The Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame was a professional wrestling hall of fame maintained by the United States Wrestling Association. The induction ceremony for the Class of 1994, the inaugural inductees into the Hall of Fame, took place at the USWA's "Monday Night Memories", a tribute show, held at the Mid-South Coliseum on March 7, 1994. Tommy Gilbert, a longtime Memphis wrestler, referee and promoter, led the class, which included wrestlers Sputnik Monroe, Al and Don Greene, commentator Lance Russell, and promoter Jerry Jarrett.
The success of the first "Memphis Memories" show, attended by over 8,300 fans, resulted in Randy Hales being made head booker of the USWA. Ironically, Eddie Gilbert, with much of the event revolving around his feud with Jerry Lawler, was upset at having been passed over for the position and left the promotion within a few weeks.
On June 10, 1995, the Class of 1995 was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Like the previous ceremony, it was held during a wrestling event, Memphis Memories II, at the Mid-South Coliseum. Wrestler Jackie Fargo's induction led the Class of 1995, which consisted of wrestlers "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, Phil Hickerson, Joe LeDuc, and Billy Wicks. In addition to the inductees, the event featured a special "legends introduction" of Memphis wrestling stars including Corsica Joe, Tommy Gilbert, Gypsy Joe, Jerry Jarrett, Sara Lee, Eddie Marlin, Frank Morell, Buddy Wayne, and Jim White. The 1995 edition was attended by 3,850 fans. Only one inductee, Eddie Gilbert, was inducted posthumously. Overall, there were ten inductees; one commentator, and promoter, and eight wrestlers.
The hall of fame ceased being maintained following the close of the USWA in 1997, however, there have been attempts to revive the idea in recent years. Since 2002, the website KayfabeMemories.com has fan-based voting, similar to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, for each of the various "territory-era" promotions, including the Memphis wrestling territory, covered by the website. From 2008 to 2010, the website RasslinRiotOnline.com also presented its own version of the Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame."RRO Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame." Declarationofindependents.net. Ed. Sean McCaffrey. N.p., 2008. Web. Apr. 15, 2011. <www.declarationofindependents.net/doi/pages/rro0118.html>.
In 2017, the Hall of Fame was reactivated. Since then, they hosted two more ceremonies: one in 2018 and one in 2021. A new website was launched in 2021. Memphiswrestlinghalloffame.com
Inductees YearRing nameInducted for Notes1994 Wrestling, Refereeing, and Promoting Won the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (6 times), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (11 times), NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (4 times), and NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times)1994 Wrestling Won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (10 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)1994Christine JarrettPromoting 1994 Wrestling and Promoting Owner of the Continental Wrestling Association and the United States Wrestling Association; won the CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (10 times), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time), NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (1 time)1994 Ring announcing and commentating Longtime ring announcer and commentator for NWA Mid-America and the Continental Wrestling Association; first commentator for the CWA's Championship Wrestling television program1994 Wrestling Won the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time), NWA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship (2 times), and NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (2 times)1994 Tojo Yamamoto Wrestling and Manager ICW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (12 times), Long time manager in the Memphis territory 1995 Wrestling Won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (5 times), NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (5 times), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (22 times), and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (15 times)1995 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (2 times), USWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USWA Tag Team Championship (1 time), and USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)1995 Phil Hickerson Wrestling Won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (9 times), CWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time)1995 Wrestling Won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time), and NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)1995 Wrestling Won the NWA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version); a popular star in Tennessee