As reported recently, wrestling legend “The Crippler” Ray Stevens was scheduled to be one of the inductees into the 2015 class of the WWE Hall Of Fame due to his legendary status in the Bay Area, however plans ended up being changed at the last minute and Stevens will not be inducted this year after all.

A source close to the situation called the change in plans a “card subject to change” type of situation and said it likely happened because this year’s top inductee — “Macho Man” Randy Savage — has passed away, and WWE didn’t want another deceased legend going in the same year.

Stevens going into the WWE Hall Of Fame this year was considered a “done deal” up until about a week ago when the decision was made not to induct him this particular year.

• Trainer: “CM Punk Would Have Lost Monday’s MMA Scrimmage Bout If It Were Scored!” (Photos Of The Bout Included)!

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Despite several weeks of speculation, it appears that WWE has changed direction and will not be inducting “The Crippler” Ray Stevens in this year’s class of the WWE Hall Of Fame.

WWE Hall Of Famer and longtime company executive Pat Patterson, who used to be Stevens’ tag-team partner, had been pushing hard for him to be inducted this year, particularly because of his reputation and legendary status in the Bay Area, where this year’s WrestleMania pay-per-view will be held. It was also expected that Patterson would handle the induction itself.

While Stevens will not be inducting in this year’s WWE Hall Of Fame class, it is being said that he will likely go in during a future induction ceremony.

• VIDEO: UFC Fighter CAUGHT ON TAPE Violently Assaulting Man At His Gym!

(Credit: PWInsider.com)

It is expected that WWE will announce Madusa as one of this year’s WWE Hall Of Fame inductees. Madusa worked in WWE as Alundra Blaze and during the Monday Night Wars, infamously threw the WWE Women’s Championship in the trash can on a live edition of WCW Monday Nitro.

With Madusa, Kevin Nash, Tatsumi Fujinami and Ray Stevens expected to be the final four inductees, below is a potential look at the final list of inductees for this year’s class.

– Randy Savage
– Rikishi
– Arnold Schwarzenegger
– The Bushwhackers
– Ray Stevens
– Kevin Nash
– Madusa
– Tatsumi Fujinami

• UPDATE: Brock Lesnar’s Return To UFC Looking Unlikely Because ….

(Credit: F4WOnline.com)

We reported several weeks ago that WWE was considering inducting wrestling legend “The Crippler” Ray Stevens into the 2015 class of the WWE Hall Of Fame, with his former tag-team partner Pat Patterson being the guy to induct him.

It appears that WWE is going forward with the Stevens induction for later this year at the ceremony during WrestleMania 31 weekend in Santa Clara, California.

WWE recently started putting together material for Stevens’ induction announcement video package, and he is likely going to be the next inductee announced, possibly on next Monday’s edition of WWE RAW.

• PHOTO: BROCK LESNAR Sporting A “TRAMP STAMP” Tattoo!

(Credit: PWInsider.com)

– Pat Patterson is reportedly pushing for his former tag-team partner, “The Crippler” Ray Stevens to be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame this year, particularly because of the fact that it is located in Northern California, where Stevens was a major star during the territory days.

– One of the reasons WWE Diva Naomi was taken off of the cast of Total Divas this season is because of the belief that the show can only have so many storylines centered around married couples having issues. The decision was made to take her off of the show in favor of two single women, Paige and Alicia Fox.

• MMA Fighter Who TRASHED CM Punk Talks About Training Him Now + PHOTOS Of CM Punk In The Gym With His MMA Team

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

As seen in many recent years, WWE generally likes inducting a local legend from the WrestleMania host area each year into the WWE Hall Of Fame. This year, one of the leading candidates for the WWE Hall Of Fame in terms of local legends, since WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara, California, is “The Crippler” Ray Stevens, considered by many to be the best in-ring worker of his generation.

Another choice for a potential local legend induction is former pro wrestler and football player Leo Nomellini, however because WWE owns no video footage on him, his chances are said to be less than great.

As noted last week, the leading candidates in terms of “main event” inductions for 2015 are Sting and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, although Vince McMahon said during the live “Steve Austin Show” podcast on Monday that Savage may not be going in this coming year.