MVP Arena, Albany, NY — Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026
The elite of the wide world of Professional Wrestling came to the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame on Sunday, November 1st, for the annual gala and induction ceremony. The Hall, located on the second floor on the outside of MVP Arena, holds the plaques of those who have been inducted since its inception in 2019, as well as priceless memorabilia from the vast history of this great and historic industry. Unconnected to the WWE, the IPWHF holds artifacts from wrestling’s earliest days, as well as rotating exhibits from donors, including items from the WWE, who they have a great working relationship with. You can find more about the IPWHF, and visit it yourself — free to the public. Check the information below for those details.
This year’s class was one of its finest — boasting trailblazing women’s wrestler Wendi Richter, former NWA and Smokey Mountain Heavyweight Champion, Tommy “Wildfire” Rich, the legendary late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, and WWE Tag Team legends The Bushwhackers (also known as the Sheepherders and The Kiwis going back to 1966). Former WWE Superstar and motivational speaker Marc Mero (also known as Johnny B Badd) was awarded the “Rocky Johnson Medal of Mettle,” “Judo” Gene LeBell was awarded the “IPWHF Trailblazer Award”, and legendary photographer George Napolitano received the “IPWHF Excelsior Award”, given to those who have made immense contributions from outside the world of professional wrestling.
The mid-day celebration was a wonderful affair, and was possible through donors such as Cohoes, NY’s own Miller’s BBQ, who provided incredible brisket, pulled meats, macaroni and cheese, and everything else you could ask for. The legendary multiple Hall of Famer Tony Atlas was in attendance and quite literally yelling at the top of his lungs about how good it was, as well as their employee Becky. The museum was open during the ceremony, and donations are always welcome to keep this great institution running.
After photos were taken of the individuals, the ceremony and handing out of the rings followed, starting with the Bushwhackers/Sheepherders. Luke Williams was in attendance to speak and accept the honor himself, and on behalf of his partner, Butch Miller, who passed away in 2023. Prior to his induction, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy came up to speak about Luke, and tell the humorous story of how Luke helped land the IPWHF the location that it did. Inducted by fellow inductee George Napolitano, George told stories of their friendship going back to 1972, before Luke spoke about his illustrious career, which started back in their native New Zealand in the early 60s. When they became the Sheepherders (who were truly an international team), they were violent and often blood-soaked after their matches, which was quite the contrast to when they were hired by the WWE in 1998 in the heart of the company’s national takeover of the territory systems, where they were lovable and comedic characters who were beloved by children and their parents alike. I was one of those children, and they were amongst my favorites growing up, so it was quite an honor for me to be present for this. The Bushwhackers were awarded the Cauliflower Alley Club Tag Team Award in 2025, inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020, and the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
The most emotional induction of the day came from a speech given by Tony Atlas, as he introduced Wendi Richter. Taken from a conversation at dinner the night before, Atlas talked about her accomplishments in the ring in her short career and how she was at one time one of the biggest stars in the world. And how he was with the WWE (then WWF) in the mid-80s and that he saw a line of kids running for Hulk Hogan’s autograph and a line of kids running for Wendi Richter’s. Her line was bigger. He went on to bring up the number of times he has been asked about racism in the world of wrestling and thought about the black legends of the ring that made great money in the business, but what he DID notice was the amount of sexism. And the fact that companies like WWE, at the time, didn’t want a woman as the face of the company. They wanted Hogan. And that women wrestlers often didn’t become stars until they were older, such as Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah. His speech was honest and even made me choke up. He ended his brilliant speech with “Wendi Richter didn’t break the glass ceiling. She broke the steel ceiling”. Rita Marie, a groundbreaking legend in her own right, being the first female referee in wrestling, inducted Richter with Atlas, and it was immensely fitting as we were blessed to see two female pioneers at the podium together. Richter discussed her trials and tribulations in the male-dominated industry and said that it took a long time for her to make peace, find God, and eventually go to college and become an occupational therapist, where she made more money than she ever did in Pro Wrestling. (Even though she brought in the Rock and Wrestling connection into the WWF alongside Cyndi Lauper, which launched pro wrestling into the collective mainstream, yielded a cartoon show and whose match with Moolah on “The Brawl to End It All” became a precursor to WrestleMania, and was the most watched program ever on MTV up to that point. A famous cover of Pro Wrestling Magazine in April of 1986 even read “Is Wendi Richter more popular than Hulk Hogan?” There was a time when she was. She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.)