during the 1950s, his 1959 match against Sputnik Monroe at Russellwood Park was attended by 13,000 fans and held the attendance record for the city of Memphis for nearly 50 years before the Monday Night War period.2017Dave BrownCommentatorHosted Memphis Wrestling and Championship Wrestling for 25 years2017Lance RussellCommentatorAnnouncer and commentator in the Memphis region from 1959 to 19972017Jerry CalhounRefereeReferee in the Jerry Jarrett Memphis promotion from 1977 to 1987 2017Bill DundeeWrestlingAWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (9 times), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (14 times), AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (4 times), CWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time), CWA Southwestern Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Memphis version) (1 time), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (3 times), NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)2017Tommy, Eddie and Doug GilbertWrestlingProfessional wrestling family that often wrestled as a tag team. Tommy and Eddie Gilbert held the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship together twice.2017Jimmy HartManagerLong time manager in the Memphis territory2017Jerry LawlerWrestling and promotingWon the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (58 times), CWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Memphis version) (7 times)2017Koko B. WareWrestlingAWA Southern Tag Team Championship (7 times), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (6 times), NWA Mid-America Television Championship (1 time), USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), USWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)2017The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane with Jim Cornette) Tag TeamVarious versions of the team head the team held the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship, CWA World Tag Team Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship2018Mick FoleyWrestlingWon the CWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)2021Bert PrenticeWrestling, promoting and managingManager and wrestler for several promotions; also promoted NWA Music City Wrestling and NWA Worldwide.2021Randy HalesPromotingFounder of Power Pro Wrestling2021Kurt AngleWrestlingWon the PPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2021Scott SteinerWrestlingWon the CWA Tag Team Championship (3 times).2021Tommy RichWrestlingWon the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (2 times), NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Memphis version) (2 times), NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)2021Tony FalkWrestlingWon the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USWA Television Championship (1 time)2021Reggie B. FineWrestlingWon the USWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)2021Downtown BrunoManagingLong time manager in the Memphis territory2022Don BassWrestling2022The SnowmanWrestling2022Big RedWrestling2022Kerry Von ErichWrestling2022Gypsy JoeWrestling2022Nick GulasPromoting2022Guy Coffey Promoting2022Eddie MarlinWrestling and Promoting2022The Moondogs (Spot, Rex and Cujo and Spike) Wrestling 2022Dr. FrankWrestling 2022Lord HumongousWrestling 2022Ox BakerWrestling 2022Mongolian StomperWrestling 2022Killer Karl Krupp Wrestling 2022Ricky GibsonWrestling 2022Leon Spinks*Celebrity Wing2022Curt HennigWrestling 2022Nick BockwinkelWrestling 2022YokozunaWrestling 2022MabelWrestling 2022King Kong Bundy Wrestling 2022Plowboy FrazierWrestling 2022San Diego Chicken*Celebrity Wing 2022Junkyard DogWrestling 2022The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)Wrestling 2022Bam Bam BigelowWrestling 2022Bob ArmstrongWrestling 2022Buddy WayneWrestling 2022Paul MortonReferee 2022Luna VachonWrestling 2022Sherri MartelWrestling 2022Candi DevineWrestling 2022Scott BowdenWrestling 2022Randy SavageWrestling 2022Rick RudeWrestling 2022Jim NeidhartWrestling 2022Andy KaufmanEntertainer and performance artist 2022Billy Joe TravisWrestling 2022Buddy LandelWrestling 2022Scott HallWrestling 2022Dream MachineWrestling 2022Adam West*Celebrity Wing2022Corey MaclinAnnouncer 2022Brickhouse BrownWrestling 2022KamalaWrestling 2022Rocky JohnsonWrestling 2022Tracy SmothersWrestling 2022Brian ChristopherWrestling 2024Jimmy ValiantWrestling 2024 (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)Wrestling 2024 (J. C. Ice and Wolfie D)Wrestling 2024The SpellbinderWrestling 2024Sir MoWrestling 2024Michael Saint JohnRing announcing 2024Terry Golden Promoting 2024Dirty White Boy Wrestling 2024Tom PrichardWrestling 2024Nightmare Danny DavisWrestling
Footnotes – Entries without a birth name indicates that the inductee did not perform under a ring name. – This section mainly lists the major accomplishments of each inductee in the Memphis wrestling territory.
See also List of professional wrestling halls of fame
References