Bad News Brown to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026

WWE’s announcement read:

“Starting in the squared circle after winning the bronze medal in judo at the 1976 Olympics, Brown combined his grappling expertise with vicious brawling techniques he picked up on the mean streets of his hometown, Harlem, NY, to become one of sports-entertainment’s most feared competitors.

“After tearing through future WWE legends like Bret Hart at Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta, Bad News made his way to WWE in 1988. He made an instant impact, knocking out opponent after opponent with a devastating enzuigiri.

“Bad News preferred to keep to himself, making no friends. Even the most evil of WWE Superstars couldn’t warm up to Brown. At several Survivor Series events, the Harlem native opted to walk out on his team, rather than work as part of a unit.

“Brown demanded title opportunities, deriding the “beer-bellied sharecroppers” and “spineless cockroaches” he claimed were holding him back. Bad News went as far as to accuse then-WWE President Jack Tunney of colluding with stars like Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, putting his hands on the esteemed official when he denied the claims.

Bad News soon focused his attention on another unpredictable Superstar: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. After The Hot Scot eliminated him from the 1990 Royal Rumble Match, Brown climbed back to the ring apron and forced Piper over the top rope and out of the fray, setting off a brawl no WWE official could halt.

“During summer 1990, WWE fans learned there was one thing that scared the hardened New Yorker: snakes. Jake Roberts surprised Bad News with a birthday gift of the reptilian variety, spooking the surly Superstar. Looking for a way to combat Roberts and his dangerous python, Damien, Brown went back to his roots, searching for the meanest, nastiest creature in Harlem. He had to go underground to find them, scrounging through subway tunnels to find the biggest sewer rats in The Big Apple.

“Though Bad News trained the rodents to feast on snakes, they couldn’t help him much in the ring against Roberts at SummerSlam 1990. After his defeat at the hands of “The Snake,” Bad News Brown disappeared from WWE.

“Brown passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on as his fellow legends welcome him into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Sid Justice to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026

From WWE.com:

Former WWE Champion “Sycho” Sid Eudy will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a legacy inductee and a member of the Class of 2026.

A former two-time WWE Champion, Sid was one of the most imposing and terrifying competitors of his generation whose natural charisma popped off the screen every Monday night.

After a successful stint in WCW, Sid debuted as Sid Justice in WWE and served as the Special Guest Referee at SummerSlam 1991 where WWE Champion Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior teamed up against The Triangle of Terror in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match.

Later that same night, Sid saved Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth from an attack at the evil hands of Jake Roberts and The Undertaker at the couple’s iconic newlywed reception.

After a few years away from WWE, Sid made his triumphant return to WWE as “Sycho Sid,” where he allied himself with Shawn Michaels and was in his corner at WrestleMania XI when The Heartbreak Kid challenged Diesel for the WWE Title.

That night would begin an iconic rivalry between the two with Sid winning the WWE Championship from The Showstopper at Survivor Series in 1996, joining the hallowed ranks of champions. After losing the title back to Michaels, Sid became a two-time champion by defeating Bret Hart on the Feb. 17, 1997 edition of Raw.

Established as one of the biggest and baddest wrestlers in the world, Sid returned to WCW in 1999 and immediately entered the main event scene, battling legends like Hulk Hogan, Sting, Goldberg, Booker T and many more.

An injury in 2001 threatened Sid’s career, but he refused to stay on the sidelines and returned to the independent wrestling scene with his return match even featuring current WWE Superstar Sami Zayn.

Sid passed away in 2024, but his influence is still seen in wrestling rings across the world.

Known as “The Master and Ruler of the World”, Sid’s reputation as one of the toughest and most visually captivating Superstars cemented his legacy in WWE, and he will now take his rightful place amongst his fellow legends in the WWE Hall of Fame.

2018 WWE Hall Of Fame Legacy Wing Names Revealed

A few years ago WWE introduced the Legacy Wing as a way to highlight professional wrestlers who helped pave the way for the business during the earlier years of the business, and this year more names will be inducted.

PWinsider has confirmed the following names for the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy wing: 

– Former WWWF champion Stan Stasiak 

– Lord Alfred Hayes 

– Dara Singh 

– Cora Combs 

– El Santo 

– Jim Londos 

– Rufus J. Jones 

– Sputnik Monroe 

– Boris “The Great” Malenko

2017 WWE Hall Of Fame Legacy Inductees Revealed

According to The Wrestling Observer, the following names will be this year’s WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Inductees:

Dr. Jerry Graham

Haystacks Calhoun

Luther Lindsay

Rikidozan

June Byers

Judy Grable

Farmer Burns

Toots Mondt

WWE Launches Legacy Hall Of Fame

As seen at the Hall of Fame tonight, WWE launched a new wing - the WWE Legacy Hall of Fame. The 2016 inductees are Ed "The Strangler" Lewis, Lou Thesz, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, Mildred Burke, Pat O'Connor and "Sailor" Art Thomas

Details on WWE Adding the “Legacy Award” to the WWE Hall of Fame This Year

WWE posted a graphic in its online store advertising the “Legacy Award” at this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony.

The graphic lists seven pro wrestling legends including Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, Lou Thesz, Mildred Burke, Pat O’Connor and “Sailor” Art Thomas.

According to F4WOnline.com, Gotch and Hackenschmidt responsible for the first huge gate and spearheading wresting getting national headlines, Lewis being the most famous wrestler of the 20s, Thesz being the dominant world champion of the 50s, Burke being the first women’s champion to get worldwide attention and O’Connor being one of the smoothest workers of his day.

WWE has already inducted Gorgeous George, Buddy Rogers and Antonino Rocca, who were contemporaries of Thesz and O’Connor, however the company has yet to induct anyone into the WWE Hall of Fame prior to the days of television. It appears as if the “Legacy Award” might be honoring the pioneers of pro wrestling who were not TV stars.