Earlier this month, it was announced that WCW legend Sting would be the first member of the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2016. Other names have been rumored for months and a list of inductees has leaked, but one WWE legend is still missing: Owen Hart.
If you’re wondering why Owen hasn’t been inducted yet despite being a beloved former Intercontinental, European and Tag Team Champion, as well as a 2-time Slammy Award winner and the 1994 King of the Ring, so are the Harts. In a post on his Facebook, Owen’s brother Smith spoke about what’s holding up Owen’s induction, and why WWE won’t even consider inducting the Hart Foundation as a group. That’d make Bret a 2-time Hall of Famer like Flair, and give nods to not only Owen, but Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith and Brian Pillman. The problem? The same problem that made Bret Hart call the Owen DVD “so bullsh*t”: Owen’s widow, Martha.
Here’s what Smith had to say. Spoiler alert for the leaked Hall of Fame induction names, if you care about that:
I just got off the phone with my brother Bret, who called to wish me well. In talking to Bret, I can confirm that WWE will NOT be inducting Owen, Davey, Blue Blazer or even as Bret and I suggested, of inducting the entire Hart Foundation as a unit this year in Dallas for their fictional Hall of Fame. This once again proves that WWE’s Hall of Fame is nothing more than profiteering, grandstanding and political BS. It’s a shame, not only for the fans that still fill my inbox annually holding hope, but also for WWE as the task of filling 100,000 plus into Jerry’s world seems near impossible with their vastly depleted roster and horrible creative direction. A Hart Foundation induction on its own would not fill the stadium, but I’m sure would help more than the proposed inductions of The Godfather, Jacqueline or JBL (with all due respect). The reason given for the lack of an Owen induction is still our former Sister in law, Martha who still holds a grudge as if the tragedy happened days ago. Personally, I wouldn’t blame Bret or anyone in my family if they boycotted this year’s show.
There’s always next year, I guess. Until then, we’ll always have this:
