Opinion: The Rock Should Be Inducted into the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame

It’s that time of year again. Before you know it, it’ll be the “Royal Rumble” and the Road to Wrestlemania. One of my favorite parts of Wrestlemania season is the WWE Hall of Fame announcements. The surprise of who WWE will honor the night before Mania is always a great moment, especially when it’s a really strong name.

Earlier this year, WWE honored such past WWE superstars like Alundra Blayze, Rikishi, Kevin Nash, and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. Great men and women of this industry that not only paved the way for the stars of today, but left a mark on pro wrestling to ensure it’s place in the world today. It’s a validation of a lifetime of work.

Thus far this year we’ve seen two epic events that have validated the careers of two great legends of this industry. In 2015, Sting finally wrestled his first match in WWE at Wrestlemania 31 against Triple H and potentially his last at “Night of Champions” against Seth Rollins.

At “Survivor Series”, The Undertaker celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary of his debut in WWE. Last night, Taker won the Slammy Award for the “Match of the Year” with Brock Lesnar in the “Hell in a Cell”.

Both of those men have accomplished a great deal in 2015, but so many fans are begging for a match between them at Wrestlemania 32. It’s unlikely we’ll get that due to Sting’s health concerns, but the WWE Universe may be willing to compromise if the two icons of the industry were willing to go into the Hall of Fame together.

However, I think a lot of WWE fans don’t realize that it’s all too fresh for Sting and The Undertaker. There’s a reason all other sports make athletes wait a few years before they can be immortalized.

The smoke needs to clear to see the full picture of all the performer truly accomplished. Sting and Undertaker are still carving out their legacies, but there is one who has cemented his and deserves to take his place once in for all in the WWE Hall of Fame. That man is The People’s Champion.

There is a lot of reported red tape to get The Rock involved with Wrestlemania this year. There have been some rumors about The Rock wrestling, but hasn’t that time come and gone?

Yes, he’s taken almost a decade off before. But, last time he wrestled was almost three years ago when he had his swan song and put John Cena over. At the same time, he was seriously injured, and that derailed everyone’s plans to have The Rock wrestle at Wrestlemania 30. The time has past for him in the ring.

The Rock can always come out and entertain like he did at Wrestlemania 30 and 31, but there isn’t a whole lot of reason to cut through all the red tape for Rock to come back only for a single promo.

However, a WWE Hall of Fame induction would make much more sense, and he wouldn’t be required to appear at Wrestlemania 32. Other than the quick review that WWE does every year during the show, The Rock would be able to get it all over with in one night.

Of course, The Rock could do his Hall of Fame acceptance via satellite. I’m joking, but he’s more than deserving and the rumors have clearly shown that Rock will have to change the filming schedule just to get the green light to show up.

The Hall of Fame induction may be the extra boost needed for the studio to allow The Rock to appear at Mania and not make it a waste of time for him to show up just for a promo that only has value for a single night.

There are so many options for people to induct him, including Mick Foley, Stone Cold, or even Vince McMahon. We know the speech will be unbelievable, and the crowd will be ecstatic to honor The People’s Champion. His induction alone would make the night must see. It’s the right time and the right setting

It’s the right time and the right setting for The Great One, The People’s Champion, and for The Rock to truly close his wrestling career and give the WWE fans the most electrifying Hall of Fame induction ceremony ever.

WWE wants to market The Rock for Wrestlemania without wrestling? Let him lead the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame class and watch the show.