cheapshot Posted September 13 Report Posted September 13 Ballots were sent out today This is our ballot for the 2025 Hall of Fame. This ballot is being sent out to major wrestling stars, past and present, major management figures in the industry, writers and historians. If you are getting this, you are being asked your opinion on who should be inducted into this year's Hall of Fame class. The criteria for the Hall of Fame is a combination of drawing power, being a great in-ring performer or excelling in ones field in pro wrestling, as well as having historical significance in a positive manner. A candidate should either have something to offer in all three categories, or be someone so outstanding in one or two of those categories that they deserve inclusion. The names listed below are those under consideration for this year. To be eligible, a performer must have reached their 35th birthday and completed ten years since their debut as a full-time performer, or be someone who has been a full-time pro wrestler for at least 15 years. Longevity should be a prime consideration rather than a hot two or three year run, unless someone is so significant as a trend-setter or a historical figure in the business, or valuable to the industry, that they need to be included. However, just longevity without being either a long-term main eventer, a top draw and/or a top caliber in-ring performer should be seen as relatively meaningless. here are more changes in the rules this year largely because the modern U.S. & Canada category is so full of viable candidates. Each category is separate and the number of votes in a category allowed will be one in every three people on the ballot, so each category will have a different number. The idea is categories with fewer balloters won't be easier to get in, and categories with a lot of balloters won't be so difficult that it causes a logjam. The election is broken down into a number of categories. You should check each category for wrestlers that you feel you are familiar enough with based on geography that you've either traveled or are familiar with, and based on the time you have followed pro wrestling. You do not have to vote for a wrestler in every category you've checked. The ballot is also broken down to wrestlers and those who are not pro wrestlers but have been valuable parts of the industry. You can pick as few as zero in categories if you don't believe anyone on this list deserves inclusion or you can skip voting in categories that you don't believe you are familiar enough with to vote in. All responses are confidential. There is nothing to worry about politically about any involvement in this process. Your selections will not be revealed unless you choose to do so yourself. Anyone who receives mention on 60% of the ballots from the geographical region and time frame (broken down as Continental United States & Canada; Mexico; Japan; and the rest of the world) will be added to the Hall of Fame in the class of 2025. If you are unfamiliar with any of the candidates due to geography or having never seen them, that is fine. Ballots are sent to many people from all over the world and from different wrestling cultures so that everyone has as fair a shot as possible. The breakdown for modern and historical performers is 30 years ago, or 1995. So if the last year the person was a headliner, or was a key figure in the industry, was prior to 1995, they would be in the historical class. If they were still major players after 1995 they would be in the modern class. All performers who receive mention on 10% to 59.9% of the ballots from their geographical region or era will remain on the ballot for consideration next year. All those who receive less than 10% of the vote will be dropped from next year's ballot. They can return in two years based on if there is significant feedback from voters who say they will vote for them. This is mostly for wrestlers who are still active who may improve their career legacy, but can be for