Teddy Long to be Inducted into the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame

Holla Holla Playa the WWE Hall of Fame has it’s newest member. Teddy Long has been in many roles during his thirty year career. Many fans know him for his time as Smackdown General Manager. His legacy and impact in sports entertainment long before he came to WWE. From 1985 to 1998 he spent time as a referee and manager in NWA and WCW. He was the replacement referee for the Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat at Chi-Town Rumble where Steamboat won the title. Long became a manager later on that year. The most notable tag teams that he was with in his time were Doom (Butch Reed and Ron Simmons) and The Skyscrapers(Sid Vicious, Dan Spivey and “Mean” Mark Callous). Long managed Callous before Paul Bearer managed The Undertaker which is something most people forget in the history book. He did end up managing Doom to the Tag Team Championships in WCW. It was a title reign that last 281 days which was the longest tag title reign in the 90’s for WCW.

Once his time in WCW was over he went to WWE and started off as a referee. His time as referee had some tragic moments. He was in the ring the night Owen Hart died and when Darren Drozdov was paralyzed. Fortunately Teddy Long briefly resumed the role of a manger for names like Mark Henry, Rodney Mack and Jazz. In late 2004, he became the Smackdown General Manager which last on and off for nearly 10 years. His feuds for power included Eric Bischoff, Vickie Guerrero, and John Laurinaitis. He became well known for the “Teddy Long Tag Match,” a term that was developed because whenever wrestlers interfered or brawl he would put everyone involved in a tag team match. Teddy Long always had a great presence and energy whenever he was in his role of General Manager. He made it fun to watch Smackdown and was never at a loss for words. Teddy Long has earned his place in the WWE Hall of Fame. He worked his way from the bottom to the top and he did it with class. Congratulations to Teddy Long on being the newest member of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Teddy Long with Doom(Butch Reed and Ron Simmons)
during their time as WCW Tag Team Champions