The WWE Hall of Fame is one of the most anticipated events of the year for wrestling fans who have a great love of the stars from the past. While there is no physical Hall of Fame, it still gives fans a chance to see their favorites one more time, hear a few stories in their speeches, and celebrate their careers.
However, just as there is no physical Hall of Fame, there are no real criteria on who gets in other than who Vince McMahon wants in that year. There were also many wrestlers WWE passed over for lesser names because of a problem they had with McMahon. Here is a look at 10 wrestlers who got into the WWE Hall of Fame despite their past issues.
10 ULTIMATE WARRIOR
Ultimate Warrior joined WWE after he made a mark in Mid-South and World Class Wrestling. He was a colorful and exciting wrestler that was very different than the company's top babyface in Hulk Hogan. That made him a great option when it came time to replace Hogan on top.
It didn't last. After Warrior lost the world title, he wanted more. He demanded more money and made it a demand to appear at WrestleMania VII. WWE suspended Warrior, so he quit. McMahon brought him back, but they had another financial disagreement, and Warrior never wrestled for WWE again. Eighteen years later, McMahon brought him back for the WWE Hall of Fame.
9 BRUNO SAMMARTINO
No one made Vince McMahon's father more money over the years that Bruno Sammartino. If it wasn't for Sammartino and his long reign, selling out Madison Square Garden regularly, there might not have been enough of a company for McMahon to turn into a global phenomenon.
However, Sammartino never liked the direction that McMahon took the company. He didn't like the Attitude Era's adult nature, with the language and sexual innuendo, and he made his opinions loud and clear, putting him at odds with McMahon. It was Triple H that mended the fences and brought Sammartino back into the fold.
8 HULK HOGAN
Hulk Hogan did for Vince McMahon what Bruno Sammartino did for his dad. However, when Hulkamania ran its course, Hogan wasn't ready to move over, or change and McMahon knew it was time to move on. The two didn't see eye to eye, and Hogan ended up sitting out the end of his contract.
Hogan then moved to WCW and eventually was able to help lure several WWE superstars over, and they almost won the Monday Night Wars. However, once WCW went under, Hogan sat out his contract and then returned to WWE. This year, he will become a two-time Hall of Fame superstar.
7 RANDY SAVAGE
Sadly, Macho Man Randy Savage never returned for a WWE Hall of Fame induction, and it didn't happen until after he died. Despite their problems behind the scenes, McMahon knew how much Savage meant to WWE and knew that he belonged in the Hall of Fame.
Savage wasn't ready to leave WWE when he did. Savage wanted to use his status in WWE to help put over a young Shawn Michaels. McMahon said no and wanted Savage to stay in WWE as an announcer. Savage left for WCW, McMahon took it personally, and they never worked together again.
6 BRET HART
If there is anyone who can prove that Vince McMahon can let bygones be bygones and forgive and forget, it is Bret "The Hitman" Hart. In the '90s, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were the two biggest names in WWE. However, when McMahon let Hart know that he wasn't going to pay the big contract he was promised, Hart said he was leaving.
Then the Montreal Screwjob happened. Hart wanted to relinquish the world title on Raw the next night, but McMahon didn't trust Hart to just leave with the title and screwed him over in front of his hometown fans. Hart spit in McMahon's face and the rest is history. Hart is now a two-time WWE Hall of Famer.
5 JEFF JARRETT
Jeff Jarrett left WWE in a similar manner as Ultimate Warrior did, but Jarrett was a little more in the right. Ultimate Warrior wanted more money in the middle of his contract. Jeff Jarrett's contract had expired, and he was still, inexplicably, holding the IC title.
Vince McMahon didn't just want Jarrett to show up at the PPV the night after his contract expired and lose it, but he wanted him to lose to Chyna. Jarrett agreed, but he demanded a one-day payday to show up. McMahon wasn't happy, paid him, and then held it against him. Even after starting TNA as direct competition, McMahon still brought him back for a WWE Hall of Fame induction.
4 ALUNDRA BLAYZE
Bret Hart can likely thank Alundra Blayze for the Montreal Screwjob. In the '90s, Blayze was the face of the WWE women's division. She was a true athlete and was a precursor to today's WWE Women's Evolution.
However, despite WWE choosing her to lead their women's division, Blayze left for WCW. She was still WWE Women's Champion and showed up on WCW Monday Nitro as Medusa Miceli and threw the title in the trashcan on live television. She has admitted to regretting that action and ended up in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
3 SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM
Superstar Billy Graham was the WWE World Champion in the '70s and was a glimpse into the future of WWE. He wasn't the everyman that Bruno Sammartino was. He was outspoken, wore colorful outfits, flexed his muscles, and called people "brother." He was Hulk Hogan before there was a Hulk Hogan.
However, in the '90s, Graham sued WWE and Vince McMahon, alledging them of forcing him to take steroids. He did this at the same time the U.S. tried McMahon for steroid distribution within WWE. WWE inducted him into the Hall of Fame a decade later, but Graham has done nothing but bash the company since then.
2 JESSE "THE BODY" VENTURA
Jesse "The Body" Ventura saw his promising career cut short due to injuries. However, thanks to his good looks and great charisma, he was able to make it further after his injuries. He became one of the best color commentators in wrestling and then ended up a Hollywood actor for a time.
However, in 1987 Ventura did what Vince McMahon hates the most. Ventura sued WWE for royalties — and he won the case. Ventura also won the appeal. After Ventura left wrestling, he became the Governor of Minnesota, and then McMahon invited him back, inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
1 CHYNA
The case of Chyna is similar to the case of Macho Man Randy Savage. In Chyna's case, she was brought to WWE and paired up with Triple H, who she had a romantic relationship with. However, when Triple H started dating Stephanie McMahon instead, Chyna was on the outside looking in.
Stephanie has said that she wanted WWE to keep pushing Chyna, but things went sour. According to Vince Russo, Chyna had a meeting with Vince McMahon and made her grievance against Stephanie, and Vince sent her home, basically telling her she was finished with WWE. Chyna died in 2016, and WWE inducted her as part of DX into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019.