retired wrestlers if voters believe they should be put on or returned to the ballot. In addition, in following the lead of the baseball Hall of Fame, which is the model here, we have a 15-year-rule. The following candidates have been on the ballot since 2008. In baseball, this would be their last year of eligibility. Here, if they don't get at least 50% of the votes in this year's election they will be removed from the ballot. If they are modern candidates, they can be brought back in the historical performers era in two years if it is more than 30 years since their career as a Hall Fame level performer is up: The following candidates will be dropped from next year's ballot unless they are elected in or garner 50% of the vote: Spyros Arion I FOLLOWED THE HISTORICAL PERFORMERS ERA CANDIDATES (Six maximum) Ole Anderson Afa & Sika Anoa'i Bob Armstrong Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson w/J.J. Dillon British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith) June Byers Wild Bull Curry Junkyard Dog Cowboy Bob Ellis Pampero Firpo Black Gordman & Great Goliath Archie "Mongolian Stomper" Gouldie Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) Sputnik Monroe Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch Iron Sheik Sweet Daddy Siki Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood Mad Dog & Butcher Vachon Kevin & Kerry & David Von Erich I FOLLOWED THE MODERN PERFORMERS IN U.S/CANADA CANDIDATES (Six maximum) Mark & Jay Briscoe Edge/Adam Copeland Bill Dundee FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheleer) Bill Goldberg Samoa Joe Matt & Jeff Hardy Becky Lynch Drew McIntyre Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks Jon Moxley Kevin Nash & Scott Hall Randy Orton C.M. Punk Cody Rhodes Seth Rollins Sabu Trish Stratus Rick & Scott Steiner I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN JAPAN CANDIDATES (Three maximum) Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan Yoshiaki Fujiwara Hayabusa Masaaki Mochizuki Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi Zack Sabre Jr. Meiko Satomura Io Shirai/Iyo Sky Tiger Jeet Singh Yoshihiro Takayama Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN MEXICO CANDIDATES (Three maximum) Angel Blanco & Dr.Wagner Sangre Chicana El Dandy Dorrell Dixon Gran Hamada Los Infernales (El Satanico & Pirata Morgan & MS 1) El Hijo del Santo & Octagon La Parka AAA Mascarita Sagrada Volador Jr. I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN EUROPE/AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND/PACIFIC ISLANDS/AFRICA (Three maximum) Spyros Arion Dominic DeNucci George Gordienko Steve Grey Billy Joyce Les Kellett Killer Karl Kox Gilbert Leduc Ted Boy Marino The Royal Brothers (Bert Royal & Vic Faulkner) Jose Tarres Otto Wanz NON-WRESTLERS (Seven maximum) Dave Brown (U.S. & Canada modern) Zane Bresoff (U.S.& Canada modern) Bobby Bruns (Japan) Bob Caudle (U.S. & Canada historical) Joe Higuchi (Japan) Jim Johnston (U.S. & Canada modern) Larry Matysik (U.S.& Canada historical) James Melby (U.S. & Canada historical) Bill Mercer (U.S. & Canada historical) Gorilla Monsoon (U.S. & Canada historical) Rossy Ogawa (Japan) Reggie Parks (U.S. & Canada modern) Morris Sigel (U.S. & Canada historical) Tony Schiavone (U.S. & Canada modern) George Scott (U.S. & Canada historical) Kevin Sullivan (U.S. & Canada historical) Mike Tenay (U.S. & Canada modern) Ted Turner (U.S. & Canada modern) Jesse Ventura (U.S. & Canada historical) Roy Welch (U.S. & Canada historical) Stanley Weston (U.S. & Canada historical) Grand Wizard (U.S & Canada historical) Koichi Yoshizawa (Japan)
Ma Stump Puller Posted September 13 Report Posted September 13 don't want to be in the timeline where zack sabre jr gets on before takayama but that's probably how the cards will go
cheapshot Posted September 13 Author Report Posted September 13 Update from Dave: Europe/Australia/NZ/Pacific Islands/Africa Vote limit increased from three to four. Adrian Street added as a candidate.
