WWE Hall of Fame 2024: Top Highlights from Paul Heyman, U.S. Express and All Speeches

The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class was set to be a celebration of the foundations of professional wrestling, highlighting the trailblazers of the past.

Paul Heyman stood at the head as one of the all-time great managers following his rise as the promoter of Extreme Championship Wrestling. Roman Reigns would induct his Wise Man.

Few women made an impact in professional wrestling quite like Bull Nakano. She was the only woman that could match the woman inducting her, Alunda Blayze, in the ring including taking the Women's Championship from her in 1994.

Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda, the U.S. Express, were a part of WWE's rising tag team division in the 1980s, winning tag team gold twice. Mike's children, Taylor and Mika Rotunda, would induct them.

Muhammad Ali is one of sport's most iconic names. His wife, Lonnie Ali, would accept the award on behalf of the man whose fiery personality inspired many in WWE on top of appearing at the very first WrestleMania.

Lia Maivia was one of the first women's wrestling promoters, setting the stage for many great wrestlers to rise to the top of the business. Her grandson, The Rock, would celebrate her legacy.

Thunderbolt Patterson was a true trailblazer in the wrestling business. Calling out institutional racism and fighting for labor unions, he worked to make the business better for everyone. His good friend Scott Spears would induct him alongside New Day.

This class was special not as much for its name recognition but historical impact on the business. This induction ceremony would celebrate their legacy.

Paul Heyman

Inducted by: Roman Reigns

Surprisingly, it was Paul Heyman that was announced first for this Hall of Fame class. He was the obvious headliner, but this was likely to make sure that he had as much time as he wanted.

WWE put together a phenomenal video package going over his time as a manager in WCW to running ECW and finally managing the future of the business.

Reigns gave a simple personal speech highlighting Heyman's impact on his career. He credited The Wise Man as the reason The Tribal Chief exists. He even declared that he would no longer be The Tribal Chief when he was without The Wise Man.

Heyman came off hesitant, obviously uncertain about talking about himself. He talked up his friend Rob Van Dam, his son and daughter nearby and CM Punk before turning to Triple H's leadership in a time of uncertainty for WWE.

After he was done getting mushy, he turned to ECW, pulling out of a box that contained his classic jacket, hat, headset and old-school phone.

He went into full promo mode, finding his confidence as he put over everything he did over his career. He went from ECW to Reigns to the future of WWE.

He promised to continue to disrupt this business for years to come, ending with his classic line: "That's not a prediction. That's a spoiler."

This was a fantastic speech and was going to be difficult for anyone to follow. It could have been shortened up, but Heyman has always been better at content than brevity. Fans were not ready for it to end when it did.

The clearest message to everyone watching was that Heyman found his way to achieving his dream, and we all can achieve our own dream by being equally as unapologetic.

Top Moments

• "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Kevin Owens, Bobby Lashley, The Miz and more paid tribute to Heyman in the video package highlighting his career.
• Much of the crowd acknowledged Roman Reigns on his way to the ring, including Nia Jax, who looked very happy to shown her Bloodline support.
• Reigns explained that he did not want to be the man to hype Heyman as he knew he could not do his Wise Man justice, but he respected Heyman too much to say no.
• Reigns: "He taught me if we're not learning, we're not growing."
• Reigns: "The only thing you need is to do is be yourself, to believe in yourself. The moment that you start doing that, you will need for nothing."
• Heyman came out to the ECW theme and hugged RVD, Tommy Dreamer and Bully Ray on his way to the ring.
• Heyman: "You're [expletives removed] right I deserve it."
• Heyman said he had become a "Paul Levesque guy" and hoped that his daughter could even be half the woman that Stephanie is, though he did joke that Stephanie had married "the wrong Paul".
• He told his children to "pursue your dreams, pursue your happiness".
• Heyman wished that his father and Cody's father (Dusty) were here to see this.
• Heyman: "The reality to this man in 1993 was this industry sucked."
• Heyman put over the impact of ECW on professional wrestling as a whole. His response to those that believed ECW was dead needed to be completely censored.
• The Advocate was not afraid (for better or worse) to bring up Brock Lesnar.
• Heyman: "Only you can stop yourself from living out your dreams. Only you can let them cancel you."

