The WWE Hall of Fame has 139 current inductees (The Undertaker not included). Some of them deserved to be there and some not, that’s up to opinion. The point is, this is professional wrestling’s most prestigious honor. At least, it’s supposed to be.
Related: The 10 Most Controversial WWE Hall of Fame Inductions Ever
The Hall of Fame is stuffed with legends, but there are an enormous amount of these legends that have not received such recognition. This list won’t cover all, just a handful of the many who range from no chance of getting in to guaranteed to accept this honor one day.
10 Owen Hart: No Chance
Readers the world over know why Owen Hart won’t ever be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. It’s not just the tragic circumstances regarding his untimely death in 1999.
Owen’s widow Martha has publicly stated on multiple occasions that she will not allow Owen to be inducted, as she is head of his estate and gets the final say. Yes, the King of Harts absolutely deserves to be in the HOF, but it’s understandable why he won’t be.
If AEW ever creates a Hall of Fame, with the introduction of the Owen Hart Foundation and the upcoming Owen Hart Cups, it is likely he would be inducted there.
9 Brian Pillman: No Chance
One of the most controversial wrestlers of all time, Brian Pillman is often overlooked for how great he was inside the ring due to his incredible promo work. Flyin’ Brian had a sense of excitement and unpredictability around him that made him one of a kind.
Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Brian Pillman
However, much of this controversy and certainly his unfortunate death in 1997 at the young age of 35 will likely keep him out of the Hall of Fame forever. Pillman’s death is something WWE will likely want to shy away from.
Like Owen, Pillman has the merit to be in the Hall of Fame, but if he is ever inducted into a Hall of Fame, look for it to be in a potential AEW HOF. His son, Brian Pillman Jr. has been a featured act on AEW for over two years.
8 Sycho Sid: Low
Sid is an interesting case, as he is a two-time WWE champion and former WCW Champion and is not in the Hall of Fame. This is odd as he does not necessarily have a criminal past, he’s just a bit of a different cat.
Sid would often show up to wrestle in whatever company he was in for a handful of months and would proceed to disappear from television for months. Rumor has it, he was a big fan of playing softball and valued that over his wrestling career.
There is a chance for the Master and Ruler of the World to end up in the Hall one day, however, with it being so long since his last actual WWE run, it seems unlikely. If he does get inducted, who knows if he will actually attend the ceremony.
7 Lex Luger: Low
Lex Luger has actually been a success story as he battled his demons and according to many accounts is a “different person” in the present day than he was during his wrestling run of the '90s.
Whether it was WWE or WCW, Luger was never the best wrestler but his physique and presence set him apart. His WCW Championship victory on Nitro remains one of the best moments in the program's history, and he is one of the greatest WCW United States Champions ever.
RELATED: 5 Best United States Champions In WWE History (& 5 Best In WCW History)
However, Luger’s run as the top babyface in WWE was a huge flop, and he was the first big jump from WWE to WCW once Monday Night Nitro premiered. WWE hardly ever mentions him, and it’s unlikely he will ever take a spot in the Hall of Fame.
6 Ivan Koloff: Middle of the Road
The man who snapped Bruno Sammartino’s seven and a half year reign as WWWF Champion is not in the Hall of Fame.
Yes, the third-ever WWE Champion is not recognized in the upper echelon of wrestling history. Looking at his background, it’s unclear why.
Why is he in the middle of the road? Koloff is undeniably worthy of a spot but after not being inducted after this many years, perhaps he never will be.
5 Vader: Middle of the Road
Big Van Vader, The Mastodon or Vader, whatever he is recognized as, he should be recognized as a Hall of Famer. Vader is one of the greatest big men of all time and this cannot be understated.
Most notably in Japan and WCW, Vader made a statement, bulldozing the likes of Sting, Ric Flair, and Antonio Inoki. A multiple-time IWGP and WCW Champion, his WWE run somehow fell flat and maybe that’s why he has not been inducted into the Hall.
Vader was reportedly slated to win the WWE Championship in 1996 before his matches with Shawn Michaels went wrong and HBK complained in the ring and to management. Maybe this is what holds him back.
4 Christian: High
Christian should be a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
Related: 10 Ways WWE Failed Christian Cage
His in-ring work speaks for itself, and he deserves more praise for his promo ability. Even though he currently resides in AEW as Christian Cage, it seems he has a good relationship with WWE and will likely return.
The only thing holding him back from a guaranteed spot in the Hall of Fame is the reports that Vince McMahon doesn’t like him. Maybe if Captain Charisma agrees to have a blue dot over his face when he gets inducted, WWE will greenlight the induction.
3 John Cena: Guaranteed
John Cena kicks off the final three where this category of future Hall of Famers is labeled “guaranteed”.
Let’s not beat around the bush, John Cena is one of the greatest of all time. Many are not fans of his in-ring work or his overall persona, but whether you’re a fan or not, he is one of WWE’s great success stories.
A true crossover star, most recently the lead of an HBO Max exclusive DC series Peacemaker, Cena transcends professional wrestling. He is a phenomenal entertainer and he and WWE have a great relationship.
It’s only a matter of time.
2 The Rock: Guaranteed
See entry above.
The Rock is beloved both by WWE and wrestling fans alike. More than that, he is beloved by fans of entertainment as he has transformed himself into a Hollywood icon.
That is no hyperbole. The Rock’s WWE career is why he should be in the HOF. He's a multiple-time world champion, an Intercontinental Champion, a Royal Rumble winner, and one of the best promos in the history of the business.
Look for The Great One to headline the Hall of Fame class of 2023 as WrestleMania weekend will be held in Los Angeles. Rock's induction is confirmed, but it would not be a surprise.
1 Roman Reigns: Guaranteed
That’s right. The current Universal Champion is a guaranteed Hall of Famer.
Whether you like him or not, when the lights shine brightest, Roman Reigns delivers in-ring and from his character’s perspective. He is a Grand Slam Champion and WWE’s biggest current star by a long shot.
Related: 5 Best Wrestlers WWE Signed From The Indies (& 5 Best Homegrown)
Accolades aside, WWE loves him, and he shares that same adoration for the company that made him a megastar. There are other current stars like Kofi Kingston and The Miz who absolutely will be in the Hall of Fame, but Roman Reigns would headline next year’s class if he retired today.
