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Then. Now.

This is fabulous Las Vegas. The
entertainment capital of the world

premier brand in sports entertainment,
WWE.

And you are looking live at the Dolby
Live Theater in Las Vegas, filled

with WWE superstars from the past and
present and the future. And, of course,

our loyal WWE fans.

Welcome, everyone, to the 2026 WWE Hall
of Fame Induction

Ceremony.

There's a place in this business you
don't go looking for.

It finds you.

It's not meant for everyone.

Only for those who turn what we do into
something more.

And when your time comes, that door
opens again. The newest member of the

Hall of Fame.

For the ones who redefined what's
possible in this ring. He was purely

phenomenal. Tore through everything in
their way. We love a good fight. And

we're going to beat everybody.

Came from the outside and made the whole
world look in. You have no choice but

to love me, right?

And for those who not only helped shape
this from behind the scenes, but became

one of the most unforgettable characters
this business has ever seen.

You don't get here by chance.

I am the master, and I am the ruler of
the world.

You heard him. Don't give no mercy, take
no prisoners.

Overtime. The irresistible force beating
the immovable object.

I don't believe it. He's laughing.

And when it's done, it's not gone.

This is where it lives forever.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in
welcoming...

And good evening to everyone watching
around the world.

Welcome to the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame
induction ceremony.

I'm Michael Cole and my co -host tonight
is the most must -see superstar of all

time. He's the host of American
Gladiators. He is now a wedding

Please welcome The Miz.

Thank you.

Thank you, Michael Cole. Excited to be
here.

So listen, let's cut to the chase,
right?

WrestleMania would not be WrestleMania
without you and me.

15 years ago.

You're going to do this. Atlanta,
Georgia.

He's doing it.

WrestleMania 27.

Oh, boy. The Miz in the main event
retaining the WWE Championship by

John Cena.

Wish I could remember it.

On the same night.

The most revered, undefeated streak in
WrestleMania history began,

and it's still going on today.

The night that I defeated Jerry the King
Lawler.

And wait, this match was truly honored.
People around the world have talked

about it. It has been voted the worst
match in WrestleMania history.

Only Michael Cole can build himself up
only to tear him down. But you want to

built up, Michael Cole? Do we want to
build up Michael Cole right here, right

now? Because this year is the 25th year
Michael Cole has called play -by -play

at WrestleMania.

Quarter of a century, you didn't just
call the action. You were the soundtrack

to it. You don't just describe what we
do.

You bring it to life. You make every
move, every submission matter.

What you have been able to do for me,
being in a WWE ring, and your

storytelling, your passion, your hard
work, your dedication, from myself and

every superstar that you have ever
called and every person that has ever

your storytelling, thank you, Michael
Cole. You are a GOAT.

All right, enough of giving him his
flowers. Let's get to the WWE Hall of

shall we?

There's a lot of beautiful people out
here tonight.

And not so beautiful.

Seriously,

it is an honor to be here tonight.
Nights like tonight are special. The WWE

of Fame isn't just about celebrating
careers.

It's about honoring the superstars that
built this. The ones that paved the way

for me, every WWE superstar in that
locker room, and every kid that dreams

becoming a WWE superstar.

Every single name inducted into the WWE
Hall of Fame set the foundation for

which we stand on today. This industry
started in fairgrounds, and now we're

selling out stadiums worldwide, baby.
And that's because of two reasons.

Because of you, the WWE Universe, and
the superstars who

sacrifice everything for one moment, one
moment that lasts forever.

Tonight, we celebrate the one who gave
us all those incredible moments over the

years.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, let's get
into it.

Our first inductee, and I get emotional
over this because without this woman,

I would not be here tonight.

Ladies and gentlemen, she is truly one
of a kind.

Are you going to do the three, two, one
thing?

I can do that for you. Okay.

My name is Stephanie McMahon.

I was born on September 24th, 1976 in
Hartford, Connecticut.

Stephanie and I have had many talks
about growing up as generational kids.

You'd walk into your kitchen and you'd
see Hulk Hogan.

I've been exposed to wrestling all my
life.

What a bunch of lovely curtain climbers.
I loved the characters.

I loved the stories between the guys and
the girls.

I think when you're born in this
business, you're just living in the

your family's legacy.

So for Stephanie to be able to come out
of that shade that is casted from your

family members, it's not easy.

Being born in the WWE is one thing.

Becoming one of the greatest on -screen
performers is another.

Where to, Stephanie?

When Stephanie first arrived on the
scene, she was the billion -dollar

And then after a while, everyone
realized she's earning her spot.

There is not a more iconic female in the
history of WWE than Stephanie McMahon.

Rise in the presence of the authority
and show your respect.

We are the absolute... of power.

We own you.

I learned how to be a bitch from Seth
McMahon, so I learned from the best.

What an athlete, Michael! What an
athlete!

Give me a break!

Can't take much more.

Here we go, here we go, here we go.

The brand new Mr.

and Mrs.

Hunter, there's nothing wrong with me.

Triple H and Stephanie, they're running
the show whether we like it or not.

I can do what I want, when I want, and
there's nothing any of you can do to

me. And her facial reaction and her
character work, nobody could do it like

Stephanie.

No!

Have you any idea how much power I have?

When she walks out and she feels that
heat.

Stephanie will embrace it and give it
right back.

You think the world owes you something?
Well, guess what?

Reality comes around and it slaps you
right in the face.

I've been an easier street fight.

She actually caused me temporary hearing
loss for a few days.

It became her calling card.

Finally, all of you have recognized
what's best for business.

Bow down to your queen, me!

It's incredible the worst people on TV
are generally the best human beings

outside of it.

Today we're at the Children's Hospital
of Pittsburgh where an eight -year -old

boy named Connor Mahalik was treated.

Stephanie and Paul wanted to do
something to honor his memory.

We started Connor's Cure that's designed
to find a cure for pediatric cancer.

One, two, three.

When you sit back and look at the
totality of her career, Steph's done it

Stephanie's had her hands in literally
every part of the jumping.

She had a knack for being creative.

She is like a laser beam, man. She is
focused.

Stephanie was the boss's daughter. She
was a woman. She felt like she had to

work a hundred times harder because of
that. She wanted to be able to build her

legacy on her own.

She broke down barriers as a female
before it was cool to do.

I don't think the women's evolution
would be what it is today had there not

Stephanie McMahon.

And going forward, you will no longer be
referred to as divas.

You will simply be superstars.

You know, it's almost like she took a
hold of the women and she was like, all

right, it's time.

As Stephanie McMahon, you embody girl
power.

Wrestling's biggest event will rest on
these women. We're joined face -to -face

on SportsCenter by WWE Chief Grand
Officer.

Give it up for Stephanie McMahon.

She's never complacent or dissatisfied.

She's always driven, and she's always
trying to make things better.

I've seen it with you for eight -plus
years. You care about people.

How would you like to be remembered in
this business?

In the middle of this crazy tornado that
we call WWE, there's like a

calming presence that she brings.

It feeling like it's her home, it's her
house, it's her living room that she's

been in her whole life.

Always makes you feel like you're her
best friend in the world.

She cared about me as a human being, not
just the guy who was the wrestler.

When she's speaking

to you, whether it was a sick child in a
hospital or whether it was someone that

she needed to direct, you could... You
could see in her eyes. You could see in

her face.

She wasn't thinking about anything else.
You were the most important thing in

the moment to her.

She makes people feel seen.

She'll send me a whole box of ice creams
to my house and she's like, you were

down and I feel like you need to eat
something to remind you that you're a

person and that's just always been the
woman that she is.

is she has one of the most contagious
and adorable laughs ever.

Her laugh is the best. In a room of
people, you can hear her laughing the

hardest. It was great, though. It was
perfect.

Probably my biggest goal in life is to
have a family of my own.

To see Stephanie's little girls, their
eyes, they looked up at Steph like they

were meeting Wonder Woman.

She has set a foundation for us to be
able to bring our families on the road.

She is the first to get the tour bus
that can accommodate the family, and

can be out there doing this but also be
mom and dad.

Stephanie has helped make it so we don't
have to miss seeing our kids grow up.

In the moments that I needed you there,
without you even knowing, you were a

guiding light that was...

unbelievably effective.

