Oh, it's true: Angle inducted into WWE's hallowed Hall

John Cena proudly reintroduces the WWE Universe to Kurt Angle at the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony. Courtesy of WWE Network.

The incomparable Kurt Angle stepped into WWE immortality as part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

Angle was inducted by none other than John Cena, who had his very first WWE match against The Only Olympic Gold Medalist in Pro Wrestling History. Cena talked about how Angle is in a class all by himself, both in his athletic ability and with his larger-than-life personality. He talked about The American Hero’s Olympic accomplishments and how he quickly exceeded expectations to become a measuring stick for all who stepped into the squared circle.

The Wrestling Machine then took the stage. Among many others, he thanked Jim Ross, Edge, Christian, The Hardy Boyz, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Kane, Big Show, Rikishi, Shawn Michaels, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Randy Orton, Shane McMahon, the WWE Universe, his family, his children and his wife.

Angle also advised the Superstars of today to limit their mistakes, stay out of trouble and take chances. He even went so far as to humorously model some of the chances he took, including the little cowboy hat, the wig, his rap and a rendition of “Sexy Kurt.” He wrapped up his speech by chugging two huge containers of milk (and ruining his tux in the process). 

WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductees The Rock 'n' Roll Express get emotional on their big night. Courtesy of WWE Network.

Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson always rocked to the beat of their own drum to forge new ground for the tag team industry. Now, that path has led The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017. 

Ricky and Robert were inducted by legendary manager Jim Cornette, who spoke passionately about how the duo filled a tremendous need in the emerging MTV Era from the beginning of the 34-year partnership. He expounded about how they were bred in the business and how they always paid very close attention to what the fans wanted. He also spoke of the frenzy they created in their classic 27-year rivalry with the Midnight Express and the influence they had in Smokey Mountain Wrestling and in WWE night after night after night.

Like only a true tag team can, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express spoke almost as one with every joke they told and every thank you they gave. They spoke of their families, about coming up in the business and about going to war with “the boys.” Among many others, they thanked Jerry “The King” Lawler, Jimmy Hart, Bill Dundee, Jim Ross, Dusty Rhodes, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, The Fabulous Freebirds, the Midnight Express and God.

WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee Diamond Dallas Page describes the impact Dusty Rhodes made on his career. Courtesy of WWE Network.

Hard-working, charismatic, full of heart, a true champion both inside and outside the ring, Diamond Dallas Page enters the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

Page was inducted by the always controversial Eric Bischoff, who said his friend’s incredible journey was filled with passion, desire and commitment as a manager, announcer and ultra-tenacious in-ring performer. But more than anything else, Bischoff honored Page’s unbelievable heart and how he used that heart to help so many others.

Accompanied by his four lovely daughters, a truly humbled Page then came forward to accept his induction. He spoke about himself as an “anomaly,” something that was never supposed to happen. He credited, among many others, the late great “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, Bischoff, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, John Laurinaitis, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Chris Jericho, his family and friends, his past and current wives and his mom for helping him along the way.

“If you say you can or if you say you can’t … you’re right,” Page said at the Hall of Fame podium. Words that define him in a nutshell.

WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee Beth Phoenix asks for Tony Chimel's help in her tribute to Edge. Courtesy of WWE Network.

A Superstar as ground-breaking as she is powerful, Beth Phoenix now becomes part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

The ultimate combination of strength and beauty was fittingly inducted by her best friend and former tag team partner Natalya. The Queen of Harts talked about how it was a moment of destiny. She recalled how Phoenix told her she had been inspired by Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Owen Hart. She said she and The Glamazon became like sisters as two competitors who kicked butt. She spoke of how generous Beth was as a performer, about their many adventures on the road, about her numerous accolades and about how accomplished she was outside the ring as well as in it. 

Beth Phoenix then came forth with an extremely elegant speech, speaking of how her first love had always been wrestling and about when she realized she could be a part of that world. Among many others, she thanked the WWE Universe, her mother, her husband Adam (who Tony Chimel emerged to introduce as The Rated-R Superstar, Edge), her children, her family, her college roommate, Afa the Wild Samoan, Molly Holly, Danny Davis, Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer, Fit Finlay, Santino Marella, Candice Michelle, Mickie James, Eve Torres, Natalya, Chyna and other strong women of the past and present who helped both her and the Women’s division push boundaries. 

WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee Theodore Long describes the long and winding road that led him to a leadership role on SmackDown. Courtesy of WWE Network.

One of the squared circle’s most dynamic managers and SmackDown’s incompletable General Manager dances his way into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

Long was inducted by longtime friends, The APA’s JBL and Ron Simmons. The tough pair began by joking about how the WWE Hall of Fame inductee was one of the cheapest individuals ever, as well as one of the worst drivers. They soon got serious, however, and spoke about how Long had had just about every job there is to have in wrestling. They also talked about how Long grew up in extremely tough circumstances in the racially charged south and how he stands as an example of how you can do anything if you are willing to work hard.

