Go-Rilla!

WILL YOU STOP?!

Gordon Solie had a long run as the consensus GOAT announcer. I would agree with those who say that Jim Ross eventually surpassed him, but for his era and his company Solie was basically perfect as the lead play-by-play guy.

The Rock
Randy Savage
John Cena
Shawn Michaels
El Santo
Gordon Solie

It's Vader time! Vader is unquestionably the greatest big man to ever lace up the boots. He won titles all over the world. He won the IWGP championship in NJPW prior to moving onto WCW to capture their championship twice, with one reign lasting 4 days shy of an entire year. After WCW some politics kept him from winning the WWF title and he was treated as an after thought there but after the WWF, he returned to Japan in AJPW and won the Triple Crown Championship and had classic matches with Misawa, Kobashi, and people yet to be drafted. In between WCW and WWF, he headlined a Tokyo Dome show vs. Inoki which drew 54,000 people.

Steve Austin
Lou Thesz
Roddy Piper
Sting
Rey Mysterio Jr.
Big Van Vader

Classy Freddie Blassie

Arguably the greatest heel in wrestling history, Classy Freddie Blassie had a career spanning six decades, during which time he was a legitimate crossover star, regularly appearing on talk shows and sitcoms. Blassie is recognised by many as having perfected the art of the interview, and is known for such underhanded tactics as filing his teeth then biting his opponents foreheads.

He sold out arenas across the USA and Japan, including a notable feud in the 1960s with Bruno Sammartino which apparently helped launch the WWWF. After his wrestling career he went on to have great success as a manager.

Here is a classic Blassie promo:

Brock Lesnar

I doubt this pick will get the antidan seal of approval but Brock is perhaps the greatest legitimate athlete in wrestling history and is a huge star both inside and outside the industry. His career has been relatively short but he has put on many great matches and has an impressive kayfabe resume; 5 WWE World titles, IWGP Heavyweight title, royal rumble win, king of the ring win, and of course broke The Undertaker's winning streak at Wrestlemania.

Gorgeous George
Antonio Inoki
The Undertaker
Mick Foley
Kurt Angle
Classy Freddie Blassie
Brock Lesnar

Ted DiBiase

I was going to put a theme but I found this instead. Given the recent passing of Bruno, this seems like an appropriate clip where Stan recalls breaking Bruno's neck in 1974.

I did want to post more gifs of Stan but they featured undrafteds . He made a career out of being the top gaijin in Japan. He held the Triple Crown Championship 4 times in a period one of the most competitive main event scenes ever. He held the PWF Championship 4 times. What is the PWF title? That's one of the titles that was merged into the Triple Crown. He won the yearly AJPW Real World Tag League 4 times with 4 different partners. He's a former AWA champion and decided to run that belt over with his tractor and mail it back when he had a money dispute with Verne Gagne.

Stan has some of the very best matches from the 90's and every wrestling fan should see his match from September of 1983 vs. Andre. It's just 10-15 minutes of chaos.

Steve Austin
Lou Thesz
Roddy Piper
Sting
Rey Mysterio Jr.
Big Van Vader
Stan Hansen

Surprised that Jerry Lawler was still around. I have to think that his historical standing is currently being hurt by him staying around long enough to see himself become the villain. I don't like the guy myself, but he's had quite a career for decades on end, including a brief foray into the mainstream during his feud with undrafted that included a famous spot on David Letterman's show.

He will be inducted by Jim Ross.