Paul Roma Addresses WWE Hall Of Fame Snub

[TDK]

I didn't see this listed anywhere, so hopefully it's not a repost...

IMO, some very interesting and perhaps controversial remarks that raise a series of questions regarding the WWE HOF. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. What's wrong with the Hall, what's right with it and how could it be better? If you're so inclined, feel free to discuss.

<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Paul Roma Addresses WWE Hall Of Fame Snub

Paul Roma spoke with World Wrestling Insanity about his time as one of the Four Horsemen, his thoughts about not being included in the Horsemen's induction into the Hall of Fame and his feelings about Drew Carey being in the Hall of Fame and not Randy Savage.

"First I want to thank everybody for not forgetting and remembering that - A, I was a Horsemen. And B, why they chose me. At the end of the day, it gets down to the fact that the Horsemen were considered the elite, the best of the best and all that. When you pick just a chosen few, you're leaving out everybody else. So what are you saying about that? They weren't recognized? They weren't Horsemen? Or is this Vince just being Vince and saying, 'Oh. I get to pick and choose who I want because the Hall of Fame is Horsesh*t,' for lack of a better term anyway. When you put Drew Carey in the wrestling hall of fame, what's his claim to fame? Did he grease Vince's backend or what?"

"How can you take it serious? They threw him in. He's an actor. He beat nobody. Everybody that you put into WrestleMania, why don't you put them in the Hall of Fame? Or anybody you throw in the ring, throw them in the Hall of Fame because they were on TV once. "

"Why isn't Savage in there? He was an icon, wasn't he? Why not put him in or some of the other guys? I don't get it. Listen, if you run it like the baseball Hall of Fame and you have people nominated, you vote, and you can show all that - where the voting went - it might make a little more sense. But how do you keep guys out who made you so much money and made the business what it was back in the day, like Savage?"[/quote]

 

[Tired]

TDK, I am going to tell you something that Darth AKI once said to me.

There is absolutely no problem with you posting news in the news section. And there is very little you could do to piss us off. Thanks for the post.

It wasn't that exact same wording, but it is close enough.

Anyway, my thoughts on what Paul Roma said:

First of all, it does not make sense to have more than 5 people representing the Four Horsemen. JJ Dillion was never a Horseman, but he was the manager that led them to prominence. Ric Flair has been the group leader of every single incarnation of the stable. He was even in Evolution and Fortune, two stables deliberatly designed on the Four Horsemen. And for sheer longetivity alone, Arn Anderson has to be the third.

That leaves room for two others. And when you think about it, there are guys more deserving than Roma who are also not getting in. Like Sting, Vicious, Benoit, Luger, Malenko and Pillman. But then again, he is more deserving than others, like McMichael.

Roma will never be in the HOF. The reason is because Triple H (who has never actually met or worked with him), and Vince McMahon don't like him. And he had limited success in the WWF. And most former Horsemen don't like him because of the WWE.

A few years ago, they made a DVD called 'Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen'. And they interviewed most of the former Horsemen, and no-one had a bad word to say about any other member. Not even Roma. They told Roma that most of the others had said nasty things about him, encouraging Roma to insult them back. They then showed the footage to the other Horsemen, and convinced them that Roma hated them. So now they hate Roma.

Roma has every right to be bitter with the WWE. But realistically, he wasn't snubbed. He may have been a member of the Horsemen, but he was not in one of the better incarnations of the group.

 

[TDK]

Roma has every right to be bitter with the WWE. But realistically, he wasn't snubbed. He may have been a member of the Horsemen, but he was not in one of the better incarnations of the group.

I agree with most of what you said as I wouldn't make the case for his inclusion either. Again this goes back to your opening point that it doesn't make sense to induct 7 or 8 guys in what was historically (by it's very name) a four man stable. Also your closing point about Roma not being in one of the best lineups seems quite valid.

I suppose the problem was bound to arise once the WWE announced they'd be inducting 'the Horsemen as a group.' While the intent may have been good, realistically you could no more include every member of the horseman than you could say every member of the nWo. Some sort of distinction had to be made, and while that process is bound to be subjective I think what really hurts is the lack of transparency in the selection process.

Given that it's all done behind closed doors, and presumably by a very select group, it seems only natural that those who are overlooked are likely to presume the worst. If the WWE wants to reduce this type of bad press or public bitterness in the future, they should seriously consider opening the process up by appointing a representative panel who are demographically diverse enough to deflect overt appearances of individual bias.

I'm talking about actual open debate and votes by members who represent a broad spectrum of the industry, rather than an arbitrary decision that is reached in secret by Lord knows who.

Beyond that I'd be in favor of a mandatory waiting period so we don't have people like Edge walking in the moment they hang 'em up. Don't get me wrong, I'm an Edge supporter and I do think he's HOF material, but just not right off the bat.

Last but not least, I do agree with Roma concerning actors and such being inducted ahead of icons such as Randy Savage. IMO, it tends to make a mockery of the whole institution. I know Vince is primarily a businessman, but in a case like this I wish he'd relinquish a little control and allow the HOF to become something he gave back to the industry. That way it could grow to mean so much more to wrestlers and fans alike.

I'm not holding my breath, but over to you Vince.