WWE Hall of Fame 2017: Full Inductees List, Preview and More

WWE has never been said to have done everything right. From failed storylines to stale characters to overproduced segments, the company has committed many sins in its time.

But if there's one thing WWE does well, it's the Hall of Fame.

It's not a location—at least not yet—but it's what the hall represents that is the most important thing. The Hall of Fame is public recognition of a talent's career, a career that could've spanned decades, in the business.

It's a way for the company to say thank you on a worldwide stage.

But perhaps more importantly, it's also a way for fans to show their appreciation. The divide between Superstars and the WWE faithful has been narrowed significantly over the years thanks to social media, but the same cannot always be said for veterans who have moved on.

When those stars get the opportunity to stand before their respectful peers and an adoring public, the feeling must surely be overwhelming. It's the perfect way for WWE and the fans to show their gratitude, and it's a great way to kick WrestleMania weekend into full gear.

This year will be no exception, as the seven inductees are surely ready to enjoy their time in the spotlight. The Hall of Fame is taking place on Friday and promises to be great.

Eric LeGrand

Eric LeGrand is one of those athletes who became much bigger than the sport he played.

LeGrand was a defensive tackle for Rutgers and had a bright future ahead of him until a spinal injury put him out in 2010. The injury was so severe that doctors believed he would never regain sensation and would need a respirator from that point on.

Not only did LeGrand get some movement back, as well as some feeling through his body, but he's also breathing on his own. LeGrand is an inspirational speaker and has never let his physical condition stop him from embracing life.

There may be no better example of what the Warrior Award is all about than LeGrand.

It's a great way for WWE to show its respect outside the ring and also for the Ultimate Warrior's name to live on for years to come. Warrior's widow, Dana, will present the award, and while other Hall of Fame inductees are often debated by the fans, there is no debate this time.

It's the right thing to do on WWE's part, and LeGrand is the right person to receive it this year.

Rick Rude

The late "Ravishing" Rick Rude is one of the most charismatic forces of nature that the industry has ever known. He had the perfect body, an evil attitude and an ego that was bigger than any ring he in which he performed. He had talent and a great understanding of the business.

Now he has a Hall of Fame spot to go along with it.

From his run alongside Percy Pringle in World Class Championship Wrestling to his stint as a member of Paul Jones' army in the NWA, Rude always showed a tremendous aptitude for the business. He just got it, knew how to carry himself and knew how to get over.

But for many fans, Rude's career didn't come alive until he came to WWE.

Working with another legend in Bobby Heenan, Rude did his job and angered WWE crowds all over the world. His conceited act had never been more intense. His swagger had never been stronger. Indeed, Rude definitely hit his stride in WWE.

It's only fitting that Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat inducts Rude to the Hall of Fame. Steamboat and Rude had a great rivalry, and many fans consider it to be one of the best for both men in Vince McMahon's company.

It's a long time coming for Rude, and he deserves his place in wrestling history.

Beth Phoenix

Beth Phoenix wasn't the first Diva of her kind, but she was one of the best.

Chyna set the bar for strong women in WWE, and it was a bar that Phoenix arguably raised. She was the modern-day Chyna in terms of her gimmick and what she brought to the table in WWE.

Phoenix was a powerhouse who had sex appeal to go along with it, and those were two elements that WWE loved from its Divas division. But Phoenix was much more than just a Diva; had she come into WWE during the Women's Revolution, she would surely have been elevated right away.

She was the real deal, and the fans knew it.

If anyone's induction to the Hall of Fame in 2017 is a bit controversial, it's Phoenix's. However, that's through no fault of her own, as many fans would love to have seen Chyna, or another deserving woman, get the spot. 

But no one can take away what Phoenix did in the short time she worked for WWE. Fittingly, her longtime tag team partner, Natalya, will be the one to do the honors of inducting her on Friday. 

The women of WWE continue to get their due, and the same is now true for Phoenix.

Teddy Long

Many WWE fans only know Teddy Long from his days as SmackDown general manager. But they're missing out on a great portion of his pro wrestling career.

Long first came to fame as a referee in Jim Crockett Promotions. Nearly every Saturday, Long was seen as the official between the ropes on Superstation TBS. But it was his later stint as a manger that truly put him on the map.

