WWE Hall of Fame Coverage: Class of 2026
April 17, 2026
Las Vegas, Nevada (Dolby Live at Park MGM)
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
Michael Cole and The Miz welcome us to the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
Video: The Undertaker narrates the WWE Hall of Fame introduction
Michael Cole and The Miz come out onto the stage. Cole talks about WrestleMania 27, with The Miz beating John Cena (Miz wishes he could remember it), but it’s best remembered for his match against Jerry “The King” Lawler, which Cole won. Cole says it was voted the Worst WrestleMania Match of All Time. The Miz puts over Cole’s long career and how much he’s meant in so many WrestleMania moments.
The Miz talks about moments that live forever and how the people they’re honoring tonight have done that.
Video: The career of Stephanie McMahon.
Stephanie’s daughters, as well as her mother, Linda McMahon, will induct Stephanie McMahon into the WWE Hall of Fame. Aurora Levesque says they are honored to induct their mother into the Hall of Fame. She remembers rolling into meetings on her mother’s briefcase and starting meetings with “Twinkle, Twinkle.” Aurora mentions that her mother owned every room. Nothing was given to her just because it’s a family business. She goes over her mother’s long career at the company behind the scenes before discussing her role in the Women’s Revolution. She got the women from being popcorn matches to WrestleMania main events. Their lives were shaped around watching their mother build herself up. She is their role model and inspiration. Being told, “You’re just like Stephanie,” means the world to her because that’s all she ever wanted.
Murphy Levesque steps up to talk about how much her mother means to her. The greatest lesson she learned is that vulnerability is a form of true strength. Her mother has always just seen her. Her mother is the most empathetic person she knows. She brings out the best in people and has been there for them at their lowest. Over twelve years ago, she heard a single story about a boy named Connor. After he lost his battle, she made it her mission to stop childhood cancer. Sometimes when she can’t find her mother, she waits to hear her laugh. She jokes about getting her mother’s signature slap and apologizes to her older sister. Murphy thanks her mother for always being her guiding light.
Vaughn Levesque is next and says her mother has an incredible gift of making every person she meets feel special. Paul Levesque is shown sitting in the audience (next to Nick Khan), smiling proudly. Vaughn talks about not being athletic but performing music. She’s different from the others in her family. Her mother supports everything she does and tries to join in whatever she does. Vaughn is beyond proud of her mother.
Linda McMahon, former WWE CEO, steps up to the microphone. McMahon puts over her granddaughter. She could have never imagined that, as she held her beautiful, blue-eyed baby, she’d be inducting her into the WWE Hall of Fame nearly fifty years later. She’s worn a few different hats on this journey from mother to business leader. When your bosses are your father, the Chairman, and your mother, the CEO, it can be complex. Her brother was already an executive performing in the business. She mentions Shane McMahon trying to slam her on the sofa, but missing it completely. She never told her father what happened. It was important that Stephanie get quickly indoctrinated in the business. It surprised Linda that Stephanie wanted to get involved because she loved singing and dancing.
The starting point was at the WWE New York sales office. What better place to learn what business partners think? The next few months were spent in Linda’s office, keeping her schedule and making sure she had what she needed. That wasn’t her cup of tea. She absorbed much more about the business and its intricacies. Then she moved to entertainment and kept Vince’s schedule, going to TV shows and meetings. She took to it like a fish in the water and was a natural. She became a crowd favorite and was a great heel, which Stephanie loved. Having the audience in the palm of your hand is her specialty. She understood and loved this unique industry. She learned how to market and promote WWE. In 2020 and 2021, Forbes Magazine named her as the No. 2 Most Influential Chief Marketing Officer in the World and the Most Influential Female CMO in the World. She became, by invitation, an Eisenhower Fellow and a Henry Crown Fellow. Linda discusses what these mean.
As the Chief Marketing Officer of WWE, she was its face and most successful ambassador. She grew the company globally. Linda says she rocked it. Stephanie charted her own course and blazed her own trail, eventually becoming the Chairwoman and CEO of WWE. Linda left the company to pursue a different career as Stephanie was hitting her stride. She got to watch as an outside observer and beamed with a mother’s pride.
