10 Individuals and Groups That Deserve Entry in the WWE Hall of Fame

The WWE Hall of Fame has inducted a number of wrestlers, tag teams, stables, families and celebrities who all did their part to contribute to the growth and popularity of the spectacle we all know and love.

Of course, not every influential figure has been enshrined since only a select group has received the honor each year since the Hall of Fame's revival in 2004.

However, there are faces that have either had enough of an influence on professional wrestling or were memorable enough that I feel they deserve entry, even if some have personal issues with the WWE.

So, in no particular order, I present 10 individuals and groups that I feel should be added to the WWE Hall of Fame.

10. Demolition

When the WWE had a lively tag team division during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Demolition was one of the prominent teams that dominated the division.

Decked out in black leather outfits and masks, Ax and Smash had three WWE Tag Team Championship reigns, one of which lasted 478 days, the longest in the company's history.

In the posted video, Demolition claim their third and final WWE Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania VI after defeating the Colossal Connection consisting of Haku and WWE Hall of Famer Andre the Giant.

9. Andy Kaufman

The WWE Hall of Fame's "celebrity wing" houses a number of memorable faces who appeared in the WWE such as Mike Tyson, Pete Rose and, more recently, Donald Trump.

However, they are not as significant to the WWE's vision of sports entertainment as comedian Andy Kaufman.

As I covered in an article last year, Kaufman's knowledge of kayfabe led him to make his memorable feud with WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler seem convincing to wrestling fans during the early 1980s. He had one of the first major story lines involving a celebrity a few years before Vince McMahon brought along sports entertainment with the WWE.

If there's any celebrity deserving to be in the Hall of Fame's "celebrity wing," it's Kaufman.

8. Honky Tonk Man

The Elvis-impersonating heel and real-life cousin of Jerry "The King" Lawler is well known for being the longest-reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion, winning the title from Ricky Steamboat (as seen in the posted video) and holding it for 454 days.

7. Paul Bearer

The recent passing of the memorable manager of The Undertaker is still fresh in the minds of many wrestling fans. He would definitely made a great addition to the WWE Hall of Fame.

Bearer made great use of his real-life profession as a funeral parlor owner to add to his character as the mortician manager for The Deadman. He showed great diversity in his promo delivery when he moved on to being a heel manager, servicing the Undertaker's foes in the form of Vader, Mankind and Kane.

6. Ultimate Warrior

The Warrior might be considered a pariah by many wrestling fans today and has even been on bad terms with Vince McMahon for years. But you can't deny that the man was once one of the WWE's most over faces during the company's Golden Era.

Well known for his high energy entrances, face paint and rather unique promo delivery, the Ultimate Warrior went on to have two Intercontinental title reigns and a memorable match with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI, where he won the WWE Championship.

If McMahon and Warrior ever come to terms with one another, there's no denying that he is deserving of entry into the Hall of Fame for his memorable presence in the company's Golden Era.

5. The Fabulous Freebirds

This team consisting of Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts were well known for introducing a couple major elements to pro wrestling story lines and gimmicks that would be implemented in later years.

They were the first tag team to consist of three members, considered unusual during the time of their formation in 1979. They also introduced the Freebird Rule, a gimmick where any two members of the team could compete in a match whenever they held the tag team titles of a wrestling promotion.

The Freebirds were memorable for their runs in the NWA and WCCW in the 1980s, the latter of which featured them in their memorable bloody rivalry with the Von Erich family.

4. Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Jake Roberts may not have won titles or be as physically fit in appearance as Hulk Hogan or the Ultimate Warrior. But his actions in the ring and on the mike did enough to make him memorable for fans during the WWE's Golden Era.

Considered one of pro wrestling's all-time best in wrestling psychology, Roberts was known for being one of the WWE's edgier characters in the Golden Era. He delivered dark and cerebral promos and executed stunts  that none of the company's wrestlers would pull at the time, such as slapping Miss Elizabeth, delivering his DDT to Ricky Steamboat on an arena's cement floor and unleashing his pet snake Damian on various opponents.

3. Paul Heyman

I'm probably gonna get folks ripping me for this choice since Paul Heyman is active as CM Punk and Brock Lesnar's manager. But considering Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were inducted into the Hall of Fame while they were still a commentary team on Raw in 2007, I figured Heyman is also worthy of entry into the WWE Hall of Fame despite still being an active member of the WWE roster.

Having served as a manager, lead writer, booker and promotion owner at various points in his career, Heyman is most memorable for being one of the major forces behind the creation and running of Extreme Championship Wrestling during much of the 1990s. It was memorable for its edgy presentation, more mature story lines/characters and for popularizing several wrestling styles for American audiences such as lucha libre and technical wrestling.

Outside of ECW, Heyman also had memorable stints in the WCW and WWE. He served as the manager for the stable known as the Dangerous Alliance for WCW  in the early 1990s and served as a lead writer/ on-screen authority figure for WWE's Smackdown brand in 2003 and 2004.

2. Owen Hart

The issues between the WWE and Owen Hart's widow, Martha, will likely prevent the younger brother of Bret Hart from being inducted into the Hall of Fame anytime soon. But there is no denying that he would be a worthy addition.

Being a major presence within the WWE in the 1990s, Owen was well known for his on-again, off-again relationship with his brother Bret in the ring, having a brotherly rivalry with him that led to memorable matches between the two at WrestleMania X and the 1994 SummerSlam, as well as the two being a part of the Hart Foundation stable in 1997.

Owen also has his own accomplishments, being the 1994 King of the Ring and holder of the Tag Team, European and Intercontinental titles at different points in his WWE career.

1. "Macho Man" Randy Savage

It still surprises me that after the Hall of Fame's many years of existence, the Macho Man has never been inducted. He is a very worthy addition.

Savage was a memorable presence during his runs in the WWE and WCW during the 1980s and 1990s,  thanks to his flamboyant ring attire, deep and raspy voice, intensity in and out of the ring and memorable phrase, "Ooooooh yeah!"

While with the WWE, Savage won the 1987 King of the Ring, one Intercontinental title and two WWE Championship reigns. His classic Intercontinental title match with Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III is still considered one of the WWE's all-time greatest matches, and he had memorable rivalries against wrestlers like the Honky Tonk Man, Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior.

While in WCW, Savage had four reigns as World Heavyweight Champion and won the company's first World War III battle royal in 1995. He also became a member of the New World Order during the middle of its run in 1997.