Long was perhaps best known before WWE for managing Doom, the team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed.

Doom was a smash-mouth duo, and Long was the street-smart businessman pulling the strings. Reed and Simmons were legitimate tough guys, but they were also tremendous in-ring athletes. Long also managed another team, The Skyscrapers, which featured "Mean" Mark Callous, the man who would later be known as The Undertaker.

However Long will probably always be remembered for his work in WWE.

He was a cool GM. He was funny, and he was always real. Though the world around him could be intense and bizarre, Long was always the man to bring it all back down to earth. He came across like a genuinely good guy who loved the business, and that's how many fans surely think of him.

Simmons will join JBL to induct Long into the Hall of Fame. It's the ideal situation for Long and the fans who have always respected his work.

Diamond Dallas Page

Diamond Dallas Page is perhaps the best example of what hard work and determination can do for someone wanting to get in the business.

DDP entered the world of pro wrestling during the territory days, when guys could gain a measure of fame without having to work for McMahon. Page was 32 when he broke into the business and 35 by the time he became a wrestler.

But he had Superstar written all over him.

DDP believed he was going to make it, and he always believed in himself. Despite any outside criticisms from fans who thought he was crazy for starting later in life, DDP continued to work hard and earn the respect of everyone around him.

More importantly, he got over. 

DDP was one of the most popular stars in WCW, and that popularity carried over to his run in WWE. Though that spell was not on the scale he enjoyed earlier in his career, DDP remains loved among fans of all ages.

Much of that respect comes from his work with DDP Yoga, the program that helped transform the lives of Scott Hall and Jake Roberts. Though Eric Bischoff will induct DDP, the master of the Diamond Cutter has reached a new level of respect because of how he's touching the lives of those around him.

Hall or Roberts perhaps should have inducted DDP, but the only thing that matters is that Page is in. It's yet another accomplishment in the career of a man who was never expected to get this far.

The Rock 'n' Roll Express

The induction of Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson to the WWE Hall of Fame is made all the more surprising because of two reasons. Not only is this a long time coming, and a moment that many likely believed would never happen, but it's also happening at the hands of Jim Cornette.

It's truly an amazing time to be a wrestling fan.

For fans who grew up with the NWA, there were no bigger stars than Morton and Gibson. The Rock 'n' Roll Express was the hottest tag team in Jim Crockett Promotions and lived the lives of rock stars long before The Shield.

The best part about Morton and Gibson was their ring work.

They were never all flash, as they also delivered between the ropes. Surrounded by stars like Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen, Ricky and Robert had to ensure they always made the best of their time in the ring.

As a result, many consider them to perhaps be the greatest all-around tag team in wrestling history.

Cornette was their chief rival at one time. He was the manager of The Midnight Express, Ricky and Robert's primary opponents during much of their NWA years. Cornette's outspoken nature suited him well, as the Midnights became just as legendary as Morton and Gibson. But that tendency could have prevented Cornette from being included in the Hall of Fame event.

However, that is not the case, and old-school fans will be reminded of just how fun the territory days were when The Rock 'n' Roll Express is inducted on Friday. The past is coming alive again, and no other tag team is more deserving of being honored than Morton and Gibson.

Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle has come back home.

For 10 years, Angle performed in Impact Wrestling, formerly TNA. He had become such an established star in that company that many wondered whether he would ever be given the WWE Hall of Fame honor.

That time has finally arrived.

Angle is heading this class of talent, and with good reason. There has perhaps never been a more natural talent than the Olympic gold medalist. He picked up the business so quickly and so expertly that it seemed he was born to do it.

He had pro wrestling in his blood, and he proved that in WWE.

His run in WWE went from comedic to intense to a mix of both. Angle's work in the ring was fluid, athletic and advanced beyond his years, but it was his ability to entertain that drew fans in. The WWE faithful couldn't get enough of him, which made him a valuable commodity to McMahon.

Angle came along at just the right time and had just the right work ethic to succeed in WWE. His character's goofiness was outdone only by his ability in the ring, and he remains one of the best talents to ever perform in WWE.

Once again, WWE has booked the perfect presenter, as John Cena will induct Angle into the Hall of Fame.

Angle provided the first chapter in Cena's story, and Angle's legacy will be etched into the record books as a deserving Hall of Fame member.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. Hid podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.