WWE has inducted plenty of people into the celebrity wing of their Hall of Fame. Some inductions have caused concern with fans, but it seems Earl Hebner is very opinionated on this subject.
While speaking with Steve Fall, Earl Hebner was quite open about where he believes he belongs in pro wrestling history. He is not in the WWE Hall of Fame, but that is a place he feels as though he believes.
“I should [be in the WWE Hall of Fame], but I don’t know.” Earl Hebner stated. “[There were] a few problems when I left with me and Vince so I don’t know.”
Earl Hebner also stated that WWE should have put former WWE referee Tim White in the Hall of Fame. While was inducted as a Warrior Award recipient, years after his passing. As Hebner sees it, White should have received that honor years before he passed away, not afterward.
“They should have put Tim White in the Hall of Fame way way before he passed away. I think the Hall of Fame means nothing if you’re not alive. You don’t get any benefits out of it. It’s just you know, what good does it do you? What would it do me if I was dead and they put me in the Hall of Fame. What does it mean? Nothing. I don’t know it. Timmy didn’t know it. What the hell? He’s not the only one. Vader, Macho Man. What good does it do you know? Timmy deserved it way, way long before they gave it to him. Before he passed. He deserved it probably 10 years before that, the way he took care of Andre and kept Andre going and, and everything. But, you know, there were a lot of other referees that need to be in the Hall of Fame, but I don’t know if they’re gonna put any referees in. No big deal to me either way.”
Tim White sadly passed away on June 19th, 2022. He was given the Warrior Award in the WWE Hall of Fame the following year.
Earl Hebner was also very old-school with his mindset regarding any non-wrestlers in the WWE Hall of Fame. The way he sees it, they do not belong in the company’s hall of legends. To him, it’s “a joke” to give non-wrestlers that honor.
“All the people in the Hall of Fame that’s not wrestlers, they don’t belong in the Hall of Fame. Would any of those people go into the baseball Hall of Fame or the NFL Hall of Fame? Hell no they wouldn’t. So you get all these jabroni’s to come in? Its a joke.”
WWE Hall of Fame Celebrity Wing
The WWE Hall of Fame celebrity wing boasts a diverse array of inductees over the years. Among them are Pete Rose, who received the honor in 2004, and William Perry, who was inducted in 2006. The class of 2010 saw the addition of Bob Uecker, followed by Drew Carey in 2011. The year 2012 welcomed Mike Tyson into the prestigious group, while 2013 featured Donald Trump as an inductee. In 2014, Mr. T joined the ranks of the WWE Hall of Fame celebrity wing.
Other notable inductees include Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2015 and Ozzy Osbourne in 2021. Each of these individuals has left a unique mark on the wrestling world and contributed to the rich history of the WWE Hall of Fame.
Earl Hebner released a book providing intricate insights into his experiences throughout his wrestling career. The book is titled “Earl Hebner: The Official Story.” His book can be purchased at this link.
