2026 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Inductees Revealed

Dave Meltzer has revealed the latest four people to be voted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame.

Every year, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter conducts its ballot for the latest inductees into its Hall of Fame. Since its 1996 inception, members of the wrestling industry and community have cast their votes to determine which wrestlers deserve to be immortalised in the WON HOF. This year, four names have been inducted.

Ted Turner

The legendary TV pioneer, known by wrestling fans for being the man who platformed WCW against Vince McMahon’s WWF on his Television Networks. Following his acquisition of Jim Crockett Promotions, which became WCW, they began Monday Nitro, sparking the Monday Night Wars as they went head to head with Monday Night RAW. The infamous feud led to The Attitude Era and many of the most memorable moments in American wrestling. Turner’s passion for Southern-style wrestling like Jim Crockett Promotions helped support the endeavour in the face of much scrutiny within his own company, earning a lot of respect from fans. Turner has the honour of being voted by the greatest percentage of the USA & Canadian voter base. 70.8% of his regions voter supported his inclusion, well above the 60% minimum.

Dominic DeNucci

The Italian star won WWWF tag team gold alongside Bruno Sammartino, Victor Riviera, and Dino Bravo. He wrestled around the world, including stints in Australia and Japan. Later in life, he would also become a wrestling trainer, playing a part in the development of Mick Foley, Shane Douglas, and Moondog Spot. DeNucci would continue to make sporadic wrestling appearances into 2012, wrestling his final match aged 80.

Jesse “The Body” Ventura

Perhaps the most familiar inductee to modern wrestling audiences. Following time as part of Navy Special Operations, Ventura embarked on an 11-year career as an in-ring competitor. His loud, brash, and charismatic persona helped him make a big splash as a heel across America, including with world title clashes against WWF’s Hulk Hogan. Ventura is also remembered for his stints on commentary, with his partnership with Vince McMahon being fondly remembered by fans. Whilst his heelish streak continued, Ventura was known to promote those he saw as particularly talented and criticise incompetent heels. “The Body” also had success beyond wrestling, politically and in Hollywood. Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, as well as appearing in films like Predator, The Running Man, and Demolition Man.

George Gordienko

The Canadian wrestler was rated highly for his legitimate wrestling prowess by the likes of Lou Thesz across his 30-year career. Beginning his career in his native Canada, Gordienko would be a frequent tag partner of Stu Hart of the infamous Hart Family. His biggest match of this time was his 90-minute draw with Lou Thesz for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship in 1955, his second challenge following a 1953 attempt. Gordienko would then move to the UK, where he would win the annual Royal Albert Hall tournament. He would win numerous NWA titles back in Canada whilst travelling the world to wrestle, from the Middle East to India to South Africa.

Names with less than 10% of the vote, and hence being dropped from next year’s ballot, include:

Archie “Mongolian Stomper” Gouldie
Sweet Daddy Siki
Gunther/Walter
Kane
Seth Rollins
Kyoko Inoue
Tam Nakano
Colosso Colosetti
Marc Mercier,
Tibor Szakacs
Kevin Sullivan

As always, for the latest news on all things wrestling, we will keep you updated as soon as we hear more.