The latest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2016 is Stan Hansen, a Texas native who made his name in Japan. The 66 year old made his professional wrestling debut in January 1973 and retired in the same month of 2001.
He joined the WWWF in 1976 and had a feud with the then champion Bruno Sammartino just two months after he arrived. He had another stint with the company, which was then renamed WWF in 1980 which lasted a year.
After departing the WWF, Hansen moved to the AWA and then New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling where he spent most of his career. He had two stints in AJPW, first between 1981 and 1990 and then between 1991 and 2001.
He is best known for the Lariat clothesline and his clothesline was considered one of the stiffest in the business.
He won all the titles you can imagine at All Japan Pro Wrestling as well as several NWA titles and the AWA World title during his career.
Hansen told Tokyo Sports that he was surprised to be contacted by WWE as he didn’t think he would be chosen, calling it an honor to be part of it.
In 2010 Stan Hansen inducted Antonio Inoki into the WWE Hall of Fame.
