Comedy Legend Entering WWE HOF, WWE Granted Extension In Lawsuit, WWE Talent Cutting Back On Public Autographs
Comedy Legend and Jerry Lawler Rival, Andy Kaufman, Will Enter the WWE HOF
Comedy Legend Andy Kaufman Set For Induction Into WWE Hall Of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023 has a new member. Per Variety, WWE will induct legendary comedian Andy Kaufman, who passed away in 1984. WWE confirmed the news shortly thereafter.
A longtime wrestling fan, Kaufman originally stepped through the ropes himself in the 1970s, when he began wrestling women as part of his comedy act. In 1979, he wrestled Lacoste heiress Mimi Lambert on "Saturday Night Live" and declared himself the Intergender Wrestling Champion of the World. He eventually began approaching wrestling promoters in an attempt to get further involved in the industry, eventually finding his perfect foil: Jerry "The King" Lawler.
Kaufman's feud with Lawler in Lawler's Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association in 1982 — only revealed to be a storyline years after Kaufman's death — holds a celebrated place in wrestling history for the way it blurred the line between fiction and reality. Among its most notable moments was the fight between Kaufman and Lawler on the set of "Late Night with David Letterman," in addition to Lawler "breaking" Kaufman's neck with a piledriver.
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In addition to the news of Andy Kaufman entering the WWE Hall Of Fame, there have also been reports that a referee could also be joining the class of 2023. Up until now, a WWE referee has never been inducted into the Hall Of Fame, despite the fact that fans, wrestlers, and referees themselves have pushed to make that happen. However, according to PWInsider Elite, there has been talk that a referee will be honored this time. The report does not name the potential inductee, although it is said that they are widely beloved in the industry.
The saga of MLW versus the WWE continues as this lawsuit won’t be put to rest as of right now because WWE has been granted an extension. That's because last Monday (March 13), WWE and MLW jointly filed paperwork stipulating that both sides wanted to extend the timetable they were working on with regard to the due dates on WWE's motion to dismiss the case, MLW's opposition to that motion, and WWE's reply to that opposition, with Judge Edward J. Davila approving the extension the following day. The new schedule gives WWE until April 7 to file their motion to dismiss the amended complaint, while MLW would get until May 8 to file opposition and WWE now has until May 29 to reply to that.
Wrestlers being hounded for autographs has been a long-standing issue, but recently it has been on that has intensified. It appears now though wrestlers will be cutting back on signing autographs more than ever before. However, it's become increasingly clear who is genuinely looking for something to commemorate a chance encounter with one of their favorites and others stalking wrestlers' whereabouts in the name of making money. And, as a result, WWE Superstars are beginning to cut back on what they'll sign in public, according to PWInsider, with trading cards and Funko POPs on the chopping block.