Jimmy Valiant Autograph Signing - Nov 14

Handsome Jimmy Valiant will be signing autographs for fans at the Hall
of Fame on Saturday, November 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This event will
directly benefit the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.

Vellano Awarded PWHF "Man of the Decade"

The PWHF Class of 2009 and other legendary wrestlers in attendance may have been the focus of the evening, but there was at least one other honored guest at the 2009 Induction Ceremony - PWHF President Tony Vellano. In a surpise presentation, Vellano was awarded "PWHF Man of the Decade" in recognition for his unparalleled dedication to the creation and growth of the Hall of Fame over the last ten years. Vellano accepted the award, pointing out that it was not part of the evening's agenda because he would have promptly canceled his moment in the spotlight had he known of it. However, Vellano could not escape the recognition as wrestler after wrestler continued to mention his contributions throughout the night. Congratulations to President Tony Vellano - we thank you for making the only Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame a reality!

Induction Photo Gallery Online

Visit the Media section to view photos from the 2009 PWHF Induction Weekend, and many other past PWHF events. You can also check out our photostream on Fickr.

PWHF Concludes Another Memorable Induction

Fans and wrestlers once again converged on Amsterdam, NY, for the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. This year, the PWHF marked its tenth anniversary as an organization with the induction of its eigth class of honorees. As always, there was no shortage of wrestling stars in attendance, including: "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (2009 Inductee), George "the Animal" Steele, Nick Bockwinkel, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, J.J. Dillon, Baron Mikel Scicluna, Mae Young, Angelo Savoldi, "Doink the Clown" Ray Apollo, Red Bastein, Chief Jay Strongbow, "The Destroyer" Dick Beyer, Donna Christantello (2009 Inductee), Paul "Butcher" Vachon, "Hillbilly" Cousin Luke, Billy Two Rivers, Colin Delaney, Hank Garrett, Johnny Rodz and more.

Blog: PWHF Is The Real Deal

The idea of having a brick & mortar Pro Wrestling hall of fame has been discussed for many, many years. Pro Wrestling is a sport like no other. A pro wrestler is a unique individual. The wrestling fraternity has a long list of tough men who had to be able to take care of themselves both in the ring and negotiating in the office. Tony Vellano has taken an idea to honor these men and women and transformed that idea into a magnificent hall of fame and museum dedicated solely to Professional Wrestling. But it is not just the building at 30 East Main St. in Amsterdam that embodies the Hall. Tony, along with much assistance from George Steele, Mike Capano, Bob Bryla and a host of others, has fashioned a legitimate Hall of Fame that can stand proudly alongside any other sports hall of fame. The PWHF is registered with the state of New York as a Hall of Fame and is run "by the book". Inductees are voted in by their peers..... and everyone involved in the process does so voluntarily, starting with Tony and including everyone else involved with the Hall. A testament to the authenticity of this Hall can be certified by the names who have attended PWHF functions without compensation. Men and women who's livelihood depended on people paying to see them perform have attended PWHF functions to be honored and to honor the sport of Pro Wrestling. Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, Fabulous Moolah, Killer Kowalski, George Steele, Angelo Savoldi, Gene Kiniski, The Destroyer, Bret Hart, Mick Foley, Ted DiBiase, Nick Bockwinkel, Penny Banner, Harley Race, Mae Young, Don Leo Jonathan, Roddy Piper, Danny Hodge, Lou Albano, Jay Strongbow, Billy Graham, Paul Orndorff and many, many more have all paid homage to the Hall of Fame that honors their accomplishments and the great sport of Professional Wrestling. If you haven't been to the Hall, it will only take one visit to make you fall in love with it. See you in Amsterdam !!!!!
John Pantozzi

Blog: A Venture Worth Fighting For

less than a month to go and it is getting hectic...rooms to rent...air flights to confirm...banquet preparations, bus confirmation...etc...etc...etc...not to mention an occassional bout of ego's here and there...but it is, what it is, in the life of the Pres of the PWHF...I can see why this venture hasn't been done before, I can see how hard it really is to maintain...I have wondered on more than one occassion, why I got involved at all...but, this HOF is something that is needed, and should have been assembled years ago, and now I find that this venture is very much worth fighting for...in a world of smoke and mirrors, to try to keep class and character in regards to the PWHF, is a daily battle, for it is a never ending fued between what is right and what, they who challenge, try to take from the Hall...agreed, there are many more than I ever thought there would be, in support of this Institution, but you run into that one or two that just want to take, take, take. thank God that they are getting to be in the minority as time goes by...I guess I am just blowing off steam, because I am in the middle of one of these such scenerios as i write this column, and it troubles me that with all the hard work that is done to promote this Hall of Fame, that we/I have to be burdened with such nonsense...for those that are close to me, you know of what and whom I am speaking of...for those that are not, you will have to wait until my memoirs when i retire....

-Pres

Blog: Tough Guys Cry

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is so much more than an induction weekend. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is so much more than an organization that gives beautiful rings to former Super Stars and Wrestling Legends. The PWHF also honors those who built the Superstars.

Where the rubber really hits the concrete at the PWHF is in the Museum. Men that worked hard in the ring and sacrificed their sweat and blood to create a sporting illusion for their loyal fan base are remembered at the PWHF. When many of these warriors of years gone by see their displays for the first time tears flow. These Tough Guys are overwhelmed with emotion and memories of the past.

George The Animal Steele