Michael Lanuto, who serves on the Board of the IPWHF, brought up the next inductee, Marc Mero, and awarded him the “Rocky Johnson Medal of Mettle,” named after former board member, the late Rocky Johnson. Mero’s speech was poignant and uplifting, discussing his careers in the WWF, NWA, TNA, and wrestling as “Johnny B Badd” in WCW. He debuted at WrestleMania XII and was a former Intercontinental Champion in the company. He currently operates “Champion of Choices,” a nonprofit organization that he founded in 2007. He is a fine speaker, and it was greatly entertaining to hear him speak.
Up next was legendary photographer George Napolitano, someone whose photographs pretty much anybody in America has seen. If not from his decades of photography for wrestling magazines throughout the ’70s and ’80s, then from his countless photographs on red carpets, shooting the most elite of the elite in Hollywood, as well as across the sports world, where he is seemingly always at a Mets game. He has even been recognized on red carpets by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson himself, pointing out the importance he has been to his family, photographing generations going back to High Chief Peter Maiva, The Rock’s grandfather. He has authored multiple pictorial books such as “Hot Shots and High Spots,” “Wrestling Heroes and Villains,” “This is Wrestling!” and “The Pictorial History of Wrestling: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”, all of which are definitive in the history of the sport.
He was introduced by President Seth Turner, who spoke of Napolitano’s accolades, praised his work, and acknowledged that he was considered just as important to the industry as the athletes themselves. He raved about his historical contributions before Tony Atlas had to come up and let his feelings be known about George, and tell the story of how he once saved Atlas from being killed, and that a man of Napolitano’s stature was able to pull back Atlas, who was quite literally one of the strongest men on the planet. Napolitano was gracious in his acceptance of the award. And always humble, even though he is recognized in the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, and is a recipient of the prestigious Stanley Weston Lifetime Achievement Award in Pro Wrestling Illustrated. This achievement further solidifies his place of importance in the American culture — a place where I don’t even think he realizes how important and how revered he is.
Closing out the night was former NWA Heavyweight Champion Tommy “Wildfire” Rich, the enigmatic personality that left me baffled when I learned that this was his first ever Hall of Fame induction. Rich is one of those figures that belong in multiple Halls of Fame for his storied career, iconic look, legendary microphone skills, and, of course, his masterful ring work. In accepting the honor, he showcased those mic skills with gratitude and honor, and spoke in his signature southern drawl that captivated us in attendance. Atlas again had the privilege of bringing his longtime friend to get his well-deserved ring; reuniting the barrier-breaking NWA Georgia Tag Team Champions from back in 1977, when they were known as “TNT”.
A special shoutout again for the legendary Tony Atlas, who has been pivotal in the IPWHF’s look and presence. He is a great spokesman and designs much of the artwork for the establishment. And the duties of inducting so many of the greats with emotional, genuinely heartfelt passion should be especially praised. He was even the one who made sure everyone got their BBQ!
IPWHF President Seth Turner continues to do fine work in maintaining this important museum. And it’s an honor for us to have it in the MVP Arena, where countless events in WWE history have happened. Turner has greeted countless WWE legends and current performers in his building when they come to town, including visits from WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Plan your trip to see what the legends and current talent flock to see while they are in town. Seth Turner and his board do an exceptional job, and we are fortunate to have him and his vision located in the heart of downtown Albany.
The International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame can be found online here:
Sponsorship packages can be found here:
Miller’s Backyard BBQ can be found here:
Gallery of photos from the event:
