WWE has confirmed the latest inductees for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. As initially reported by The Ringer, former WWE Tag Team Champions, The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda), have been named as the latest inductees for this year’s Class of 2024.
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The wrestlers, who defended the WWE Tag Team Championships against late fellow WWE Hall of Famers The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff at the first WrestleMania in 1985, will be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame Class at the upcoming induction ceremony on Friday, April 5, taking place after that night’s edition of WWE SmackDown.
TRIPLE H INFORMS MIKE ROTUNDA AND BARRY WINDHAM ON WWE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION AS THE U.S. EXPRESS
WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque was the one who personally notified Rotunda and Windham of the news, and he shared the video of their chat breaking them the news earlier today. You can view that video below:
After debuting in the WWE as The U.S. Express, Rotunda and Windham became two-time World Tag Team Champions in the organization, facing the likes of Volkoff and Sheik, along with The Dream Team (Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake). The entertaining and exciting duo was known for coming out into the arenas with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in The U.S.A.” blasting over the speakers.
Both Rotunda and Windham have deep family ties to the business, as they are real-life brothers-in-law. Windham’s father, Blackjack Mulligan, was previously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of The Blackjacks. This will also mark Windham’s second WWE Hall of Fame induction. He was previously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as one of the original members of The Four Horsemen back in 2012 with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Ole Anderson.
The legacy of Rotunda’s family in the business continued with his two sons, Windham (whom he named after Barry), and Taylor. They wrestled in WWE as Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. Bray Wyatt became a highly decorated Superstar in his WWE career becoming WWE Champion, Universal Champion, and Tag Team Champion. Sadly, Windham Rotunda tragically passed away in August of last year.
Bo Dallas also had success during his WWE career, earning the NXT Championship during his run on WWE NXT, and he later became Raw Tag Team Champion with Curtis Axel. Bo Dallas was best known for his “BO-LIEVE” catchphrase and his “BO-LIEVER” followers.
For Mike Rotunda, this induction is long overdue. He’s had a long and illustrious career across multiple organizations. In 1991, he would return to WWE adopting the memorable character and gimmick, Irwin R. Schyster, aka I.R.S. Rotunda portrayed the role of a despicable tax collector for the IRS who liked to rain on everyone’s parade in WWE. During his run, he formed a tag team with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase called Money Inc., and they held the WWE Tag Team Championships on three separate occasions.
Rotunda also wrestled for Jim Crocket Promotions’ NWA and WCW in the late 80s and early 90s, competing as part of the Varsity Club stable. He was a three-time NWA World Television Championship. Fellow WWE Hall of Famer Sting, who just wrestled his last match over the weekend, beat Rotunda to win the TV title, which became Sting’s first singles championship of his career.
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Barry Windham also became a highly decorated wrestling star over the years across WWE, the NWA, and WCW. During his career became the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, the United States Champion, the TV Champion, and a multiple-time tag team champion in the NWA (later WCW).
The U.S. Express joins the Class of 2024 alongside Bull Nakano and ECW founder and The Bloodline’s Wiseman Paul Heyman. The ceremony will be held on April 5 at the Wells Fargo Center. The ceremony will be streamed live on Peacock following the SmackDown broadcast airing live on FOX.
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 Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda as their U.S. Express tag team are good choices for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024? Who else do you want to see get an induction this year? Let us know your thoughts about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: WWE
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