The Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame (WWHOF) is a hall of fame which honors women who have performed in both women's professional wrestling and women's amateur wrestling.
 | |
| Formation | 2022 |
|---|---|
Members | 25 total inductees 20 Individual inductees 2 group inductee (4 wrestlers) 2 promotion inductees |
| Website | Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame |
History
editThe Hall of Fame was founded in 2022 by Angel Orsini, Christopher Annino, Gary Wolfe and Sue Green.[1] It started as an offshoot of a documentary Orsani and director Annino have been making about women's professional wrestling titled Circle of Champions.[2]
2023's inaugural class were honored during a ceremony at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 17, 2022.[3] Jazz and Madusa received their inductions in person, and Gangrel accepted Luna Vachon's posthumous award on her behalf.[4] 86-year old Beverly Shade received her induction remotely, just months before her death.[5] Co-founder Christopher Annino has expressed a desire to see Donna Christanello, Sue Green and Toni Rose inducted on a broadcast of NWA Powerrr because of their history with the National Wrestling Alliance.[6]
Inductees
edit| # | Image | Year | Ring name (Birth name) |
Category | Notes[7] | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023 | Cora Livingston (Cora B. Bowser) |
Pre-Radio Era | Posthumous inductee. Inaugural Women's World Champion. | [8] | |
| 2 | 2023 | Mildred Burke (Mildred Bliss) |
Radio Era | Posthumous inductee. Two-time Women's World Champion. Inaugural NWA World Women's Champion. | [8] | |
| 3 | 2023 | Beverly Shade (Beverly Wenhold) |
Early TV Era | One-time NWA World Women's Tag Team Champion. | [8] | |
| 4 | 2023 | Marva Scott (Marva Wingo) |
Early TV Era | Posthumous inductee. One of the first African American female wrestlers. | [8] | |
| 5 | 2023 | Ethel Johnson (Ethel Blanche Wingo) |
Early TV Era | Posthumous inductee. The first African American female world champion. Two-time Colored Women's World Champion. One-time NWA World Women's Tag Team Champion. | [8] | |
| 6 | 2023 | Babs Wingo (Babs Wingo) |
Early TV Era | Posthumous inductee. First African American female to wrestle integrated matches for promoter Billy Wolfe. | [8] | |
| 7 | 2023 | Donna Christanello (Mary Alfonsi) |
Early TV Era | Posthumous inductee. Tag team partner of co-inductee Toni Rose. Four-time NWA World Women's Tag Team Champion. | [8] | |
| 7 | 2023 | Toni Rose (Toni Rose) |
Early TV Era | Tag team partner of co-inductee Donna Christanello. Five-time NWA World Women's Tag Team Champion. | [8] | |
| 8 | 2023 | Sue Green (Susan Tex Green) |
Early TV Era | First openly gay female wrestler. Three-time PGWA Champion. One-time NWA World Women's Tag Team Champion. | [8] | |
| 9 | 2023 | Jazz (Carlene Denise Moore) |
Modern TV Era | Two-time WWE Women's Champion. One-time NWA World Women's Champion. | [8] | |
| 10 | 2023 | Luna Vachon (Gertrude Elizabeth Vachon) |
Modern TV Era | Posthumous inductee. One-time LMLW World Champion. One-time USWA Women's Champion. | [8] | |
| 11 | 2023 | Madusa (Debrah Anne Miceli) |
Modern TV Era | Three-time WWE Women's Champion. One-time AWA World Women's Champion. | [8] | |
| 12 | 2023 | Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling | Modern TV Era | First all-female professional wrestling television series. | [8] | |
| 13 | 2023 | Rita Chatterton (Rita Marie Chatterton) |
Modern TV Era | First female referee in WWE history. | [8] | |
| 14 | 2023 | Iryna Merleni (Iryna Oleksiyivna) |
Internet Era | Gold medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics. | [8] | |
| 15 | 2024 | Debbie Johnson | Early TV Era | Trainee of The Fabulous Moolah. | [9] | |
| 16 | 2024 | Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnson | Modern TV Era | Silver medalist at the 1990 World Wrestling Championships. | [9] | |
| 17 | 2024 | Missy Hyatt (Melissa Ann Hiatt) |
Modern TV Era | First female commentator and influential valet. | [10] | |
| 18 | 2024 | Sherri Martel (Sherry Lynn Russell) |
Modern TV Era | Posthumous inductee. Three-time AWA World Women's Champion. One-time WWE Women's Champion. | [9] | |
| 19 | 2024 | Heidi Lee Morgan | Modern TV Era | One-time IWCCW Women's Champion. | [9] | |
| 20 | 2024 | Suzie Tanner | Modern TV Era | First licensed female referee. | [9] | |
| 21 | 2024 | Rockin' Robin (Robin Denise Smith) |
Modern TV Era | One-time WWE Women's Champion. One-time LMLW International Champion. One-time UWF Women's World Champion. | [9] | |
| 22 | 2024 | Ladies Professional Wrestling Association | Modern TV Era | Influential all-female professional wrestling promotion. | [9] | |
