WWE Hall of Fame

Often dubbed “The Franchise of WCW,” the man called Sting is one of the most recognizable and unique faces in sports-entertainment history. It was that distinction that made him the backbone of the Atlanta-based organization throughout the late 1980s until the end of WCW in 2001.

Beginning with his NWA debut in 1987, Sting brought an enormous amount of charisma to the ring with his bleach-blond hair, colorful face paint and neon ring gear. However, at the inaugural Clash of the Champions, a 45-minute time limit draw against NWA World Champion Ric Flair proved The Stinger was on his way to becoming one of sports-entertainment’s elite. Eventually, Sting defeated Flair for the NWA Title, and would later add six WCW World Titles, three WCW Tag Team Championships, two WCW International World Titles and two United States Championships to his resume throughout his career.

Remembered most to WWE audiences as a fun-loving staple of the Attitude Era, The Godfather’s journey to the Hall of Fame was certainly one wild train ride. In the late ‘90s he was most recognizable for being the muscle of The Nation of Domination, but as that group began to slowly disband, The Godfather seemingly began to have more and more women accompany him to ringside every week. This trend continued after The Nation officially split and The Godfather quickly transitioned into one of the WWE Universe’s most beloved Superstars, both for his attractive supporting cast and for his enigmatic charisma and charm.

The group was founded in 1979, when Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy and Buddy “Jack” Roberts joined forces to wreak havoc on professional wrestling. Gordy provided raw power and fury, Roberts lent his technical prowess and Hayes was dripping with charisma that made sure the spotlight was always on them. The Fabulous Freebirds quickly found success in the Georgia territory, where they captured the NWA National Tag Team Titles and instituted the “Freebird Rule,” where any two members of the trio could defend the titles.

Boss Man, a former Cobb County, Ga., corrections officer turned sports-entertainer decked out in full police uniform, first debuted in WWE in the late ‘80s. Managed by the legendary Slick, the ruthless Boss Man gained notoriety for not only defeating his opponents with ease, but also handcuffing them to the ropes and then bashing them with his patented nightstick. Though he had no trouble muscling opponents around, Boss Man was also deceptively quick and agile for a performer who weighed over 300 pounds, often being heralded as one of WWE’s best, and most unique, athletes. He had memorable encounters with the likes WWE Hall of Famers Randy Savage, Koko B. Ware and Shawn Michaels, and he also joined forces with another monstrous Superstar, Akeem, to form the titanic tag team known as The Twin Towers.

Although the Boss Man passed away in 2004, the memories he created for the WWE Universe will surely live on forever. Because of that, he will be rightfully celebrated as the newest member of the hallowed WWE Hall of Fame on April 2, the night before WrestleMania 32!

Her journey to sports-entertainment immortality began in the late 1980s in Dallas, where she trained under the nefarious Skandor Akbar. The lone female in Akbar’s academy, Jacqueline cut her teeth in the world-famous Sportatorium, where the Von Erich Family and Fabulous Freebirds engaged in one of the most heated rivalries ever.

Jacqueline jumped to WWE in 1998, aiding Marvelous Marc Mero in his quest to take back the spotlight from Sable. The hard-hitting competitor ended up taking some glory for herself, winning the reinstated WWE Women’s Championship with a victory over the blonde bombshell. She captured the championship once again in 2000.

When he’s not laying down the hottest tracks in music, Snoop is an avid member of the WWE Universe, and has even joined WWE’s Superstars and Divas to create several memorable moments. He brought his unique flair to WrestleMania XXIV in Orlando, where he served as the Master of Ceremonies for what could only be described as a unique Lumberjill Match between Divas Maria & Ashley and Melina & Beth Phoenix. Coming to the ring in a custom Mercedes-Benz cart, Snoop led the Lumberjills to the squared circle and introduced the competitors in his inimitable fashion. Later, when Santino Marella tried to confront his ex-girlfriend Maria after the battle, Snoop leveled The Milan Miracle with a clothesline, then shared a smooch with the beautiful Diva.

Snoop returned to WWE in 2009 as the special guest host of Raw. Right off the bat, he showed he was more than willing to give the WWE Universe what they want, making a blockbuster matchup between John Cena and Triple H. The hip-hop icon showed that he wasn’t afraid to get physical, either, protecting Hornswoggle from a beating at the hands of Chavo Guerrero by stopping the third-generation grappler in his tracks with a huge spear.

By the 1990s, The Lariat was a veteran renowned for his savage and merciless brawling style. In the early part of the decade, Hansen popped out Big Van Vader’s eyeball, defeated Lex Luger for the United States Championship and engaged in a bitter rivalry with Japanese legend Mitsuharu Misawa. At the turn of the millennium, Hansen hung up the cowbell and 10-gallon hat for good, but few competitors made an impact across the globe quite like The Bad Man from Borger, Texas. That's why Hansen has been honored as a 2016 WWE Hall of Fame inductee.