The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is out today (Nov. 13, 2026), and it’s the annual Hall of Fame issue. Established in 1996, the Observer Hall of Fame’s annual classes of inductees are voted on anonymously by past & present pro wrestlers and other industry figures along with journalists and historians.
Ballots are organized by wrestlers/fighters, managers, promoters, trainers, and commentators, and 60% of the vote is required in an inductee’s designated “wing” of the WON Hall
(like most wrestling halls of fame, the Observer’s has no physical location).
With just four members, the 2026 class is the smallest since 2014. It’s also the first group in recent memory to not include an active wrestlers. Talent can be added to the WON Hall’s ballot after 15 years in the business, and that’s led to The Young Bucks, Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes being inducted in just the last few classes.
Ted Turner, Jesse Ventura, Dominic DeNucci, and George Gordienko were voted in this year. Turner led the way in voting with 70.2%, followed by DeNucci with 69.7%, Ventura at 63%, and Gordienko getting in by just two votes at 60.5%.
- “Billionaire Ted” made pro wrestling a foundation stone for his cable empire for as long as he could, and likely benefited from coverage of his death earlier this year.
- Ventura won entry as a non-wrestler, finally gaining entry for his commentary after falling off the ballot in other categories.
- Denucci is a French-Canadian wrestler who became a big star in 1960s Australia and was credited with wrestling catching hold there. His vote total skyrocketed this year after historian Ethan Tyler made the case for it in a Voices of Wrestling article.
- Gordienko was a famous shooter from the territory days, and a big international star who was a big draw in the UK in the late 1960s. He was reportedly in line for an NWA title run when he was blacklisted in the United States for being a member of the communist party .
Jon Moxley made the most serious push to join the Observer Hall from the modern wrestling group this year, receiving 55% of the vote. Will he get in next year? How about Mercedes Moné, who got 41.3% this year? Or Will Ospreay, who will be on the ballot for the first time.
Share your Observer Hall of Fame thoughts in the comments below.
