It was a magical Saturday night at the WWE Hall of Fame as some of the WWE’s greatest superstars came together to induct the 2017 class. Among the stars celebrating the WWE greats were a legendary tag team from the Attitude Era.
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JBL and Ron Simmons, known to old school fans as the APA or Alcolytes Protection Agency inducted Teddy Long into the WWE Hall of Fame at this year’s ceremony in Orlando. Simmons, a fellow Hall of Famer, was managed by Teddy Long in WCW during the early 1990’s when Simmons was in the team of Doom with Butch Reed.
JBL spent many years working with Long on Smackdown and has remained a close friend of the former GM ever since. Off screen, Simmons and JBL famously travelled with Long and another Hall of Famer, the Godfather (Charles Wright). This was the APA’s second time inducting someone into the Hall as they inducted Godfather into last year’s class.
.@teddyplayalong is proof that PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE pay off! @JCLayfield @WWENetwork #RonSimmons #WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/V7U2aQY66E
โ WWE (@WWE) April 1, 2017
JBL had this to say about his former friend, “Teddy Long is a groundbreaker. He worked his way up from the ring crew to become the manager of one of the greatest tag teams of all time in Doom. He was a referee and became one of the most colorful general managers ever. Teddy Long has done it all. If there’s anybody deserving of going into the WWE Hall of Fame, it’s him.”
Celebration is in the air, as we honor and congratulate the NEWEST member of the #WWEHOF @teddyplayalong! @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/6HKJRLyUrQ
โ WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 1, 2017
With less than 48 hours until WrestleMania 33, here is how the card stacks up, and you can view the updated match card in the gallery.
Hosts: The New Day
WWE Universal Title Match
Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg
WWE Title Match
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
Fatal 4 Way Elimination Match for the RAW Women’s Title
Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley
WWE United States Title Match
Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Intercontinental Title Match
Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose
Triple Threat Ladder Match for the RAW Tag Team Titles
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
SmackDown Women’s Title Match
Mickie James vs. Carmella vs. Natalya vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss (other participants possible)
Non-Sanctioned Match
Triple H vs. Seth Rollins
Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker
John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse
Special Guest Ring Announcer: Al Roker
Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles
Kickoff Pre-show: WWE Cruiserweight Title Match
Austin Aries vs. Neville
Kickoff Pre-show: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Sami Zayn, Mojo Rawley, Apollo Crews, Big Show, Curt Hawkins, Goldust, R-Truth, Primo, Epico, Curtis Axel, Jinder Mahal, Bo Dallas, Braun Strowman and others TBA
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