The WWE Hall of Fame has revealed the latest inductee for the Class of 2024, and it’s probably a name few expected to hear this year. Longtime women’s wrestling veteran, Bull Nakano, a trailblazing star, is the latest name to be announced for this year’s Hall of Fame class. She joins previously announced inductee Paul Heyman.
As first reported by ESPN, Nakano will be inducted later next month in Philadelphia during WrestleMania XL Week. The fifty-six-year-old veteran actually has a history in WWE that dates back to 1986!
BULL NAKANO JOINS THE WWE HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024
Nakano shared her reaction to the announcement while speaking to ESPN. She stated, “During my active years, I was able to get championship belts in Japan, America, and Mexico.” Nakano continued, “But just one thing was missing — I didn’t get inducted into the Hall of Fame. I wanted this. Finally, in 2024 in WrestleMania week, I am able to get this.”
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Nakano is best known in WWE history for her rivalry with Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze, aka Madusa, over the WWE Women’s Championship back in 1994. She first competed in WWE in 1986, working with powerhouse Dump Matsumoto as The Devils of Japan in a series of shows that took place that year.
Nakano has a career spanning several decades, as she made her professional wrestling, in-ring debut in 1983. Nakano developed a character that was equal parts Tokyo scream queen and Bowery punk rocker. She would shave the sides of her long hair long before it was popular. She wore leather vests and fright makeup to draw the crowd’s attention.
During her illustrious career, Bull Nakano won titles in Japan, Mexico, and of course, WWE. In 1994, she defeated Blayze to capture the WWE Women’s Championship at the All Japan Women’s Wrestling Championship Big Egg Wrestling Universe show on Nov. 20, 1994. The show was a jam-packed event at the Tokyo Dome with 42,000 people in attendance. There she beat Blayze to win the title, holding the belt for 134 days. She also won a WWE Slammy Award that year as the Most Devastating Superstar.
During her career, Nakano also enjoyed notable feuds with other Japanese wrestling stars, such as Aja Kong and Manami Toyota. That ultimately sparked her move to WWE and an epic rivalry with Blayze over the women’s championship, at a time when women’s wrestling was not the big attraction and draw that it is now. Their feud would eventually carry over into WCW in the 1990s.
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Nakano eventually retired as an in-ring competitor on January 8, 2012. She is a more than worthy competitor to join the WWE Hall of Fame this year. As a women’s wrestler, she is a trailblazer who made it possible for future generations of stars to fulfill their dreams of becoming wrestlers and WWE Superstars.
This year’s WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony will be held on Friday, Apr. 5. The induction ceremony will take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania following that night’s edition of WWE SmackDown. The ceremony will air live on Peacock.
About WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony
When: April 5, 2024
Where: Wells Fargo Center (3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148)
Pricing: Tickets available now at Ticketmaster
Broadcast Distribution: Peacock
About: The WWE Hall of Fame will honor Superstars and veterans of the past. Traditionally held during WrestleMania Weekend, this year’s induction ceremony will be held in Philadelphia the night before WrestleMania XL. This year’s Hall of Fame Class has already named Bull Nakano and Paul Heyman.
What do you think of the news? Do you think Bull Nakano is a good choice for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024? Who else do you want to see get an induction? Let us know your thoughts about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
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