Rhodes, Bockwinkel, Hennig, Lawler & Mr. Fuji to WWE Hall of Fame

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The legendary "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, Jerry "The King" Lawler, "The Devious One" Mr. Fuji and Nick Bockwinkel will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31, the night before WrestleMania.

After playing college football at West Texas State University, Dusty Rhodes made his in-ring debut in 1968, teaming with former World Tag Team Champion Dick Murdoch as the rule-breaking Texas Outlaws in the AWA. Rhodes would eventually move to Florida, where he became a beloved fan-favorite en route to winning over two dozen NWA Florida regional championships (including an unprecedented 10 reigns as Florida Champion). He moved on to compete in WWE (then known as the WWWF) for a brief time in the late 1970s, nearly winning the WWE Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978; Graham would eventually defeat Rhodes in a brutal Texas Death Match at Madison Square Garden, marking the end of Dusty’s quest.

However, it was in the National Wrestling Alliance where Rhodes truly became a national star. He held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times in the 1980s (defeating the likes of Ric Flair and Harley Race to claim the gold), and also held the NWA World Tag Team, United States and Television Championships.

Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig was one of the best in-ring technicians of his generation. He was an AWA World, WCW Tag Team and WWE Intercontinental Champion. The son of Minnesota wrestling legend Larry “The Axe” Hennig, Curt was born in Robbinsdale, Minn. in 1958. Hennig graduated from Robbinsdale High School in the same class as best friend and fellow former WWE Superstar Rick Rude; but after suffering an injury playing football for the University of Minnesota, he rehabbed by training with Verne Gagne for a career in sports-entertainment.

Hennig debuted in 1979 at just 21 years old and quickly made his way to WWE in the early 1980s, where he frequently teamed with the late Eddie Gilbert. He also teamed with father Larry in the Portland territory; together, they won the Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles in 1982, giving Curt his first of three Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles.

With a few years of experience under his belt, Hennig headed back to his home state and joined Gagne’s American Wrestling Association. He and Scott Hall held the AWA Tag Team Championship in 1985 and later teamed with Verne’s son Greg Gagne; however, under the influence of Larry Zbyszko, Hennig turned on Gagne, became a reviled rule-breaker, and began a rivalry with Nick Bockwinkel over the AWA World Title. On May 2, 1987, Hennig finally won the gold after nailing Bockwinkel with a roll of coins that Zbyszko had given to him. He would hold the gold for just over one year, eventually losing to Jerry “The King” Lawler in Memphis, Tenn. From there, Hennig returned to WWE, transforming into “Mr. Perfect.”

Jerry Lawler is a favorite among WWE fans for his historic career and weekly contributions on Monday Night RAW with broadcast partner Jim Ross. A self-proclaimed king, this excitable and outspoken RAW color commentator from Memphis has been dishing it out with the microphone and in the ring dating back 30 years. He got his orginal break back home in the Memphis wrestling circuit. It’s his gift of gab and southern pride that have on occasion led to “The King” lacing up the boots and getting in the ring again.

While "The King" has scored victories over legends such as Terry Funk and Hulk Hogan during his career, he is perhaps best known for his rivalry with entertainer Andy Kaufman. This led to a role alongside Jim Carrey in the hit film, “Man in the Moon.” The Lawler-Kaufman battles raged not only in the ring, but on television as well. Lawler’s incident on “Late Night with David Letterman” where he slapped Kaufman is considered one of the most memorable moments in that show’s history.

Lawler brings a unique brand of commentary to RAW that draws millions of followers around the world each week. The King has become so popular that he even wrote an autobiography. “It’s Good to be the King ... Sometimes,” was released in late 2002 to critical acclaim and is still one of the best sellers in the WWE autobiography series.