cheapshot Posted September 13 Author Report Posted September 13 Ballot v2. This is our ballot for the 2025 Hall of Fame. This ballot is being sent out to major wrestling stars, past and present, major management figures in the industry, writers and historians. If you are getting this, you are being asked your opinion on who should be inducted into this year's Hall of Fame class. The criteria for the Hall of Fame is a combination of drawing power, being a great in-ring performer or excelling in ones field in pro wrestling, as well as having historical significance in a positive manner. A candidate should either have something to offer in all three categories, or be someone so outstanding in one or two of those categories that they deserve inclusion. The names listed below are those under consideration for this year. To be eligible, a performer must have reached their 35th birthday and completed ten years since their debut as a full-time performer, or be someone who has been a full-time pro wrestler for at least 15 years. Longevity should be a prime consideration rather than a hot two or three year run, unless someone is so significant as a trend-setter or a historical figure in the business, or valuable to the industry, that they need to be included. However, just longevity without being either a long-term main eventer, a top draw and/or a top caliber in-ring performer should be seen as relatively meaningless. here are more changes in the rules this year largely because the modern U.S. & Canada category is so full of viable candidates. Each category is separate and the number of votes in a category allowed will be one in every three people on the ballot, so each category will have a different number. The idea is categories with fewer balloters won't be easier to get in, and categories with a lot of balloters won't be so difficult that it causes a logjam. The election is broken down into a number of categories. You should check each category for wrestlers that you feel you are familiar enough with based on geography that you've either traveled or are familiar with, and based on the time you have followed pro wrestling. You do not have to vote for a wrestler in every category you've checked. The ballot is also broken down to wrestlers and those who are not pro wrestlers but have been valuable parts of the industry. You can pick as few as zero in categories if you don't believe anyone on this list deserves inclusion or you can skip voting in categories that you don't believe you are familiar enough with to vote in. All responses are confidential. There is nothing to worry about politically about any involvement in this process. Your selections will not be revealed unless you choose to do so yourself. Anyone who receives mention on 60% of the ballots from the geographical region and time frame (broken down as Continental United States & Canada; Mexico; Japan; and the rest of the world) will be added to the Hall of Fame in the class of 2025. If you are unfamiliar with any of the candidates due to geography or having never seen them, that is fine. Ballots are sent to many people from all over the world and from different wrestling cultures so that everyone has as fair a shot as possible. The breakdown for modern and historical performers is 30 years ago, or 1995. So if the last year the person was a headliner, or was a key figure in the industry, was prior to 1995, they would be in the historical class. If they were still major players after 1995 they would be in the modern class. All performers who receive mention on 10% to 59.9% of the ballots from their geographical region or era will remain on the ballot for consideration next year. All those who receive less than 10% of the vote will be dropped from next year's ballot. They can return in two years based on if there is significant feedback from voters who say they will vote for them. This is mostly for wrestlers who are still active who may improve their career legacy, but can be for retired wrestlers if voters believe they should be put on or returned to the ballot. In addition, in following the lead of the baseball Hall of Fame, which is the model here, we have a 15-year-rule. The following candidates have been on the ballot since 2008. In baseball, this would be their last year of eligibility. Here, if they don't get at least 50% of the votes in this year's election they will be removed from the ballot. If they are modern candidates, they can be brought back in the historical performers era in two years if it is more than 30 years since their career as a Hall Fame level performer is up: The following candidates will be dropped from next year's ballot unless they are elected in or garner 50% of the vote: Spyros Arion Please check by every category you are familiar with I FOLLOWED THE HISTORICAL PERFORMERS ERA CANDIDATES (Six maximum) Ole Anderson Afa & Sika Anoa'i Bob Armstrong Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson w/J.J. Dillon British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith) June Byers Wild Bull Curry Junkyard Dog Cowboy Bob Ellis Pampero Firpo Black Gordman & Great Goliath Archie "Mongolian Stomper" Gouldie Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) Sputnik