Today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is its annual Hall of Fame edition, and the class of 2025 features eight new members. In order to qualify for induction, candidates need to be selected
by at least 60% of Dave Meltzer’s voting body for a given region. The new inductees for 2025 include Spyros Arion, Gran Hamada, Dorrell Dixon, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Sabu, Bobby Bruns, and Raoul Paoli.
Punk finally made it in after missing out on last year’s Hall of fame class, which included Roman Reigns and the Young Bucks. CM has established himself as one of the biggest stars and draws in the business today after first returning to pro wrestling with AEW in 2021, and then doing it on a much bigger stage in WWE since late 2023.
The merits of Rhodes’ candidacy were also pretty obvious, not only for his current multi-year run as the top babyface star in WWE, but for making a significant impact on the industry as part of the launch of AEW before that.
Sabu wasn’t really on the radar for this Hall of Fame induction one year ago, but that changed after his death this year. Here is what Meltzer writes about Sabu’s Hall of Fame case:
“Sabu was a big independent star who was one of the keys in ECW getting a cult following in the 90s. But he was not a top of the card wrestler in WWF or WCW, and was very problematic over the years. But in death, what couldn’t be denied when assessing his life and career, was how much he had changed pro wrestling, particularly with how big table breaking and death match wrestling had become staples of the game. In that sense, Sabu was one of the most influential wrestlers of this generation, even if his in-ring itself was not going to get him voted in.”
As someone who was drawn to the ECW product in the mid-90’s when WCW and WWF were putting on terrible main events like Hulk Hogan vs. Dungeon of Doom and Diesel vs. King Mabel, respectively, Sabu’s unique style in the ring certainly stood out to me and was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It seems that his death has helped a lot more fans and critics acknowledge his influence on the industry.
Some of the notable near misses this year include Hayabusa (58.9%), Junkyard Dog (58.6%), Jesse Ventura (57.4%), Ted Turner (55.5%), Gorilla Monsoon (51.7%), Zack Sabre Jr. (49.7%), Mark & Jay Briscoe (48.8%), Mike Tenay (48.6%), and the British Bulldogs (45.1%).
Randy Orton landed at 31.6% of the vote, which means he has quite a ways to go before a potential Hall of Fame induction. Some other candidates who finished at a similar level, but ahead of Randy, include Samoa Joe (36.5%), Matt & Jeff Hardy (35.6%), Rick & Scott Steiner (34.7%), Jim Johnston (34.1%), and Jon Moxley (32.3%).
Candidates who fail to earn 10% of the vote in a region will not appear on next year’s Hall of Fame ballot. That means Drew McIntyre was screwed over once again by the higher powers, and he will have to wait to be added back to the ballot. However, Mercedes Mone (10.9%), Trish Stratus (10.5%), and Seth Rollins (10.0%) just barely managed to make the cut. Perhaps next year they’ll be able to reach the level of jam-up guy El Dandy (16.7%).
Some of the new names that will join next year’s ballot include GUNTHER, Batista, Kane, KENTA, Booker T, Great Sasuke, and Dick Murdoch.
What are your thoughts on the results of the Wrestling Observer’s Hall of Fame vote this year, Cagesiders?