From a mother’s perspective, Stephanie loves deeply and has a contagious laugh. She’s warm and genuinely compassionate. Linda loves watching Stephanie as a mom. She married the love of her life, Paul Levesque, and then produced three beautiful, sweet daughters. Stephanie is all the things a good mom is. She shows her girls how to have strength and perspective. They see her vulnerable and sometimes angry. Linda jokes that she has a bit of road rage. Linda becomes emotional as she congratulates her daughter on this amazing achievement. Linda introduces her daughter.
Stephanie McMahon
A beaming Stephanie McMahon comes out to the stage and embraces her daughters and her mother. Some people start to chant, “Thank you, Stephanie.” McMahon mentions that the only person missing is her grandmother. Both she and Paul Levesque wanted to be parents. Early on, they were told they could not have children. Through modern medicine and the grace of God, they have three beautiful daughters. You have to fight for what you want. She’ll fight for her daughters every day. Aurora grew up on their tour bus and always wanted Pop’s job to be the boss. She talks about her daughter, Murphy, pooping on their head of security. Vaughn has been sung to by John Cena and The Rock.
Stephanie talks about her mother and puts over her father, Vince McMahon. Vince is not in attendance. A “Thank you, Vince” chant picks up. She wouldn’t be here without them.
Stephanie talks about her childhood, when she saw The Grand Wizard, or Uncle Ernie, as she knew him, at the house, with a boat in the driveway. It wasn’t unusual to come home and see Ric Flair on the couch or to have Hulk Hogan see her off at her ninth-grade prom. It was a great childhood. She talks about working her way up from modeling in WWE Magazine to the Hall of Fame. A “You deserve it” chant picks up. She puts over the other inductees, as well as the Immortal Moment. She remembers being at the Pontiac Silverdome. She remembers watching her friend, Andre the Giant, come out on the slowest cart of all time. She was devastated when he lost to Hulk Hogan. She went on her first dinner date with Andre at a French restaurant in Stamford, Connecticut. Andre joked that everyone thinks he’s a dirty old man.
They all have a shared passion for what happens in the ring. We ride or die with the characters we love, with the stories that give us hope and make us human. All we have is each other. She talks about working with everyone to raise millions of dollars for Connor’s Cure.
Video: Superstars for Hope
One of the kids in the video, Jimmy Spagnolo, who had a walker, is in attendance. In two weeks, on May 11, he’ll celebrate his 16th birthday. He wasn’t supposed to live past one. The crowd gives him a nice ovation. She says WWE is the most supportive, good-hearted community she’s known. She is grateful to the fans for always lifting her up. She puts everyone behind the scenes and the Superstars over. She apologizes for busting everyone’s eardrums, but she learned it from her mother-in-law. She shows love to the Levesque family.
She talks about the important people in her life, such as Shawn Michaels, the Undertaker, William Regal, “The Nature Boy,” and Kevin Nash. She mentions all the wrestlers she worked with, as well as the Khan family and the other executives.
She mentions her husband, Paul Levesque, and how they fell in love. Being that she spent the majority of her career as a heel, she cuts a promo as the Stephanie McMahon character. It’s pretty solid. The people come to their feet and applaud her.
Video: Later tonight, AJ Styles will be inducted. We’ll also see the Immortal Moment.
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Seth Rollins is shown. His opponent at WrestleMania, Gunther, is also shown.
Michael Cole and The Miz talk about the Legacy Award.
Video: The career of Bad News Brown
The family of Bad News Brown is shown in the crowd.
Video: The career of Demolition
Haku, Arn Anderson, and The Warlord come out to induct Ax and Smash into the WWE Hall of Fame. Warlord talks about Demolition’s run with the Tag Titles. He said “WWF” a few times, and it was muted. Haku talks about being in the Colossal Connection with Andre the Giant and thanks Demolition for taking care of him. Arn Anderson said that Demolition beat the hell out of everyone, including him. Anderson thought they were friends, but Barry Darsow said they had to protect the gimmick. Anderson introduces Demolition.