| 23 | 2024 | Priscilla Gagné | Internet Era | Para judo silver medalist at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. | [9] | |
| 24 | 2024 | Clarissa Chun | Internet Era | First female wrestler from Hawaii to win a medal at the Olympics. | ||
| 25 | 2024 | Texas Cowgirls (Joyce Grable and Wendi Richter) |
Modern TV Era | Three-time NWA World Women's Tag Team Champions. | [9] | |
| 26 | 2024 | Jacqueline Moore | Modern TV and Internet Era | Two-time WWF Women's Champion. One-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion. | [9] | |
| 27 | 2024 | Lisa Marie Varon | Internet Era | Five-time TNA Knockouts Champion. One-time TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion. Two-time WWE Women's Champion. | [9] | |
| 28 | 2025 | Jumping Bomb Angels (Itsuki Yamazaki and Noriyo Tateno) |
Modern TV Era | One-time WWWA World Tag Team Champions. One-time WWF Women's Tag Team Champions | [11] |
WWHOF Awards
editAmateur Wrestler of the Year
edit| Year | Wrestler |
|---|---|
| 2024[12] | Justina Di Stasio |
Coach of the Year
edit| Year | Wrestler |
|---|---|
| 2024[12] | Paulina Biega |
Women's / Pro Wrestler of the Year
edit| Year | Wrestler | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| 2023[13] | Kamille | National Wrestling Alliance |
| 2024[12] | Natalia Markova |
Tag Team Wrestler of the Year
edit| Year | Team | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| 2024[12] | Miami's Sweet Heat (Laurie Carlson and Lindsey Carlson) |
Women of Wrestling |
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year
edit| Year | Wrestler | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| 2023[13] | Jordynne Grace | Impact Wrestling |
| 2024[12] | Ruby Soho | All Elite Wrestling |
Broadcaster / Commentator of the Year
edit| Year | Broadcaster | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| 2023[13] | Velvet Sky | National Wrestling Alliance |
| 2024[12] | Nigel Sherrod | Women of Wrestling |
Courage Award
edit| Year | Inductee |
|---|---|
| 2023[13] | Dawn Whitham |
| 2024[12] | Athena H Gaskins |
Pride Award
edit| Year | Inductee |
|---|---|
| 2024[12] | Sonny Kiss |
Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year
edit| Year | Wrestler | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| 2024[12] | Gisele Shaw | TNA Wrestling |
Historian Award
edit| Year | Inductee |
|---|---|
| 2023[13] | Tom Burke |
| 2024[12] | Billy Corgan |
Film/TV Award
edit| Year | Inductee | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2023[13] | Laurene Landon | Film |
Journalism Award
edit| Year | Inductee |
|---|---|
| 2023[13] | Jamie Hemmings |
| 2024[12] | Kimmy Sokol |
Podcast of the Year Award
edit| Year | Inductee |
|---|---|
| 2024[12] | The Mike Rand Show |
References
edit- ^ "Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame". Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Walsh, James (December 11, 2022). "Angel Orsini on CO-Founding the Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ "Jazz, Madusa, And Luna Vachon Inducted Into Women's Wrestling Hall Of Fame". Yahoo Finance. December 19, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Jazz, Luna , Madusa Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction". YouTube. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (April 25, 2023). "Mat Matters: A 'heartbreaking and beautiful' tribute to Beverly Shade". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (April 1, 2023). "For Hall of Famer Toni Rose, there was life after wrestling". Post and Courier. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ "Inductees". Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Lee, Joseph (November 14, 2022). "First Ever Inductees For Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame Includes Madusa, Luna Vachon, More". 411Mania. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wilkinson, Nick (January 17, 2024). "Jacqueline, Rockin' Robin, Lisa Marie Varon, and More Inductees WWHOF 2024". Diva Dirt. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ "Missy Hyatt 2024 Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame". Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame. March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Waters, Heidi (September 12, 2024). "Jumping Bomb Angel's 2025 Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame". Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2024". Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame. January 7, 2024. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "NWA Champion Kamille Inaugural Women's Wrestler of the Year 2023". Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame. February 14, 2023. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.