NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes

The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes is a professional wrestling hall of fame that honors people who have competed or played other major roles in the NWA. Organized by wrestling promoter Greg Price,[1] the hall is separate from the NWA Hall of Fame and is not officially endorsed by the company, but the NWA has given permission for the use of its name.[2] An induction ceremony takes place at the annual NWA Legends Fanfest Weekend. In 2007, there were seven inductees in the inaugural class. Seven more honorees were added the following year, and another eight were added to the Hall of Heroes in 2009.[3] The 2009 induction ceremony took place on August 7 and was hosted by Jim Cornette.[4]

Honorees are inducted for work in any area of wrestling, including competing in the ring, managing, refereeing, promoting, and announcing. During the ceremony, personalities from the NWA deliver speeches and present the inductees with plaques.[5] These plaques have the logo of the NWA Legends Fanfest and are identical aside from the year of induction and the inductee's name.[3] Many presenters have been involved in the inductee's career; for example, Gary Hart, who managed Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson,[6] inducted both men,[3] and Buddy Roberts was inducted by Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin,[3] both of whom were fellow members of The Fabulous Freebirds.[1] Inductees and other former NWA wrestlers are seated at tables with fans to provide an intimate atmosphere. Although most people honored by the hall attend the dinner and induction ceremony, some are inducted posthumously and others are unable to attend for medical reasons.[3][7]

Although most wrestlers are inducted individually, tag teams have been inducted together. Ole and Gene Anderson were among the members of the inaugural class; they competed together for many years as storyline brothers.[8] The Fargo brothers (Don, Jackie, and Sonny), who also wrestled in tag team matches together despite not being related in real life, are scheduled to be inducted together in 2009.[9] George Scott, inducted in 2007, and his brother Sandy, inducted in 2008, are the only true relatives in the hall.[10] Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson, who competed as the original Blond Bombers, were also inducted together in 2007.[11]

Like most wrestling halls of fame, there is no physical building that houses the NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes.[12]

