The WWE will be inducting new wrestlers into the Hall of Fame next year and based upon last year, it will probably be a Texas-based theme. As you probably know, Wrestlemania 25 will be in Texas and to fit tradition, it is time to look at some of the possible candidates. Each year there have been inductees but without further or do, I'm going to pick out a few and give some possible reasons as to why they will probably get inducted.
The Funk Brothers: While they had a run in the WWF that didn't last long, mostly they would be known as NWA wrestlers well maybe Terry for more than that. Terry for sure will get in and was considered by many a guy who would put over stars to help other guys become bigger than what they are. Dory I never saw much about him but I know him and Terry were both NWA Champions probably making them the only brothers to ever have held the NWA Title. His last national appearance on TV would be if I recall correctly on the Raw to build up One Night Stand and man was he in horrific shape and could barley walk down to the ring. However, that shouldn't really be the legacy. The legacy would be two brothers while going separate paths will be known as former NWA Champions.
The Von Erich Family: Nothing else could be said other than some of the documentary in the WCCW DVD that the WWE produced though there is more information about this team. The only thing that may stop this would be the suicides happening and the tragedy that had befallen the Von Erichs. Kevin Von Erich says there isn't a curse but more of a situation that his brothers had done to themselves. Most likely if you were in the Texas area and saw WCCW back in the 80s, that could strengthen the case of putting them in. I know you're thinking well they weren't big in WWE but neither was Verne Gagne and he was inducted. The only member of the Von Erich family that wrestled in the WWE, back in the WWF era in the early 90s would be Kerry Von Erich.
Stone Cold Steve Austin: Most likely the one that will be the headliner for this class of 2009. You wouldn't think he'd be inducted for at least a few years but it's bound to happen and probably the one that will close the Hall of Fame presentation. Here's a guy who has won 3 Royal Rumbles, been a 6-time WWE Champion, and arguably the face of the Attitude Era.
The Freebirds: What could be said about the original Freebirds? Probably most famous would be for the feud in Texas with the Von Erichs. That was a big deal back then and you had to think back on that. I do remember the Freebirds but they weren't the original ones in WCW with Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin. Again after seeing some footage of the past and how they separated themselves from the pack and probably becoming one of the first if not the first “cool heel” in wrestling.
These are my picks for the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame. I don't expect there to be any wrestlers inducted that are active in the ring at least in the mainstream. There will be others going in the future. This class may be large but it makes sense based upon the Texas based area. Enjoy and whether or not these picks actually happen will be another story.