Bull Nakano

Inducted by: Alunda Blayze

After another fantastic video package, Blayze talked up Bull Nakano as a revolution and a cutting-edge performer that continues to influence wrestlers to this day. She put her over as a gladiator of the business.

Nakano came out looking glamorous and far removed from the terrifying persona that defined her wrestling career.

While she admitted she has never been fully comfortable with English, she cut a passionate promo about what it meant to her to have so many friends and supporters in her career.

Nakano's sincerity shined through in her heartfelt speech, thanking the WWE Universe for accepting her. It is a shame that Blayze's introduction sounded so scripted in comparison as she had a chance to set up Nakano better.

Anyone would have struggled following Paul Heyman, but Nakano's genuine emotion was more than enough to carry a shorter and more focused speech.

Top Moments

• Kofi Kingston, JInder Mahal and CM Punk talked up the greatness of Nakano in her video package.
• Blayze initially said that Nakano inspired a generation of "Sports Entertainers" then shifted that to "Professional Wrestlers".
• Nakano talked about the hardest part of working with WWE: transportation. She put over the friends that helped her get through those struggles.
  
• Nakano: "It was in the ring that I felt truly alive."
• Nakano: "If there is such a thing as being reborn, I would want to be Bull Nakano again and be in a WWE ring."
  

Muhammad Ali

Inducted by: The Undertaker/Lonnie Ali

WWE's video package for Muhammad Ali put over how much his character was inspired by and further inspired professional wrestling. His impact was sold in his influence on all of sports, not just WWE.

It was odd to have Undertaker help induct Ali. He went over the greatness of the man first as an athlete then as a humanitarian.

He welcomed Muhammad's wife Lonnie to accept the award on his behalf. She talked up how much she loved him and how much his work belonged to the world.

She thanked everyone for honoring her husband and said that the fans were the reason that he was the "people's champ". She then called out The Rock to honor him with the People's Championship.

It is always difficult to fully celebrate a performer in this setting after their passing, but this was done with respect. Taker's involvement was quick. Lonnie's speech was passionate and engaging.

Even if The Rock's involvement was a little messy as the current top heel in the business, he managed to get the crowd focused back on what mattered most: celebrating the first People's Champion's legacy.

Top Moments

• Taker: "Muhammad was and always will be the legend amongst legends."
• Lonnie: "A role model and inspiration to us all. He lived his life with purpose and continues to inspire."
• Lonnie: "Muhammad loved all people, and they loved him right back."
• Lonnie: "It could be argued that Muhammad was the original global Sports Entertainer."
• The People's Championship is an obnoxious gold belt with the Brahma Bull on the front.
  
• The crowd was uncertain how much to boo The Rock in this moment, though the response grew more aggressive as he began to speak.
• Rock: "I said to them 'I mean that [calling myself The People's Champ] out of respect."
• Rock: "With all the nicknames I am lucky enough to have, The People's Champion will always be the one that's closest to my heart."
  

The U.S. Express

Inducted by: Taylor and MIka Rotunda

Triple H's call to The U.S. Express started their video package, highlighting Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda's impact especially for the first WrestleMania. The package also talked up their singles success after their team run.

Taylor and Mika talked up their dad and uncle. They went over the team's legacy and style as well as thanking them for being great family men.

Mike Rotunda took the lead for his team when talking up their history in professional wrestling. Barry Windham added fun anecdotes along the way from that history.

They closed up by honoring Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt), lifting their phones as "Shatter" played and the entire arena was engulfed by Fireflies.