Demolition (Ax and Smash)
Ax and Smash look thrilled. Smash talks about following Stephanie McMahon and says she’s incredible. Smash remembers being called by Vince McMahon and being introduced to the gimmick. He realized he could be Demolition Smash. All they needed was Bill Eadie. Their first day in the ring, it just clicked. The next thing he knew, they were in the Trump Plaza beating Tito Santana and Rick Martel for the Tag Team Titles. Smash puts over the teams they faced. It’s been an incredible career. He thanks Mr. Fuji (Fooj the Stooge). He was a great man and a good guy to be around. Smash also thanks Brian Adams, Crush. Adams was a great guy. Smash puts over his wife and his son, Dakota. He’s the greatest son a man could have. Barry Darsow’s family is shown. Smash talks about his daughter-in-law and has his grandkids stand up. Darsow thanks the fans and the WWE crew.
Bill Eadie/Ax never thought this day would come true. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame has been a great honor. It’s unbelievable. Ax envies the superstars. They’re doing a fantastic job. They’ve been in the wrestling community for a number of years. Now they’re allowed in the fraternity house in the WWE Hall of Fame. The crowd chants, “You deserve it.” Ax thanks them. Smash suggests they do a run-in at WrestleMania, but Ax says he’ll walk in. Eadie thanks everyone who gave him guidance and support, particularly his trainer, Geto Mongol, George Scott, Andre the Giant, Vince McMahon, both Junior and Senior, Mr. Fuji, and others. They’ve had so many good matches. Without a good opponent, the match just doesn’t work. Eadie thanks the people they went into the ring with. Eadie thanks the fans. They gave them drive, ambition, and desire. They’re truly thankful.
Ax thanks his family members, particularly his wife, Sue. Bill Eadie’s family is shown. She supported him from the beginning of the dream. She bought three homes while he was on the road. One time, he didn’t even know where he lived when he came home from Japan. Eadie thanks his daughter, Heather Davis, and his son-in-law, Michael Davis, for their sacrifices as well. He’s got four wonderful grandsons. They give him the reason to keep going. Eadie finally thanks his Lord, Jesus Christ. He was with him at his weakest and needed guidance. Eadie has been asked how he’ll feel about being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and receiving that acknowledgment. He harkened back to a movie he liked… “Dumb and Dumber.” He likes it, he likes it a lot. Ax and Smash thank the crowd.
Video: Still to come, AJ Styles goes into the WWE Hall of Fame. Next up, we’ll have Dennis Rodman’s induction.
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John Cena is shown in the crowd.
Michael Cole and The Miz talk about celebrities coming into wrestling. The Miz says it’s not easy to come into their yard as a celebrity and be good.
Video: Dennis Rodman’s stint in WCW
Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman of the nWo come out to induct Dennis Rodman. They come out to the “Wolfpac” theme song. Nash’s voice is totally shredded from some illness. Nash talks about Dennis Rodman’s Hall of Fame basketball career. Rodman blew off practice before the 1998 playoffs to go to WCW. The story goes that he was paid $250,000 by WCW and was fined $20,000 by the NBA, so he got to smoke some cigars on Nitro and leave with $230,000. Waltman says Rodman shares one code: when you’re nWo, you’re nWo for life.
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman, sporting a pink goatee, comes out onto the stage and hugs Nash and Waltman. Rodman says Las Vegas is his second home before he starts walking around. Rodman says he was going to do a speech, but Stephanie McMahon did it for him, so he won’t be “so damn long.” Rodman puts over the nWo and says he’s happy to be here to support this company. Rodman says he loves this community. Rodman thanks Jimmy Hart, Eric Bischoff… Rodman gets emotional talking about someone, I think it was his grandmother.
Rodman takes off his jacket, revealing a Hulk Hogan shirt. Rodman gets emotional and mentions Nick Hogan, saying his father always stood by his side no matter what. Rodman is all over the place. Rodman talks about Hulkamania and being friends with Hulk Hogan. Rodman shouts that nWo is for life!
