Boxing legend Muhammad Ali will likely be inducted into the WWE Corridor of Fame Class of 2024 previous to this 12 months’s WrestleMania celebration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 5.
One of the vital iconic figures in sports activities historical past, the three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Olympic gold medalist was recognized world wide for his charisma, his confidence, and his potential to again it up contained in the ropes.
Identified merely as “The Biggest”, Ali’s affect transcended sports activities as his work as an activist, artist, and character established him as some of the famend figures in the complete world.
BREAKING: As reported by @Selection, Muhammad Ali will likely be inducted into the #WWEHOF Class of 2024!
FULL DETAILS 👉 https://t.co/skGGOzPIgt pic.twitter.com/JoF08Y32IL
— WWE (@WWE) March 11, 2024
Though finest often called a boxer, Ali made a fantastic affect within the sports-entertainment world.
On June 26, 1976, Ali competed in “The Struggle of the Worlds” which was an exhibition match in opposition to WWE Corridor of Famer Antonio Inoki contained in the Nippon Budokan area in Tokyo, Japan.
The match, which was competed beneath particular guidelines, resulted in a 15-round attract entrance of 32,000 followers within the crowd. The bout was additionally broadcast on closed-circuit tv to just about 33,000 followers inside Shea Stadium in Queens, New York.
The occasion was an enormous success and introduced in numerous new followers to the business whereas additionally being considered as a precursor to fashionable combined martial arts. Each Ali and Inoki turned pals after the occasion with Inoki even utilizing Ali’s theme music and catchphrases as his personal.
After retiring from the boxing ring with a profession report of 56-5 with 37 knockouts, Ali returned to the squared circle the place he served because the particular visitor referee for the inaugural WrestleMania in 1984 throughout the principle occasion between Hulk Hogan & Mr. T and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper & “Mr. Fantastic” Paul Orndorff.
Ali’s defining second within the match got here when he punched Piper together with his signature proper hand – a transfer that restored order to the bout.
Ali sadly handed away on June third, 2016, at 74, however his legacy as one of many biggest athletes persists, and his work to modernize and globalize skilled wrestling helped seamlessly mix the world of sports activities and leisure.