes of Undertaker, Mick Foley, The Rock and Batista, among many others, to hang his hat on. Now he adds another distinction to his monumental list of accomplishments: Wrestling Smarks Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer, Class of 2026!​

 

[King Kong Booty]

If this was 2 years ago I’d of been way more hype

 

[Sha-J Lee]

One of the greatest WWE superstars of all time. Pretty much a no brainer.

 

[R-Troop]

It's about time. There is no world in which Triple H is not a hall of famer. In-ring alone he belong, but his work with NXT is also deserving.

 

[King Kong Booty]

Oh I agree I’ve always been a huge supporter but I hate the TKO era of Trips

 

[Jimmy King]

Early 2000s Trips as The Game was goated. He was such a bastard he was so fun to hate. Despite how I feel about him (more disappointed in him) I’ll always have a soft spot for the guy.

 

[R-Troop]

Oh I agree I’ve always been a huge supporter but I hate the TKO era of Trips

That's fair. I'm not fond of his non-wrestling side right now.

I think he is doing solid as a booker overall. Exponentially better than his predecessor was the last 10 years.

 

[King Kong Booty]

That's fair. I'm not fond of his non-wrestling side right now.

I think he is doing solid as a booker overall. Exponentially better than his predecessor was the last 10 years.

I’m like Jimmy I’m more disappointed he hasn’t manned up on alot of stuff. It’s hard when you’ve been a mark for the guy since 1996

 

[Chris]

Yeah he fell down my list the last couple years too but I def don't disagree with the induction, just an order for me lol still one of the best to do it regardless