Muhammad Ali, the legendary three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, is set to receive yet another accolade as WWE officially announces his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the esteemed Class of 2024.
Already a revered figure in numerous halls of fame, notably the International Boxing Hall of Fame where he was an inaugural inductee, Ali will now be honored for his contributions to the world of professional wrestling.
Ali’s connection to wrestling dates back to June 26, 1976, when he stepped into the ring for an exhibition match against Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan.
Although the bout ended in a draw after 15 rounds, it attracted a staggering crowd of over 32,000 spectators at the Nippon Budokan Arena, with an additional 33,000 viewers tuning in via closed-circuit television in the United States.
A decade later, Ali played a pivotal role as the special guest referee in the main event of the inaugural WrestleMania, witnessing Hulk Hogan and Mr. T emerge victorious against the formidable duo of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.
Gotta love @WWE's #WrestleMania 30 tonight with @HulkHogan as host. Flashbacks to WrestleMania 1! pic.twitter.com/jmU5Xvn7HP
— Muhammad Ali (@MuhammadAli) April 6, 2014
In 1995, Ali further cemented his wrestling legacy by participating in a sports diplomacy mission in North Korea, where he was honored as the guest of honor at the Collision in Korea pay-per-view, co-promoted by WCW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Although Ali passed away on June 3rd, 2016, at the age of 74, his impact as one of the greatest athletes of all time continues to resonate.
WWE pays tribute to Ali’s pioneering efforts in modernizing and globalizing professional wrestling, seamlessly blending the realms of sports and entertainment.
Reflecting on Ali’s legacy, WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque shared his sentiments, declaring Ali as not just great, but “The Greatest,” a global icon whose influence transcended boundaries and left an indelible mark on the world.
Joining Ali in the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are luminaries such as Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and The U.S. Express comprising Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. The induction ceremony is slated to take place on April 5th at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, coinciding with the electrifying festivities of WrestleMania 40 weekend.
