WWE Hall of Fame 2009 Live Induction Ceremony
Find out what took place at the 2009 Hall of Fame induction Ceremony at the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas.
Opening Segment
Todd Grisham welcomes us all
The Hall of Fame show comes on the air with an intro video showing the WWE through the ages, even using the WWF logo which I thought they tried to avoid at all costs. It briefly showed each of this year’s inductees before showing a stills reel of the current Hall of Famers. We then get more shots ancd clips of the Class of 2009 before the show begins properly and pans around a massive fan and star packed arena.
(To make it easier for you to keep up with this article, all the links to the Inductee’s specific articles are set to open in a new window/tab)
Todd Grisham welcomes everyone before introducing tonight’s host; Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler who emerges to a ‘Jerry, Jerry’ chant. King says tonight is his favorite night of the year, before introducing ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair who emerges with a diva on his arm.
Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat
Flair delivers a short speech about how great it was to be inducted last year by Triple H, and how much of an honour it is for him to induct Ricky Steamboat. A highlights video then plays of The Dragon’s best moments.
To find out more about Steamboat check out our Hall of Fame article on The Dragon:
Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat Hall of Fame Class of 2009
After the commercial break Flair delivered more of his speech, saying Steamboat was his greatest opponent. Steamboat was a fans wrestler, always willing to sign autographs and shake someone’s hand, the ladies loved him and he was a fantastic performer in the ring. Flair then said Steamboat made him a legend every time they stepped in the ring together, over 2000 times they met and Flair claims they never had a bad match, which I don’t doubt.
Finally, Flair mentioned that both he and Steamboat have sons in the business who started competing against each other 15 years ago and hope to continue the legacy that their fathers have built.
Steamboat walks out also with a diva on his arm (looks like it’s going to be a theme) and after embracing and then locking up with Flair to the amusement of the crowd, begins his speech.
Welling up, Steamboat begins by saying he is humbled by all that he has been blessed with. Friendships with great stars that are still around and some that have been and gone. Times when younger wrestlers would ask him to watch their matches and be eager to hear his opinions afterwards.
He then told an anecdote about a time 15 years ago when he sat next to a respectful young man on a plane, who turned out to be Triple H. After Triple H had ‘bowed’ before him, Steamboat went over his storied past listing many superstars he had faced, before having a dig at Jericho, saying he, Piper and Snuka were going to take him to school tomorrow at WrestleMania XXV.
He thanked J.R for all the matches he called, then said that a workman is only as good as his tools and the guys he had to work with made him what he is today. He gave a shout out to Mickey Rourke, saying his Hall of Fame ring was like an Oscar to him, before thanking everyone once again and leaving the stage.
After this The King talked about the HBK Vs. The Undertaker bout, before showing clips of a match from the Legends of WrestleMania game.
King then introduced Mean Gene who introduced the next segment.
Earlier in the Night
It seems only Steamboat and Austin are going to be featured on the ‘Live’ broadcast of the Hall of Fame Ceremony, and as such up next there was a recap segment of all the inductions that took place earlier in the night which included:
The Funks
Read more about Dory Jr and Terry Funk in our Hall of Fame article on The Funk Brothers:
Dory Jr and Terry Funk Hall of Fame Class of 2009
Cowboy Bill Watts
Read more about Bill Watts Funk in our Hall of Fame article on The Cowboy:
Cowboy Bill Watts Hall of Fame Class of 2009
Koko B. Ware
Read more about Koko B. Ware in our Hall of Fame article on The Bird Man:
Koko B. Ware Hall of Fame Class of 2009
The Von Erichs
Read more about The Von Erichs in our Hall of Fame article on The Von Erich Family:
The Von Erichs Hall of Fame Class of 2009
Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel article coming soon!
Back to the Live Show
The King then introduces ‘The best boss he’s ever worked for’ Vince McMahon, saying that although he needs no introduction, if he doesn’t he’ll fire him.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Mr McMahon says that he and Austin have had a very storied history and that they share a Love/Hate relationship; Vince Loves Austin, Austin Hates Vince. He then goes over some of the more memorable things Austin has done to him, including hitting him with a bedpan and making him wet himself in the middle of the ring.
Vince then says that despite their ups and downs, Austin is one of the greatest superstars of all time and a highlights video plays.
To find out more about Austin check out our Hall of Fame article on Stone Cold:
Stone Cold Steve Austin Hall of Fame Class 2009
After the promo video which featured interview snippets with Edge, Cena, The Big Show, C.M Punk and M.V.P in which they all basically said there is no one more deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame, Vince brought out Austin as the crowd went wild. Austin, wearing a suit then held his Hall of Fame ring aloft as more cheers reigned down on him before finally returning to the podium to deliver his speech. Before he could begin a chant of ‘Thank You Austin’ echoed around the arena for what seemed like an age, before he stopped it and got on with things.
His first order of business was to explain his suit. He said he didn’t mind wearing it but just before he came out a button popped off the front of his jacket, so now he is being inducted with a busted jacket thanks to the the mens warehouse. He said he doesn’t find it hard to go out into an arena and cut a promo, but writing a speech to deliver tonight was incredibly hard and after watching the promo video at least 50 times he still worried that he wouldn’t be able to say exactly what he means.
He said just incase it didn’t come over as he’d intended it, he’d start by saying that to anyone who has ever watched, cheered or supported Austin; Thank you. All the injuries, divorces and even the time when he ‘took his ball and went home as the WWE like to say’ (his words not mine), the fans have always rallied behind him and he wanted to thank them for that.
At this point the crowd started chanting ‘One More Match’ but Austin shrugged it off with a ‘I don’t know about that’. He told an anecdote about taking a job compatability test that said he would make a great park ranger, then said that he’d met lots of great people in this business, as well as his fair share of bad ones too but he wouldn’t change any of it.
He says that he wants to close the door on his wrestling career, but he doesn’t want to close the door on his fans and whatever he goes into, whether it be movies or anything else, he will give it his best for them.
Finally he asked the crowd for a Hell Yeah if they are looking forward to Mania, before saying he loved the fans from the bottom of his heart and thats the bottom line, cause Stone Cold said so. He celebrated with a few cold beers in the way only Austin can before an explosion of ticker tape rained down on everyone in the arena and the show went off the air.
The End
Having never seen a Hall of Fame ceremony properly before I have to say this was amazingly entertaining and I could have watched it for another few hours. I wasn’t aware until after it had begun that the Hall of Fame Ceremony could be watched in full at WWE.Com, or I would have watched every second of it and reported it back here.
Amazingly good show, next stop WrestleMania XXV!
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