One of the greatest boxers and most influential athletes of all time is joining the WWE Hall of Fame in its upcoming Class of 2024.
As first reported by Variety, the late Muhammad Ali will enter the WWE Hall of Fame ahead of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. He will be inducted by his widow, Lonnie, and will join a class that already includes Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano and the U.S. Express.
Ali had a high profile role at WrestleMania I, where he was the special guest referee for the main event tag team match pitting Hulk Hogan and Mr. T against “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. He got physically involved in the match when provoked by Piper, smashing him with a right hand to the delight of the crowd.
Yet the man known as “the Greatest” for his status as a heavyweight boxing icon had made his mark on pro wrestling years prior. Ali took on Japanese wrestling icon Antonio Inoki in June of 1976 in an exhibition bout billed as “The War of the Worlds” in Tokyo. Despite being contested under unusual hybrid rules that saw Ali land few punches and Inoki mostly kick at Ali’s legs, the event was a huge success at the time and helped plant the seed for mixed martial arts to grow years later — not to mention some of the crossover combat sports bouts seen today.
As a boxer and champion for social justice, of course, Ali needs no introduction. His outsized personality and colorful boasts are also the stuff of legend, and just about any wrestler cutting promos in WWE today can trace some of their swagger back to him.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place Friday, April 5, and will be live streamed on Peacock immediately after SmackDown concludes on FOX, beginning at approximately 10 p.m. ET.
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