The first class of WWE Hall of Fame inductees with Vince McMahon not at the company’s helm will be honored later this week, which is something of a monumental occurrence in its own right.
The upcoming induction ceremony will in many ways be business as usual for WWE, which has been adding wrestlers and other important figures to its Hall of Fame during WrestleMania weekend for years.
One inductee makes perfect sense from a synergy perspective. Paul Heyman, still very active within WWE as the Special Counsel to Roman Reigns, will enter the Hall of Fame and be recognized for his work as a promoter, manager and creative visionary.
But there are also inductees who break the mold a bit from what WWE has generally put forward. Thunderbolt Patterson is one, as he will be honored for his efforts to crush stereotypes of Black wrestlers and improve working conditions for his fellow performers.
Other members of the Class of 2024 include Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express and Muhammad Ali.
The induction ceremony will once again be carried live after the final SmackDown before WrestleMania, making for a very long but hopefully entertaining night for fans in Philadelphia for the Showcase of the Immortals. It will also be streamed live for everyone else, though not on broadcast TV.
Here’s everything you need to know to watch the new class of Hall of Fame members take their place alongside other legends on Friday, April 5.
WWE Hall of Fame ceremony 2024
- Date: Friday, April 5
- Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
- Start Time: Approximately 10:00 p.m., immediately after SmackDown
- How to Watch: On Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network elsewhere
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