Monroe Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch Iron Sheik Sweet Daddy Siki Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood Mad Dog & Butcher Vachon Kevin & Kerry & David Von Erich I FOLLOWED THE MODERN PERFORMERS IN U.S/CANADA CANDIDATES (Six maximum) Mark & Jay Briscoe Edge/Adam Copeland Bill Dundee FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheleer) Bill Goldberg Samoa Joe Matt & Jeff Hardy Becky Lynch Drew McIntyre Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks Jon Moxley Kevin Nash & Scott Hall Randy Orton C.M. Punk Cody Rhodes Seth Rollins Sabu Trish Stratus Rick & Scott Steiner I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN JAPAN CANDIDATES (Three maximum) Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan Yoshiaki Fujiwara Hayabusa Masaaki Mochizuki Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi Zack Sabre Jr. Meiko Satomura Io Shirai/Iyo Sky Tiger Jeet Singh Yoshihiro Takayama Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN MEXICO CANDIDATES (Three maximum) Angel Blanco & Dr.Wagner Sangre Chicana El Dandy Dorrell Dixon Gran Hamada Los Infernales (El Satanico & Pirata Morgan & MS 1) El Hijo del Santo & Octagon La Parka AAA Mascarita Sagrada Volador Jr. I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN EUROPE/AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND/PACIFIC ISLANDS/AFRICA (four maximum) Spyros Arion Dominic DeNucci George Gordienko Steve Grey Billy Joyce Les Kellett Killer Karl Kox Gilbert Leduc Ted Boy Marino The Royal Brothers (Bert Royal & Vic Faulkner) Adrian Street Jose Tarres Otto Wanz NON-WRESTLERS (Seven maximum) Dave Brown (U.S. & Canada modern) Zane Bresoff (U.S.& Canada modern) Bobby Bruns (Japan) Bob Caudle (U.S. & Canada historical) Joe Higuchi (Japan) Jim Johnston (U.S. & Canada modern) Larry Matysik (U.S.& Canada historical) James Melby (U.S. & Canada historical) Bill Mercer (U.S. & Canada historical) Gorilla Monsoon (U.S. & Canada historical) Rossy Ogawa (Japan) Reggie Parks (U.S. & Canada modern) Morris Sigel (U.S. & Canada historical) Tony Schiavone (U.S. & Canada modern) George Scott (U.S. & Canada historical) Kevin Sullivan (U.S. & Canada historical) Mike Tenay (U.S. & Canada modern) Ted Turner (U.S. & Canada modern) Jesse Ventura (U.S. & Canada historical) Roy Welch (U.S. & Canada historical) Stanley Weston (U.S. & Canada historical) Grand Wizard (U.S & Canada historical) Koichi Yoshizawa (Japan)
cheapshot Posted September 13 Author Report Posted September 13 November 8th is the cut off for votes - which is a good chunk of time for any last minute research
cheapshot Posted September 14 Author Report Posted September 14 Useful Spreadsheet by Adam Berger: Grouped by region and last year's results Previous inductees organized by region and age, Adam's US/Canada generational comparison that groups everyone that's ever been inducted or on the ballot by age/generation https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YX9SRDElxipe8SYFvHsVP4tRWkwnVBE2Cl_--4cbeLE/edit?gid=220567152#gid=220567152
El McKell Posted September 16 Report Posted September 16 On 9/14/2025 at 12:02 AM, Ma Stump Puller said: don't want to be in the timeline where zack sabre jr gets on before takayama but that's probably how the cards will go It's more likely that you're living in a timeline where neither one ever gets in if that's any comfort to you.
David Mantell Posted September 16 Report Posted September 16 I'd vote James Mason or Dean Allmark over Zack Sabre Jr anyway.
ethantyler Posted September 16 Report Posted September 16 I expect ZSJ to be inducted at some point. Would bet on it, actually. He's viewed as a top tier wrestler by a lot of folks, and that goes all the way back to ~2014. Add in him winning the world title, headlining the Tokyo Dome, winning the Tokyo Sports MVP award as a foreigner, and you have a case that warrants serious consideration (if you agree that he's a top-tier wrestler). Nobody in the Japan section strikes me as a no-brainer, but plenty of cases worth contemplating. I'm not voting for him, but Hayabusa should make it this year based on previous voting patterns.
Makai Club #1 Posted September 17 Report Posted September 17 Zack is an outstanding wrestler and I adore his work. And the achievement of headlining two Tokyo Domes is impressive, especially as a foreigner, but it when it comes to judging that, it'll have to be taken into consideration that he did bomb in those spots. And has since under performed in the main event spots in a way that it does negatively reflect on him. In the ring, I think he's easily been far and away better than everyone else in the world, although Gunther is probably better but has less chances to shine. I think Zack is strong in one catagory while being weak in the others.
David Mantell Posted September 18 Report Posted September 18 I think James Mason vs Dean Allmark should have been the "World of Sport -The Next Generation" match at Universal Uproar @ Coventry SkyDome November 2005, instead of Comedy Colt Cabana Vs Nigel McGuiness (no disrespect to Nigel whatsoever.) This is them eight years later
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