NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes

The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes is a professional wrestling hall of fame that honors people who have competed or played other major roles in the NWA. Organized by wrestling promoter Greg Price,[1] the hall is separate from the NWA Hall of Fame and is not officially endorsed by the company, but the NWA has given permission for the use of its name.[2] An induction ceremony takes place at the annual NWA Legends Fanfest Weekend. In 2007, there were seven inductees in the inaugural class. Seven more honorees were added the following year, and another eight were added to the Hall of Heroes in 2009.[3] The 2009 induction ceremony took place on August 7 and was hosted by Jim Cornette.[4]

Honorees are inducted for work in any area of wrestling, including competing in the ring, managing, refereeing, promoting, and announcing. During the ceremony, personalities from the NWA deliver speeches and present the inductees with plaques.[5] These plaques have the logo of the NWA Legends Fanfest and are identical aside from the year of induction and the inductee's name.[3] Many presenters have been involved in the inductee's career; for example, Gary Hart, who managed Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson,[6] inducted both men,[3] and Buddy Roberts was inducted by Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin,[3] both of whom were fellow members of The Fabulous Freebirds.[1] Inductees and other former NWA wrestlers are seated at tables with fans to provide an intimate atmosphere. Although most people honored by the hall attend the dinner and induction ceremony, some are inducted posthumously and others are unable to attend for medical reasons.[3][7]

Although most wrestlers are inducted individually, tag teams have been inducted together. Ole and Gene Anderson were among the members of the inaugural class; they competed together for many years as storyline brothers.[8] The Fargo brothers (Don, Jackie, and Sonny), who also wrestled in tag team matches together despite not being related in real life, are scheduled to be inducted together in 2009.[9] George Scott, inducted in 2007, and his brother Sandy, inducted in 2008, are the only true relatives in the hall.[10] Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson, who competed as the original Blond Bombers, were also inducted together in 2007.[11]

Like most wrestling halls of fame, there is no physical building that houses the NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes.[12]

  1. ^ a b Johnson, Stephen (2008-08-11). "For fans, NWA Legends Fanfest is the main event". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved 2009-07-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "NWA Legends Fanfest Weekend". NWA Legends. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e "NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  4. ^ "NWA Legends Fanfest: Hall of Heroes". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  5. ^ "Hall of Heroes Class of 2008". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  6. ^ Mooneyham, Mike (2008-03-18). "Manager "Playboy" Gary Hart dies at 66". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  7. ^ Mooneyham, Mike (2008-08-24). "Seemed Like Old Times". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference andersons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Johnson, Steve. "Class of 2009: The Fabulous Fargo Brothers". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  10. ^ Will, Gary. "George Scott & Sandy Scott". Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  11. ^ Mooneyham, Mike. "Hawk and Hanson: The Blond Bombers". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Archived from the original on November 13, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  12. ^ "Building A Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame Is A Lot Easier Said Than Done". Deadspin. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2020.