WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony 04/02/16 

American Airlines Centre, Dallas, TX

Being inducted into this year's class are: 

--Sting (inducted by Ric Flair)
--The Godfather (inducted by JBL and Ron Simmons)
--The Fabulous Freebirds (inducted by WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day)
--Jacqueline (inducted by The Dudley Boyz)
--Big Boss Man (inducted by Slick)
--Stan Hansen (inducted by Vader)
--Snoop Dogg (inductor to be announced)
--Joan Lunden (2016 Warrior Award recipient; inducted by Dana Warrior)
--"Legacy Award" Honors: Ed "The Strangler" Lewis, Lou Thesz, Frank Gotch, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, Mildred Burke, Pat O'Connor, "Sailor" Art Thomas

The 2016 HOF kicks off with a video package looking at all of the inductees this year. We meet our host, Jerry 'The King' Lawler. 

He says tonight will be very special. This group is the most entertaining and enigmatic group that's ever been inducted and he takes us straight into the first induction. 

The Godfather is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

After seeing a video package, the men who will be inducting The Godfather came out - JBL and Ron Simmons. Simmons says there is no better way to kick off the 2016 HOF than with the APA. JBL says The Attitude Era wasn't just on Monday nights - it was himself, Ron and Godfather every night of the week. JBK says that The Godfather had to dumb his character down to get on television. They have a whole lot of stories, but can't tell most of them. JBL goes on to tell a story about how they recruited the women for The Godfather's train but Simmons stops him. The two apologise to their wife and say they don't actually know The Godfather. They welcome The Godfather out. 

He says he has missed everyone a lot. He thanks his mum and dad who are at home watching on TV and thanks them for their support. He thanks his kids. His Grandson is celebrating his birthday and The Godfather gets the fans to cheer for him. He says there was nothing like the Attitude Era. He thanks the powers to be for letting him be himself and letting the craziness out there. There has never been a character as intertwined as him. He feels the love he has been getting from everyone and the love he got in the past. He isn't going to drag on too much so he can let the long winded guys go on. He gives a message to the younger wrestlers and tells them to cherish their time and enjoy it. On that note, it's time for everybody to get aboard the ho train as he walks off the stage with some women joining him.

Back to our host Jerry Lawley who says there have been a lot of bad men from this state, including a lot of cowboys.

Stan Hansen is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

A video package airs looking back at his career. Vader comes out as he will be inducting Hansen. Vader talks about how he met Stan. He says Stan would take you out your boots in 2 steps. Stan was a nice man, but sometimes couldn't be in the ring. He's not a big man, he is a wrestler. Vader says he and Stan went all around the world but finally got to team up with Stan in Japan. As good of a mentor or friend he was, he was a partner. Vader says he has had requests to tell the TokyoDome story. They were in a 30 minute tag match and beat the hell out of each other which was when Vader's eye popped out of the socket. Vader talks about more stories he has with Stan. He puts on a comedy pair of glasses with an eye that pops out. He introduces Stan to the stage. 

Stan says it is a great honour and appreciates being inducted. He thanks God for giving him a set of lungs and a set of legs. He was shortchanged when it comes to looks but Stan has come to live with that. He next thanks JBL for keeping his name out there and just mentioning his name. He would love to talk about 1000 opponents he has had. He thanks Terry Funk. He has been a mentor to him and an opponent in Japan. Stan appreciates Terry and the whole Funk family. He goes on to thank others such as Chavo Guerrero and says Chavo had a great career. Stan says his trip to the HOF started just 15 blocks away from the arena they are currently in. Stan puts over Rick Martell. He tells a story of being beat by Martell in 9 seconds to prove that Stan hansen has done a few jobs. Stan talks about the incident where he broke Bruno Sammartino's neck and says Bruno has never held the incident against him and thanks him for that. Stan says he holds his career in Japan to Andre the Giant. Stan wraps up the speech by thanking 'the carpenters'. He says it is a pleasure and honour to be in Texas and finishes off his speech. 

The next inductee is from Dallas, Texas.

Jacqueline is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

She will be inducted by The Dudley Boys. Bubba says they have been friends with Jacqueline for years and talk about how pleased they were to have been chosen to induct 'Jackie'. One word they choose to describe her is 'tough'. D-Von starts talking and Bubba interrupts him and tells him he's only supposed to say 'Testify'. D-Von tells Bubba he can start getting his own damn tables. They talk about how cheap Jackie is when it came to travelling, and tool booths and rental cars. D-Von says that Jackie has started 'dabbing' - the new internet dance craze. They say Jacqueline will be a friend for life. 

Jacqueline says that it is so great to be here and is so honoured. Jackie says she grew up a Von Erichs fan. When she seen an advert for wrestling tryouts, she went along. She wrestlled local for many years and was so excited when the call from WWE finally arrived. A high point of her career is winning the Womens Championship twice. She is grateful for her years in WWE and the people she met. She thanks her fans, family and friends for love and support. She thanks Trish Stratus, Lita and Victoria to name a few. She also thanks all of the guys she worked with. She thanks WWE for giving her the opportunity to end her speech.

Lawler takes a moment to pay respect to some of the all time greats. The inductees for the WWE Legacy Award are shown.

The Fabulous Freebirds are inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

The next superstars are going to be inducted by The New Day. We see a video package highlighting the career of the Fabulous Freebirds. Kofi says they want to take a second to admire themselves because they look so fresh. But tonight isn't about them, it is about the Freebirds. New Day and Freebirds have a lot in common and that is why New Day are inducting the Freebirds. The main thing they learned from the freebirds is that family doesn't have to mean you are associated by blood. They say The Freebirds were the first country to come out to rock music as an entrance so 'Freebirds rock' and they sing this with the crowd.

The 'Freebird' song hits and the members of the FF dance on the stage. Michael Hayes says the New Day are so entertaining. Hayes says that's all they have to say because he took a low option in the office pool about how long their speech would last. Garvin says he went higher so they decide to stick about for a bit. They tell a story of being at a party with Terry Gordy. They had lost their room key so Terry said that he found it and proceeded to kick the door down. In the room, Terry took a bump on a coffee table and smashed it. He got up and said 'we didnt drink coffee anyway'. They say they both miss Terry dearly. The two introduce Ray Gordy and Jack Roberts to talk about their fathers who are no longer with us. Ray thanks WWE for remembering his father, and he thanks the fans as well. Roberts steps up to the mic and thanks the WWE for inducting the free birds. His father had a great career. Ray steps back to the mic and asks for 1 or 2 more Freebird stories. As everyone else was, they are restricted on what they can say and Garvin and Hayes tell a story each.