WWE legend details Hall of Fame snub in Philadelphia
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in Philadelphia, PA, during WrestleMania XL Weekend. Paul Heyman was the headliner this year, and this was fitting, as The City of Brotherly Love was the birthplace of the original ECW. Fans and wrestlers wanted to see WWE induct additional grapplers of extreme this year, including one of the innovators.
Tommy Dreamer is The Innovator Of Violence. Also known as The Heart & Soul of ECW, Dreamer began his career in 1989 and has held numerous roles with ECW, WWE, and TNA. He's also made appearances for AEW, ROH, AAA, and MLW while running his own House of Hardcore promotion. The Hardcore Hall of Fame inducted Dreamer in 2010, but fans wanted to see the ECW Original honored in Philadelphia this past April.
Dreamer expressed interest in a Philly induction months before the big event. He recently spoke with WrestlingNewsCo and acknowledged that a Hall of Fame induction in Philadelphia would have been fitting. When asked if a WWE induction is something he thinks about at all, he said:
"Of course. I mean... it's a great benchmark for your career. I thought if there ever was a place, Philadelphia would be a great place because I always say my real name is Tom Laughlin, I was born in Yonkers, New York, but Tommy Dreamer was born in Philadelphia, and I thought it would have been a great button of a career."
Dreamer went on to reveal that we would likely have announced his retirement if WWE had inducted him into the Hall of Fame in Philadelphia:
"I probably would have announced my retirement if it happened. Not that I want to ever stop wrestling, but if I could've had a perfect circle moment... I probably would have done that," Tommy Dreamer said. [From 16:54 to 17:25]
Dreamer made his second return to TNA in April 2018, and besides a brief exit in late 2021, has been there ever since. In addition to working as an in-ring talent, the 14-time WWE Hardcore Champion has worked as a producer and creative writer on this run with TNA.
Tommy Dreamer's last WWE run was in a major storyline
Tommy Dreamer last worked with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2015 and 2016 as The Wyatt Family feuded with several ECW Originals.
Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Erick Rowan, and Luke Harper defeated Dreamer, Rhyno, and The Dudleyz in a Tables Elimination Match at TLC 2015. The Wyatts also won the rematch on RAW the next night, held under Extreme Rules. One week later, Kane joined Dreamer and The Dudleyz for a loss to The Wyatts.
The ECW alumni then faced The Wyatts at the next seven non-televised live events. Dreamer's final appearance for the Stamford-based promotion came on January 17, 2016, at a live event in Canton, Ohio, where he and The Dudleyz were defeated by Strowman, Harper, and Rowan in a Tables Match.