3 Names Ruled Out For 2023 HOF, Pat McAfee's WWE Status, Expected Main Event Of WrestleMania Night 1
3 Names Ruled Out For 2023 HOF, Pat McAfee's WWE Status, Expected Main Event Of WrestleMania Night 1
Chyna, Michelle McCool, Umaga Ruled Out For 2023 HOF
Chyna, Michelle McCool, Umaga Reportedly Ruled Out For 2023 WWE Hall Of Fame Induction
BY ELLA JAY/UPDATED: MARCH 17, 2023 12:55 PM EST
As the 2023 Hall of Fame continues to take shape, many are wondering which figures will round out the class. Following the reveal of the first two inductees – former WWE Champion Rey Mysterio and Japanese legend The Great Muta — reports stated that three more recipients will receive the prestigious honor this year as well. The identities of those three names have yet to be confirmed, however, a new report has ruled out a few possibilities.
During a Q&A, PWInsider's Mike Johnson was asked if there was validity to rumors that Umaga, Chyna, and Michelle McCool would be joining the 2023 Hall of Fame class. Umaga, of course, hailed as a member of the historied Anoaʻi family, racking up two Intercontinental Championships in his WWE career before his untimely passing in 2009. For Chyna, she carved her legacy on challenging the norms of a male-dominated industry and joining one of WWE's most popular stables in D-Generation X. McCool aligned herself with Layla to form the two-person team of LayCool. In 2008, she also became the first-ever Divas Champion.
Despite their evident success, Johnson states that none of three will are on schedule to be inducted this year: "WWE has landed on their five inductees and [none] of those three are on the list for 2023." In recent weeks, other plausible options have emerged, namely Stacy Keibler and Batista. While Keibler has been reportedly confirmed for the Class of 2023, the status surrounding Dave Bautista appears to be up in the air.
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Mercedes Mone took the wrestling world by storm when she debuted for NJPW in January. However, this relationship could be short lived as she has no more reported dates past April. According to Dave Meltzer in today's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Mone has no more dates agreed to for New Japan or Stardom following Stardom's upcoming Yokohama Arena show on April 23. As such, unless an agreement for more dates, or a full-time contract is reached, Mone will once again enter the free agent market.
Wade Barrett confirmed that he and Michael Cole are here to stay when it comes to SmackDown commentary. With that, many people have been left wondering what will become of Pat McAfee in WWE. On Thursday, McAfee took to twitter to provide and update. "My business is currently rather active and exigent...+ baby on the way...timing is everything. I still have MASSIVE plans for my journey to the WWE HOF someday. Believe that."
The main event of WrestleMania 39 Night 2 has been set. The question remained, what the main event of WrestleMania 39 Night 1 would be. The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter claims "political reasons" are behind the Ripley-Flair decision instead of a bout like Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul or the projected match between The Usos vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn. There had been backstage concern about the optics of headlining both nights with men's matches after the women had finally gotten their due in recent years, with many seeing that as being a step backward for the progress made.