I guess I'd like to be remembered in
this business as someone who made

contributions to it. I would hope that
upon reflecting, you know, it would be

obvious that I've given my heart and
soul to this.

It doesn't take much to figure out that
she's all heart.

My name is Stephanie McMahon.

I am fourth generation in this business,
and I'm proud and honored to be here.

Ladies and gentlemen, here to induct
Stephanie McMahon into the Hall of Fame

her daughters, Aurora, Murphy, and
Vaughn, and her mother, Linda

McMahon.

Good evening, everyone.

Tonight, my sisters, grandmother, and I
have one of the greatest privileges and

are honored to induct our mother into
the WWE Class of 2026 Hall of Fame.

As the oldest and favorite daughter,
I've had the unique experience growing

on the road with my parents.

At two years old, I would roll into the
arena on my mother's briefcase with my

little matching Stephanie McMahon power
suit right into the production meeting.

I would then march up to the front of
the room and start the meeting with

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

However, what I didn't know was that at
two years old, it was from watching my

mother own every room she walked into
that gave me the confidence and would

shape the person I am today.

Growing up in a family business, it's
assumed that everything is handed to

I couldn't be farther from the truth and
made my mother determined to work

harder than everyone else to earn
everything.

She's had to work ten times as hard to
even get a foot in the door, especially

as a woman in a male -dominated
business.

She's always said the famous Eleanor
Roosevelt quote, do one thing every day

that scares you.

which has driven to her success in her
career.

Learning the business from the ground
up, she became one of the most respected

and powerful women in sports
entertainment.

My mom showed me a picture last week
from when she was my age, selling WWE

merchandise at a fan festival.

She climbed the ladder to become chief
brand officer and then CEO and

of WWE.

Along the way, she changed the women's
division in WWE, spearheading the

evolution, allowing the divas to become
superstars, turning women's popcorn

matches into WrestleMania main events.

Her confidence stands.

Her confidence to stand toe -to -toe
with a society that didn't see a place

a woman in the business and to not only
speak up for them, but to change their

future, taught me the true power of
voice and perseverance in the face of

challenge.

Those are the three greatest lessons
she's taught me. Work ethic, the power

my voice, and perseverance.

And don't get me wrong, sometimes my
voice can get me in trouble, which

she won't admit, I definitely get from
my mom.

I don't think she realizes how much my
sisters and I looked up to our whole

lives, how our lives were shaped around
watching her make a name for herself

while being the best mom, and how that
shaped us.

Standing here today, I realize I'm still
that same little girl looking up to her

mom, and I wouldn't be who I am without
my mother, my hero, my role model, and

my inspiration.

Mama, my favorite compliment I will ever
hear is you are just like Stephanie,

because all I've ever wanted to be was
just like you.

I couldn't be prouder of you.

Congratulations, and I love you more.

I've spent the last couple of weeks
trying to write this speech for my mom.

I wanted to write about all the amazing
things she's done in her life, but none

of it really encapsulated just how
incredible she is.

A lot of that came from putting my own
fears of such a personal relationship

with her out in the open, especially
when she means so much to me.

But one of the greatest lessons she has
taught me is that vulnerability is a

form of true strength.

So I'm here to tell you what my mom
means to me.

My mom has always truly just seen me. No
matter what front I've put up, I've

never felt more seen than I do with her.

And that goes beyond me. She is the most
empathetic person I know.

Over the years, I've seen the way she
not only brings out the best in people,

but also the way she's been there for
others at their lowest.

My mom truly has the biggest heart.

Over 12 years ago, she heard a single
story about a boy named Connor, and

he lost his battle with leukemia, she
made it her mission to change the world

for kids with cancer.

And she has.

This year, she even helped spearhead an
executive order for using AI to help

find cures for pediatric cancer.

A funny little detail about my mom has
to do with one of her best qualities,

laugh.

Sometimes when we're out and I can't
find her, I just listen for her laugh.

And I swear, it's basically a homing
beacon.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could
hear it backstage tonight.

That laugh truly is just so contagious
and bright.

Whenever she walks into a room, the sun
starts shining and people start smiling.

But don't let that sunshine attitude
fool you. My mom is a certified badass.

She raised three girls, a challenge in
itself, but she also changed the world

around us through women's evolution,
paving the way for so many women across

world. I don't know about you guys, but
that's pretty inspiring to me.

Anytime someone tells me how I take
after my mom, I honestly feel so

From the little things like our twinning
blue eyes, loud laughs, and big smiles,

to the more meaningful things, like how
I take after my mother's soul.

My mom also happened to pass down a
couple of her moves, like the signature

slap. Sorry about that, Aurora.

I really don't know where I'd be without
my mother.

She is my best friend, confidant, and
forever my inspiration to be my best

Mom, I'm so incredibly proud of you, and
I can't think of anyone more deserving

for this honor.

Thank you for always being the light in
my life, constantly guiding me, lifting

me up, and reminding me who I am.

I love you more than you love me.

Since before I could talk, my mom has
always told me a quote by Maya Angelou,

people will forget what you said, people
will forget what you did, but people

will never forget how you made them
feel.

My mom is truly a perfect example of
what this quote stands for.

She has an incredible gift of making
every single person she meets feel

even if it's just for a moment.

I think it might be impossible to be in
a room with her for more than 10 minutes

and not smile and laugh.

Her love is infectious.

She can turn your toughest days into
some of the best ones, and all it takes

one hug, one conversation, or, for me,
one dance in the kitchen.

One of my favorite memories I have is my
dancing in the kitchen with my mother.

Spinning around while blasting the music
as I distracted her from cleaning the

dishes would always make my day.

As the singer of the family, I've always
felt slightly different growing up,

surrounded by my insanely athletic
sisters and parents while I ran around

singing Let It Go from Frozen to anyone
who would listen.

But my mom has always understood this
part of me that I felt like sometimes no

one else got.

Music has always been my escape, so
although dancing in the kitchen may

like a simple, fun memory, it has so
much more meaning than that.

No matter what happened during the day,
whether it left me on cloud nine or in

tears, I always knew that I could come
home and sing and dance in the kitchen

with my mom.

And even though we would sing all the
wrong words and our dance moves were,

let's just say, not the best,

Doing this with her always allowed me to
let go of what happened that day and

just be myself.

My mom has a special way of making
people feel like this.

She is like a ray of sunshine that warms
and brightens everyone she comes

across.

This is one of my favorite things about
her and part of the reason she is the

amazing person she is today.

I don't think she will ever truly know
how much it means to me or the people

that surround her.

I hope today, with her getting inducted
into the 2026 Hall of Fame, she can

realize this and feel just as special as
she makes all of us feel.

Mom, thank you so much. I'm so beyond
proud of you, and I love you more.

Well, I know that I'm a bit prejudiced.

But aren't they magnificent?

Could

I

ever have imagined that as I held my
precious blue -eyed little daughter in

arms, that almost 50 years later, I
would have the privilege and honor of

standing on the WWE Universe stage along
with her sweet, beautiful daughters.

to induct her into the WWE Hall of Fame.

This is very interesting for me because
I got to wear a couple of hats in this

journey, both as a mom and as a business
leader.

And although clearly mom came first, I'm
going to share in reverse order how

this all came about.

Now, anyone's first job out of college
can be daunting anyway.

But when your bosses are your father,
the chairman, and your mother, the CEO,

can be even a bit more complex,
compounded by the fact that your brother

already a young executive and performing
in the company.

That same brother, I might add, who
lifted her up over his head one day in

family room to body slam her onto the
sofa, but instead he threw her over the

sofa.

having her hit the wall of glass French
doors, which thankfully did not break.

His first words to her were,

You're all right, you're not hurt.

And her second words to her were, Don't
tell Dad.

And she never did.

It was important that Stephanie get a
full but quick indoctrination in the

company.

since she had declared when she was much
younger, long before she started

college, that this is where she wanted
to work and build a career.

At first, I was surprised by this,
because all the time she was growing up,

loved to sing and dance and perform.

She even went to a drama performance
camp in upstage New York for three weeks

one summer.

Little did I envision at that time.

that she was destined for a much bigger
stage.

The starting point was the WWE New York
City sales office.

What better place to learn customers,
vendors, and business partners and how

they perceived your product than to be
on the ground making the sales pitch

professional salespeople.

