Andy Kaufman has been inducted into the next WWE Hall of Fame

WWE announced the legendary comedian Andy Kaufman as the next inductee for WWE’s 2023 Hall of Fame class. WWE confirmed the news on Monday (March 20), following an initial report from Variety.

FRACTURE: @ndykaufman enters the #WWEHOF The class of 2023, as first reported @Species! pic.twitter.com/8emfaH5dhm

—WWE (@WWE) March 20, 2023

Andy Kaufman has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

Kaufman is the third inductee into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. The first inductee was current WWE superstar and veteran Rey Mysterio, followed by another wrestling legend, The Great Muta, aka Keiji Muto.

Kaufman was a talented comedian, best known for his work on “Taxi” and “Saturday Night Live.” However, Kaufman also loved wrestling and portrayed a professional wrestling bad guy, or “heel” in wrestling terminology, for WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler, as he did in the 1999 biopic Man on the Moon is included. .” In the film, Lawler introduced himself in the segments where Kaufman breaks into professional wrestling. The film starred Jim Carrey as Kaufman and was directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Milos Forman.

In a September 2020 interview with WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin on “The Broken Skull Sessions”, Lawler noted that he had difficulties with Carrey on the set of “Man on the Moon”. Lawler noted that Carrey acted as if Kaufman and Lawler hated each other in real life when they were friends, simply acting out the story on television.

(embed)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9PGJslS6A(/embed)

Lawler and Kaufman famously played up their rivalry during a July 1982 appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman.” In the segment, Lawler “face-slapped” Kaufman on the talk show. Kaufman wore a neck brace to feign an injury.

Kaufman’s legendary feud with Lawler helped pave the way for superstars and celebrities to mix it up with professional wrestlers, a tradition that still lives on. Last year at WrestleMania 38, “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville paid tribute to Kaufman by wearing ring gear for his match against Sami Zayn.

Kaufman tragically died of lung cancer in 1985 at the age of 35. However, his legacy as a comedian and professional wrestler remains. As Variety noted, it’s unknown who will induct Kaufman into the Hall of Fame this month. Lawler is unlikely to attend the ceremony as he is recovering from a stroke he suffered last month. It is not known if he will be able to travel to attend the event.

(embed)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nWYLpVXhx8(/embed)

Another possible candidate to induct Lawler would likely be WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart, who also had a rivalry with Kaufman in Memphis Wrestling in the 1980s. Hart, a former WWE talent and composer, has a good relationship with WWE and has experience inducting wrestlers and talent into the Hall of Fame.

WWE probably has two or three spots left in this year’s Hall of Fame class, so it will be interesting to see who else gets inducted.

WWE will hold its Hall of Fame Class of Fame on Friday, March 31st. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Peacock starting at 10:30pm EST. The induction ceremony will be available on the WWE Network for fans outside the United States.