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[ShadowSwordmaster]

http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-hall-fame/wwe-hall-of-fame-2017/article/theodore-long-wwe-hall-of-fame-class-2017?sf55976791=1&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Long’s induction is the culmination of a 30-plus year career in the sports-entertainment industry, dating back to the early 1980s, when he did odd jobs in various territories around the southern United States. That led to a position on the ring crew with Jim Crockett Promotions, the predecessor to World Championship Wrestling, and eventually a position as an official NWA referee. He shared the ring with legends and Hall of Famers like Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen, Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express and countless others.

As the 80s drew to a close, Teddy Long left behind the referee’s stripes and became a manager, guiding the careers of up-and-coming grapplers. His first success as a manager came when his charges Doom, the powerful tag team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed, captured the WCW World Tag Team Titles from the Steiner Brothers. During his tenure as a manager in WCW, Long helped guide the careers of a varied group of competitors, including Chris Jericho, Johnny B. Badd, Ice Train and One Man Gang, among countless others.
In 1998, Long made the jump to WWE, once again donning the referee’s stripes and doing his best to enforce the rules during some of the Attitude Era’s biggest matches. By 2002, he once again turned to managing, this time hitching his wagon to the nasty trio of D-Lo Brown, Rodney Mack and Jazz, later adding Christopher Nowinski, Mark Henry and Mark Jindrak to the fold.

However, Long may best be remembered by the WWE Universe for his work as a General Manager. He was made the SmackDown GM in 2004, becoming the first African-American to hold the position. During several tenures at the helm of SmackDown and ECW, Long established himself as someone who would work his hardest to give the WWE Universe the best shows possible. That included the New Superstar Initiative, which introduced WWE fans to the likes of Kofi Kingston and Jack Swagger, among others.

On top of that, Long was often lauded for his matchmaking skills. When tensions ran high between groups of four (or more) Superstars, he knew how best to diffuse the situation – by splitting them up into squads for a tag team match! Long’s love for impromptu tag team matches became his calling card, endearing him even more to the WWE Universe.

Long’s groundbreaking career in sports-entertainment makes him worthy of the awesome honor of induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

 

[spindashing]

He deserves it, been in the biz for a long while before his LET'S MAKE IT A TAG MATCH, PLAYA days.

 

[Sanjuro]

Hold on a minute, playa.

 

[Tom Nook]

Black History Month.

"It's time for the white boy challenge"

 

[Ridley327]

He deserves it, been in the biz for a long while before his LET'S MAKE IT A TAG MATCH, PLAYA days.

I can hear that in his exact voice in my head now.

He's still more or less retired these days, right?

 

[Unspeakable Evil]

Time for a tag team match, playas!

 

[Wagram]

He deserves it.

 

[Sanjuro]

I can hear that in his exact voice in my head now.

He's still more or less retired these days, right?

I don't think by choice. He showed up recently to get his job back. Steph showed him no love.

 

[BlazinSkatinAxel]

Tag Team Teddy!

 

[Alligatorjandro]

Tag team match playa

 

[Bronx-Man]

Gotta have Rodney Mack induct him.

 

[SomewhatGroovy]

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

 

[Sanjuro]

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

Is this a work?

 

[RiggityRice]

One on one wit da undatakah.. and that match is next playa! Holla holla holla.

On a serious note though, the guy deserves it. 30 years in the biz brotha

 

[BFIB]

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

It has the only President of the United States in it.

 

[enewtabie]

Well deserved playa. If he doesn't mention having enough wrestlers out there for a tag team match,during his speech I'll die.

 

[krae_man]

Black History Month.

"It's time for the white boy challenge"

Greatest moment in MSG history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOVcnzjsEbw

 

[Skatterd]

Holla!

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

Gotta have Rodney Mack induct him.

Make it a Tag Team induction.

 

[Alligatorjandro]

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

Tell that to wwe hall of famer Donald "The President" Trump

 

[Burai]

I don't think by choice. He showed up recently to get his job back. Steph showed him no love.

You got worked. Mark-ass mark.

 

[Master Thespian]

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

They all sorta are.

 

[CMojicaAce]

 

[Striker]

Will Ric Flair induct him?

 

[The Faceless Master]

*starts thuggin' and buggin' in the thread*

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

 

[Bronx-Man]

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

No faker than the baseball hall of fame.

 

[spindashing]

Gotta have Rodney Mack induct him.

It's probably going to be Ron Simmons if anything.

You guys know this "Hall of Fame" is fake, right?

This is the worst shoot of 2017, brother jack dude.

 

[funkystudent]

A shame that guy Mean Mark Callaway never got anywhere.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

It's probably going to be Ron Simmons if anything.

I was thinking Mark Henry.

 

[Strangelove77]

Is Earl Hebner already in?

 

[SomewhatGroovy]

They all sorta are.

In a way but this Hall of Fame show is exclusive to its employees. It's nothing but a one night a year event where the bosses jerk off their (current and former) employees in front of 300 other employees and kids in the crowd wearing their dad's best Metallica tshirts and torn jeans.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

Is Earl Hebner already in?

In the TNA Hall of Fame.

 

[Violence Jack]

Gotta be Ron Simmons inducting him. Well deserved if it isn't real.

 

[Indrid Cold1]

I was thinking Mark Henry.

Vicki Guererro! I loved the la familia era of smackdown. I can't hate that teddy is in the hall, even tho there are loads of more deserving authority figures that should be ahead of teddy in the queue.

 

[Jezbollah]

Got to be Ron Simmons + Butch Reed inducting him

 

[mclem]

Got to be Ron Simmons + Butch Reed inducting him

Is that a jacket, or a prototype Switch controller?

 

[Tom Nook]

Managed a lot of tag teams:

Dave Spivey "Waylon Mercy" and Sid.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Teddy Long is in yet Buff can't get a phone call? Fuck you Vince.

 

[Ridley327]

Teddy Long is in yet Buff can't get a phone call? Fuck you Vince.

Buff already has the stuff, so he can't complain.

 

[Juicy Bob]

No one's posted his awesome theme yet?

Shame on you, GAF.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyug0Id-WSQ

 

[Professor Beef]

Teddy Long is in yet Buff can't get a phone call? Fuck you Vince.

Buff no longer has the stuff, and we've all had enough.