The next few months were in my office.

keeping my schedule, appointments, and
my routine.

Now, this part was not her favorite.

Sitting through finance briefings,
budgets, contracts at first, and this

wasn't her cup of tea.

More than once, I caught her nodding
off.

But she absorbed much more about the
business and the intricacies of it than

even realized at the time.

Then it was time to move into the
creative and entertainment side of the

company, keeping Vince's schedule,
sitting in on talent development

creative content, TV production, and
even becoming a successful in -ring

performer. And she took to all of this
like a fish to water and was and

is a natural.

For my CEO perch, I watched as she
quickly became a crowd favorite, whether

was a baby face or a heel.

And she more than once told me how much
more fun it was to be a heel.

She connected with the audience.

She had charisma, an innate sense of
performance.

And this is so important in this
wonderful business, knowing when you

audience right in your hand, when to
pump them up.

when to let things kind of chill, and
when to bring home the big finish.

But beyond all of that, she understood
and loved this unique industry.

She learned in a very short period of
time how to market and promote the brand

of WWE, how to network with executives
to connect with other brands and with

WWE for mutual success.

And in 2020 and 2021,

Forbes magazine named her as the number
two most influential chief marketing

officer in the world and the most
influential female CMO in the world. I

repeat, in the world.

She became by invitation both a
prestigious Eisenhower fellow and a

Crown fellow.

The Eisenhower program is designed to
build global connections, and her

specific assignments were in Singapore
and Brazil, and she's now a part of a

lifelong network of leaders worldwide.

A Henry Crown Fellow is an
entrepreneurial leader selected by the

Aspen Institute, and it's aimed at
successful young business leaders ready

give back to society.

As the chief marketing officer of WWE,
she was clearly its face and most

successful ambassador, with growing
influence in the world's marketplace.

She had grown from that young girl out
of college, taking her place in a family

business to a seasoned and accomplished
executive in a now New York Stock

Exchange public and global company.

And she rocked it.

She had chartered her own course, blazed
her own trail, and was clearly making

her own mark, eventually becoming the
chairwoman and CEO of the company she

loved, WWE.

I left the company to pursue a somewhat
different career, just as Stephanie was

beginning to hit her stride.

So I was able to watch as an outside
observer and appreciate the very skilled

executive that was quickly emerging.

And yes, I admit to doing so fully
beaming with a mother's pride.

So now let me segue to the mom's
perspective.

There is nothing more rewarding to a
mother than to hear other people praise

child. I have constantly heard things
like, Her smile lights up the room and

makes you feel happy.

And the reason for that is because the
light of love that shines deep inside

her. Many have told me Steph has the
best hugs.

And that's because she wraps her arms
around you and hugs like she never wants

to let you go.

And as you've heard, Steph's laugh is
contagious.

And as you saw in the video, her laugh
is distinctive.

even when others are laughing too.

It's loud with gusto that comes from
deep in her belly.

Many speak of her warmth and genuine
compassion.

And all of this is true.

And I know that because I've had a
window to watch her grow from a little

with those qualities into one of the
most spectacular women I know.

And to round out my thoughts for tonight
from a mom's perch,

is watching Stephanie herself as a mom.

She married the love of her life, Paula
Beck.

And they produced these three beautiful
sweet daughters.

Steph is a loving, caring, nurturing,
and all things good moms

are.

She shows her girls strength,
perseverance, and tries with success

time to have them show tolerance for
each other.

But I confess that that's best described
as a work in progress.

But she's also not afraid to show her
vulnerability.

They see her cry when she's sad or hurt,
when something touches her heart.

She shares when she's troubled.

And they understand that life is not
always perfect.

And they can see her anger, sometimes
flare, when a driver cuts her off on the

road or someone's not driving maybe at
the right speed she thinks they should

be, maybe not fast enough.

Occasionally there might even be an
expletive.

So hopefully I've shared with you
enough.

to know that Stephanie McMahon Levesque
is so worthy and so deserving to join

the elite members of the WWE Hall of
Fame.

And I couldn't be more proud to share
the honor of inducting her with her

daughters, Aurora, Murphy, and Vaughn.

And as her mom, I'd like to say,
Stephanie, you're one of the most

women I know.

You give me such joy and love.

You are an inspiration, a wonderful
daughter and friend, and I love you with

my heart.

Congratulations on this amazing
achievement.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
Stephanie McMahon.

Oh.

Oh.

Quite the introduction.

Thank

all

of you.

And if that isn't the embodiment of the
women's evolution, then I don't know

what is.

The only person who's missing is my
grandmother.

I miss you, Mama.

I wanted to be a mother more than
anything in the world, and Paul wanted

father, which is why it was devastating
for us when we were told for various

reasons that we might not be able to
have children on our own.

But one thing we learned early on is if
you want anything in life, you have to

be willing to truly fight for it.

And that we did.

And through modern medicine and by the
grace of God, We were blessed with our

three remarkable daughters.

You mean everything in the world to us.

And Aurora Murphy and Vaughn, I am
willing to fight for you and I will

to fight for you every single day of my
life.

Aurora. As she said in her speech, which
I had not heard ahead of time, she grew

up on the road on our tour bus.

She was wheeled on my briefcase, holding
on.

And she did indeed sing Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star to a room full of jaded

wrestling producers who put her over.

Thank you.

She once told me she didn't want my job.
She didn't want Daddy's job. She wanted

Pop's job.

She was destined to be the boss.

Go Springfield softball.

The only baby I've ever seen our head of
security hold close was my middle

daughter, Murphy, who decided to repay
their very special bond by pooping all

over his suit, his brand new suit. It
was a full blowout.

Murphy played four years of high school
tackle football.

She never missed a practice, workout, or
game.

and she was the only girl on her team.

When she took big hits as a running
back, she got right back up, earning the

respect of everyone around her.

And then there's Vaughn.

I think Vaughn may be one of a very
small group of people who have had both

Cena and The Rock at different times.

sing happy birthday just to her, which
is very fitting, giving her gift of

and her ability to command a room with
just her presence.

You are my greatest gift and my mirror.

I learn my most valuable lessons through
you.

And I love you more, which leads me to
my mom.

Truthfully, my mom should be the one
going into the Hall of Fame tonight.

She was the very first CEO of WWE.

And if it weren't for her, and of course
my father, Vince McMahon,

none

of us would be here tonight.

Especially me.

Mom, Dad, thank you for this remarkable
life filled with love, opportunities,

and experiences that have shaped me into
who I am.

I also want to thank my brother, Shane,

who is always there to protect me

and stretch me and who taught me how to
be tough.

And to his wife, Maritha, and my
nephews, Declan, Kenyon, and Rogan.

No matter what has happened or what will
happen in this life, I will always love

all of you.

I've often heard people say wrestling is
life, life is wrestling, and that

couldn't be more true for me.

I literally grew up in this business.

The Grand Wizard, or Uncle Ernie as I
knew him, had a makeshift jacuzzi, which

was a metal bathtub with a...

boat engine on the back of it set up in
our driveway, coming home from school to

find Ric Flair in the living room, or
learn Mr.

T was having dinner and he wanted his
favorite liver, or Hulk Hogan seeing me

off to my ninth grade prom was all
normal.

I regularly went to Madison Square
Garden where Betty Scolin would watch me

the crowd and try to talk me out of my
second Superstars ice cream bar.

They were very small if you remember
punk.

Then go to Smith and Wally's and listen
to everyone talk shop.

I modeled for the magazine, made my
television debut trick -or -treating at

Roddy Piper's house on Saturday night's
main event.

And I broke my ankle and wrist at
different times trying to be Jimmy

Snooka.

My dad, Bruce Pritchard, and Pat
Patterson would write TV from our house,

would try to listen and learn as much as
possible between sandwich and soda

runs.

I might not have realized how
differently I grew up than everyone

thing was for certain.

I love everything about our business.

And working for WWE in any capacity was
all I ever wanted to do.

I Xeroxed, collated, stuffed envelopes,
and answered the switchboard. I still

remember Howard Finkel's extension,
8651.

And that's all before I graduated high
school.

It's almost unthinkable to me that I am
here tonight, many, many decades later,

being inducted. and to the 2026 WWE Hall
of Fame.

Thank you.

It is beyond an honor, especially to be
inducted alongside the phenomenal AJ

Styles.

Demolition, Dennis Rodman, the legacy
inductees Sid Vicious and Bad News

and the immortal moment Hogan versus
Andre.

I had the privilege of being there,
WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silver

where we did break the indoor attendance
record at 93 ,173 people.

I remember specifically watching my
friend Andre the Giant make his entrance

the... slowest golf cart of all time.

And I was devastated when he lost to
Hulk Hogan.

My first dinner date was with Andre.

I was about 14 years old and I got
dropped off at his favorite French

near the office in Stanford,
Connecticut.

He was larger than life in every way.

It seemed like the cane he was using was
going to explode under his weight if we

went to the table.

Andre and I sat down and he proceeded to
order absolutely everything on the

menu, plus a few bottles of wine only
for him.

His hand engulfed the entire glass and
at one point he looked around and

laughing and he said, everyone in here,
they think I'm a dirty old man.

Andre and I bonded because I never saw
him as anything but my friend.

And I hated the way people would gawk at
him or judge him just because he looked

different. In our world, everyone was
and is different.

As far as I knew, Pat was gay and
married to Louie.

Adrian Adonis dressed like a woman.

Lord Littlebrook was small.

The big cat Ernie Ladd was outspoken.

Piper was out of his mind. And the Iron
Sheik got me drinks.

Once.

And that just doesn't go for our
superstars. That goes for all of us as

We come from all over the world. From
different backgrounds, ethnicities,

beliefs, capabilities, and ideologies.

And what brings us together is this
shared passion for what happens in that

ring. The one place where we control our
own destiny.

Where our differences are our strengths.

Where we ride or die with the characters
we love and the stories that give us

hope. The stories that make us human.

Because at the end of the day, we're all
the same.

And all we have is each other.

And together we can truly make a
difference in someone's life.

The best example I can think of is
Connor's cure.

Because of all of you, we have raised
millions of dollars to find a cure for

pediatric cancer, all in the name of an
eight -year -old boy and fellow WWE

Hall of Famer Connor Mahalik.

I'd like to take you back to a campaign
we created with the V Foundation called

Superstars for Hope.

How'd you come up with the name The
Destroyer? Because I destroy cancer.

When I put this outfit on, I feel
unlimited power.

I'm the queen.

I'm the phenomenal one.

And together we can all kick cancer's
butt.

We wanted to make something that wasn't
sad but was instead inspirational.

And did you all see that little boy at
the end who lifted up his walker and

said, Jimmy wins?

Well, that's Superman Jimmy, Jimmy
Spagnuolo, who happens to be here

Jimmy, would you mind standing?

Please stand.

Jimmy wasn't supposed to live.

And I'm ecstatic to say in two weeks on
May 11th, Jimmy will

celebrate his 16th birthday.

Could the entire family please stand?

Lacey, Lily, Jim, and Jimmy, thank you
so much for being here. You are truly

remarkable.

Your reaction doesn't surprise me one
bit, because WWE is the most supportive,

good -hearted community I have ever
known.

And I could not be more grateful for all
of you.

You are the one constant.

No matter what I was going through in my
life, you were always there to boo or

cheer or chant horrible things at me.

Thank you for the love.

Thank you to the Samoans who helped me
when a riot broke out at the L .A.

Coliseum. Thank you to the person who
worked at the airport in Abu Dhabi and

wore a Connors Care bracelet.

Thank you to the man at the strip mall
in New Hampshire who told me everything

was going to be okay.

I think I could thank nearly everyone in
this room for impacting my life in some

way.

Crew, referees, bus and truck drivers,
custodians, security, building

tailors and seamstresses, catering, hair
and makeup, agents and producers,

employees, partners, production, and
especially our superstars.

It is an honor to have worked with you,
and I will continue to cheer you on as

you impact generations.

And to those of you who I may have burst
your eardrum with one of my slaps,

I am truly sorry.

But there's really only one person to
blame for that.

My mother -in -law.

She's the one who taught me how to slap.

Meme Pepe, thank you for welcoming me
into your family with open arms.

To my sister -in -law Lynn, thank you
for always having my back.

And to my niece and nephew, Nathan and
Peter, I love you like you were my own.

A very special thank you to some of my
real -life groomsmen, and I'm going to

through this quickly.

HBK, or as my kids call him, Uncle Sean,
The Undertaker, William Regal, The

Nature Boy, and Kevin Nash.

Kid, my co -podcaster, Elise, Jackie,
Julie, Rich, Terry, Tim,

Tara, Jimmy, Ed, Laura, Brian, Michael
Bruce, The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes,

Blassie, Freddie, Blassie.

Jacqueline, Trish Stratus, Lita Sable,
Rhonda Rousey, The Bellas, Natty, The

Four Horsewomen, Stone Cold Steve
Austin, Paul Heyman, Kurt Angle, Batista

Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins,
The Rock, Y2J, Mick Foley, and John

Cena.

Thank you to Nick, Yvette, Natalie, and
Sunny Khan.

Mark Shapiro and Ari Emanuel, and most
importantly, thank you to the man of my

dreams, Paul Triple H Levesque.

He used to come to producers' meetings
wearing a black leather jacket, chomping

gum, putting his feet up and rocking
back in his chair.

He was everything that I taught to be
disrespectful.

But there was something irresistible
about him.

He was also forbidden to date being a
talent.

But I just couldn't seem to resist this
man.

He would flick little balled -up pieces
of paper at me that no one else seemed

to notice.

When we'd go to give each other a hug,
it was so awkward, like we had never

hugged anybody before.

And then one night after a run,
Nashville.

I was sitting on the floor in the
office, and he came and asked me if he

give me a call.

You know, to talk business.

And we never stopped talking.

Paul, you are my soulmate, you are my
hero, and you are the

man of my dreams.

And for the record, you flirted with me
first.

Whether I was that girl in the magazine,
the character in the show, or even

briefly leading as chairwoman and co
-CEO, my entire life has been lived

through WWE.

And a few years ago, I thought all of
that was lost.

But you helped me realize that that
wasn't true.

And no matter what, it will always be a
part of me, as it is a part of all of

you.

The video package that played before I
came out, thank you Adam and Colleen,

ended with the song Home by Philip
Phillips.

And I want to reinforce that all of us,
all of us who have ever touched or loved

our business in some way, we are all
family.

And WWE will always and forever be our
home.

Last but not least, since we're here to
induct Stephanie McMahon, who was

predominantly a heel, I think it's only
appropriate that we hear what she would

have to say.

You're damn right I deserve this
recognition.

most brilliant, most beautiful, most
powerful boss bitch there ever was.

While all of you were cheering for your
little underdogs and B -plus players, I

see you, Sami Zayn.

I was busy running this company and
turning it into the global juggernaut it

today. providing you with the
opportunity to make a name for

will profit from until my dying days and
give the rest of you an outlet for your

pathetic dreams.

I've made grown men tremble and cry
before me knowing I held the key to

or not they could provide for their
family. And I love to watch their stupid

pride crumble as I slap them across the
face with that reality.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is true
power, and I wield it unmercifully. So

unless you want to be on my bad side, I
recommend you get on your feet right

now. Stand up and bask in my glory as I,

Stephanie McMahon, am immortalized in
the 2026 WWE Hall.

26,

Hall of Fame inductee A .J. Stiles is
here with his entire family, the

phenomenal one, to be immortalized
tonight.

Also tonight, it's the immortal moment
for many of us, the greatest moment in

WrestleMania history, the slam heard
around the world.

Walk in like you own the air.

Get that confidence.

That's your superpower.

Acknowledge me. You don't dodge the
noise.

You flip it. Own it.

Make it yours.

Walk in loud.

Walk out legendary.

You know, just down the street, that's
the home of the NFL's Raiders, the

Stadium, hosting the two -night
WrestleMania for a second straight year.

reminder, it all begins on ESPN2 with
the first hour tomorrow at 6 Eastern, 3

the West Coast, and of course the whole
of that here on the ESPN app with the

Unlimited plan.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to
the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame induction

ceremony. And, Miz, tonight is all about
honoring those who have paved the way.

And earlier tonight, we talked about
superstars who built this industry. But

legacy is a little different.

It's about moments, presence, the names
that never fade. Because legacy isn't

about what you did.

It's about how you're remembered.

