Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 5:44 PM EST

The International Wrestling Institute and Museum sent in the following:

Pro wrestling inductions could be biggest ever

NEWTON, Iowa - Bret "The Hitman" Hart, one of the biggest stars in the history of professional wrestling, is the headliner during inductions weekend at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame event.

The inductions will be held July 15 at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum here.

Hart, Larry "The Axe" Hennig and Bob Roop headline the Class of 2006, and will be present at the inductions, which take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 15. Admission is $10.

"We have had the biggest response to this event of any since the opening of the museum, back in 1998," said Kyle Klingman, associate director. "It's a great lineup, and there is tremendous interest due to the appearance of Bret Hart."

A native of Calgary, Canada, Hart is the most famous star of legendary Hart wrestling family. As world heavyweight champion, he was one of the WWF's two biggest names of the 1980s and early 1990s, and received tremendous television exposure all across the nation. A documentary called "Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows," is shown regularly on cable networks.

Advance tickets for the Saturday inductions at the museum can be obtained by calling the museum at 641-791-1517. Tickets are $10.

Reservations for the banquet, set Saturday night, July 15, at the Newton Inn, must be made by July 12. Tickets are $50 each. A sellout is anticipated.

"We are already more than half sold out for the banquet, with the biggest advance ticket sell ever," said Klingman.

Each year, the museum inducts three living members and three deceased members. The criteria are a strong impact on the pro game and true wrestling ability, as judged by an amateur background or the consensus opinion of the committee.

Being inducted in the deceased category are Dory Funk, Sr., Mike DiBiase and Tom Jenkins. Ted DiBiase, a big star in the 1990s as the "Million Dollar Man," will represent his father and the DiBiase family at the event.

Stu Hart was the cornerstone of the Hart legacy and had a love of both amateur and professional wrestling. Under his father's guidance, Bret and his four brothers developed their amateur skills in youth tournaments. Bret won the city championship and the Alberta Collegiate Championship and then joined the Stampede pro wrestling organization. Known as "The Hitman," Bret attained tremendous success in the WWF (now WWE) and acquired numerous titles, including world heavyweight champion. He later performed for the WCW and became a huge star there, as well.

A high school state champion in Minnesota, Hennig parlayed his strong amateur background into tremendous success on the professional level. Working mostly with the AWA of Verne Gagne, he became one of the top draws in the 1960s and '70s. Larry "The Axe" Hennig teamed with Harley Race (Class of 2005) to become world tag tam champions on several occasions and was a singles star, as well. He and his son, Curt Hennig, captured a major NWA title in 1982. Today, Larry owns a successful real estate company in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Also a high school state champion (but in Michigan), Roop had a very successful amateur career, wrestling in college at Southern Illinois University. He won a national AAU title in Greco-Roman wrestling and made the 1968 Olympic team, as well. As a professional in the 1970s, he reigned as NWA United States Champion and won numerous regional titles, both as a single performer and as part of a tag team. He has authored several books and works in the educational field today.

Dory Funk, Sr., was a high school state champion in Indiana and wrestled for legendary coach Billy Thom at Indiana University before World War II. Turning to professional wrestling after the war, he embarked upon a long career that earned him many titles and vast recognition. His sons, Dory Jr. and Terry, were both legendary champions in their own right. Dory Sr. died in 1973.

Mike DiBiase won the AAU national heavyweight title in 1946 and had a long amateur career before turning professional in the early 1950s. As a pro, he held many titles in his two-decade career, including the NWA world junior heavyweight championship. He also held AWA and NWA titles. He died of a heart attack in the ring following a match on July 8, 1969. He was the adopted father of wrestler Ted DiBiase.

Tom Jenkins was America's first great wrestling star in the late 1890s and early 1900s. An extremely powerful millwright from Ohio, he was the real deal and never gave an inch in the ring. He defeated the young Frank Gotch three times in his eight matches. Jenkins held the American championship for nearly eight years. He later coached wrestling and boxing at West Point Military Academy for 37 years and was a legend with the Cadets. He died in 1957 at age 83.

Former wrestling star Nikita Koloff has been named the 2006 recipient of the Frank Gotch Award, given annually to a person who has brought prestige and recognition to professional wrestling. The award will be presented during inductions weekend at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inductions on July 15.

The weekend celebration also includes a Celebrity Golf Tournament on Friday at Westwood Golf Club, which is open to the public, and an authors' book signing at the museum at 1 p.m. Saturday. Among those scheduled to sign books they have written are Harley Race, a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2005, "Judo" Gene LeBell, the 2005 Frank Gotch Award winner, and Mike Chapman, author of 18 books, including 12 on wrestling.

For more information, call the museum at 641-791-1517.