While The U.S. Express had a short run in WWE, both men's impact on the business is much larger. They focused their speech on their start in wrestling up to WrestleMania I.

It was a fun simple look into the lives of two wrestlers that got their start in a very different time for the business. It would have been nice to hear more from Barry though.

The multiple tributes for Wyatt were appropriately melancholic. This served as a preview for what his eventual Hall of Fame induction will be like.

Top Moments

• The Miz, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes spoke with deep respect to the way that The U.S. Express defined tag team wrestling.
• While Taylor is best known as Bo Dallas to the WWE Universe, he came out as his father's son for this night alongside his sister.
• Taylor made sure to acknowledge his brother Windham, and the Fireflies came out for him in the crowd.
• Rotunda talked about how his sports journey began at 8 years old in Philadelphia, focusing on American football until he met great wrestling mentors.
  
• The two put over Dusty Rhodes as the man that brought the two brothers together as a tag team.
  

Thunderbolt Patterson

Inducted by: New Day/Scott Spears

New Day had some fun celebrating the return of Big E at their side before turning to the hard work of Thunderbolt Patterson in creating a better environment for wrestling.

After a strong introduction, WWE showed an epic video package that allowed new and familiar fans to hear Patterson's charisma through clips of his energetic promos.

Spears took over for Thunderbolt Patterson, talking up the legacy of Patterson and how great he was. He wanted everyone to understand the hardships the man went through along the way.

Patterson began his speech with prayer, still with the energy of a young minister. He thanked the lord for putting him in the path of good people. He closed out by asking people to be good to one another.

Through both the video package and New Day's speech, WWE showcased just how important Patterson was especially to improving the lives and careers of black wrestlers in the business.

Spears did a great job talking up his friend and his legacy, allowing Patterson to simply just say his piece in the format he felt most comfortable.

Once Patterson took over, his charisma still shined through. He had the arena echoing "amen" to his speech. However, he did have some trouble wrapping it up.

Top Moments

• Kofi and Xavier teased coming out as just a two man crew before Big E arrived.
• Kofi wanted to focus on the saying that meant the most to Patterson: "I love people".
• Xavier brought up Patterson's inspiring work as a union organizer.
• Big E focused on how Patterson's work in combating racism made New Day's success possible.
• On Patterson's way to the ring, he hugged Gerald Briscoe. He put over Briscoe and others that helped him succeed and kept him alive.
  
• In the video package, many admitted to what they stole from Patterson including New Day, Road Dogg, and Cody Rhodes on behalf of Dusty Rhodes.
• Patterson: "I was taught that what you say and what you think comes back to you."
• Patterson called his journey "spiritual warfare", and he said it was "time to stop killing people" and "start treating people the way you want to be treated".
  

Lia Maivia

Inducted by: The Rock

For the final induction of the night, the video package focused on Lia Maivia's legacy both as grandmother and promoter.

The Rock congratulated all of the inductees for 2024 before turning to the trailblazing of Lia for women in wrestling in particular.

He was very focused on celebrating his family legacy until he mentioned Dusty Rhodes. He turned his focus on The American Nightmare, promising a personal fight on Saturday.

He celebrated his family once more, especially his mother Ata Maivia Johnson, before taking one last shot at Cody.

This was not quite the extended touching speech one would expect for the end of the Hall of Fame, but the show was already running long.

The video package was a nice tribute, and Rock addressed what made Lia special. He then turned to promoting WrestleMania, which is likely what a great promoter like his grandmother would have wanted.

Top Moments

• Ana Tuisila did the narration for Lia's video package, including a promotion for "Young Rock" where she plays Lia.
• Rock: "[All promoters] would send their talent to my grandmother."
• Rock: "When it comes to the Rhodes family, I have nothing but respect." "But when it comes to what we're gonna do [at WrestleMania], it's not business. It's personal."
• The Great One almost got into it with a fan at ringside that told him that "it's over" at WrestleMania.