You may not have been there to see them
live.

but you know exactly who they are, that
legacy.

The latest recipient of the WWE Hall of
Fame Legacy Award was an Olympic

medalist. He was a bad dude with a nasty
sense of humor.

That scowl, that glare, that look.

Bad News Brown had a present.

Looks like I've been angry about it.
Forget about the old saying.

There's good news and there's bad news
because now there's only bad news.

He didn't meet Fred, not when he was
armed with a fierce finisher.

One of the most devastating I think I've
ever seen. Don't give no mercy, hate no

prison. He hailed from Harlem and
achieved Olympic glory, a bronze medal

at the 76 Summer Games.

Then bad news traveled fast.

arriving in WWE, tearing through
opponents, making enemies out of

including legends Hulk Hogan and Randy
Macho Man Savage.

He don't want no friends.

He don't need no friends.

He doesn't have any friends.

His WrestleMania moment, winning a
massive battle royal against the biggest

names in the biz.

One thing I do, I never, ever leave an
enemy behind. No alliances, no

No smiles, but no doubt he'd be beaming
about his election into the 2026 legacy

class of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the
family of Bad News Brown.

You know, Miz, along with your many
accolades, you're a nine -time tag team

champion. It's ten, but who's counting?
So, anyhow, you know how important tag

team wrestling is to what we do here. As
a kid, I loved tag team wrestling.

Legion of Doom, Demolition. If it had
face paint, I was all in.

Now, thanks to Dan Housen, I've seen
enough.

Tag team wrestling is all in a class of
its own. It's about trust, timing.

Knowing your partner has your back no
matter what.

Demolition? Well, they didn't just
understand that. They dominated it.

Ladies and gentlemen, the latest
inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame.

There's a new game in town, people.

Telling from parts unknown.

We live at the end of Elm Street. When
Freddy Krueger wants to come home, he

to ask us.

Demolition! Here comes the Axe. Here
comes Smash.

As Demolition walk in disaster.

Arriving to WWE in 1987, Bill Eaton and
Barry Darso took on the personas of Axe

and Smash and quickly dominated the tag
team scene as Demolition. It takes me

back to my childhood. As a kid, they
were larger than a light.

I grew up watching and loving
Demolition. I love Demolition. They were

favorite tag team growing up as a kid.

They looked like killers, and that to me
was so badass.

Well, the monsters are here, and your
nightmare is about to begin.

They were like something from a horror
film.

And they had that Jason Voorhees mask.
The black and the leather, the entrance

gear. Then they take the mask off and
now their face is also painted.

As a little kid, I was really scared of
them.

They just looked like they had taken
them from limb.

The things that they did were not
pretty. When we walk in the ring, it's

hell going to break out.

Oh, and here's the patented Demolition
move right here. I love this move.

Them are always just such big, bad
brawlers. Some badasses, but they were

so they got cheered.

New Tag Team Champions history made here
at Final WrestleMania IV.

Demolition's first reign as champions
would last an astonishing 16 months.

We're controlling the Tag Team
Championship scene.

Axe and Smash became the longest
reigning tag team champions in WWE

record that would stand for nearly 30
years.

Demolition would leave an indelible mark
on fans who grew up during WWE's golden

era of the late 1980s.

During that generation, demolition's
impact, it was just huge.

It is with great pride.

that we honor one of sports
entertainment's most iconic tag teams as

Demolition, Axe, and Smash into the WWE
Hall of Fame. Come on, Axe!

It's D -Day!

Ready for Demolition!

Ladies and gentlemen, here to

induct Axe, Axe, and Smash into the Hall
of Fame...

One of the baddest men on the planet,
Haku.

One of the four horsemen, Arne Anderson.
And from the powers of pain.

Is this an honor to be up here tonight
to induct one of the greatest tag teams

ever, Demolition.

From the way they walked to the ring
with their amazing outfits,

their best, their studded vest, and
their heart

-pounding song, you knew they were
special.

Then there was their achievements in the
ring as a tag team.

Not once, not twice, but three times
they won the old

WWE tag team belts.

The first time, 478 days.

That was a record never to be broken in
the old WWE.

I got to wrestle him for a part of that.

And boy, I had a lot, a lot of Mr.
Fuji's canes broken over my back and

pummeled into that mat with their iconic
double axe hammer every single night.

Brutal.

After 35 years.

Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan can't
believe that I'm standing here and talk

about them.

So, when demolition came to be, I had
the opportunity

to tag against them with three different
partners.

As part of the Islanders, with Tonga
Kid, Sivathi, and

the most famous.

of our feuds is one half of the colossal
connection

with Andre the Giant and Bobby the Brain
He -Man.

Managing us, the colossal connection
defended our tag team

titles at one of the greatest
WrestleMania, WrestleMania 6 in Toronto,

There we go.

In guerrilla, Andre told me I must look
strong and stay alive.

If it still shocks me, hear that I
wrestle more most of that match.

Accent's mask, thank you for taking care
of me.

It was an honor to be in the match with
you guys.

Thank you.

Come on now.

You didn't think I was going to just
fade to black, did you?

Well, tonight is not about me as I look
at all these beautiful people and

tremendous athletes.

It's about two guys that broke the
standard.

Phil Eady, he had gained worldwide
respect as a talent.

Barry Darceau, since 1982, has been one
of my best friends on the planet, so

this is a special one for me.

Those two guys got together, the stars
all came into alignment, and they busted

down the doors of the WWE. I mean, they
beat the crap out of everybody.

And I mean everybody. And Barry and I
were supposed to be friends.

I couldn't figure that one out. And I
said, what the hell's the matter with

man? You're killing me out there.

Got to protect the gimmick.

Now, if he said I got to protect the
gimmick, I would listen up.

But the fact of the matter is demolition
came along and set new standards for

tag teams.

I listened to the crowd every single
night when that music would hit and it

would be chill bumps.

Well, you know what we're talking about.

Very few people have that in this
business that can move people like that.

So without much further ado, this is an
easy one. The newest members of the WWE

Hall of Fame demolition.

Oh,

wow.

It's hard to beat Stephanie McMahon's
speech. That's incredible, huh?

Is she unreal or what?

All right.

This is just one of the most incredible
moments of my life.

I've been around the wrestling business
for over 40 years, and it all comes down

to tonight, the WWE Hall of Fame.

What an honor, and thank you very much.

And it's that ring right there.

There are so many people that I need to
say thanks to.

I'm only going to name a few.

About 39 years ago, I got a call from
Vince McMahon to come up to the office.

And he showed me a picture of what the
demolition character would look like.

And I didn't know anything about the
demolition. I didn't know what it looked

like.

And he asked me, he said, do you think
you can be this character?

And I looked him right in the eye.

And I said, You're darn right I can be
this character.

I'm Demolition Smash.

Unbelievable.

And we kind of laughed, and he said, I
just need to get a hold of Bill Leedy

make sure that everything's okay with
him, and it would be a good tag team for

the both of us. And, you know, I said,
perfect.

So I knew Bill through some mutual
friends, and everybody spoke so highly

him. Bill and I met a couple weeks
later.

The next thing you know, we're partners.
We're the demolition.

The first day in the ring, it just
clicked.

It was incredible.

The next thing you know, we're in the
Trump Plaza winning the tag team titles

from Tito Santana and Rick Martel.

Unbelievable.

Thank you.

I need to thank Bill Eady for this
moment right here because he's what's

this so easy.

for the decision for me to become Smash.

And we've been together for about 39
years now. We've had a great tag team

We put many miles on the road. Best
friends, training partners. All I did

follow his lead in the matches.

And they were phenomenal.

We wrestled the greatest teams of all
time. And those guys that just inducted

in here are some of them.

The Warlord, he was partners with the
Barbarian.

They were incredible.

Yes, definitely.

Haku with Andre the Giant.

Arne Anderson tagged with Tully
Blanchard. They were the brain busters.

it up with those guys.

It's just been an incredible, incredible
career.

I need to thank Mr. Fuji.

Hey, yeah.

Stooges the Stooges.

He was so much fun.

And he was just a great, great man and a
good guy to be around.

And then I need to thank Brian Adams
Crush.

All right.

Another great partner.

When he came in, we had the time of our
life.

He was just a good guy, a good man, and
he was one strong son of a gun. What a

good guy.

Then I have to mention my wife.

