WWE Hall of Fame: best & worst speeches

[SpykeDudlei1]

I know the inspiration for this should’ve come a couple of weekends back, but having seen someone share the clip from Bret Hart’s speech about the strip club they went to and LOD doing their finisher on Vince, it took me down a Hall of Fame speech rabbit hole.

Bret’s is right up there with some funny stories and a meaningful speech. As hard as it was to see Heenan’s health declining by 2004, his speech is a classic and I dare anyone not to get emotional when he talks about Monsoon not being there.

I loved the 2014 class with Jake, Razor and Warrior too.

I'm obviously missing a lot of other good ones here but going to try and watch a few back in the coming weeks and that might jog my memory.

As for forgettable speeches, there have been a few including this year’s - AJ Styles for example. And I can generally do without most of the celebrity inductions barring the odd exception.

The main thought in general though is although the boisterous crowds who often had too many people trying to make it about them by constantly to the inductees during their speeches (sometimes at the most inappropriate moments) the ceremonies were so much better up until a few years ago, even if they did end up running ridiculously long and must’ve been a slog for those attending live.

[Lorne Malvo]

Hillbilly Jim's is still going on. 

[herbie747]

2014 was a great class: Razor, Jake, and Warrior all had incredible speeches. 

[WrestlingForFun]

Not sure about speeches themselves but Cornette’s induction of the Rock and Roll Express was incredible.

By the end of it he really did you have believing that they were the best tag team who ever walked the planet

 

[air_raid]

4 hours ago, herbie747 said:

2014 was a great class: Razor, Jake, and Warrior all had incredible speeches. 

Chico was the only one ever I can quote from. Says something.

[Ironic Indie Lad]

The Freebirds entrance at the HOF was absolutely fucking incredible viewing.

Had the real vibe of "oh my god what the fuck is my dad doing?!" once the DJ gets going at a wedding at the end of a very long day. 

Genuinely my favourite part of any Hall of Fame. 

[BomberPat]

I really liked Terry Funk's speech. It's largely just Teddy Roosevelt's speech about "the critic", but the delivery is brilliant.

[Statto]

There's only one I've rewatched multiple times - Bobby Heenan.

Scripted gags, fun stories, emotion. It's got it all.

[RedTwoster]

19 minutes ago, Statto said:

There's only one I've rewatched multiple times - Bobby Heenan.

Scripted gags, fun stories, emotion. It's got it all.

This is exactly the one I was going to say. Frankly, it’s the only Hall of Fame speech I actually remember and back when I first saw it, I didn’t even know who he was. 

[Ironic Indie Lad]

Heenan a great shout.

I didn't go to that one. I went to WrestleMania XX but went to ROH instead of the Hall of Fame.

I remember tearing up a bit when they showed the highlights and Heenans voice cracking as he said "I wish Monsoon was here". Beautiful stuff. 

[Chili]

Not my favourite (Heenan's is) but I adored The induction of The Iron Sheik. Just that stream of consciousness followed by giving the sound guy a false finish twice by carrying on after his music played. 

 

[TheBurningRed]

7 hours ago, Lorne Malvo said:

Hillbilly Jim's is still going on. 

Bruno Sammartino’s induction speech for Larry Zybszko was just as long. You wouldn’t want him telling you a story in a hurry. And then Larry took the mic.

Anyway, it’s Heenan’s. 

[Callum1993]

Mr T’s was so awful it was funny. Went on forever talking about loving his mother on every day of the year. I seem to remember Kane having to get him off the stage in the end. 

[The King of Old School]

I haven't seen it, but I can just imagine HHH's from last year would be up there with the most boring, cringeworthy speeches there is.

[davertfnewman]

19 hours ago, Callum1993 said:

Mr T’s was so awful it was funny. Went on forever talking about loving his mother on every day of the year. I seem to remember Kane having to get him off the stage in the end. 

There's the saying "He gets the assignment" - Mr T didn't get the assignment, which led to it being a bit embarrassing for everyone all round.