Current:Home > StocksBoxing icon Muhammad Ali to be inducted into 2024 WWE Hall of Fame? Here's why. -Streamline Finance
Boxing icon Muhammad Ali to be inducted into 2024 WWE Hall of Fame? Here's why.
View
Date:2025-04-17 08:04:34
The latest inductee announced to the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class is boxing and global icon Muhammad Ali, the company announced Monday.
Ali, who died in 2016 at the age of 74, is third inductee of this year's class, joining Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano.
"One of the most iconic figures in sports history, the three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Olympic gold medalist was known around the world for his charisma, his confidence, and his ability to back it up inside the ropes," WWE said in a statement. "Known simply as 'The Greatest,' Ali’s influence transcended sports as his work as an activist, artist, and personality established him as one of the most renowned figures in the entire world."
Why is Muhammad Ali going into WWE Hall of Fame?
Even with all of his accolades in and out of the boxing ring, Ali also made notable impact in the professional wrestling world.
In the very first WrestleMania in 1985, Ali served as the special guest referee for the main event tag team match between Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff. By the time of the event, Ali had already retired as an accomplished boxer.
As the match was erupting in chaos, Ali delivered an iconic moment when he punched Piper with his signature right hand. Hogan and Mr. T would win the match in the showcase that would become WWE's flagship event.
In addition to his achievement in professional wrestling, Ali also competed in "The War of the Worlds" match against wrestler Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan in 1976. The match was fought under special mixed rules and is seen as the precursor to what modern mixed martial arts is today. The 15-round bout would end in a draw.
Now, Ali will join Inoki as a WWE Hall of Famer.
"His legacy as one of the greatest athletes persists, and his work to modernize and globalize professional wrestling helped seamlessly blend the world of sports and entertainment," WWE said.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place during WrestleMania weekend, with the inductions occurring on April 5 at at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia after "Smackdown."
veryGood! (95887)
Related
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Luis Alberto Urrea pays tribute to WWII's forgotten volunteers — including his mother
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get a $189 Wallet for Just $45
- 12 Small Black-Owned Etsy Stores That Will Be Your New Favorite Shops
- Olympic women's basketball bracket: Schedule, results, Team USA's path to gold
- Get Whiter Teeth in 6 Minutes and Save 58% On This Supersmile Product Bundle
- Blinken, Lavrov meet briefly as U.S.-Russia tensions soar and war grinds on
- Françoise Gilot, the famed artist who loved and then left Picasso, is dead at 101
- Police remove gator from pool in North Carolina town: Watch video of 'arrest'
- Biden to host 2nd state visit, welcoming South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol to White House
Ranking
- Beware of giant spiders: Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season
- Bus with 40 children crashes in French Alps
- Stationmaster charged in Greece train crash that killed 57
- Why Royal Family Fanatics Have to Watch E!'s New Original Rom-Com
- The Daily Money: Disney+ wants your dollars
- Family Karma: See Every Photo From Amrit Kapai and Nicholas Kouchoukos' Wedding
- Hats off to an illuminating new documentary about Mary Tyler Moore
- Man says he survived month lost in Amazon rainforest by eating insects, drinking urine and fighting off animal attacks
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
How companies can build trust with the LGBTQ+ community — during Pride and beyond
HBO estimates 2.9 million watched 'Succession' finale on Sunday night
Meet Jason Arday, Cambridge University's youngest ever Black professor, who didn't speak until he was 11.
US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
Bethenny Frankel Details Struggle With POTS Syndrome After Receiving Comments About Her Appearance
Want Johnny Carson's desk? A trove of TV memorabilia is up for auction
Why Ke Huy Quan’s 2023 SAG Awards Speech Inspired Everyone Everywhere All at Once