Alundra Blayze WWE Hall Of Fame induction speech

from: www.allwrestlingdivas.com

Written by Candace Kidd

Today marks a full week, since the splendor of WrestleMania 31.

For wrestling fans, WrestleMania is the grandest stage of them all. The highlight of the year. I was very happy to see that WrestleMania 31 lived up to the hype.

The night before Wrestlemania, we were taken down memory lane, with the annual, Hall of Fame ceremony.

All of the inductees deserved their induction, and the time to recount, their memories in the ring.

However, I must confess, that I was waiting, for one  of Hall of Famers speech over the others.

The amazing Alundra Blayze was FINALLY getting inducted.

For years, I began to wonder if WWE, would ever acknowledge, or mention her contributions to the business.

For a few months, I started to see Alundra Blayze, pop up on WWE Network.

Whether it was the WWE Countdown show, for the most dangerous females, or on the Monday Night War series featuring the infamous “Title in the trash” incident.

So I started to get hope, that she might be accepted back into the arms of WWE. And she was.

To start of Alundra’s induction last Saturday, I was beyond thrilled to see,  Alundra’s inductor into the  was Natalya. She was a great choice, because, she actually grew up watching Alundra Blayze in the ’90s. Natalya had a different prospective on Alundra, with having backstage access. You know, with her being a Hart Family member and all.

After Natalya did her introduction, we were graced with the presence of Alundra Blayze.

She proudly, flashed her Halle of Fame and ring and initially looked a bit nervous.

To finally stand up on the stage and receive the recognition was probably such a surreal thing.

Alundra went into her speech, knowing that a lot of the current fans, didn’t know her or her pedigree.

She discussed her time in WWE then WWF. Her amazing run in Japan that earned her a lot of respect and stripes in the business.

She thanked legends like Bull Nakano, and Aja Kong who pioneered All Japan Women’s ProWrestling in the late 80s’ as a wonderful time in her career.

A tear jerker moment in the speech was when Alundra acknowledged Paul Heyman.

Heyman had a hand, in utilizing her talent in WCW for his faction “The Dangerous Alliance”.

The Dangerous Alliance, consisted of top notch talent like Rick Rude, Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, Larry Zbyszko and of course, “Stunning” Steve Austin.

Paul was able to showcase Alundra’s skills as a heel. A dangerous, ballsy heel who could kick anyone’s butt.

A shot of Paul Heyman crying, as Alundra talked of being inspried by him was touching.

It was very clear that Paul was very proud of Alundra and wanted her to have that moment in the sun.

The night couldn’t be over without Alundra bringing up the elephant in the room. The dumping of the title in the trash.

Alundra made it clear that the reason why she decided to thrash the title was because of job security. Eric Bischoff wanted her to do this to really stick it to Vince McMahon.

This action really ignited the Monday Night War and sadly, sent Alundra’s career into a nose dive.

WCW did not utilize her properly, and she had to train, less talented women, who actually got a push.

Vince McMahon was very hurt by her actions, and to be honest he has never trusted or fully got behind women’s wrestling after, the arrival of Trish Stratus.

To be fair, I can see Vince’s side. He made the women’s division, in the mid ’90s around Alundra Blayze. He had so much faith in her, that he brought in terrific talent from all over the world to face her.

So for her, to agree, to dump the prestigious title in the trash, was a huge slap in the face to Vince.

To mend ties, and make up for past mistakes, Alundra brought the title home.

She brought it on the stage and proclaimed that she is still the WWF women’s Champion.

Closing her speech, Alundra made it very clear that she is one of best and that she is honored to be in the WWE Hall of Fame.

For me, her speech up and down was flawless.

She didn’t avoid the title trashing subject; she gave herself the time to thank the people who shaped her career. She talked about her life out of wrestling, as a monster truck driver. She thanked her husband for staying by her side and she made it very clear that she was a wrestler, not a diva.

All in all, Alundra Blayze gave me the closure I needed.

Her name will always include, Hall of Famer.

No longer “title dumper”.

Thank you WWE.