WWE kicks off 4 nights of programming from the Dallas area metroplex tonight with Smackdown on Fox. After that, Peacock checks in with the annual Hall of Fame induction from Dallas (NXT Level Up is pre-empted), with the smallest class in years.
The Class of 2022:
The Undertaker--to be inducted by Vince McMahon. As Taker (Mark Calaway) explains in the opening chapter of the new WWE-Peacock miniseries, WWE Evil, McMahon himself contacted him after he'd been let go by WCW in 1990. All Vince had to do was hear Calaway's voice, and he had the perfect cornerstone performer for what would be 30+ years. WWE Evil, by the way, had the first episode repurposed on USA following NXT on Tuesday.
Vader: Leon White had reinvented himself after leaving the AWA for Japan, and created the persona of Big Van Vader, later shortened to simply, Vader, by trademark-obsessed McMahon after White came to WWE in 1996. White is being celebrated for his pre-WWE accomplishments because, quite frankly, McMahon did him dirty.
Queen Sharmell--inducted by Booker T. Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman became Queen when husband Booker adopted a faux British accent as King Booker (2006-7), but really, that was the only accomplishment in her career. She's in only because Booker's a 2-time Hall of Famer.
The Steiner Brothers: Before Brock Lesnar or Taz were suplexing people into the rafters, Rick & Scott Steiner (Robert & Scott Rechsteiner) had come together after starting individual careers in the late 80's, Rick in Mid-South, Scott in Memphis. Scott mutated into Big Poppa Pump around 1998, bleaching his hair. Rick chose to retire, and watched his son, Bronson (Bron Breakker), become NXT champion, only to be screwed out of the title by Dolph Ziggler last month.
Expect Rick to intercept Ziggler's partner in crime, Robert Roode, at Stand & Deliver on Saturday to get the NXT title back in his son's hands.
The Steiners held titles in WWE & WCW, and even spent a couple of cups of coffee in ECW.
Another posthumous honor goes to Shad Gaspard, who passed away in 2020 trying to save his son from drowning. Gaspard, who'd long left WWE for Hollywood, will be the 2022 recipient of the Warrior Award.
Before anyone asks, Triple H, who was inducted as a member of DX, likely headlines next year's class.
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