Video: Next, the Immortal Moment is going to be honored.
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Video: Hulk Hogan slams Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III
Immortal Moment: Hulk Hogan slams Andre the Giant
WWE Hall of Famer “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart is here to enshrine this moment into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside Hulk Hogan’s son, Nick Hogan, and Andre the Giant’s daughter, Robin Roussimoff. Before they got to the Pontiac Silverdome, the Pope had been there a week earlier. Three days before, the Rolling Stones were there. Hogan wasn’t sure they could get more people in there, but they did. Hart thanks everyone involved in the main event.
Hart brings them over to a podium. It’s a mini statue of Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant. Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” theme plays.
Michael Cole and The Miz talk about the next recipient of the Legacy Award.
Video: The career of Sycho Sid Vicious
The family of Sycho Sid Vicious is shown.
Coming up next, AJ Styles goes into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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The feed for the WWE Hall of Fame died for a few minutes. It came back halfway through AJ Styles’ career video.
Video: The career of AJ Styles
The Good Brothers, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, are here to induct AJ Styles into the WWE Hall of Fame. Gallows says it’s an honor to be here. Anderson says Styles went from the heart and soul of TNA to being the man who pushed the Bullet Club into the mainstream. When he signed with WWE, he became the face that runs this place. Styles has inspired so many to become a wrestler. It’s hard to find anyone who would say a bad word about him. Styles had great matches with so many guys like John Cena, the Undertaker, and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Gallows says Styles is a fantastic family man and mentor. He always helps younger wrestlers. Anderson talks about Styles visiting an indie show in 2006. Styles helped out there and taught them good lessons about taking forearms. They introduce “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles.
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles
AJ Styles comes out in a blue tuxedo jacket and does his entrance pose. Styles embraces the Good Brothers. Styles says that Shane Helms warned him not to get emotional. Styles didn’t think that was fair because he retired in January, so he’s still going through withdrawals. If he cries, you can call him a baby, but it happens. People have asked if he misses wrestling since the Royal Rumble. A “One more match” chant picks up. Styles says that makes it very complicated when they do that. Styles really enjoyed being the AJ Styles character. Styles loved the ring and diving over the ropes, as well as jumping off the ropes. Styles loved everything, even the bumps. They’re here because they love the same things he does. Styles says the Superstars love it because he’s been in the ring with them. The men and women he’s hung around with are ones he’ll never forget. Styles says they’re the lucky ones. There are more professional athletes in football, baseball, and basketball than there are WWE Superstars. That’s how hard it is to get to where they’re at. They did something a lot of people aren’t able to do because of that passion.
Styles liked the long plane rides, train rides, the tours in Europe and Japan… he loved it. Maybe he misses it a little bit. But does he miss wrestling? This will surprise some, but the answer is no. Styles is lucky enough to go home to his family every night. He doesn’t have to miss birthdays or games anymore. Styles can be there when his daughter falls. He doesn’t have to call from Japan to hear about his son’s game or a wrestling match. As much as he gets the chance to spend some time with his family, it’s great to be with his wife, getting away and reconnecting.
Styles has sat where they’ve sat and knows how long this night can be. They’ve got some important days coming up, but there are a lot of people he needs to thank. If there’s ever a promoter he’s worked for, he thanks them. If there was ever a talent he was able to get in the ring with, he thanks them. If he’s ever told you that he loves you, he meant it. At the end of the day, he doesn’t have to be away from wrestling. He doesn’t have to be “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles anymore. But the job he has within WWE and staying with this company is to find the next Phenomenal One. Styles says he may set a record tonight. He likes to think that his faith and what he believes in had him at the right time and place with the right person watching. He’s so blessed to have what he has and done what he’s done… it is divine intervention. Styles is saved by Jesus Christ.
When he looks in the mirror, he sees himself. Guys like him were never supposed to make it to places like this, but here he is. Because of the people, he did. Styles is humbled and honored to be a member of the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame. Styles says, “I love you, and thank you very much!” Styles waves to the crowd, and they come to their feet to give him a standing ovation.
Michael Cole and The Miz conclude the show.
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
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