Variety reports that Muhammad Ali will be honored into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
One of the most legendary figures in sports history, the three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Olympic gold medalist was renowned all over the world for his charisma, confidence, and ability to back it up within the ropes.
Known simply as “The Greatest,” Ali’s impact extended beyond athletics, with his work as an activist, artist, and personality establishing him as one of the world’s most recognizable individuals.
Although best known as a boxer, Ali had a significant impact on the sports-entertainment industry.
Ali competed in “The War of the Worlds” on June 26, 1976, in an exhibition contest against WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan arena.
The match, which followed unique rules, ended in a 15-round draw in front of 32,000 spectators. The fight was also shown on closed-circuit television to almost 33,000 people at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York.
The event was a big success, attracting countless new followers to the industry while also serving as a predecessor to modern mixed martial arts. Following the event, Ali and Inoki became friends, with Inoki adopting Ali’s theme music and catchphrases as his own.
After retiring from boxing with a 56-5 record and 37 knockouts, Ali returned to the squared circle to serve as the special guest referee for the first WrestleMania in 1984, during the main event between Hulk Hogan and Mr. T and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.
Ali’s defining moment in the encounter occurred when he punched Piper with his famous right hand, restoring order to the fight.
Ali died on June 3rd, 2016, at the age of 74, but his reputation as one of the greatest athletes lives on, and his efforts to modernize and globalize professional wrestling contributed to the seamless integration of sports and entertainment.