The love of my life, Teresa Darso.

She was the best partner I ever had,
sorry Bill, and still is.

She ran my whole life, and still does.

I've got to introduce my son, Dakota
Darso.

He's a sergeant for the Roscommon County
Sheriff's Department, and he's a canine

officer. The greatest son a man could
ever have.

Yeah.

Dakota, I love you.

And then his wife, Keely Darso, who's
just an incredible woman. I love her

than anything.

She is the mother of my three grandkids.

And can I get my three grandkids to
stand up?

Come on, you guys.

Come on.

That's Maverick, Scarlett, and Lincoln.

And can you look in the camera right
there and just smile and wave?

Just when you get back to school, tell
the kids at school that they're in

today and you're at the greatest show on
earth.

WrestleMania in the Hall of Fame, yeah.

So anyways, I'm going to wrap this up
and I just want to say thanks to the

Triple H, The Undertaker, the whole WWE
crew is just incredible.

And then, I've got to thank the fans.

Yeah, you fans are unbelievable. There
wouldn't be demolition without you.

you all.

All right, Phil.

You got it.

Well, to be truly honest, I didn't ever
think this day would come true.

To be inducted into the Hall of Fame has
been a great honor.

And it's unbelievable.

I look around the crowd here, and I'm
amazed.

I see all these superstars, and I envy
you.

You're doing a fantastic job.
Unbelievable.

Fantastic. Unbelievable.

We have been accepted into the
fraternity. We've been in the wrestling

for a number of years.

And now we're being inducted into the
Hall of Fame, and we're allowed in the

fraternity house.

There's many people that I want to
thank.

Thank you.

Thank

you.

That's a loud section over there.

I think maybe we should do a run -in at
WrestleMania.

You run in, I'll walk in, because I'm a
lot older.

But there's a lot of people that I would
like to thank and gave me guidance and

support.

Too many to mention, but I'll name a
few.

Guido Mongo, who was my trainer and
mentor.

George Scott, who gave me the character
of Mass Superstar.

Andre the Giant, good friend.

He trusted me.

Vince McMahon Jr.

and Sr.

for bringing us into WWE.

Antonio Inoki for giving me that main
event position in Japan.

And of course, Mr. Fuji.

Good manager, better friend.

And there's so many other people I'd
like to mention.

With all the talent in this room, all
the talent in the wrestling fraternity,

we've had so many good matches with
individuals and singles and

in tag.

Without a good opponent, the match
doesn't work.

We'd like to thank those people who went
in the ring with us, just like these

guys.

And all the people that we can't
mention, thank you very much.

I'd like to thank the fans.

Without the fans, you gave us the drive
and ambition and desire.

You gave us the support over these many
years.

And we truly thank you.

Thank you very much.

I would like to thank members of my
family.

First of all, my wife.

My wife, Sue.

She stood with me from day one.

I had a dream, and she supported that
dream.

She gave me support and strength and
effort even when I doubted myself.

She bought three homes while I was on
the road.

One of those times I didn't even know
where I lived coming back from Japan.

That was before cell phones, so if she
didn't come to pick me up at the

I was going to be in Atlanta Airport for
a long time.

Thank you, honey. I love you very much.

I'd like to thank my daughter, Heather
Davis,

my son -in -law, Michael Davis, because
they sacrificed as well.

And I've got four great -grandsons,
Christopher, Dylan,

Chase, and Dean.

And they give me the reason to keep
going.

And finally, the reason I'm even here
today, I want to thank my Lord Jesus

Christ. There we go. There we go.

He was with me when I was at my weakest
and when I needed guidance.

Thank you, Lord.

I've been asked a number of times, and
even today, at a signing,

The question, how are you going to feel
being inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Getting that title, getting the ring,
getting that acknowledgement.

And I hearken back to a movie that I
liked, Dumb and Dumber, and I'll steal

the phrase.

I like it. I like it a lot.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Still to come tonight, a man who
transformed our business, AJ Styles.

will enter the Hall of Fame.

And also Dennis Rodman, not of the NBA,
but of the NWO.

Dennis Rodman here live.

Welcome back to fabulous Las Vegas.
We're on the strip tonight. Dolby Live

Park MGM honoring the best of the best
at the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame induction

ceremony.

Celebrities have been a massive part of
WWE over the years.

They've even gotten in the ring on
occasion, much to the chagrin sometimes

the WWE fans.

You've had some run -ins with
celebrities over the years.

Oh, have I? Oh, I've had a verbal
confrontation with Pee Wee Herman.

People's elbow from Snoop Dogg. I got
punt kicked by Pat McAfee.

Interesting, because you weren't doing
that when he was kicking my teeth in.

It's hard for a celebrity to come into
our house, because you have to show the

same respect, the same passion, the same
pride that every superstar and every

member of the WWE universe has.

But when they do, and they prove that
they belong, it's special.

Because it brings a new audience, a new
energy, and to create moments that

everyone talks about.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The new inductee into the WWE Hall of
Fame's celebrity wing.

Ah, the 90.

A decade defined by vibrant colors,
outrageous fashion choices, and edgy

attitudes. And no one embodied that more
than the ostentatious Dennis Rodman. If

you look at him, you're not thinking any
other sport except WWE.

I define the word money.

Arguably the greatest rebounder in NBA
history, Dennis the Menace was as

comfortable causing chaos on the court
as he was doing whatever he wanted, all

of it. An entity of his own in the very
best way. He looks how he wants, he

dresses how he wants, he is the ultimate
rebel.

In 1997, this rebel found his cause.

The newest member of the NWO. You've
definitely...

Earn your colors, my friend.

Why did Dennis Rodman fit into the NWO?
Well, his nickname was The Worm.

Basically, it was just like everybody in
the NWO just obsessed with themselves.

With the Bulls' war to the NBA, the NWO
was the WCW.

Fat boys of wrestling with the fat boy
of the NBA.

What a match made in heaven.

Rodman was complete outlaw.

Exactly what the NWO was. I mean, they
fit in perfectly like a hand and a glove

together.

While the collab was screeched, Rodman's
rise in the ring lived up to his bad

boy rep.

I think the fact that he blew off a
practice during the finals was pretty

significant. There are some things worth
missing practice for, brother.

He is the kind of guy that just does
whatever he wants.

No rules with that guy.

Rod Villa was lambasted in the media,
but once back in Chicago, he helped lead

the Bulls to their sixth NBA
championship.

Less than a month later, the worm was
found, where else? On the beach with

Hogan and the NWO. Rodman was wild card.

He was definitely a V12 running on all
cylinders.

He's crazy.

I mean, he's absolutely crazy.

Rodman, he had everything it took. I
mean, he could have been a great

if he ever would have made that choice.
He was the real deal.

And so, on behalf of mavericks and
misfits everywhere, we honor the man who

flamboyantly crashed the boards as hard
as he crashed the party. That's right,

baby. You have no choice but to love me,
right?

And welcome the world into the 2026
class of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Here now to induct Dennis Rodman into
the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of

Fame, from the New World Order, Kevin
Nash, Sean

Waldman.

My voice has got something crazy going
on. I'm a hermit. I don't speak very

often.

Just being here today, I've lost my
voice.

The next inductee is no stranger to
being inducted. He was inducted to the

Hall of Fame in 2011 and into the NBA's
75th anniversary team in 2021.

Most importantly, he was the heart and
soul of the greatest collection of

athletes in sports.

I'm not talking about the Chicago Bulls.
I'm talking about the NWO.

The man who blew off practice during the
1998 NBA Finals so he could go smoke

some Cohibas on Nitro.

Quick tangent, it's urban legend, but
the story goes that Dennis was

paid $250 ,000 by the WCW for his
performance.

And the NBA fined Dennis.

a whopping $20 ,000.

So Dennis managed to skip practice, win
the NBA Finals, smoke

cigars on nitro, and still walk out with
$230 ,000.

When Dennis came out in that black limo,
it sent shockwaves through this

business. Because when you're Dennis,

When Dennis is on your TV, it's not just
a big deal for wrestling. It's

international news.

And while Dennis lives by his own rules,
he does follow one unshakable code.

When you're NWO, you're NWO for life.

Without further ado, it's my honor to
induct into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Dennis Rodman!

How you doing, Vegas?

As you know, this is my second home.

And, you know, amen.

I'm not trying.

Anyway, I had a speech up here, but just
unfortunately that Stephanie McMahon

did it for me.

Thank you.

That way I ain't going to be up so damn
long.

But I'm just happy to be here because
the WWE gave me a chance.

And WCW was great, you know.

NWO for life.

Yeah, man. Bless them, man. Bless them.
But you know what? I'm just happy to be

here to support you guys because I think
your organization is probably better

than most organizations around the
world.

Because the one thing you never have
left your feelings about loving your

community and loving the people that
work for you.

So, love.

There's a lot of guys in this industry
that's been physically damaged,

physically hurt, disappointed.

But this organization has never turned
their back on these people, man.

I mean, look around.

I mean, look around.

You know, so that's what I love about
being in my community, the wrestling

world. If I had to play basketball, I'd
be in this industry.

Very well.

And at least I know what Lord he is in
this industry.

And boy,

I would love to see a lot more shit.

I would.

I would.

You know, since I'm not getting
emotional, but I will. I will have to

something. I'm going to cut it short.

Now, let's thank a couple of people
here, man. Let's thank Jimmy Hart.

What a career this guy had, right?

This guy eats peanut butter with
cucumbers in the morning.

True story.

Eric Bischoff.

He's one of the guys that really helped
me get through this whole situation with

the wrestling.

And just like my neighbor, she's 82
years old. She didn't want to step in

watch this, but damn, man. You know,
she's an old woman, but love her to

Love her to death.

Every day, I talk to that woman every
day.

Knowing that she's dying, but I talk to
her every day at my pool stop. I say,

hey.

It's okay, man.

It's okay.

Hollywood Swinghead!

Yes!

But yeah, man, I'm having a good time
right now, man. I got a lot to weigh,

I got to speak about the person here.

Another person, Nick Hogan.

Yeah, I've been knowing Nick since he
was like three, four years old.

He's been through some, back in the day,
he was going through some really hard

times. And his dad, man, just always
stood beside him no matter what he did.

You know, no matter what he did, he
stood right beside him.

And I'm so proud of Nick, man.

He seemed like a really got his shit, I
mean, his stuff together.

It's on TV, fly TV, dope.

Trying to get through it, brother.
Trying to get through it, brother. So,

you know.

Yeah. So, bless you, Nick. Bless you,
Nick.

Bless everybody.

People back home.

Frankie. What's your matter?

Everybody up there. What you got going
on, love, baby?

What you got going on, baby?

Hey. Hey.

No matter you sit up there in the
bleachers, brother, guess what, dude?

life means more down here than up there
all day long, brother. Yes.

All day.

But I will finish this.

My lovely girl, yellow, yellow.

And, you know, everybody back there,
Joyce with the fellow.

But here we go, guys.

Here's the ending.

Here's the ending right here.

I love the fact.

When you can sit there, hold your head
up high, and see Hulkamania,

that statue, brother.

That statue, brother.

And I wonder what it took so long.

What took so long?

You know, I hope you guys don't laugh at
this.

A friend of mine, Hulk Hogan, told me a
thing.

Where's he going to move from?

With the fire, hookah medium, and a 24
-inch play -thug. Give the whole of you,

brother.

Try it. Try it.

What he will do.

Thank you guys for coming out, man.
Thank you guys for having me in.

Love is in the wine, baby.

NWO for life!

Well, this is indeed the first
WrestleMania without the presence of the

Hulk Hogan. Coming up next, one of the
great highlights of WrestleMania.

From the Silverdome in Pontiac,
Michigan, WrestleMania III.

It's our immortal moment. Coming up next
at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The biggest wrestling extravaganza of
all time.

The irresistible force meeting the
immovable object.

Oh! He dropped it! He dropped the big
guy!

He's hulking up! I didn't know if I
could get him up, to tell you the truth.

It was a defining moment.

That time of year when the very best
come out to play.

Is it going to be good?

from Las Vegas.

It doesn't get any bigger than this.

Quickness demands a stage.

The two -night weekend event known as
WrestleMania.

Tomorrow. Tickets on sale now.

And just down the street from where we
are tonight is Allegiant Stadium, host

the two -night extravaganza known as
WrestleMania, beginning with

Saturday at 6 Eastern, 3.

Pacific, where the main event was Randy
Orton versus Cody Rhodes for the

undisputed WWE Championship.

1987,

I was in college watching on closed
circuit.

The moment that got me into this
business. You're that old? I was seven.

old.

I was sitting down watching 93 ,000
people pack the silver dome.

Watching Hulk Hogan take on the
undefeated. A true giant. The immovable

Andre the Giant. And then it happened.

As 93 ,000 people rose out of their
seats. They watched the

immortal Hulk Hogan brother.

Pick up Andre the Giant and slam him.

And that's when we realized that wasn't
just a match.

That was history.

Let's celebrate that history now with
our immortal moment.

World Wrestling Federation officials
have announced that WrestleMania 3 will

held at the beautiful Silverdome.

Hulkamania is the newest thing, Johnny.
It's the thing that is sweeping the

country.

wrestling extravaganza of all time. I
should remind you, there are no tickets

left. Oh my gosh. I mean, people were
coming from all over the world for this

particular WrestleMania.

On the one hand, you have the ultimate
hero. On the other hand, you have this

giant who no human being could possibly
beat. There's no way. Hogan ain't gonna

pin me.

Who's gonna win?

Andre. Who had the two biggest names in
all of professional wrestling finally

meeting up.

Hogan and Andre is what set in motion
what it is we're all enjoying today.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to
WrestleMania 3!

I knew that night the whole world was
watching.

WrestleMania 3 just launched the WWE to
a whole other level from that point on.

You got 93 ,000 standing on their feet
for this one. Andre the Giant facing the

Hulkster, the irresistible force meeting
the immovable object.

It is David versus Goliath, and it was
the perfect story.

And a Hulkster unloaded, going for a
slam.

Hogan can't get Andre up. He can't get
Andre up. Oh, he collapsed.

Hogan may be hurt. Then at the end when
you most wanted it.

Oh, he dropped it. He dropped the big
guy.

He's hulking up.

I didn't know if I could get him up, to
tell you the truth.

So it was the defining moment.

Look at this.

He slammed him.

WWE, we're all about moments. We're all
about moments. Time stands still. And

Bogan slamming Andre is the moment that
the world stood still. It was different

than anything that's ever happened.

It was just the right time, the right
people, the right place. It was just

perfect. Greatest moment ever in my
career. It has to be that WrestleMania.

I'm very proud of Andre and I.

Ladies and gentlemen, here to help
enshrine this immortal moment into the

Hall of Fame is the WWE Hall of Famer,
the mouth of the South, Jimmy Hart,

Hulk Hogan's son, Nick, and Andre the
Giant's daughter, Robin.

You know what? Dennis Rodgers got me all
choked up now. Thank you, Dennis. I

appreciate that.

WrestleMania three, the Silverdome,
Detroit, Michigan.

When we booked the building, they didn't
tell us that a week before us, the

Pope's going to be in the Silverdome.

And then three days before us.

The Rolling Stones are going to be
there.

Hulk leans over to me and said, Jimmy
Hart, what do you think about it, man?

And I said, Hulk, I think we can outdraw
the Pope, but I don't think we can

outdraw the Rolling Stones, baby.

But you know what? Like Stephanie Mann
said earlier, we did 93 ,000 people. So

praise the Lord for our fans. We love
you. But like I said before, it's just

unbelievable that we were able to do
that. And I want to thank Andre the

Hulk Hogan, of course, Nickster, and
also Bobby the Brain Heenan for being

of that main event.

But you know what? I got a surprise for
you guys over here, okay?

Jimmy, Nick, Robin, thank you very much.
And as we just saw in our immortal

moment, Miz, the WWE has always been
about big men.

We always say superstars are larger than
life, but when we talk about

powerhouses like Andre the Giant, Big
John Studd, and The Undertaker,

they change the pace, they change the
feel, and that presence, that aura,

defines this business today.

Ladies and gentlemen, the latest
inductee into our legacy wing of the

Fame.

Sid Vicious.

Sid Justice.

Psycho Sid. By any name, you didn't want
to mess with him.

A towering 6 '9", with trademark
intensity, Sid was a terrified superstar

his nearly 30 -year career.

Oh man, Sid Vicious, one of the most
imposing big men you ever met in your

Sid Vicious is bad to the bone. I am the
top dog here.

Everyone has to measure themselves to
me.

The maniacal giant ruled WWE with his
mastery of mind games and his signature

powerbomb. Never have I seen anyone with
a credential the size of that.

Everyone!

A menacing reputation coupled with
charisma earned him two WrestleMania

events, against the immortal Hulk Hogan
and The Undertaker.

Went on to become a two -time world
champion in both WCW and WWE.

I am the master and I am the ruler of
the world.

This psycho's path has led Sid to become
a proud member of the 2026 legacy class

of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Please welcome the family of Psycho Sid.

And coming up next, the Hall of Fame
gets truly phenomenal.

I've never been in a ring with someone
that talented.

I'm just proud of them now.

I couldn't think of a better person to
have my last WrestleMania match with.

When he's known for his

athleticism, he also shifted gears and
became more of a character.

My most favorite thing to do was beat up
John Cena at you.

Banning it. We own France.

The building was shaking.

the fact that AJ Styles was in front of
them and he was indeed phenomenal.

The

benchmark

for what it is to be a professional both
inside and outside of the ring.

He became a hero for a generation of
wrestlers.

What he's given to the business is
amazing.

He's just a good person.

On behalf of every single person, thank
you very much, AJ Styles.

Here to induct A .J. Stiles into the
Hall of Fame, the good brothers,

Carl Anderson, Luke Gallo.

Thank you.

I'd like to start off by saying it's an
absolute honor and a pleasure to induct

our friend, our brother, and our forever
leader, the phenomenal A .J. Stiles,

into the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame.

You know, A .J. went from becoming the
heart and soul of TNA

To becoming one of the men, if not the
man, that pushed the Bullet Club into

mainstream.

And when he signed with WWE, he became
the face that runs the place.

AJ Styles has inspired an entire
generation of professional wrestlers,

imagine it's including almost everyone
in this room.

AJ Styles is so loved all around the
world, it's kind of hard to find

to say a bad word about AJ.

He's had so many legendary rivalries and
matchups, he could have had anybody

induct him into the Hall of Fame.

Guys like John Cena.

Guys like Shinsuke Nakamura.

Guys like Finn Balor.

Guys like The Undertaker.

That's true, Carl.

But like the other two times that AJ
Styles called us up and said, Hey, you

freaking guys want to go to WWE?

We said, yep.

AJ Styles is not only one of the
greatest in -ring performers of our

but he's also a fantastic family man and
a mentor.

Anywhere in the world, on any given
night, if a young talent was looking for

advice or feedback,

AJ Styles was the first guy to stand up
and hand that out.

True. Allow me to set the stage.

It's 2006 in Southern California,
backstage at an independent professional

wrestling show.

AJ Styles is backstage visiting, and
this is AJ Styles.

The dude that everybody looks up to.
He's the guy in 2006.

And little did I know that a decade
later, AJ and Gallows and myself would

to WWE and do so many cool things. But
I'm watching AJ Styles backstage at this

show.

And this young independent wrestler
walks up to him and goes, Mr. Styles, do

have any advice for me after you watch
my match?

AJ looked at him, and I'm watching with
bated breath, man. This is AJ's style.

I'm a broke independent wrestler. I'm
watching AJ with every move he's doing.

AJ goes, yeah.

If you can't take or throw a forearm,
get out of the frickin' business.

That's not the end.

I'm watching. I'm wondering what's going
to happen. AJ grabs a guy like this,

and he goes, wham!

See?

Wham!

And the kid walks away like this and
says, thank you, Mr. Stiles.

That's when I realized for real in 2006
that AJ Stiles' finisher would be the

phenomenal forearm. I watched it.

For real. And on that note, there's only
one thing left to do. And that's go old

school Japanese style.

Carl, I need you to conjure up the
machine gun.

I like when you talk like that, Big LG.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in
welcoming the newest member

of the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2026.

In my opinion, the greatest professional
wrestler on God's green earth.

Say it with me. The phenomenal.

Shane Helms said to me today, don't get
out there and get emotional, AJ.

I said, dude, that's not fair.

I just kind of retired in January.

I'm still having withdrawals from
wrestling.

It's going to be a little hard for me
not to get emotional. So if I do, call

a baby. That's fine.

But it could happen.

And here's the thing. A lot of people
have been asking me since the Royal

Rumble, do I miss record?

You see, when you do that, that makes it
very complicated.

Because I really enjoyed being AJ
styled.

I loved everything about it.

The ring.

The ropes.

Diving over the top rope. Jumping off
the top rope.

Taking huge bumps. I loved it.

I really did.

I loved everything about it.

That sounds crazy, I know.

But here you sit.

Because you love the same thing that I
do.

It was the passion that got you here.

Because I've been in the ring with you.

I could see it.

We all had the same thing.

It's addictive.

And it's great.

It's fun.

The locker room.

Unbelievable.

The men.

the women that I got to hang around
with, the people that I got to meet,

you don't forget.

That community that we got to hang
around with, not everybody gets to do

For you guys that sit out here, we're
the lucky ones.

I want you to think about them.

There are more professional athletes in
football

baseball, basketball, than there are of
you.

That's how hard it is to get to where
you're at.

So the next time you're feeling a little
down and out, take pride in the fact

that you did something a lot of people
weren't able to do because of that

passion.

Is it crazy that I said...

I kind of like the plane rides, the long
ones, the train rides, the tours

in Europe, the tours in Japan.

I love that, guys.

Maybe I'll miss that a little bit.

But to answer the question, do I miss
wrestling?

This is going to surprise you a little
bit.

The answer is no.

Because I'm lucky enough to go home to
my family every night.

I don't have to miss any more birthdays
or important games or birthday parties

and soccer games.

I don't have to miss that anymore.

I don't have to miss when you fall down
and you scrape your little knee, Annie,

that I can be there for you.

We don't have to FaceTime anymore.

I don't have to call from Japan, AJ, to
see what kind of game you're having that

day or to talk you back into the game
after you got hurt real bad.

I got to be there for your wrestling
matches, Abe. I get to see them now.

Albie, your music capabilities and what
you hear that most people get and the

music that you make is just...

astounds me.

And as much as I get the chance to spend
time with my family, man, it's even

better when I get to spend time with
just me and my wife.

We get to get away and reconnect.

Man, I'm telling you, there's nothing
better than that.

Now listen, I've sat where you've sat,
God.

I know how long this night can be.

We've got some important days coming up.

There's a lot of people I need to thank.

So let me say it this way.

If there's ever a promoter that I've
ever worked for, thank you.

If there was ever talent that I was able
to get in the ring with,

Thank you so much.

And if I ever told you that I love you,
I meant it.

So, I guess at the end of the day, I
don't

really have to.

Be away from wrestling.

I don't have to be the phenomenal AJ
Styles anymore.

But the job that I'm getting within the
WWE, the opportunity that I

have here in the WWE to stay with this
company and be a part of this family, my

job is to find the next phenomenal.

I may set a record here tonight, just so
you know.

I don't understand, but I'd like to
think that my faith

and what I believe in had me at the
right time.

At the right place.

With the right person watching.

I am so blessed.

To have what I have.

And have done what I've done.

It was divine intervention.

I'm just saved by grace. By the grace of
God. And my savior Jesus Christ.

That I was able to do something like
that. And be in front of you guys. And

so thankful for that.

So, when I look in the mirror, I see
this guy,

and I know guys like me were never
supposed to make

it to places like this.

But here I am, and because of you, I
did.

So I am humbled and honored to be a
member of the 2026 WWE

Hall of Fame.

I love you.

And thank you very much.

Ain't nobody manning no field of pain.
And you can be next.

You better give respect.

Because ain't nobody breaking this
redneck.

No, they don't want none.

No, they don't want none.

They don't want none. No, they don't
want none.

They don't want none. No, they don't
want none.

They look scared. No, they don't really
want none.

I'm a Mack truck.

Don't get run over.

Ladies and gentlemen, the phenomenal AJ
Styles.

Thank you.

for joining us tonight. It has been our
honor and privilege.

We will see you tomorrow and Sunday at
Wrestlemania.

This and the class of the 2026 Hall of
Fame is...