Inductees

Year Ring name
(Birth name) 		Inducted by Inducted for Notes
2007 Gene Anderson Bill Eadie Wrestling Posthumous induction; won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (7 times) and NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (7 times)[13][14]
2007 Ole Anderson
(Alan Rogowski)[8] 		Bill Eadie Wrestling Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic/Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (7 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (8 times)[14][15]
2007 Penny Banner
(Mary Ann Kostecki)[16] 		Nickla Roberts Women's wrestling Won the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (1 time)[17]
2007 Bob Caudle David Crockett Announcing Worked as commentator for Jim Crockett Promotions[18]
2007 Swede Hanson
(Robert Ford Hanson)[19] 		Gary Hart Wrestling Posthumous induction; won the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (4 times) and NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time)[15][20]
2007 Rip Hawk
(Harvey Evers)[21] 		Gary Hart Wrestling Won the NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Championship (4 times) and NWA Mid-Atlantic/Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (5 times)[15][22]
2007 George Scott Tommy Young Wrestling and Promoting Won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (2 times) and worked as booker for Jim Crockett Promotions[20][23]
2008 Paul Jones
(Paul Frederick) 		Jack Brisco Wrestling and Managing Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (6 times), and NWA Mid-Atlantic/Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (6 times); managed Paul Jones' Army in Jim Crockett Promotions[14][15][22][24]
2008 Ivan Koloff
(Oreal Perras)[25] 		Don Kernodle Wrestling Won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (4 times)[14][22]
2008 Thunderbolt Patterson
(Claude Patterson)[26] 		Ole Anderson Wrestling Won the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (3 times) and NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (1 time)[13][15]
2008 Buddy Roberts
(Dale Hey)[27] 		Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes Wrestling Won the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version) / WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (6 times) and NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time)[28][29]
2008 Sandy Scott
(Angus Mackay Scott)[30] 		Bob Caudle Wrestling and Promoting Worked as an executive for Jim Crockett Promotions and won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (1 time) and NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (3 times)[20][30][31]
2008 Grizzly Smith
(Aurelian Smith)[32] 		Magnum T. A. Wrestling Won the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (2 times) and NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[33][34]
2008 Johnny Weaver
(Kenneth Eugene Weaver)[35] 		Rip Hawk Wrestling Posthumous induction; won the NWA Atlantic Coast/Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (8 times) and NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (6 times)[36]
2009 Don Fargo
(Don Kalt)[37] 		Jerry Jarrett & Steve Keirn Wrestling Won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (2 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (6 times)[14][38]
2009 Jackie Fargo
(Henry Faggart)[39] 		Jerry Jarrett & Steve Keirn Wrestling Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (10 times) and NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (22 times)[14][38]
2009 Sonny Fargo
(Jack Lewis Faggart)[37] 		Jerry Jarrett & Steve Keirn Wrestling Posthumous induction; won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (3 times)[38]
2009 Gary Hart
(Gary Williams)[40] 		Sir Oliver Humperdink Managing and Promoting Posthumous induction; worked as a booker in World Class Championship Wrestling and managed several wrestlers in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling[41]
2009 Wahoo McDaniel
(Edward McDaniel)[42] 		Tully Blanchard Wrestling Posthumous induction; won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (6 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (4 times)[14][22]
2009 Blackjack Mulligan
(Robert Windham)[43] 		Ric Flair Wrestling Won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time)[14][33]
2009 Nelson Royal Brad Anderson, Tommy Angel & David Isley Wrestling Won the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (2 times)[15]
2009 Lance Russell Dave Brown Announcing Worked as commentator for wrestling events in the Memphis area[44]
2010 Joe Blanchard Dory Funk Jr Promoter Posthumous induction; Founded Southwest Championship Wrestling in 1978
2010 Danny Hodge Jim Ross Wrestling Won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
2010 Billy Robinson Terry Funk Wrestling Won the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time) and the NWA United National Championship (1 time)
2010 Greg Valentine Jerry Brisco Wrestling Won the United States Championship (3 times) and the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
2010 Johnny Valentine Jerry Brisco Wrestling Won the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (5 times)
2010 Mr. Wrestling II Jody Hamilton Wrestling Best known for his appearances with Championship Wrestling from Florida, Mid-South Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling.
2010 Mr. Wrestling Jody Hamilton Wrestling American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names, Mr. Wrestling and Tim Woods
2011 Jody Hamilton Nick Patrick Wrestling Won the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (14 times)
2011 Tom Renesto Nick Patrick Wrestling Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) (2 times) and the NWA North American Tag Team Championship (2 times)
2011 Ron Garvin Mac McMurray Wrestling Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
2011 Sir Oliver Humperdink Diamond Dallas Page and Mick Karch Managing Worked for Jim Crockett Promotions and Florida Championship Wrestling
2011 Gordon Solie Roddy Piper Announcing Regarded as one of the most influential wrestling announcers. Worked in Championship Wrestling from Florida, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Continental Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling.
2011 Ray Stevens Nick Bockwinkle Wrestling Won the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (3 times)
2011 Masked Superstar Stan Hansen Wrestling Won the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (4 times) and the NWA National Tag Team Championship (3 times).
2011 Ted Turner Thunderbolt Patterson Promoter Purchased Jim Crockett Promotions which he renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1988
2013 Magnum T. A. Tully Blanchard Wrestling Former 2 times United States Champion
2013 Lars Anderson Brad Anderson Wrestling One half of The Minnesota Wrecking Crew. Won many Tag Team title in the NWA territories
2013 Dennis Condrey Jerry Jarrett Wrestling One half of the Midnight Express
2013 Jim Cornette Jerry Jarrett Manager Long time manager of the Midnight Express
2013 Bobby Eaton Jerry Jarrett Wrestling One half of the Midnight Express
2013 Robert Gibson Jerry Jarrett Wrestling One half of The Rock 'n' Roll Express
2013 Stan Lane Jerry Jarrett Wrestling One half of the Midnight Express with Bobby Eaton and one half of The Fabulous Ones with Steve Keirn
2013 Danny Miller Jerry Brisco Wrestling the first NWA/WCW World Television Champion
2013 Ricky Morton Jerry Jarrett Wrestling One half of The Rock 'n' Roll Express
2013 Les Thatcher J. J. Dillon Wrestling and Trainer Former NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)
2014 Arn Anderson David Crockett Wrestling Former NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (5 times), Former NWA/WCW World Television Championship (4 times)
2014 Tully Blanchard David Crockett Wrestling Former NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time), Won the United States Championship (3 times)
2014 J. J. Dillon David Crockett Manager Manager of the Four Horsemen
2014 The Poffo Family
(Angelo, Randy and Lanny) 		Wrestling Famed pro wrestling family
2014 Jerry Brisco Danny Miller Wrestling Former NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (3 times), First NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion
2014 Boris Malenko Wrestling and Trainer WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
2014 Ox Baker Wrestling Former NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) (1 time)
2014 Tommy Young Jim Cornette Referee Long time National Wrestling Alliance and Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling referee
2015 Ricky Steamboat Mark & Chris Youngblood Wrestling Former NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time), Won the United States Championship (4 times)
2015 Jay Youngblood Mark & Chris Youngblood Wrestling Former NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (5 times)
2015 Jim Crockett Sr. Promoter Founder of Jim Crockett Promotions
2016 Dusty Rhodes Magnum T. A. Wrestling & booker NWA World Heavyweight Champion (3 times), NWA United States Champion (1 time)
2016 The Road Warriors
(Hawk and Animal) 		Jim Cornette Wrestling Former NWA, AWA and WWF tag team champions
2016 Paul Ellering Jim Cornette Manager Manager of The Road Warriors
2016 Jimmy Valiant Paul Jones Wrestling Held numerous titles in many territories
2016 Nickla Roberts Valet Better known as Baby Doll former valet for Tully Blanchard, Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair and Larry Zbyszko
2016 Dick Bourne Bob Caudle Journalism Co-Publisher of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway website.
2016 David Chappell Bob Caudle Journalism Co-Publisher of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway website.

References

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