Teddy Long then took the stage. After contradicting a story that JBL and Simmons had told in swift fashion, he began talking about his career. In the start, he did whatever he could behind the scenes just to be a part of it. He spoke of becoming a referee, eventually transitioning to manager, growing in WWE and becoming the longest-reigning General Manager in SmackDown history. He thanked, among others, God, WWE, the McMahon family, Jim Ross, his son, his wife and the WWE Universe.

Rick Rude's family recite their father's famous speech on the night of his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Courtesy of WWE Network.

“What we'd like to have right now, is for all you fat, ugly, WrestleMania sweat hogs to keep the noise down as the ‘Ravishing One’ takes his place in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017.”

Rude was inducted posthumously by fellow Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. Steamboat explained how they broke the mold when they made Rick Rude, touching on how he was a true heel and an incredibly strong competitor. Steamboat mentioned Rude’s time in the Bobby Heenan Family and his tenure as the Enforcer for D-Generation X, as well as his own personal showdowns with “The Ravishing One” in the squared circle.

Accepting on behalf of Rude was his son, surrounded by his family. He was not shy about opening with a bit of his father’s shtick. He spoke of the obstacles his dad overcame in his life, how diligently he worked to make himself a better performer and how hard he worked for his family.

WWE Hall of Fame 2017 Warrior Award recipient Eric LeGrand describes why he's ready to inspire others to keep moving forward. Courtesy of WWE Network.

Dana Warrior came to the podium to present this year’s Warrior Award to Rutgers football player, Eric LeGrand, who fought back from a life-changing spinal cord injury to lead his team onto the field the following a year and grew into an inspiration to so many others. Dana spoke about his ability to believe and how that belief has meant so much to so many and how he embodies the very spirit of The Ultimate Warrior. Most importantly, she spoke of how Eric helped form Team LeGrand, a group dedicated to researching injuries like his in the hope of taking strong steps toward a being future.

The inspirational LeGrand then came forward to talk about his experience and how brave and positive the people around him were about what happened to him. He talked about how that drove him to become a warrior who would never give up. He spoke of the amazing strides he took from breathing on his own, to eating solid food again, to turning his head and lifting his shoulder and shaking his hands. Overall, he continues to move forward each and every day and works timeously to give back to others and well. He spoke about the importance or his group Team LeGrand, the heroic battle of Christopher Reeve and his lifelong love for WWE.

Haystacks Calhoun
One of the squared circle’s first true giants, the mountainous man from Morgan’s Corner, Ark. tipped the scales at 601 lbs. A fan favorite around the country in the golden age of wrestling, Calhoun battled the likes of Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers, and held the World Tag Team Championship in WWE.

Dr. Jerry Graham
This squared circle outlaw could start a riot in the blink of an eye. Dr. Jerry Graham thrived on that chaos, capturing the United States Tag Team Titles with his brothers, “Crazy” Luke and 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Eddie Graham. WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon has said that Graham was his favorite Superstar as a child.

Martin “Farmer” Burns
Martin “Farmer” Burns is lauded as one of toughest catch-as-catch-can wrestlers of the early 20th century. The Iowa native claimed to have competed in over 6,000 matches during his career, with it being suggested that he only lost seven. His career highlights include defeating Evan "Strangler" Lewis to capture the American Heavyweight Championship as well as mentoring a young Frank Gotch.

Joseph “Toots” Mondt
Joseph “Toots” Mondt is best remembered as a revolutionary promoter from the mid-1900s. Alongside Ed “Stranger” Lewis and Billy Sandow, he formed the lauded creative group known as the Gold Dust Trio, which implemented and innovated several new concepts. Mondt and Vince McMahon Sr. took control of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation and renamed it the World Wide Wrestling Federation, which we now know today as WWE.

Rikidōzan
Rikidōzan is heralded as one of the most iconic competitors in the history of professional wrestling in Japan. The former NWA International Heavyweight Champion had legendary battles against the likes of Lou Thesz and “Classy” Freddie Blassie. Two of Rikidōzan’s matches are among the 10 highest-rated television airings of all time in Japan and his influence is still felt globally today.

Bearcat Wright
A notorious pioneer of the Claw maneuver, Bearcat Wright was a multiple-time champion who battled the likes of Freddie Blassie, Killer Kowalski and The Sheik. He was also notable for being a key figure in the desegregation of the sports-entertainment industry.

Judy Grable
The original Barefoot Contessa, Judy Grable packed a mean dropkick and occupies a unique place in history, having battled against Fabulous Moolah in the match to determine the first-ever Women’s Champion.

June Byers
One of the most controversial and talented figures in sports-entertainment history, June Byers competed in the definitive women’s match of the time: a 2-out-of-3-Falls contest that concluded with her capturing the first-ever NWA Women’s Championship.

Luther Lindsay
Luther Lindsay competed all around the world and was the first African-American to challenge for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. He also holds a near-unheard of distinction: He’s one of the few people to defeat Stu Hart inside the Dungeon. The notorious submission expert was so well-respected by his peers that Hart carried a picture of him in his wallet for 50 years.